[Governor Dinwiddie]

I watched the first episode of this mini-series. The production values are very good, and it seems true to the material. However, it reminds me of that old trope about sausage being made—you don't want to see how Broadway is made either.

This mini-series captures the tawdry, scummy world for Broadway and show business in general. It will remind you that no matter how much you enjoy the end product, the world it comes from is dark, godless, selfish, and hedonistic. These are people you wouldn't want to know in real life.
 

[LYDIAONTARIO]

Good point!

[x]

That's what Bob Fosse experienced. When he was very young, he was going to a suburban high school by day and dancing at really sleazy downtown clubs where he saw all manner of depraved activity at night. Those two worlds and two lives gave Fosse a very skewed view of the world. That's why there's a sleazy element in a lot of his work (Sweet Charity, Chicago, Cabaret, Lenny).

[bluejean]

I watched most of the first episode. The Fosse character broods and smokes, smokes and broods, broods and smokes for long, long moments. The story barely moved. I finally turned it off. Yawn. I had to dust the top of my refrigerator anyhow.

[Alice in Wonderland]

Although I never met Mr. Fosse, I was with the original Broadway production of Pippin for several years. I provided the live animals that appeared in the show: a lamb and a duck. I only used two ducks for the entire run but the lambs outgrew their part quickly and were replaced often. I knew some of the cast and most of the stagehands and musicians. None that I knew were dark, godless, selfish, or hedonistic. Except, maybe, John Rubinstein, who was the first Pippin. He constantly whined that the lambs smelled. I’d have to spray perfume on them or pat them down with baby powder before bringing them to the stage.