Is MY FAIR LADY Really "The Most Beloved Musical of All Time?"

[CT2NYC]

Whenever My Fair Lady is referred to as "the most beloved musical of all time," I wonder where that designation came from. In my opinion, that title will always belong to The Sound of Music. Is there a poll that says otherwise?

[CATSNYrevival]

You'll note the lack of quotes and a lack of any credit being given for the statement. It's just marketing hyperbole.

[Lot666]

I agree with the theory suggested by CATSNYrevival (i.e., no quotes likely means no real source). As Julia Sugarbaker once remarked, "It's just something somebody made up; how can you take it so seriously?"

It may be someone's opinion, but it's definitely not mine. It's not even in my top 20! 

[Wick3]

It would be funny if there's one season of classic musical revivals and they all used that same tag line (without quotes of course) for marketing purposes. lol

[trentsketch]

This is simply marketing playing off of nostalgia.

The element of truth is that My Fair Lady is the stage to screen adaptation that won the most major awards in the US. It did win eight Oscars including Best Picture after winning six Tony awards including Best Musical. It's also been revived four times now on Broadway.

I agree with CT2NYC that The Sound of Music is probably a more accurate pick for Most Beloved. The Wizard of Oz makes more sense, too. But, then again, you don't need to market either of those as "Beloved" to get people to buy tickets.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Dolly was similarly billed as BROADWAY'S GREATEST MUSICAL (no quotes)

[haterobics]

If this is too much hyperbole for you, I'd suggest avoiding a supermarket.

[Kad]

Does the pizza place a block from me *really* have the best slice in New York?

[carnzee]

I don't think there's any way to quantify the statement, but hey, it's a great classic. It's not as if Lincoln Center tried to call ANYONE CAN WHISTLE or such the "most beloved."

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

It's just marketing. That said, it is interesting to discuss. I think when it comes to be beloved by generations after they came out, Sound of Music probably does take that title. I don't know any other Broadway musical that really hits the chord for people the way the film version has. I think it has all the right ingredients to make it beloved decades after it debuted. I'm not saying other classical musicals aren't big either because they are, but SOM seems to be on a different level. I think when it comes to MFL, it's hard to think of another musical that was as popular, well-received, and incredibly rewarded as that show was when it debuted on Broadway and when it became a film. It really did shake up the mainstream, and although it really does hold up extremely well, I do think Sound of Music really has that broader base cross-generational appeal that made it bigger afterwards. It's like Wizard of Oz level.

[MyLife]

I know where you can find the WORLD'S BEST CUP OF COFFEE, and it's right here in NYC!

They did it!

 

I learned about it in a holiday documentary.

[darquegk]

Walking from Penn Station to Hell's Kitchen, I saw a ramen shop with an elaborate chalk mural outside of Naruto eating ramen. The sign read, "Naruto's favorite NYC Ramen Shop!" I did not, however, "believe it."

[Call_me_jorge]

I tell my dog that he’s the best dog in the world. How could that be true though when I haven’t met every dog in the world?

[QueenAlice]

What else are they supposed to say? "The third best musical of the Golden Era returns in a production different but not unfamiliar than any you have ever seen."

[bfried]

No way. Definitely HAMILTON. 

[markypoo]

While on vacation in London in 1981, advertising the current MFL revival was a huge billboard above the Adelphi Theatre screaming the words THE WORLD'S GREATEST MUSICAL.
I've agreed with this exacting summation ever since.