Six years ago, FOX took a chance on the Rocky HorrorPicture Show (Subtitled Let's do The Time Warp Again) via an episode of GLEE. I gave it a fairly favorable review at the time (in my defense, the episode had John Stamos), but I could see where the story lacked definition and guts. After viewing the TV movie reboot from a few weeks ago, I still have same of the same qualms. In 2016, "RH" is not much of a shocker. I think that may be the overall problem with the musical. There's something so hokey about the 1975 version that is lost on today's audiences. We're much more jaded, unlike innocent Brad and Janet. We're not at all shocked when Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Laverne Cox) stabs beloved rocker Eddie (Adam Lambert) and pushed him out an open window. When Janet (Victoria Justice) begs perfect man specimen Rocky to "Touch-a touch-a touch me" in her skirt slip and bra, she's covered more than Britney Spearson stage in Las Vegas.
Image from Nerdist
For good measure, the "Time warp" dance was good, but it looked tame compared to 90 percent of the stage performances at the 2016 MTV VMAs. We don't even bat an eye over songs like "Sweet Transvestite." In short, it was a decent production, but nothing really special because the first "RH" broke the mold. It's too campy to be taken seriously as a new movie. The beauty of a live performance of Rocky is the audience interaction, which took on a life of it's own. The team attempted to represent this by showing extras in a movie theater watching the scenes from time to time and reacting as an audience at a live show would. For someone not familiar with the musical, it would come off as confusing and odd that they were cutting to people throwing popcorn at a marriage proposal between the Doc and Rocky. I also think they strangely left out a lot of the parts in songs where the audience yells out things to the cast. They could have put these notes on the screen, like the "Hand Jive" instructions for Grease Live. My summation on January's production is coming soon, and looking more favorable every day I think about "RH."
BOTTOM LINE:
The costumes were as expected, the singing was good, and the casting was adequate. There was one notable exception of Rocky, who seemed to clomp like an elephant one moment, and deftly maneuver around a bed the next. I liked the rendition of the "pool" scene in this version more than in the older movie. Quite honestly, most of that scene should be cut. It comes at a part of the movie when everyone is sensing it's filler. My recommendation is to stick with a live action version being acted out along with the movie. I'll give this version a solid 2.75 out of 5 stars. I bumped it up from 2.5 because of how sad and uncomfortable stroke survivor Tim Rice (the original Dr. Frank) looked as the narrator.
I saw an early teaser of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, one of CW's few non vampire/witch/superhero shows on the CW, before the season started. My mom immediately looked at me and asked why we were watching a musical series that wasn't even about music (re: Glee, Smash).
Still, I gave it the benefit of the doubt and tuned in for the next few episodes and...
PAUSES FOR EMPHATIC DRUMROLL....
Josh just happens to live here! This is real estate lawyer turned crazy lady Rebecca Bunch's (Rachel Bloom's) favorite justification for moving from New York to West Covina, California because a butter commercial made her take a way too real life re-assessment.This is also the title of the first episode.
In case you can't tell, I am into this show. The show is certainly quirky, and promises at least three musical numbers per episode thus far, and I'm betting everyone in the cast will sing at some point, including Rebecca's oddball boss, Darryl Whitefeather.
The story in a nutshell, plants miserable Rebecca in California after following chill surfer dude Josh Chang, a guy she dated in summer camp, back from New York to California, which is commonly known as a "Flipped Felicity". (I am trademarking this term). She arrives in West Covnia, breezes into a law firm and gets hired at a moment's notice, since she went to Harvard and loves to remind people it's not such a big deal, and sets to work the 9-5 of getting herself into Josh's life. One of many ways she gets to worm closer to Josh is the three or so accidental dates she goes on with Josh's bartender friend, Greg, who is played by Broadway legend-in-the-making Santino Fontana (he did the voice of the prince in Frozen). After meeting Greg and hearing Josh will be at a party, Rebecca gets ready (singing the "Sexy Getting Ready Song, a true ear-worm) and shows up to the party all over Greg to make Josh jealous. As luck would have it, Josh never shows, and here begins the love triangle. Rebecca befriends many people including her psych major neighbor Heather, pep-talking paralegal Paula, and even meets Josh's yoga teacher girlfriend, Valencia.
Wait, Josh has a girlfriend?
Yes, that was a surprise to Rebecca too. In the course of a few short days, (Episode: Josh's Girlfriend is Really Cool!) she meets Valencia, befriends Valencia to set her at ease, gets Valencia a deal on a new space for her yoga studio, and makes out with her at a club, which alienates Valencia, Josh and Greg. Rebecca follows up with trying to show Valencia she's not a threat to Josh (Episode: I Hope Josh Comes to My Party!) by throwing a "casual" house party with her paltry gathering of friends, greatly overcoming her fear of house parties that began the day her dad walked out on her mom at her birthday party. As bad as Rebecca treats Paula, she comes through and helps throw the best house party and gives Rebecca the peace to get over her parent's divorce.
In this week's episode (I'm Going on a Date With Josh's Friend!), Greg reluctantly asks Rebecca out to a taco festival (after an elaborate ballroom dance and tap number in black and white) and Rebecca accepts. Rebecca recently chose to become a vegan, as a drastic kickback from dating inappropriate mean and making unhealthy decisions. Things go great until Rebecca sabotages the date, running off with briskets and an unwashed vegan cook, leaving Greg and the viewers disappointed and once again confused- doesn't Rebecca really like Josh? Doesn't she seem like she is really a better fit with Greg? Rebecca apologizes to Greg after he finds the vegan dude leaving her house, but it may be the third strike for the more-than-perfect-if-they-could-get-out-of-their-own-way pair.
In a side story, Rebecca helps Josh with a job application for a Hawaiian themed electronics store (wow, super retro) and he looks over-qualified for the job. When Josh is forced to work in his dad's radiology lab instead, Rebecca storms into the Aloha Tech Center and demands that some Harvard book smarts and average smarts like Josh's, should not preclude someone from selling computer games.
So a week ago, I watched the Grey's Anatomy- The Musical Event. It was good. I liked it. Although as the Ew.com review clearly pointed out an alarming details -and I always notice those alarming details in shows- but why was everyone singing and having happy sex while Callie lay there possibly dying? That major fact aside, and the way too liberal amount of singing they gave Dr. Hunt, it was a good episode. There were stronger songs- Running on Sunshine, How to Save A Life, Chasing Cars, and The Story (watch the live version- its so much better than the recorded one)- to name a few.
FLASHBACK MOMENT- I looked up the clip where "Chasing Cars" was first used, back in the 2006 season 2 finale- when Karev had a heart and pulled Izzy off her dead fiance's bed. Check it out, George is alive, Meredith is still dark and twisty,Callie has a horrible mess of hair, and even the slutty redhead nurse is in the background. Meanwhile, McDreamy is acting all McShady because he just met Meredith in the exam room and he's supposed to be working things out with the wife. Christina is going to reconcile with Dr. Burke (and how weird was it for her to constantly be touting his procedure in this episode, I mean the dude left her at the altar). To further add to this nostalgia, check out Chris O'Donnell as McVet. Ah, memories.
First of all, thank you to Greys for letting Eli (AKA Franco from Rescue Me) dance Dr. Bailey all around the nurses' station and Scott Foley sing. I'm a big fan of the Foley and I'm 99% sure he is going to make a complete career comeback!
Second, I love Sara Ramirez's voice more than life itself. This is why the musical worked. she led the cast in her ephemeral half-there/floating ghost form, singing everyone through their pain.
Third, wonderfully sexy singing came from Karev and McSteamy! They deserved to sing more. And Mr. McDreamy was mysteriously silent- and he did sing the tiniest bit in the movie Enchanted. On second thought, I think he was the only one that didn't sing.... but he had beautiful jazz hands during "That's How You Know."
Fourth, what is going on with the Lexie/Mark/Avery thing? she wants Mark, she cares for him through the birth of his kid, and when Avery gives her an ultimatum (good for you, Avery- don't be a shelf-boy, there is a fine line between waiting outside her door and waiting for someone who will never give their heart to you!), she goes home with him.
So to return to musical episodes, it all started with Cop Rock, but that was too high concept at the time. Without VH1- nobody would have known about CR. But if CR is the founding father, the Teddy Roosevelt if you will, of musical tv show episodes, then Buffy the Vampire Slayer is certainly the hell-raising Alice Roosevelt daughter of them. And that is why I will be posting about the groundbreaking season 6 episode, "Once More, With Feeling"(view the original trailer in the link) tomorrow. Check it out!
