Tonight, two of my favorite talents united for one glorious performance as Grammy nominated international pop star Mika was joined on stage by Emmy and Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth. The two performed his great single “Popular Song” from his brilliant third album, The Origin of Love, which heavily relies on the chorus of the song “Popular” from the musical Wicked for which Chenoweth grabbed her second Tony nomination (after winning for You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown). Check out the wonderful performance below and head here for more on Mika’s music and his current tour.
Grammy nominated singer Mika released his brilliant third album The Origin of Love last week and I think it may be his best yet. While you’ve probably heard his current dance hit “Celebrate” with Pharrell Williams and seen the videos for “The Origin of Love” and rumored next single “Make You Happy”, you may not have heard one of the best and most fun tracks on the album, “Popular Song”. This bouncy fun track features added vocals by Priscilla Renea and samples the Broadway smash Wicked. Borrowing from one of the most popular songs of the show, “Popular”, Mika and Renea sing a song that is pure fantastic candy coated pop perfection. Check it out below and catch Mika on tour in the U.S. now. Head herefor tour info and more on Mika.
As you all know, The Wizard of Ozis an iconic and incredibly beloved film. It’s been a touchstone in filmmaking for the ages and has inspired tons of books, works of art and a Tony Award winning musical, Wicked…. Now, Hollywood is ready to take us back to Oz with a new spin on the classic tale. This one is called Oz: The Great and Powerfuland stars Oscar nominee James Franco, Oscar winner Rachel Weisz, three time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams and Golden Globe nominee Mila Kunis.Spider-man director Sam Raimi directs this adventure which could be considered a prequel to the original film as it follows a magician (Franco) who is flown away to the fantastical world of Oz during a tornado, and there he meets the three witches played by Weisz, Williams and Kunis. The first trailer for Oz just hit the web and it looks pretty fantastic. Check it out below and watch for the film to hit theaters next March.
So far the main dramatic thrust of the new and delightful musical dramedy Smash has been whether Broadway vet Ivy (Wicked’s Megan Hilty) or newbie Karen (American Idol’s Katharine McPhee) will get the juicy part of Marilyn Monroe in the upcoming musical Bombshell. Both have had their moments and the actors are doing some amazing work. However, the producers of the show are giving them some serious competition in the form of movie star Rebecca Duvall played by Oscar nominee Uma Thurman. Yeah, I think she’s totally wrong for the part, but that never stops Hollywood from miscasting stars in real life. So, the storyline makes a good deal of sense and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds. Check out a teaser clip of Thurman singing and dancing below. She’s pretty good actually. That’s not too much of a shock since she was perhaps the best thing in the film adaptation of the Tony winning musical The Producers. Watch Smash, which was recently renewed for a second season, tonight at 10pm on NBC.
My favorite new show of 2012 to no one’s surprise is the musical dramedy Smash. Despite some inconsistencies in quality week to week, it never ceases to entertain and I’m thrilled it’s on the air. Katharine McPhee has shown she has some nice acting chops to go along with her lovely voice that we first heard on American Idol, Emmy winner Debra Messing (Will & Grace) and Tony nominee Christian Borle (Legally Blonde) are a wonderful comic duo and Broadway vet Megan Hilty (Wicked) is killing it every week as vindictive insecure starlet Ivy…. This week things really get good as the workshop of their Marilyn musical finally goes up and we also get a visit from Ivy’s over-bearing Broadway diva mother played by seven-time nominee and two-time Tony winning Broadway diva Bernadette Peters(Song and Dance, Annie Get Your Gun). Of course, she comes right in and steals the show with her own musical number from Gypsy. Check out the preview below and watch Smash tonight on NBC.
Smash Preview~ Bernadette Peters singing “Everything’s Coming Up Roses”
NBCis pretty much an unmitigated disaster area these days. Despite having two of the best and award-winning comedies on television.30 Rock and Parks and Recreation, the network is mired at the bottom of the ratings heap. However, they are hoping two new rays of light will save the network, the singing competition show The Voice and the new Broadway musical show Smash. I think those two shows are a fantastic start. While The Voice grew into a disastrous mess last year, it was quite fun to watch and the judges are very entertaining. Plus they will be adding great mentors like Lionel Richie, Miranda Lambert, Alanis Morissette and Kelly Clarkson (hello defecting from her alma matter!) to the mix; so, I’m cautiously optimistic…. And looking at the new show Smash, I’m overjoyed. The pilot is wonderful, hilarious, moving and intoxicating with a great cast (Debra Messing, Angelica Huston, Katharine McPhee and Wicked’s Megan Hilty to name a few) tackling the making of a new Broadway musical. I gave the pilot an “A” grade and I can’t wait to see where it goes.
So, with both of those shows in mind, the NBC brass is taking to the Broadway stage again to publicize its shows. Check out this fantastic promo (airing during today’s Super Bowl) which features the stars of the network’s shows from The Office to SNL, Parenthood and beyond singing “The Brotherhood of Man” from the current hit revival of How to Succeed in Business without Trying. Enjoy it below and catch the season premiere of Smash tomorrow night at 10pm on NBC.
In honor of her debut as a shady choir director from the rival glee club Vocal Adrenaline on last night’s brilliant and hilarious new Glee, I thought I’d shine the spotlight on Tony winner Idina Menzel. Best known as the original Elphaba from Wicked and her stints in the original cast ofRent and as Taye Diggs wife and baby mama, Menzel made a nice impression romancing Matthew Morrison’s Mr. Shuester and stirring up the drama with Lea Michelle’s Rachel using her student Jesse St. James (Michelle’s Spring Awakening co-star Jonathan Groff) to seduce her. We’ll see how far her machinations go in upcoming episodes. I just hope she gets to belt out a tune soon too.
Menzel has previously appeared in Enchanted, on her husband’s show Private Practice and released a debut solo album, I Stand. With her appearance on Glee, it’s also the perfect time to release her new EP, Idina Menzel, featuring hits from I Stand plus special versions of “Defying Gravity”, “No Day But Today” and “Embraceable You.” For more Idina info, click here and watch her on Glee, Tuesdays on Fox.
