I cannot OVERSELL this essay (by Plaid Adder)

[nostamj]

OVERSOLD

PA manages to put Paul O'Neill, Zero Mostel, *, a tribble-trove of 2K contributors and others into the socio-political/film theory blender to reveal yet another glaring bald spot on the 'presidential' pate.

footnote: pate

\Pate\, n. Cf. LG. & Prov. G. pattkopf, patzkopf, scabby head; patt, patz, scab + kopf head.] 1. The head of a person; the top, or crown, of the head. (Now generally used in contempt or ridicule.)

PA on * and Mel Brooks' THE PRODUCERS:

In one of my favorite scenes, Bialystock sits at the table wearily signing investor contracts as Bloom hands them to him, telling him what percentage of the profits each investor owns. Finally, realizing that this math is becoming surreal, Bialystock says, "Leo, how many percent of a show can there be altogether?" "Max," says Leo, "you can only sell 100% of anything." "And how much of Springtime for Hitler have we sold?" "25,000 percent."

To me, that's a perfect description of the state of the Bush presidency. As much as we hear about what a champion fundraiser he is, nobody seems to point out what would seem to be the obvious consequence, which is that each of those chumps ponying up $2000 a plate to have lunch with their pet President is essentially putting money down now for a share of the profits later. A few hundred million dollars later, Bush has too many backers, and there are not enough profits to go around. He is beholden to so many different interest groups that he cannot make them all happy at the same time, and after patiently waiting for a couple of years for their investment return, they are now starting to make noises about lawyers and collection agencies.

really, it is a must read.

thanks PA for another multi-faceted gem!

[ewagner]

1. Read it and enjoyed the insight

Especially after watching Bush this week hand out favors.

Just a few to mention:

Canada: allowing them back into the Iraq sweepstakes (contracting)

Mexico: giving Pres Fox a new immigration policy (counterfeit)

NASA: "to the moon and beyond"...handout to Raytheon, Lockheed, Grumman, Florida, Texas and California.

Xtian Right: New Marriage initiative.

Every donation has its price, and the Plaidder pointed it out well.

[Ekova]

4. Once again, well done Plaidder.

I'm hoping my brethren will politely deny bidding on any contracts handed out by Jr. I'm guessing it won't happen that way though, considering I didn't want the Canadian government's money (my money) going to the Three Gorges Dam Project and now we're over 300 million into that dangerous game.

We can't be the only ones that see everything teetering over the chasm. Either way, November 2004 the world changes...

[OneBlueSky]

2. related only peripherally, but . . .

the latest iteration of "The Producers" on Broadway -- the one that brought back Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick -- added a new line that apparently is getting roaring laughs . . . I believe it's Max who says "Never invest your own money in a show. That's taboo." . . . an obvious reference to Rosie's misadventure in producing . . . btw, she's announced that "Taboo" will be closing February 8 . . . she lost her entire $10 million investment, plus what she contributed to subsidize the weekly payrolls, but claims she has no regrets . . . must be nice to have that kind of dough . . .

[nostamj]

7. that sounds right for Nathan

and Mel!

[hippiegranny]

3. yep; read it, loved it

plaid always delivers, but this one was especially tasty.

[xchrom]

5. paint it plaid!

what i like about the article is how well it points out, that no matter what, the bushco house is built on sand.

[Karenina]

6. Oh the colours!

snip>

"And then of course there are the more inexplicable things, like Bush suddenly announcing that despite our already gigantic deficit we need to spend billions of dollars to create a "permanent" human presence on the moon and a manned mission to Mars - what, have they run out of stuff to conquer on this planet? - and the unveiling of the universally perplexing "guest worker status" plan for undocumented immigrants, which appeared to be guaranteed to piss off just about everyone."

Yes, INDEED! :silly: :loveya: :silly: :toast:

[Plaid Adder]

8. Thanks, nostamj--but really, we should all thank Zero and Gene

Anyone who has not seen that movie for God's sake do it. It is a masterpiece. The first scene between Leo and Max in the Max's office is by itself worth whatever you have to pay.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[nostamj]

9. i rarely like to see movies over and over

but The Producers is one that will always make me laugh.

an extrememly THEATRICAL movie. BIG scenes played BIG. I don't thinnk any other film appearance captures the size of Mostel's performances and the way Wilder REACTS to that performance with his own.

while the stage show is undenialbly entertaining, the performances are shadows of the originals. (thought that is not as true with the supporting players)

anyway, esp. loved the piece because of the Producers reference!

nost

[Plaid Adder]

10. See, I kind of figured

that there would be no way to recapture the original, even though I like Lane and Broderick has done some good stuff although he has also done some REALLY bad stuff. (Godzilla. Shudder.) Be kidn of interesting to see the new musical numbers but apart from that, I don't see what the point would be.

I WANT THAT MONEY!,

The Plaid Adder

[JohnOneillsMemory]

11. 'Springtime for Hitler' story in my workplace...

This number is Mel Brooks' career masterpiece from 'The Producers.'

I'm a touring audio engineer working with bands around the country. Every day I can barely contain my outrage at the petro-nazis and share info with my crew mates and the band. Some of them don't get it, some are mildly amused, some are right there with me.

After I get the sound system up and working for 2000-10,000 people, I like to play 'Springtime for Hitler' just before soundcheck and sing along, sometimes dancing on stage after the line "c'mon, Germans, go into your dance." The light designer will stop his focusing and give me a light show.

The band has heard it more than a few times when they come in to soundcheck just before the singers who are the stars of the show. (They've played the White House, Hollywood Bowl, Democratic fundraiser with Barbara Streisand etc.)

One night, in the middle of the show the piano player dropped in a few bars from 'Springtime for Hitler' just as a present for me. Priceless and I have it on tape...

"Look out, Europe. We're going on tour." hee-hee.

[nostamj]

12. that's a great moment in the stage version

susan stroman just went nuts. and it's really really good lyric.

to think that was where he started...

[Plaid Adder]

13. Wow, your job is so much more interesting than mine.

There's a little documentary on the DVD that has some interesting things about how they made the movie. Apparently Brooks wanted the film to be titled "Springtime for Hitler" and they changed it because the producers felt that nobody was going to want to put "Hitler" on a marquee.

There was also a lto of stuff about how surreal it was to be working on this big show number about Hitler, and a priceless bit from the costume designer about how they explained they wanted to do the aerial dancing swastika, and he's like, "OK, cool, what I'll do is put silver epaulets on them so you can see the swastika shape better," and then he's like, "Wait, what the fuck am I doing?" One of the producers also talked about how one of the "parade" women was supposed to be wearing swastikas on her nipples but refused, saying, "I didn't work this hard to get where I am so I could wear swastikas on my tits." Instead they gave her German eagles.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder