Hamlisch Tribute on Live from Lincoln Center Tonite (12/31)

[ggersten]

I did a phone interview with Mr. Hamlisch around 1981 or 1982. I was working on a college radio station, and he took a good 15 minutes out of his day to speak with me. There were some audio problems and I had to edit the interview by re-recording my questions. But for a person of his stature to do the interview for a 10 Watt college radio station was so gracious and magnanimous and apparently typical. And in a box somewhere should be a cassette with a copy of the aired interview.
I recall several things: (1) that he said "It's not really the Marvin Hamlisch story" with reference to "They're Playing Our Song" (2) He loved playing for Groucho and (3) he fought to keep What I Did For Love in A Chorus Line by telling Michael Bennett that Marvin needed to have one hit song in the show..
So, when they started singing What I Did for Love last night, I smiled broadly.

[Movidude742]

I am watching it now and am only up to Lilla Crawford, but I was hooked by the overture. IT was so odd hearing strings at first since there were none in the orchestrations of the show, but by the end I already wanted a recording of the concertfor my CD collection

When I saw the line painted on the floor in front of the orchestra I literally felt a chill

[Marianne2]

Didn't see this because I forgot. But, how did Beth Behrs do? Or what did she do? Just curious because she isn't a Broadway veteran and I know her best from 2 Broke Girls.

[SueleenGay]

If you missed it check your local listing; here in Chicago it is being rebroadcast tonight at 12:30.

[ElphabaRose]

Beth Bohrs did Dance 10, Looks 3 and the finale and it was quite odd. They wouldn't let her say Tits, so the whole number became this hammy mess where she had to come up with things to replace the word... mits, bits, spits. It was horrible. And she wasn't terrible, but she wasn't very good either.

[Owen22]

Oh yeah, three songs from the dismal "Sweet Smell" and only ONE from "They're Playing Our Song"???

Really?

[dannyboy]

Marvin really deserved better. There were times I couldnt believe the song selections and the singers. Why that woman doing NOTHING....horrendous. What happened at the end? Was this concert thrown together or did it just end early?

[wonkit]

I must say, with all due respect to Maria Friedman, that I was floored that she got two songs of significant length and Esparza got a 3-minute forgettable song from SUCCESS. I had much higher expectations for an homage than this evening presented.

[Jordan Catalano]

Well, Raul sang one of my favorite songs ever written by Hamlisch, so I was quite pleased.

[jv92]

Am I the only one who hated almost the whole thing? Some thoughts:

I thought a 12 year old singing "Disneyland" was inappropriate. Maybe it's because I'm familiar with the show, though.

Everything Audra does lately is overwrought and over-the-top. Bring it back to earth.

The "Tits and Ass" gimmick was...well, a gimmick.

I think it would have been better to have someone from the original CHORUS LINE do a number rather that what they did.

However, Kelli O'Hara and Brian D'Arcy James did a good job-- and so did Michael Feinstein.

And something was up with the sound at the end.

Looking forward to the PBS docu. on the Jewish legacy of the American Musical tonight very much, though.

[followspot]

You're not the only one, jv92. From Audra's and Megan's opening song butchering to the 15 dead minutes of audience shots at the end, I thought it was pretty much a non-stop train wreck.

[MrMidwest]

Hilty might have been better if the song had been taken up a bit to show off some vocal flourishes. Was she downplaying the sexual aspect of the song on purpose? It felt very safe and blah.

[dramamama611]

Just getting through on the dvr -- not terribly impressed yet and Im 25 minutes in.

Am I the only one that doesnt get Josh Groban's massive success?

[Mildred Plotka]

I see nobody made a New Year's resolution to be less nit-picky or bitchy about things.

[dramamama611]

Brian D'Arcy James defintely worth waiting for!

(And can does anyone else think BDJ and Mandy Patinkin should play brothers in something? While I like the quality of BDJ more than Patinkin, they have similar stature, stylings and presence.)

[another sloe eyed vamp]

dramamama, I definitely don't get Josh Groban either.

And why didn't Michael Feinstein get a curtain call?

[best12bars]

Just started watching this on my DVR.

I have to say, the orchestra is so sloppy! The pianist in the overture was racing to the finish line ahead of everyone else.

And the first arrangement of "The Way We Were" that Audra sang is completely horrific. It's like they're forcing the song and the melody to do something completely different. It doesn't fit at all.

And Megan Hilty is singing flat. And very lounge-y.

Does it get better than "Nobody Does It Better?"

I sure hope they do it better.

[Jordan Catalano]

right?! I expected either Jan Hooks or Nora Dunn to come out and finish the song with Hilty.

[best12bars]

Oh, she should have launched into "Clang, clang, clang ..." right at the end.

That would be doing it better.

At least Josh Groban sounds like he's in the same room with the orchestra and Paul Geminiani.

Audra makes a lovely host though. I'd like to see her host the Tonys one day. She can just give out all of her own at the ceremony and still have a few left over at the end!

[best12bars]

Okay, Lilla was lovely.

A powerhouse voice and talent. Her acting was great, too!

[blaxx]

Was there anything from They're Playing our Song or The Goodbye Girl at all? No Bernadette or Martin Short?

[Jordan Catalano]

I thought the bit where Audra pulled Lilla off the stage during "Dance Ten..." was absolutely hilarious. I had to pause it I was laughing so hard.

[Playbilly]

It was a wholly unimpressive night, I thought. Just didn't gel, and really made Marvin seem second rate to me. The performers all seemed off.

[Jordan Catalano]

I do think that in a couple years, Megan Hilty will be ideal for Shiela.

[pinoyidol2006]

Well, I hope someone would post clips from the show online.

For future Broadway-related broadcasts, does anyone know how someone could stream PBS without a television?

[Gregor]

The kind people at PBS have now posted the full 85 minute video stream online! Thank you, PBS!

http://video.pbs.org/video/2322359038