Michael in the bathroom Tony’s parody- Page 2

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 10:09am

Hmm? https://twitter.com/nickblaemire/status/1137934573755613184

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 10:13am

LizzieCurry said: "Hmm? https://twitter.com/nickblaemire/status/1137934573755613184"

These people are acting as if the Tonys have never done a musical parody before, You know, like they’ve done nearly every single year. All nominated shows are fair game. What a weird fan base.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 10:17am

From a FB post from someone close to the show: BE MORE CHILL tried to pay for airtime to do a number from the show and was refused because of lack of time. No one connected to the show was advised that they would parody the number and/or were involved. Even if you are not a fan of the show this is a terrible way to treat a Show, especially one that is struggling, To me, who is not a Corden fan it seems another way to boost his "comedy" chops (which I think suck) at someone else's expense. As a songwriter, it seems rather low for Bareilles to be involved, unless she, too was clueless. If they did not want to give airtime to BE MORE CHILL than at least use the time for more Awards such as the Lifetime Achievement for Rosemary Harris. If all of this is true it was clearly a major misstep for the TONY producers.

[singer234]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 10:25am

From what I’ve heard (of course could all be untrue!) the producers of BMC seriously pissed off the Wing (and voters) by essentially begging people to nominate Be More Chill in letters the team sent out to the voters. Maybe unrelated but there doesn’t seem to be the best relationship between BMC and the rest of the community. Let’s not forget this show also turned over their entire GM and PR team like overnight so...something seems up at BMC.

[TobiasRagg]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 10:25am

I personally thought the whole thing was tacky. We could’ve skipped something like this to leave room for more awards to be actually shown live, and not cut. Like, Best Choreography, which is a pretty important award.

I personally am not a fan of James Corden after hearing multiple stories about how he’s really not the nicest guy in real life (one example is the story in 5 Seconds of Summer’s Rolling Stone profile). I really do love Sara Bareilles and Josh Groban though.

If it’s true that Joe Iconis helped write the parody, then no one from BMC should be complaining. I still don’t think that bit was necessary though.

Updated On: 6/10/19 at 10:25 AM

[singer234]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 10:26am

Not to mention Tepper wrote a super bitter long post after the show was locked out of most nominations, and I imagine the wing read it. Not a cute look.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 10:26am

How does it matter if the show is struggling?   It's a PARODY - it's not like they were poking fun of the show.

 

I also don't see how them being refused air time has ANYTHING to do with this.   

 

I suppose I would like to know the truth, however, if Iconis helped with the lyrics as mentioned earlier in the thread.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 10:28am

TooTiredForThis said: "Parodies actually have requirements under the law to count as fair use, limiting how much one can use to what is necessary to make the point, and must make commentary on its source.

Sadly we have like 3 generations who have their parody education from Weird Al, who gets permission for his releases, and when he doesn't, may release them not for profit. The case that this was parody and not theft would... not be strong."

Does that have to do with the fact that he profits off of the parodies? Or how frequently he performs them? 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 10:36am

givesmevoice said: "Does that have to do with the fact that he profits off of the parodies? Or how frequently he performs them?"

 

I was watching Weird Al's interview on Sam Jones' "Off Camera" series recently. IIRC, Weird Al said that he actually doesn't have to secure the artists' permission for any of his work, but he does it anyway as a courtesy, and as a personal principal. 

[RyanInVancouver]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 10:39am

I don't know the show at all but:

1. I can't imagine NO ONE knew they were going to spoof it but I can imagine they didn't tell the entire cast they were going to spoof it.

2. I had no idea the song was from another show - I figured it was something they wrote.

 

[Hamilfan2]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 10:40am

singer234 said: "Let’s not forget this show also turned over their entire GM and PR team like overnight so...something seems up at BMC."

When was this?  I don't remember hearing anything about this.

[TobiasRagg]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 10:40am

JBroadway said: "givesmevoice said: "Does that have to do with the fact that he profits off of the parodies? Or how frequently he performs them?"



I was watching Weird Al's interview on Sam Jones' "Off Camera" series recently. IIRC, Weird Al said that he actually doesn't have to secure the artists' permission for any of his work, but he does it anyway as a courtesy, and as a personal principal."

Makes me think of the episode of How I Met Your Mother where Weird Al steals “Like a Surgeon” from Ted’s fanmail. Haha

[bdn223]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 10:45am

I thought it was funny, but was honestly waiting for George Salazar to come out of one of the stalls. My mother loved, and when I mentioned it was a parody of a show that was't nominated she became really confused. I just wish that Corden or the producers did something within the bit to call out that its from Be More Chill. I get that they probably assumed based on the cast albums airplay, that many in the community and tweenagers understood what they were parodying, but the Tony's audience much older and likely don't get the reference. I get the bad blood between the those involved in the production and the American Theater Wing, regarding the lack of love for the show, but they do have a point for being upset for this. Even if there was a quick picture of the The Be More Chill  marquee, the producers should of done something to make it know they were parodying the show. After all, Be More Chill is no Hamiltion, nor Dear Evan Hansen, and has been struggling since the Tony nominations were announced, so outside of the theater community, so I am sure the parody aspect went over the heads of 75% of audience.

Regarding the animosity between the production, I was walking in the Theater district the night the Tony nominations were announced, and ended up walking behind one of the better know cast members of Be More Chill. S/He went on an all out tirade about how the show was treated by the nominating committee, and how S/He felt they were purposefully shunning the show in hopes of it hurting the show's commercial viability. It was quite eye opening, and was beyond the more understandable "Why?" rant. This cast member clearly felt there was some vendetta that the nominating committee had with the production.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 10:48am

Because who could forget the golden rule of comedy: explain the joke and tell the audience exactly what it is you’re parodying and how you’re doing it.

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 10:52am

TobiasRagg said: "I personally thought the whole thing was tacky. We could’ve skipped something like this to leave room for more awards to be actually shown live, and not cut. Like, Best Choreography, which is a pretty important award."

I think it was tacky as well. Parodies of comedic or fluff songs are one thing, but I've never liked parodies of songs that involve serious themes. How do you think a parody of "Words Fail" from Dear Evan Hansen would have gone over? Regardless of whether you like Be More Chill, the Tonys turned what is arguably the most poignant part of the show into a joke, and I find that tasteless.

[ilovebabyv]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 10:55am

It was a cute bit. Be More Chill should be ecstatic to get the residual promo for their dreadful little show.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 10:56am

Serious themes???

“Michael in the Bathroom” is about a kid who goes to a party that he wasn’t invited to and then barricades himself inside a bathroom making sure nobody else at the party can use the bathroom (while they’re banging on the door because they have to piss so badly), while he sings a song about how much he doesn’t want to be at the party (that he wasn’t invited to) and can’t wait for it to be over.

Yeah, so so serious.

Updated On: 6/10/19 at 10:56 AM

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 10:58am

Jordan Catalano said: "Serious themes???

“Michael in the Bathroom” is about a kid who goes to a party that he wasn’t invited to and then barricades himself inside a bathroom making sure nobody else at the party can use the bathroom (while they’re banging on the door because they have to piss so badly), while he sings a song about how much he doesn’t want to be at the party (that he wasn’t invited to) and can’t wait for it to be over.

Yeah, so so serious."

Clearly, the song went over your head.

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 10:59am

Jordan Catalano said: "Serious themes???

“Michael in the Bathroom” is about a kid who goes to a party that he wasn’t invited to and then barricades himself inside a bathroom making sure nobody else at the party can use the bathroom (while they’re banging on the door because they have to piss so badly), while he sings a song about how much he doesn’t want to be at the party (that he wasn’t invited to) and can’t wait for it to be over.

Yeah, so so serious."

I do not like Be More Chill, but that's...not what the song is about at all.

[Fetus]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 11:00am

The entire time this parody was on I was gritting my teeth that this was getting a 5-minute segment over Bob Mackie's acceptance speech, Rosemary Harris's lifetime achievement award and just about every other creative award. I love Bareilles and Groban so their involvement made it all the more groan inducing.

Aside from being pleased with the recipients this telecast was one of the most bloated in recent memory. I get the struggle for ratings in the digital age, but its coming at the disrespect of so many creatives who earned their recognition.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 11:01am

ilovebabyv, yeah, but if you didn't know what show the song was from, then...?

[JBroadway]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 11:03am

Lot666 said: "TobiasRagg said: "Parodies of comedic or fluff songs are one thing, butI've never liked parodies of songs that involve serious themes. How do you think a parodyof "Words Fail" from Dear Evan Hansen would have gone over? Regardless of whether you likeBe More Chill, the Tonys turned what is arguably the most poignant part of the showinto a joke, and I find that tasteless."

 

Oh please!! 

@TheQuibbler, let's not forget the other Golden Rule of comedy: you can only make jokes at the expense of things that are already meant to be funny. 

Sure, if you're making light of really heavy, sensitive issues like school shootings, sexual assault, etc. then sure, I might agree with you, Lot666. But this is a song about a lonely teenage boy who got his feelings hurt by his best friend. Not exactly a sensitve, hot-button topic. 

 

[ilovebabyv]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 11:07am

LizzieCurry said: "ilovebabyv, yeah, but if you didn't know what show the song was from, then...?"

Then you are lucky.

Also Fetus, TOTALLY AGREE!!!!

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 11:07am

JBroadway said: "Sure, if you're making light of really heavy, sensitive issues like school shootings, sexual assault, etc. then sure, I might agree with you, Lot666. But this is a song about a lonely teenage boy who got his feelings hurt by his best friend. Not exactly a sensitve, hot-button topic."

I guess you're just a bit more callous than some of us.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 6/10/19 at 11:19am

Lot666 said: "JBroadway said: "Sure, if you're making light of really heavy, sensitive issues like school shootings, sexual assault, etc. then sure, I might agree with you, Lot666. But this is a song about a lonely teenage boy who got his feelings hurt by his best friend. Not exactly a sensitve, hot-button topic."

I guess you're just a bit more callous than some of us."



Why? Because I don't put  "lonely boy at a party" on par with serious, sensitive issues that are actually offensive to make fun of? 

And by the way, I've BEEN in Michael's shoes. I have issues with social anxiety - I once hid behind a tree outside a school dance in a situation not unlike the one in the show. But that doesn't mean I think it should be "off limits" to make fun of just because it has some sincere emotions behind it. Was it offensive of John Mulaney to do a Les Mis parody on SNL even though Les Mis is about serious issues? 

Updated On: 6/10/19 at 11:19 AM