He's wrong right from the subheading: "There isn't a show on telly that wouldn't be infinitely enhanced by characters singing their normally spoken lines." That would not "brighten up what looks like an unpromising sweltering season" -- instead it would be a recipe for an infinite number of Cop Rocks.

ETA that I hadn't even read the comments, but I see Cop Rock found it's way into the discussion pretty quickly.

[ edited by theonetruebix on 2008-06-10 18:32 ]

The One True b!X | June 10, 21:30 CET

I'm with theonetruebix on this. Audiences typically don't tolerate radical deviation from well-defined generic norms. If it's a cop show, then it's a cop show (not Cop Rocks). Certainly, shows do occasionally try a musical episode, but they have to work hard to justify and normalize it within the conventions of their genre. A standard trick is to make the whole thing a "dream sequence." It's much easier to justify a musical episode in some genres than in others. Comedies are particularly well-suited to morphing into a musical whenever the Muse strikes (see Ally McBeal, for example). Action/comic book/fantasy shows like Buffy can draw on one particular norm of the genre -- spells -- to justify a musical. But any show? Nope. I don't think so. Most audiences are not that postmodern in their sensibilities.

1starbuckstown | June 10, 23:31 CET

Can you imagine Mulder & Scully bursting into song while they investigate the truth?

korkster | June 10, 23:43 CET

Moe Syzlack: "It's Po-Mo! Post Modern!....weird for the sake'a weird."

pat32082 | June 10, 23:46 CET

Can you imagine Mulder & Scully bursting into song while they investigate the truth?

Or, for that matter, the fact that the author suggests The Wire, of all things. Oy.

The One True b!X | June 10, 23:57 CET

The Wire? THE WIRE?

*has no words*

pat32082 | June 11, 00:13 CET

Can you imagine Mulder & Scully bursting into song while they investigate the truth?

You've never heard the Foo Fighters play and David Duchovny sing lyrics about suspicious medical anomalies till you've heard the musical X-Files episode in my head.

Sunfire | June 11, 00:26 CET

McLean's kidding aside, it has to be true that genre creators and fans are more willing to play around with the format and content of shows and that genre shows provide more believable (in context) ways of producing musical episodes (because genre is generally "bigger", slightly hyper-real to begin with, as well as having the pick of the plot devices like magic or alien technology).

'Eli Stone' is a recent show which featured musical numbers a lot though, if not precisely musical episodes (and it's only semi-genre too - about as much as 'Highway to Heaven' was for instance ;).

Saje | June 11, 00:37 CET

I think the author has some very wishful thinking going on. In order for a musical episode to work, it has to be nothing short of fantastic.

It’s kind of funny to me that the author is just equating “musical episode” with refreshing, fun and the answer to everything that pains you. It comes off like he's saying, "You know Mozart's Magic Flute? Make something like that."

First of all, Joss happens to be a horrible example of the norm. He's a brilliant storyteller that loves musicals. So its kinda his thing. Secondly, people who embrace Buffy are the same kind of people that watch musicals. It seems logical for me to believe that fans of BtVS have a very similar willingness to suspend disbelief. From a personal perspective, I don’t have a single friend that can stand to watch a musical. The moment they start singing, eyes roll and attention is completely replaced with disgust and an antsy look similar to an individual with a full bladder.

I’d love to see musicals make a comeback but in an age where kids are being raised by the likes of Ronald McDonald and Britney Spears, I doubt Hollywood is going to allow their sacred cash-cows to do anything other than give the audience what they want. That reminds me of one of my favorite Joss-isms, (paraphrasing. And I assume Joss was paraphrasing someone else as this concept seems way too recognizable) “I don’t give the audience what they want, I give them what they need.”

alexreager | June 11, 00:56 CET

And, honestly, for every "Once More with Feeling" there are at least two 7th Heaven musical episodes (I'm not getting that 2 minutes back). Yeah. The few minutes I caught while switching channels, well, so much more painful than the show already was.

k8cre8 | June 11, 01:04 CET

I agree that it takes a certain knack to make the musical episode work. Did anyone see the Scrubs episode "My Musical"? And I like Scrubs- but, ew. Not working.

Jelly | June 11, 01:33 CET

Secondly, people who embrace Buffy are the same kind of people that watch musicals.

I despise almost all musicals. Does this make me the exception that proves the rule, or is the above not actually a rule after all?

The One True b!X | June 11, 01:38 CET

Both ;).

Saje | June 11, 01:41 CET

I hate almost all musicals too, theonetruebix.

fangless | June 11, 01:49 CET

I never get why some people are anti-musical. I understand why some people don't like some musicals, but never understand the dislike for the whole genre...unless one dislikes music in general.

That said, I'd love to see the planned Musical episode of Ugly Betty happen next season as I know they have the talent. I do hate it though when they turn into musical revues with no plot (and often no strong singers). It's a waste of time.

Buffyactsing | June 11, 03:41 CET

I don't dislike music. I just find that most examples of the genre "musical" grate on my nerves like you wouldn't believe. Once More with Feeling worked for me. Brecht/Weill stuff works for me. Of all things, a musical about Anne Frank (called Yours, Anne) worked for me. But most of what people think of when they talk about musicals -- in other words, almost everything considered "Broadway" -- not only fails to work for me in the least, it outright attacks my sensibilities.

All of which should not be taken to mean "I think musicals are crap and no tasteful person would ever like them". It's not a crap genre. It just fails for me rather spectacularly.

The One True b!X | June 11, 04:04 CET

I actually really liked the Scrubs musical episode, Jelly. Especially 'Guy Love'. Perhaps that says something about me, rather than the quality of the show...

A part of me also loves the idea of a Doctor Who musical, but I think the rest of me might want to disown that part!

Gil-Martin | June 11, 04:44 CET

Leaving aside the justification of them, they are also way too easy to screw up. Buffy, Xena, Big Brother Jake, otherwise, not so marvy.

DaddyCatALSO | June 11, 04:45 CET

b!X, is Sondheim a no-go for you, too?

QuoterGal | June 11, 04:51 CET

bix--not only are you the exception, you are exceptional!

I find musicals in general very nostalgic having grown up in a house with an older sister that was very involved with school theater. I learned many of the major musicals when I was 7 and 8 years old and as I rewatch a show now many, many years later as an adult, I find that without thinking about it, I'm remembering almost every word.

alexreager | June 11, 04:55 CET

b!X, is Sondheim a no-go for you, too?

No-go, yes.

The One True b!X | June 11, 05:44 CET

:( Find found no mention in the article or comments about Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.

Anonymous1 | June 11, 06:46 CET

As Saje implies, the article writer is not so much wrong as . . . kidding. Exaggeration for effect. Taking the piss. As seen by



or the mention of The Wire.

SoddingNancyTribe | June 11, 06:47 CET

I love musical theater to a degree...Rogers and Hammerstein are the high watermark for me (Carousel, especially).

But the essential absurdity of musicals--why are people singing, and where is the music coming from?--has always troubled me a bit.

That's where OMWF took the genre and did something I've never seen before (somebody correct me if I'm wrong)....the music was an essential PART of the plot, not a plot developer.

Have I mentioned that my wife and I are in regular awe at the genius behind this show?

Chris inVirginia | June 11, 07:29 CET

Actually, I could see a semi-musical episode of The Wire working if they had a hip-hop artist as one of the characters, but as far as I know they didn't.

That said, with the exception of Sondheim and OMWF, I've yet to see a musical that really blows me away.

ManEnoughToAdmitIt | June 11, 07:45 CET

The scrubs (series 6 I think) was very good, the "guy love" song in particular had me in stitches...

[ edited by SmileTime on 2008-06-11 09:41 ]

SmileTime | June 11, 12:41 CET

theonetruebix wrote:

Ah, see now bix all that will change when you see my new musical, Hunch!

Swoon to such numbers as I've Got a Hunch, I Love You; There is Notre Like a Dame; and of course who could forget the hauntingly beautiful I Can't Quite Recall Your Name, But the Face Sure Rings a Bell...?

crystalsinger | June 11, 17:50 CET

I like the Foo Fighters. May I jack into your head so I can also listen?

korkster | June 11, 20:30 CET