musicals – Page 2 – This Had Oscar Buzz

084 – Burlesque (with Oliver Sava)

Come Oscar nomination morning, sometimes you show a little more, sometimes you show a little less. You know we stan Diane Warren, and this week, we’re talking about Burlesque. Yes, back in 2010, even this new camp classic earned it’s flashes of Oscar hope, as most post-Chicago musicals did. While it was the big screen return of legend, icon, and star Cher that spelled some Oscar potential, it was ultimately her big ballad written by Warren “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” that was the film’s closest brush with Oscar.

This week, freelance comic book/TV/film/dance Oliver Sava joins us to talk about the film that earned equal parts side-eye and earnest affection as a throwback to 1940s musicals by way of The Pussycat Dolls and the screen debut of Christina Aguilera. Burlesque was also a Best Picture – Musical/Comedy nominee in a year much maligned among awards voters, and the nomination earns our affection, along with the film.

We also look back at the legacy of Diane Warren as a pop hitmaker and the diminishing returns of her Oscar nominations. Topics also include Burlesque’s copying of The Devil Wear’s Prada’s formula, unfortunate Freudian slips with Stanley Tucci, and – duh – air rights!

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073 – Hairspray (with Cameron Scheetz)

We’ve got a film notorious in the history of the IMDb Game this week: 2007′s Hairspray! After pointing out the film’s omnipresence in our trademark game during our first Mailbag episode, the nicest kid in town The AV Club’s Cameron Scheetz joins us this episode to talk about the film’s delights, from its stellar cast to its joyful tunes. But this summer release couldn’t get ahead in the fall awards season gamut, getting overshadowed by late-breaking musicals Sweeney Todd and Enchanted despite major nominations at both SAG and the Golden Globes.

This episode, we look at the Oscar season that almost left us without an Oscar telecast because of the long writers’ strike. Topics also include John Travolta’s so-wrong-it’s-right place in the Edna Turnblad legacy, Oscar-nominated performances in musicals, and the unforgettable Adele Dazeem. “Nikki Blonsky From The Movie Hairspray”, we salute you!

Last call for question entries for this month’s Mailbag episode!! We’ll still be taking your questions about Oscar history, the current Oscar race, the podcast in general, or anything that might be on your mind through the end of the week! Tweet at us at @Had_Oscar_Buzz or email at [email protected]!

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033 – Rent

Once intended to be adapted for the screen by Spike Lee, the Pulitzer-winning musical Rent made its leap to the big screen in 2005 amid impossible expectations. Having helped usher in the modern era of Broadway blockbusters, this one had to live up to the dreams of its massive fanbase but also the shadow cast over all movie musicals in the short years that followed Chicago.

But it ultimately satisfied few, thanks to some key mistakes, starting with the mismatched director Chris Columbus and the recasting of most of the original Broadway leads. This week, we look back at the Oscar success of the decade’s musicals, spend some time lamenting the Crash Best Picture win, and unpack all of the film’s “I’m Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman” issues.

And, oh yeah, we brace for the coming impact of Tom Hooper’s Cats.

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