Conference ljsrv1::tv_chatter

    Ditto..
    
    I loved it, especially the scene at the train station.  I thought
    Bette's head was going to explode, every vein in her neck was sticking
    out.  It just showed the emotions she was feeling about losing her
    "STAR".  I felt so sorry for Louise.
    
    I hope this comes out on video soon.

    Absolutley fabulous!!!!
    
    I read her book a few months ago and I must agree - Bette captured the
    essance of Mama Rose.  The woman who played Gypsy did a great job of
    playing the awkward young girl blossoming into a woman on stage....
    
    Joyce

    I caught only the last half hour.  Bummer!  I hope it is rebroadcast
    sometime in the future.
    
    Cindy Gibb played Lousie.  She used to be on the TV show FAME back in
    the 1980's.  Very talented woman.
    

    Joyce
    Do you remember which book? What the author or title was? I just read
    two of hers, but she has a few out.  Is it recent?
    
    Karen
    

    Gee, I was wondering everyone. I am going to write a letter to CBS
    with positive comments on the show last night. From reading several
    reviews and story's regarding this presentation, CBS felt it was
    taking a big risk in putting a musical/stage version on tv as it
    has not been done in 25 years. I think some positive comments regarding
    the show would help boost Bette's position a little, and also possbily
    give the viewers a chance to see more future musicals on tv.
    
    With your permission, I was going to print out the replies and forward
    it along with my letter.  (Joyce, let me know if that would be an
    infraction of any Digital policies in doing so. I won't put the
    company's name or anything, as I know they do not want to some across
    supporting or being against something.)  
    
    Please let me know everyone, as I think it would be more "powerful" in
    adding your comments along with my letter of support.
    
    Thanks,
    Karen
         

    I have to go against the tide of acclamation here, though I'm a Bette
    fan.  I didn't *dislike* this production of Gypsy, exactly, but I think
    it was very wrong of Bette to have modeled herself after one of the
    previous actresses' Rose.  She said in TV Guide that she asked everyone
    she could find who'd seen Ethel Merman's performance to describe it,
    and it sure seemed to me that Bette was emulating her style.  #1, I
    think that's a mistake for any actress (I want to see Bette's
    interpretation, not an imitation of a predecessor) and #2, I've never
    been able to abide la Merman.
    
    I've seen Rita Moreno in the role; she didn't shriek, she didn't bray,
    but she had the power and the nerve and the crust (and the tenderness)
    the role demands.  TV Guide also stated that the playwrights *hated*
    the Rosalind Russell/Natalie Wood movie, but I didn't see any
    significant departures from that production.  I thought the RR/NW
    version had a much better "Get Married Today" number, as well as the
    "All I Need Now is the Girl" number (what's with the powder-blue
    sparkly alley?!).  In last night's movie, neither Baby June nor Dainty
    June could twirl a baton for beans; even a 3rd-rate vaudevillian should
    be able to do that.
    
    As far as the commercial breaks go, *those were the scene breaks*.  Go
    to the theater and notice that the blackouts come after the big songs,
    almost exclusively.
    
    .3, I don't think Cindy Gibb was "Lousie" (she was Louise)  :-) but I
    prefer Natalie Wood, even though she was not a great singer.
    
    BUT.  If Emmys (Emmies?) were given out for *moments*, Bette deserves
    one for the "Rose Louise can do it"/Herbie leaves scene.  I expected
    that caliber of acting throughout; I really *wanted* to love it, but
    for me it was a near-miss.
    
    Leslie

  I watched the 1st minute or so but I got discouraged and switched it off.

  When I switched it on there were about 6 guys dancing a very routine chorus
line dance in black tie, a woman in a white fluffy dress dancing with a cow
and Bett trying to run out on the stage being held back by some guy in a suit.
That scene seemed terrible.

  After the dance ended (they were obviously playing to some sort of producer)
a woman who was over acting badly answered a phone and told the cast the
producer thought they were wonderful. They were all very happy. I was very
sad. 

  They went to a break and I switched off the TV to read a book. Did it improve
dramatically after the break or was the part I though was terrible suppose to
be good?

  George

    -1
    
    as put in .1 I think one of the best scenes if not THE BEST one was
    at the train station when she reads the letter June left. She really
    did go nuts, then that almost evil look came over her while she 
    looked to Louise.... she would now be the star!
    
    I know the commercials were "where" they were suppose to be, maybe it
    was the fact that they should have added fades first, then the
    commercial. It was like Bette is holding the last note and Boom were
    looking at a commercial for cars.  I think if they slowly faded it,
    then cut to a commercial it would have helped.
    
    Karen

    re .7, Ow, what a time to tune in!  The "Dainty June and her Farm Boys"
    number is (supposed to be) truly awful.  I don't remember any other
    production having Herbie drag Rose off the stage so many times, though
    she does tell the band to "hit it" for the big finish after Grantziger
    (the producer) has told them to stop.
    
    I *liked* Andrea Martin as Grantziger's secretary - she's great at
    officious, self-important characters, and I think that's how the
    secretary role is written.
    
    Leslie

    RE: .5
    
    You can only extract notes with the author's permission.  send the
    author a note off line specifing which note of theirs you want to
    extract and print - if yo get their permission then you can send it.
    
    Joyce

re: .0, Karen

>   Being an established commediane, it has been a struggle
>   for her to be noticed or even accepted in any variation of drama.

Really? I don't often think of her as a comedienne unless I think of "Ruthless
People", "Scenes from a Mall" or "Divine Madness".

"Beaches"? "Stella"? "For the Boys"?, "The Rose"? Weren't these considered
major dramatic roles?

I always consider her first as a dynamite singer next only to Streisand,
second as an accomplished and versatile actress, and lastly with regard to
her comic abilities.

But, then, I first saw her on Broadway in "Fiddler" over twenty years ago . . . 

-Jack

    -1
    Jack,
    I first felt the same way, that Beaches and all the ones you mentioned
    ESPECIALLY "The Rose" has been more on the dramatic side. BUT, if I
    am correct in saying, one of those I believe "All Girl Productions"
    (Bettes Co.) put a couple of them out. I believe "For the Boys" was one
    and I think "Touchstone" had something to do with that as well. I
    think there was another one too. Anyway, she has had to "push" for the
    dramatic parts, where as people don't come around knocking on her door
    when a dramatic part comes around.  I read alot of magazine interviews
    where she has said that it is *still* hard for her to be recognized and
    casted in dramatic parts.
    
    Of course you and I and probably alot of other "fans" in general see
    the potential and appreciate the talent. To us, we can visualize her
    adapting to any particular role.  However, the powers that be seem
    to think otherwise.
    
    Karen