Between Seasons Conversations

Glittersisgld wrote:I don't know if anyone knows Artem choreographed a number for the movie La La Land starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.  They showed him on ET. 

Good for Artem. Seems as though new opportunities are opening up for DWTS people. He is such a magnificent dancer and it seems like the show wastes his talent. Maybe next season he will get a contender.

Artem!

Deadman wrote "Jane, first of all none of those who made it to this place are personally responsible for the end of the old board. In case you forgot, that credit goes to the considerable number of blockheads we left behind. Second, as much as snark doesn't take the place of humor, criticism in itself isn't automatically constructive; so since you admit to not bother much, maybe ask yourself if you could have done more to keep people like Lux or WW invested. All that monkey business certainly didn't help the case. Personally, I have decided to be thankful for what I've got here rather than mourn for what I've lost, and that includes all those who bother to keep it going- whether I agree with their opinion or not. Note: lighting a candle is better than complaining about the darkness. Think about it. "

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Deadman -- you are a very good guy.  You are.  And you are absolutely correct in that in that no one or group of people is responsible for various people not, having made it to or, continuing with the Boards.  So sorry about that.

However, as far as criticism not automatically being constructive:  when someone hurls (pardon the reference to the Monkey, but I do find him to be very amusing) gratuitous snark at another poster, and when that snark is unredeemed and unencumbered by any real value -- no wit, no humor, no clever association, no grace  -- and when it is hurled at one of the nicest and most thoughtful people on this Board, well . . . . .the hurler of the snark should be called on it.  

That's all.

(she wants to hurl at me, that's fine.  It doesn't bother me one whit, in fact I generally do not read her posts. But even the Monkey, whom I know you do not care for, only hurls at those who he thinks are not truly bothered by his hurling)

I'll be watching Hairspray Live tonight too although I might have some distractions with maybe some people stopping by for a visit.  I'm going to try to record it too.

Caught Hairspray Live last night.  My previous Hairspray experience was with the 2007 movie based on the Broadway musical, and this production seems to be based more on the original Broadway version.  Because it was live, however, you also get to see some of the glitches that can happen as well.  Throughout the show there was the occasional sound glitch, or lighting problem, or camera issue.  But overall it was a good show, and I did enjoy it.  

There is a YouTube channel of Hairspray Live! that has lots of videos including a run of the entire show (3 hours long), so be sure to check it out.  UPDATE:  The Hairspray Live fanpage had to remove their videos of the actual performance although they still carry the sneak previews and behind the scenes ones.

Derek was the perfect Corny Collins for this production, and this was a great chance to see him do everything--sing, dance, and act.  He even went right from finishing a song to jumping into a real commercial for Oreo cookies, still in character as Corny.







Some thoughts:

*I thought Ariana Grande was fine as the shy and awkward Penny, but I think she would have come across better if this production had been treated like a traditional movie.  I wanted to see more camera shots of her facial reactions and felt like we were mostly seeing shots of her from the side.  

*I really liked Maddie Baillio who played Tracy but prefer Nikki Blonski's version from the 2007 movie if I had to choose.  


*Dove Cameron who is best known for her work on the Disney Channel was a good choice for the snotty Amber, and she does well here.  


*Garrett Clayton who has also done work for the Disney Channel visually looks like the perfect Link but doesn't come across as strong.  


*Ephraim Sykes and Shahadi Wright as Seaweed and his little sister Inez were very good and wanted to see them do more in the show.  


*The biggest critical response was to Jennifer Hudson's performance as Motormouth Maybelle.  She really killed the vocals on the two big solos she had in the show, plus she and Ariana share a duet together during the curtain call at the end.  


*All of the other veteran performers (Harvey Fierstein, Martin Short, Kristin Chenoweth, Andrea Martin, Sean Hayes, Rosie O'Donnell) did great work too and were well cast in their roles.

DMD, I like Ariana Grande too.  You should check out the YouTube video of her on SNL when she was imitating celebrity singers.  She is amazing.  I want to look like her in my next life.  She is so beautiful.

OUR VERY OWN, VERY HANDSOME Henry Byalikov,  Teaching Wheel chair dancing at "DANCE WITH ME". Tony Maks & Val have their studios, & employees trained to offer classes in wheelchair ballroom dancing. They are all,amazing.