This week we are taking a look at some down home country charm and crooning courtesy of Broadway leading lady - late of HAIRSPRAY, WICKED and LEGALLY BLONDE - the country/pop crossover chanteuse and comedienne known to friends and fans as LBB - but, to the world, three names barely even begin to say it all when it comes to her raw talent, vocal timbre and comic timing: Laura Bell Bundy. In this special FLASH FRIDAY in honor of LBB's nomination for "Breakthough Artist Music Video of the Year" for her hit single "Giddy On Up" from her double-disc debut solo album ACHIN' & SHAKIN' at the upcoming American Country Awards in November, we are gearing up for the hottest (and most hilarious) hay-ride of the Halloween season thanks to these risqué and occasionally raunchy clips from LBB's self-made and self-starring YouTube channel Cooter County. All of this is in anticipation of the upcoming InDepth InterView: Laura Bell Bundy coming next week! For now, just a tiny taste of the whole peach pie!
Reason To Be-Weave
It is near-impossible to name another Broadway performer who carries as many titles as Laura Bell Bundy: Broadway leading lady, country crooner, pop princess, kooky (and gifted) comedienne - and a beyond-lovely girl-next-door in person. The girl has it all - but she works it, and works hard, to make it all work for her. Case in point: Cooter County. The titillating titled YouTube channel is just one of many avenues LBB uses to reach out to her legions of fans worldwide, and it also acts as an effective marketing tool not only to advertise her CDs, MP3s, Broadway and TV appearances and concerts, but also - with comedic content only ostensibly related to LBB herself - the perfect way to present the artist to the uninitiated. It's a near-stroke of genius - and will maybe eventually prove to be a full-stroke - and completely anomalous for a Broadway performer, so given this column's primary purpose is to highlight the best of the digital entertainment scene as it pertains to Broadway each week, thanks to LBB and Cooter County we have a bull's eye hit on our target demographic. So, sit back with a cold one - whether that be a beer or an embittered broken heart - and let Laura lead you to her lively land of whimsical charm, ribald (and sometimes ridiculous) and riotous comedy without even taking into consideration material from shows - Broadway, Nashville, MTV and otherwise - that remind us of the talent quotient of her complex entertainment equation of a crossover career. Whether Broadway, Hollywood (be sure to catch her recurring appearances on HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER), MTV, or Nashville - LBB always makes us feel at home and welcoming us to sidle up beside her and sample the song selections she sings - and writes, in many cases - as only she can do. LBB's name needs all three initials because she is a true triple threat - actress, singer and comedienne. See why - and how - as we travel to the strange and salacious land of Cooter County!
Cooter County is comprised of a complex assortment of country bumpkins and down-South divas and devos, but the Kween (sic) of Cooter County is undoubtedly its creator and founder herself, Miss Laura Bell Bundy. Whether in the streetwise, ghetto guise of Shocantelle Brown or the charmingly clueless, frequently inappropriate Euneeda Biscuit - LBB effortlessly straddles both sides of the comedic spectrum. Shocantelle is a funnier character than I have seen on SNL since the days of Wayne, Garth and Pat, and Euneeda - as she proved on many promos aired on CMT in anticipation of the ACHIN' & SHAKIN' album release early last year - is a continuation of the comedic tradition whose most recent forbearer may lie in Estelle Getty's sassy silver fox on GOLDEN GIRLS. So, let's check out these clips and sample the stylings - vocal and follicle (Fades & Braids) - and then partake in some LBB ala crusty old Euneeda. Plus, a whole lot more on our cursory tour of Cooter County USA!
First, here is the Shocantelle show-and-tell of her fine hair care establishment(s). To paraphrase Shocantelle herself, "You really need to see this, OK?"
Next, here is Shocantelle showing off her classy digs in a Cooter County CRIBS tribute. See if she can make you a be-weaver!
Now check out a clip of Euneeda introducing LBB. Awkward!
Next, we have Shocantelle introducing LBB. Is she sincere? Doubtful!
Here we have Euneeda interviewing LBB herself. A recipe for... success? Disaster? Well, find out for yourself!
Additionally, it must be stated that while Laura Bell Bundy portrays a handful of inhabitants of Cooter Town herself, she also has some help from her real-life close friends. Below you can check out some new clips from Cooter County featuring a take-off on THE REAL HOUSEWIVES franchise as well as a CRIBS-off reaction video to Shocantelle Brown by some other Southern divas who be-weave. What will Shocantelle say back to this (whack) attack?
Danielle who? Kelly who? Countess who? These ladies show how to take out the trash - and how to do it the most ghetto fabulously - REAL HOUSEWIVES-style!
Next, here is the Fades & Braids CRIBS-off reaction to Shocantelle's House Tour. Oh no, they didn't... did they? Oh, they did!
Our last selection comes from the lady behind the music and urban/agrarian parody antics herself and features a new inhabitant of Cooter County, Impact Johnson, as well as a cameo appearance by Euneeda as she jazzercizes along to the 80s throwback workout video.
Lastly, and most of all: be sure to vote everyday for Laura Bell Bundy at the American Country Awards for Breakthrough Video Artist of the Year here: www.theacas.com! Tune in to the telecast to see if she triumphs!
Stay tuned to the Cooter County YouTube Channel and also - especially - BroadwayWorld next week with the breakdown of all things Cooter County and LBB from the lady herself in our revealing indepth conversation on her career on stages - Broadway, concert, country and soundstages - so far! So, become a be-weaver yourself and take a complete tour of Cooter County at this link below and check out the lay of the land!
That's all for this week. Please remember that if you have discovered a particularly thrilling, unique, bizarre or hilarious Broadway-related clip to please send us a line at the link below. Until next week...
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