How Hollywood steals
How Hollywood steals
#1How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 11:46am
I am almost embarrassed to say this, but my industry is stealing from your again bigtime.
Variety reports today that ABC is shooting a pilot for a lawyer series starring Roger Bart AND Norbert Leo Butz.
Two of the best male performers on Broadway, scooped up and (willingly, of course) carried of to Hollywood. And it happens to everyone who achieves stardom on Broadway with only a few exceptions. (Although, for me, I wish Chicago Hope was still on the air IYKWIM.)
This is the sad story of Broadway. If this is a hit, they'll be off the boards for years, in their prime.
And I have no idea who or what to do about it.....
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Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#2re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 11:52am
As you pointed out, they go willingly. How Hollywood lures might be a better way of putting it.
Whose values does it speak about more - Hollywood's, who we've been told time and again is corrupt and soul stealing or the artists who decide that a fatter purse is more important?
I ain't begrudging anyone their choices, but I don't think it's fair to act as though it's some big Hollywood conspiracy. No one puts a gun to these actors' heads.
#2re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 11:59amIs it better to be in a well done television show or a crappy musical? I'm not sure what we're rooting for here.
"Carson has combined his passion for helping children with his love for one of Cincinnati's favorite past times - cornhole - to create a unique and exciting event perfect for a corporate outing, entertaining clients or family fun."
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#3re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 12:00pm
Just wanted to say thanks for pointing out that Variety article. I run a Roger Bart fansite (rogerbart-online.com) and had been looking for info on this pilot.
I'd also like to add that Roger Bart has already done several movies and was a regular in Desperate Housewives... yet he keeps coming back to Broadway. So I don't think 'stealing' is the right word to use.
EDIT: does anyone know whether this means that Roger will be leaving the YF cast soon? I thought his contract was until November or at least August.
Updated On: 5/28/08 at 12:00 PM
#4re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 12:05pmi REALLY hope that if i became a bway star I wouldnt be swayed by hollywood. what about you guys?! its sad to me...
"The good news is I have an excellent Tony speech. The bad news is I've had it for forty-five years."-Elaine Stritch
Broadway Star Joined: 12/31/69
#5re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 12:13pmI'd do hemorrhoid commercials if the price was right.
#6re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 12:17pmHmmm... a lawyer series starring two unknown Broadway actors. I'm sure they'll be back in New York in no time.
#7re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 12:24pm
hemorrhoid commercial. funny.
I guess the soundtrack would be "The Heat is On."
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#8re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 12:57pmYeah, it sucks that actors get offered better-paying gigs. Especially when it opens up roles to other upcoming actors. Stop the madness.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#9re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 12:59pm
"This is the sad story of Broadway. If this is a hit, they'll be off the boards for years, in their prime."
Four words: Kristin Chenoweth and Nathan Lane
Both of them have had series offers that bombed. So guess what? They came crawling back to them that made them.
Patti LuPone was in a series for a few years, but she's come back.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#10re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 1:02pm
"SO! You come crawlin' back to BROAD-way...." 
"Carson has combined his passion for helping children with his love for one of Cincinnati's favorite past times - cornhole - to create a unique and exciting event perfect for a corporate outing, entertaining clients or family fun."
"In Oz, the verb is douchifizzation." PRS
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SueleenGay
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/9/03
#11re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 1:06pm
"YOUR" "industry is stealing from your again bigtime."?
Variety reports today that ABC is shooting a pilot for a lawyer series starring Roger Bart AND Norbert Leo Butz.
Two of the best male performers on Broadway, scooped up and (willingly, of course) carried of to Hollywood."
And it happens to everyone who achieves stardom on Broadway with only a few exceptions. (Although, for me, I wish Chicago Hope was still on the air IYKWIM.)
Yea, Victoria Clark, Edina Menzel, Patti Lupone, Bernadette Peters and Marianne Seldes are HUGE names in Hollywood. (What is IYKWIM?)
This is the sad story of Broadway. If this is a hit, they'll be off the boards for years, in their prime.
And I have no idea who or what to do about it....."
Its a freaking PILOT. The money is great, IF the series if picked up.
Perhaps it is time for you to change industries if this is so upsetting to you.
Of course, you failed to mention all the things Broadway has "stolen" from Hollywood for the last few decades.
Who knows, perhaps Norbert never would have had the chance to do DRS (a vehicle that was "stolen" from Hollywood, by the way) if someone like Mandy Patinkin had been available.
It is a BUSINESS. Get over it.
Good luck to all involved.
PEACE.
#12re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 1:09pmHeaven forbid that an actor gets a paying job. Yeesh, actors get into acting to act, to limit yourself to one medium is to limit your craft. Some people can transition easily to various mediums and some can't.
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#13re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 1:14pmIs it really true that this is a TV "drama" series? Isn't that missing the point of both their strong suits -- comedy? And since the pilot is by the originator of How I Met Your Mother, are we to assume that "drama" was a misprint, and they really meant "comedy"? I hope so.
#14re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 1:42pmI'm going out on a limb to assume that maybe the actors are versatile?
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
SueleenGay
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/9/03
#15re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 1:42pm
are we to assume that "drama" was a misprint, and they really meant "comedy"? I hope so.
Yea, cuz people should stick with what they know and never try to do anything different, right?
PEACE.
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#17re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 1:53pm
Another plus point is that their faces and names would become more recognizable and then when they do return to Broadway more people will see them in their shows.
IS HE DEAD and Norbert got excellent reviews but just not enough people knew who he was to keep the show going.
Best of luck to them both.
jmacisawesome
Understudy Joined: 8/12/06
#18re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 1:56pm
I believe when Norbert was first cast, I read that it was going to be a "dramady." So a combo of comedy and drama.
And everyone up there is right. It is just a pilot. Norbert did that "Playing Chicken" pilot a year or so ago, and that didn't get picked up, despite a positive reaction from the audience it was filmed in front of. Roger has done pilots and that 'Bram and Alice' show that lasted less than six episodes. Because they're doing a pilot doesn't mean it's going to amount to anything. Although, if it does, I think this is the cast and creator I'd want to see both of these actors working with. I love 'How I Met Your Mother,' and hopefully this show will be just as good.
Borstalboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/9/04
#19re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 2:03pm
Oh, please. Hollywood "stealing" stars from Broadway goes back to Audrey Hepburn and before that Clark Gable and probably even more before that.
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jordangirl
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/1/06
#20re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 2:03pmAs was pointed out, it is a PILOT. Tons of pilots are shot each year but very few are greenlighted and even fewer are picked up. Shooting a pilot does not necessarily equal an instant move to Hollywood.
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#21re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 2:24pm
Screw this arguement. Sorry I j^$%#$#%^$ mentioned it because for a moment I felt a twinge of guilt. SuellenGay, it IS my industry because it's where I work. It's where I get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to come up with ideas for movies (and I've been doing it since 1987, so yes, I do feel it's MY industry. I've made the front page of Variety several times in MY industry). I was simply trying to point out that I had a tinge of remorse about the depletion of great leading men to Hollywood. Sure it's great for new up-and-comers to get roles but stars sell shows, not unknowns.
Oh, and BTW, Kristin Chenowith and Nathan Lane ARE Broadway people. They aren't the types Hollywood readily casts. I can see why their shows flopped. (IYKWIM which BTW means 'If You Know What I Mean'). Roger Bart and Norbert Butz are exactly the type of guys Hollywood can fit into ensemble pieces like legal shows and when they leave, there's nobody to readily fill the holes created.
I was simply bemoaning the fact that as fast as Broadway makes em, Hollywood takes em.
But now that I'm so pissed, I'm going to go out and pitch a show to the networks that is PERFECT for Patti Lupone. See if you like me taking HER off the market.
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SporkGoddess
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/27/05
#22re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 2:26pm
TBH, it probably won't last a week. The newest law show (Canterbury's Law) only got about eight episodes in before it was canned. I think people are getting sick of all of the law shows out there.
Of course, I haven't seen it. It could be really, really amazing.
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Updated On: 5/28/08 at 02:26 PM
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#23re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 2:31pmDid Chenoweth, et al, say "Eff You, Broadway, I'm never coming back!"? If not, I'm not sure how exactly their returns to the stage could be considered "crawling."
gumbo2
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/21/05
#24re: How Hollywood steals
Posted: 5/28/08 at 2:33pmThis whole thread is ridiculous. As someone said before, Bart has done numerous TV and movie appearances, and Norbert is starting to show up in commercials and movies as well, and they still do Broadway. And even if they didn't, what's the big deal? Good for them, I hope the pilot gets picked up.