The bit about gun control wasn't the only bit of satire that sadly still applies today. Max is a bombastic bloated blowhard with a hideous hair helmet fighting to flagellate his "foe" and pursue political power by creating a crisis to crucify him. Oh, plus his significant other can't stand him. The character couldn't be more on-the-nose if he had his name prominently displayed on a variety of scams and bankruptcies.
@@ScreamingScallop OH DEAR! I had flashbacks to Enter's review of the OK KO episode Let's Not Be Skeletons (It's cause KO sings in it at one point and it was TERRIBLE!)
I was predicting at the start of the case for "You've Got Possibilities" to be the Saving Grace (it was so funny when I saw it staged as part of Prince of Broadway!), but.... they massacred it. That mincing tempo... no. Just no.
Just follow the rules and you'll be fine. Unless the local authorities mistakenly assume you're breaking the rules, but that's a risk anywhere there's a police department.
So, the basic gist that I'm gleaning from this basic concept, the thematic core without which the entire production falls to pieces, the inexorable POINT.. which this musical is trying to drive like a nail into the hearts and minds of all who see it--- ..is that he means to say that Superman will destroy *HIMSELF?!*
There's a Superman Christmas special where two old guys called Grouch and Meanie decide they want to stop Santa from delivering presents because they never got nice things when they were kids. They're more compelling and sensible antagonists than these ones.
Lesley Ann Warren actually screen tested to play Lois in the Christopher Reeve Superman film, but Margot Kidder was cast instead. I love how you managed to work a reference to Cinderella in a video that talks about a show with Lesley Ann Warren.
I love Lesley Anne Warren, and she would have been a great Lois for Christopher Reeve. But at least Lesley Anne got to be in Victor, Victoria and Clue.
First time I saw the 1978 film as a kid I actually thought the Lois actress WAS Lesley Ann, not only because she and Kidder do look similar but also because I knew her from Cinderella (this was before the Brandy version and it was aired annually) and the line "Cinderella bites the dust" when she's waiting for Superman, I thought was some inside joke. I thought I was so clever then found out I was wrong haha -- Kidder's interpretation really made for the perfect Lois tho
The studio decided that two unknown leads backed by a stellar supporting cast was the better strategy - a strategy which would later work just as well for the Harry Potter franchise. Besides, Lesley Ann Warren would've knocked Christopher Reeve off the screen; she makes this Superman completely forgettable.
Wait a minute that's not right. He just said Nobel Prize, not Nobel Peace Prize. Only the Peace Prize winner is chosen by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. You nearly got me on that one.
Diva, I just moved cross country by myself, I’m homesick, bored, and totally alone. The last few nights I’ve been watching musical hell to chill out, relax, laugh a little and then get some sleep. It’s been a real comfort. Then I get a notification of a NEW episode?! It’s providence. Thanks for all ur great content and the laughs over the years. You’re great at what u do and ur work is a real comfort to me right now.
The bit about Michelangelo being a freak because he “only a freak would take 4 years to paint a ceiling” is very funny to me because Michelangelo very much did NOT want to do that.
In the 50's and early 60's, Lois Lane was the constant damsel in distress (instead of the intrepid reporter in the 1940's). Thankfully, since then, Lois has been an equal in many ways to Superman. I prefer that Lois to the "Superman's Girl Friend" Lois of the Silver Age any day.
It sucks that Lesley Ann Warren had to play Lois as a dumb waif who only wants to keep Superman's dinner warm. Lesley Ann Warren would've been great at bringing out the smart and tough reporter part of Lois's personality if only the script had let her.
Honestly, I'd take this over Snyder's grim, edge lord-catering crap that took THREE movies before we got a film with competent heroes (and that one still took him four hours and had way too many muted colors). Besides, the villain's "Obliterate Sweden" line genuinely makes me laugh!
The problem with the musical seems to me is that when doing a musical version of Superman, they should have done a straight up, legit Superman story and not this pathetic attempt at a bad parody you'd find in a bad Mad Magazine wannabe. Superman is treated like a joke, and he's barely even in the musical itself, from, the sound and looks of it. What we have is a stock bad guy with a silly, Professor Nimnul level of an evil scheme for a doofy reason and another stock bad guy, and their scheme is to get Superman to kill himself through just dumb "topical" references to psychiatry. Yeah. A story that would embarrass the Superdickery era of Superman. You'd think DC would've been a little more protective of the franchise than that. Even Suppaiman is a more respectful version of the character.
No mention of lyricist Lee Adams? ("Bye Bye Birdie," "Applause") Your review is painfully accurate. This wasn't even shown in prime time. It was relegated to being shown in two parts on ABC's Wide World of Entertainment, their attempt to fight Johnny Carson with rejected specials and movies. However, I've always loved the original Broadway cast album.
Firstly, the whole 'mentally ill and suicidal' thing being played for laughs is disgusting, but secondly, and what I couldn't help but be distracted by: why the hell, if Superman were to try and kill himself, would he jump off a bridge? All that'd do is burrow him into the Earth's crust! Wouldn't he use kryptonite or something?
@@gracekim1998Despite that this was made at that time, it doesn't make any better. I do hope the people behind this didn't mean any ill intent with this.
Honestly, I love this musical. I am an absolute sucker for anything that is cheesy, campy, and ridiculous, and it's a bird it's a plane it's Superman is definitely one of the campiest things out there. I'm sorry you dislike it so much, but as someone whose favorite movie is Howard The Duck (yes, seriously), this musical is exactly my cup of tea.
I do kind of like the joke where after Lois and the villain reporter (just watched the review and still forgot his name) run out of the room one after the other yelling to stop the presses, Clark saunters out with "Could you maybe slow down the presses a little bit?"
During this time, ABC wanted some of the success enjoyed by NBC with The Tonight Show (Mon.-Fri.) and SNL (Sat.). So they came up with Wide World of Entertainment which aired at 11:30 PM. It was usually specials (like a roast of OJ Simpson) or TV movies (Like "The Werewolf of Woodstock"). By 1979, that show was history and Fridays (ABC's answer to SNL) which aired on Friday nights for a few seasons. Now on ABC, Jimmy Kimmel airs at 11:30 followed by Nightline.
5:25 Oh my gosh! Second from the left next to the head mafia guy is Al Molinaro who played Murray from the original Odd Couple TV show, and Al on Happy Days.
10 time Nobel Prize loser? Actually that sounds like a motivation for a villain from the "Golden Age", or the " Silver Age" or for any character written by Cary Bates!
If you want to do a more comedic superhero story, go all the way. The video mentions that this show took inspiration from Batman 66, but whilst that show went all-in with bright colours and odd angles, this Superman show has a really gray and drab color scheme…
Cool review! I was actually in a production of this musical back in 2015! And honestly, I totally agree with your points about it. This filmed version is quite a bit different from the stage version. Some characters were cut/replaced, as well as some scenes and dialogue. A lot of the plot was changed in this version too. I will say, it was fun show to be a part of because of the cast and performing with friends, but good god was it a weird show. The stage version isn’t any better when it comes to poor aging. It has some racist stereotypes, and other stuff that’s just... very reflective of the time in which It was made. Granted, I think it does have some catchy songs in it that this film doesn’t do justice because of how they changed the instrumentals. But yeah, the show itself... is... something else. 😬😂
@8:25-8:27 When Dr. Sedwich said "Look at me. Look at me!" I just wanted that audio clip from _The Dark Knight_ of The Joker saying "LOOK. AT. ME!!" to play.
3:35: Oh, so I'm not the only one who was starting to notice parallels. 7:00: Supervillain-grade weaponry deployed to stop protestors...seems vaguely topical. 13:20: In fairness, abducting someone in the middle of someone else's musical number is generally taboo. These are pretty dag-nasty crooks to pull a move like that! 17:30: Such a shame Superman doesn't have the speed to rescue all three inside a minute or the strength to carry all three at once. (This is a live Superman from the 70's-special effects can only go so far!)
Me watching on my iPod: “Wait! Leslie Ann Warren?! What have you done to her?!” A minute later. “Is that Loretta Swit?! NO!!” You didn’t punish this movie enough. Nothing will ever be enough...
Just want to say I saw the Broadway version at Encores, and you know, this score is better than it has any right to be. Not every song rips, but when it works, it just works.
I’m still surprised they actually acknowledged it in the CW’s take on Crisis on Infinite Earths. Though when it did they gave it the most appropriate ending.
@@nolanmcbride5653 In part 2 of the Crisis event Lex is going around the multiverse to kill other Supermen and while Superman and Lois are trying to stop him they go to Earth-75 which is the Earth that this musical is supposedly on.
@@gracekim1998 Well, they all were destroyed by the end part 3 and probably revived after Crisis, but if their Superman is alive again after Luthor killed him? Eh, not clear.
Okay, I need to ask this. Outside of the title character, were Lois, Ma and Pa Kent the only Superman characters they could use for this? The mad scientist guy is clearly meant to be Lex Luthor (I would've also said Max, but the version he's reminding me of didn't come into being until the 80s) and Sydney's part in forming a love triangle between Supes and Lois is obviously meant for Lana Lang.
Yes - the original musical was not allowed to use anyone other than Clark, Lois, Jimmy, Perry and Superman. www.vulture.com/article/superman-broadway-musical-its-a-bird-flop.html
Let's see: This show has You've Got Possibilities, Quest for Camelot has The Prayer, Should we make Beautiful Ghosts the big breakout hit to disassociate with Cats 2019?
That deserted warehouse with the oh-so-helpful "Deserted Warehouse" sign on it is no exaggeration. Remember those Marvel Superhero cartoon shorts from the sixties, with the insanely catchy theme songs?* They were pretty much the comic panels with some minimal animation, and one of them featured an old building...with a sign on it proclaiming, "Old Building." I'm assuming that was straight out of the comics as well. *The melody of the Iron Man theme song ("Tony Stark makes you feel/He's a cool exec with a heart of steel...") was used in the first Iron Man movie...when Tony's award is announced, and when he's shown at the gambling table.
What a pity - this has a nifty cast. In addition to Warren, there's Loretta Swit, David Wayne Kenneth Mars (!!!); and I see Malachi Throne and Al Molinaro in supporting roles. As a bit of trivia, Warren (Lois) played the mother of Teri Hatcher's character in "Desperate Housewives", and Hatcher played Lois in the tv series "Lois and Clark" (which benefited with John Shea in the recurring role of Lex Luthor).
In near total agreement with you on this. Horrific arrangements, awful script (hey, let's cut a major character but add an origin prologue with Ma & Pa Kent); but I've always liked the song 'Revenge'. What can I say, I'm a character actor, too. The OCR remains a favorite of my childhood.
The fact that they cut We Don’t Matter At All shows that they didn’t care about making Lois seem any sort of smart. She has a great rebuttal to the professor being like we don’t matter and she’s like “Dude no.”
After more than *2* months, I finally made time to for the "It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman" episode. EDITS- 3:34 P.M.: *finishes episode 22 minutes later* I didn't know about this adaptation of the musical until now. 3:35 P.M.: It looked... bad! 😬
Incidentally, the Overture to the show would have a legacy of its own by becoming a TV News theme in the 70s (Most notably for WTOP/WDVM/WUSA Washington DC)
If they wanted a Superman musical, they should've made it based on the Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane comics. The storylines of those Silver Age comics were sometimes so bonkers that even if the musical turned out less than Broadway worthy, it would at least be entertaining by way of absurdity.
Only three years later, we got Margot Kidder's Lois proclaim she would "go bananas in a week" living a super-domestic lifestyle. That's some progress, I'd say. The villain duet sounds a bit like "I'm Number Two" from Muppets Most Wanted.
It annoys me that these comic adaptations have to make up characters when there are plenty of supporting characters and villains in the original comics. At least the 60’s Batman got that right.
To be fair, sometimes characters made up in comic adaptations can work. Harley Quinn and Phil Blumbert both weren't in the original comics, and they were great characters.
I believe the musical was not allowed to use anyone other than Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Perry White, Jimmy Olsen and Superman. www.vulture.com/article/superman-broadway-musical-its-a-bird-flop.html
@@jeremyusreevu237 I think the reasons characters like Harley Quinn worked so well is there really wasn't anyone filling her role in the original comics.
I was 7 in 1975, and a huge Superman fan, and I remember this being advertised and of course, I was thrilled. But, for some reason, it was on late at night, like after midnight… wtf? Fortunately, my mother let me stay up to watch it … let’s just say I immediately figured out why it was on in the middle of the night. It was then I learned about absolute disappointment.
@@johnpjones182 crazy that it was on so late at night. Unusual for 1975. Especially since I had to have seen it advertised somewhere to even know about it
In retrospect. For having a scheme about trying to make a character destroy themself. I would've added Abner & Max being forced to suffer an eternity of watching Lawnmower Man 2. Also. Would've possibly added a sin for leaving out Jimmy Olsen. And I thought Batman V Superman killing him off early in the film was bad.
Well, this episode has already taught me what a grawlix is and that Euler's number has an actual name besides "That e I used in algebra class." Between this and "Turn Off The Dark," I'm wondering if a superhero/comic-book-y musical could ever work. I think a "Birds of Prey v. Gotham City Sirens" idea could be pretty cool.
Good video always, Diva. The purest irony of it all, I suppose, is that the musical is supposed to be a tribute to Siegel and Schuster's legendary character, but it makes me react more along the lines of a take on another legendary comic icon.... J.K. Simmons' version of J. Jonah Jameson after Peter Parker asking if he could be paid in advance.
Happy Anniversary, Diva! May you only be doing this for as long as there are bad musicals. Wait, I think that came out wrong. I watched the TV adaptation when it originally aired; mercifully, I forgot EVERYTHING about it until you reminded me. (I may have fallen asleep during the second act.) A talented cast is a terrible thing to waste.
When this popped up in my feed, I thought this was a video you already covered. But then I saw this was just posted a day ago. Now I'm wracking my brain trying to remember whether I'm misremembering another musical youtuber's work or if maybe if is a repost?
Sin # 1: Bad Beginning. I woke up, had a lousy breakfast and found out there's another musical I was better off not knowing about. I'm not sure why I keep watching MH. Either i hate myself or I'm just a glutton for punishment. Can't wait for the next episode. 😁
So how does he know he was runner up when you can't publish the nominations for the prize for at least 50 years after they picked the winner for that year?
10:06
The unfunny version of "Oh, right. The poison. The poison for Kuzco. The poison chosen specifically to kill Kuzco. Kuzco's poison."
"That poison?"
@@SuperSwordman1 "YES, THAT POISON!"
Here I was hoping that the "Superman would destroy HIMSELF!!!" plan was going to lead to Superman uncontrollably punching himself in the face.
An example of show openings where the characters address the audience directly and it working is Sweeney Todd.
Don't forget _Hercules_ and _Little Shop Of Horrors._
Also there's Gutenberg the Musical. Then again the fourth wall straight up didn't exist in that show.
And Urinetown
And The great comet of 1812
To be fair, that wouldn't have worked on film either, imagine how awkward it would be if Burton had left it in.
"Sedwich explains to Louis there is a *DEATHRAY* in the local university that was originaly designed to quell student uprising"
.... come again?
The bit about gun control wasn't the only bit of satire that sadly still applies today. Max is a bombastic bloated blowhard with a hideous hair helmet fighting to flagellate his "foe" and pursue political power by creating a crisis to crucify him. Oh, plus his significant other can't stand him. The character couldn't be more on-the-nose if he had his name prominently displayed on a variety of scams and bankruptcies.
Yeah I did a double take on that too. Yikes.
It was their lame attempt at being late 60’s-early 70’s topical.
@@ScreamingScallop Ah, you speak of Bill Clinton, of course!! (YOU ARE SPEAKING OF CLINTON!!! WE ALL KNOW HILLARY CAN;T STAND HIM!)
@@ScreamingScallop OH DEAR! I had flashbacks to Enter's review of the OK KO episode Let's Not Be Skeletons (It's cause KO sings in it at one point and it was TERRIBLE!)
I was predicting at the start of the case for "You've Got Possibilities" to be the Saving Grace (it was so funny when I saw it staged as part of Prince of Broadway!), but.... they massacred it. That mincing tempo... no. Just no.
The original arrangement is stunning - one of my favourite key changes in a musical. That 70s saunter is so disappointing in comparison.
I remember the song for being on a Pillsbury commercial.
The University has a death ray that was built to quell student uprisi--
WHO WOULD GO TO THIS SCHOOL!?!?!?
You could ask that about a lot of universities.
Just follow the rules and you'll be fine. Unless the local authorities mistakenly assume you're breaking the rules, but that's a risk anywhere there's a police department.
Speaking of “Spiderman turn off the dark” do you ever plan on bringing that musical to court? Assuming there is a recording of it of course.
There's at least one bootleg out.
I think she usually doesnt review bootlegs, unfortunately
@@mitkitty that's fair. It's just the only recording I'm aware of.
At this point I wouldn't be shocked if the folks at the Mouse House put a performance on Disney Plus to fill a period of no releases.
There is a CD of it. I own a copy
It's a bird...
It's a plane...
It's me getting the notification for the new video :)
So, the basic gist that I'm gleaning from this basic concept, the thematic core without which the entire production falls to pieces, the inexorable POINT.. which this musical is trying to drive like a nail into the hearts and minds of all who see it---
..is that he means to say that Superman will destroy *HIMSELF?!*
There's a Superman Christmas special where two old guys called Grouch and Meanie decide they want to stop Santa from delivering presents because they never got nice things when they were kids. They're more compelling and sensible antagonists than these ones.
Lesley Ann Warren actually screen tested to play Lois in the Christopher Reeve Superman film, but Margot Kidder was cast instead.
I love how you managed to work a reference to Cinderella in a video that talks about a show with Lesley Ann Warren.
I love Lesley Anne Warren, and she would have been a great Lois for Christopher Reeve. But at least Lesley Anne got to be in Victor, Victoria and Clue.
@@leigy100 thats true. Leslie Ann Warren is not only a talented actress but very dishy.
First time I saw the 1978 film as a kid I actually thought the Lois actress WAS Lesley Ann, not only because she and Kidder do look similar but also because I knew her from Cinderella (this was before the Brandy version and it was aired annually) and the line "Cinderella bites the dust" when she's waiting for Superman, I thought was some inside joke. I thought I was so clever then found out I was wrong haha -- Kidder's interpretation really made for the perfect Lois tho
The studio decided that two unknown leads backed by a stellar supporting cast was the better strategy - a strategy which would later work just as well for the Harry Potter franchise.
Besides, Lesley Ann Warren would've knocked Christopher Reeve off the screen; she makes this Superman completely forgettable.
I saw Warrens screen test and I’m glad they went with Margot :D
no wonder he keeps losing Nobel prizes, he keeps submitting them to sweden. the nobel institute is in oslo, NORWAY.
You'd have thought he'd know that if it was so important.
Wait a minute that's not right. He just said Nobel Prize, not Nobel Peace Prize. Only the Peace Prize winner is chosen by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. You nearly got me on that one.
@@MissCaraMint yeah you are infact right. my nationalistic patriotism took over for a few minutes...
@@petrino So did mine. That's probably why it took minute to remember. Ja ja, land er land.
@@MissCaraMint yeh i dont actually pay attention to the prizes, I just pass the institute every day :D
Diva, I just moved cross country by myself, I’m homesick, bored, and totally alone. The last few nights I’ve been watching musical hell to chill out, relax, laugh a little and then get some sleep. It’s been a real comfort. Then I get a notification of a NEW episode?! It’s providence. Thanks for all ur great content and the laughs over the years. You’re great at what u do and ur work is a real comfort to me right now.
"...But because she was Whitney fucking Houston." My favorite line ever
The line "I hate Superman" reminds me of Gargamel saying "I hate Smurfs"
more like the guy in Amazing Bulk saying "I hate Dust" xD
🎶"I Hate Splinter!"🎶
@@TommyDeonauthsArchives "Splinters not athletic."
Or J. Jonah Jameson
The bit about Michelangelo being a freak because he “only a freak would take 4 years to paint a ceiling” is very funny to me because Michelangelo very much did NOT want to do that.
So Lois couldn’t make an effective enough pep talk to get Superman out of his funk but two random college kids he didn’t know (in context) could?
In the 50's and early 60's, Lois Lane was the constant damsel in distress (instead of the intrepid reporter in the 1940's). Thankfully, since then, Lois has been an equal in many ways to Superman. I prefer that Lois to the "Superman's Girl Friend" Lois of the Silver Age any day.
Ah yes, Superman's deadliest foe, The Gaslighter!
Luthor is pretty good at it
Superman: *becomes a wacky musical*
Marvel, *making WandaVision decades later:* "Y'know, those guys may have been onto something there..."
Who knew that this movie may have unintentionally inspired WandaVision?! 😂
@@trinaq well I think that’s the joke😅
I honestly think it's just a matter of time before Marvel attempts a musical. Maybe a Dazzler show?
@@jasonblalock4429 still waiting for Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark to get a movie.
@@trinaq No, this doesn't have enough theory bait to inspire WandaVision.
It sucks that Lesley Ann Warren had to play Lois as a dumb waif who only wants to keep Superman's dinner warm. Lesley Ann Warren would've been great at bringing out the smart and tough reporter part of Lois's personality if only the script had let her.
Honestly, I'd take this over Snyder's grim, edge lord-catering crap that took THREE movies before we got a film with competent heroes (and that one still took him four hours and had way too many muted colors). Besides, the villain's "Obliterate Sweden" line genuinely makes me laugh!
And even then, the movie is still mid. If Justice League is 10%, Snyder cut is 45%.
Why do I get the feeling that Lois in this movie is what people who don't know anything about the Superman canon THINK Lois Lane is like?
Yeah, as much as I love this goofy as hell show, Lois is annoying.
Man of Steel wasn't great, but I loved Amy Adams' take on Lois. (It was really refreshing to see a Lois who's in on it from the get-go.)
Remember to always be yourself. Unless you can be Batman. Then always be Batman.
The problem with the musical seems to me is that when doing a musical version of Superman, they should have done a straight up, legit Superman story and not this pathetic attempt at a bad parody you'd find in a bad Mad Magazine wannabe. Superman is treated like a joke, and he's barely even in the musical itself, from, the sound and looks of it. What we have is a stock bad guy with a silly, Professor Nimnul level of an evil scheme for a doofy reason and another stock bad guy, and their scheme is to get Superman to kill himself through just dumb "topical" references to psychiatry. Yeah. A story that would embarrass the Superdickery era of Superman. You'd think DC would've been a little more protective of the franchise than that. Even Suppaiman is a more respectful version of the character.
"Superman will destroy himself!" "Are you saying that Superman will destroy himself?"
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
I'm saying Superman will destroy himself! You're saying Superman will destroy himself?
The floor is made out of floor.
Wait, so you mean to say that Superman will destroy himself?
That Lois fantasy sequence gaussian blur + old video quality made me check if my glasses were dirty.
No mention of lyricist Lee Adams? ("Bye Bye Birdie," "Applause")
Your review is painfully accurate. This wasn't even shown in prime time. It was relegated to being shown in two parts on ABC's Wide World of Entertainment, their attempt to fight Johnny Carson with rejected specials and movies.
However, I've always loved the original Broadway cast album.
Firstly, the whole 'mentally ill and suicidal' thing being played for laughs is disgusting, but secondly, and what I couldn't help but be distracted by: why the hell, if Superman were to try and kill himself, would he jump off a bridge? All that'd do is burrow him into the Earth's crust! Wouldn't he use kryptonite or something?
Yeah um don’t forget the time period this was made in😅 it’s before everyone knows the seriousness of it all
Suicide is painless...It brings on many changes... 🎶
Suicide among post war one vets was three times as likely as those who weren't in the war
@@gracekim1998Despite that this was made at that time, it doesn't make any better. I do hope the people behind this didn't mean any ill intent with this.
As a superman fan... this musical is painful. The fact you survived is amazing.
Honestly, I love this musical. I am an absolute sucker for anything that is cheesy, campy, and ridiculous, and it's a bird it's a plane it's Superman is definitely one of the campiest things out there. I'm sorry you dislike it so much, but as someone whose favorite movie is Howard The Duck (yes, seriously), this musical is exactly my cup of tea.
@@jeremyusreevu237 I kinda envy you, especially since I did love the Adam west Batman series, so I should at least enjoy it.
@@carsonsmith7314 They actually tried in Batman! Just the sets alone tells you how cheap this is!
I do kind of like the joke where after Lois and the villain reporter (just watched the review and still forgot his name) run out of the room one after the other yelling to stop the presses, Clark saunters out with "Could you maybe slow down the presses a little bit?"
During this time, ABC wanted some of the success enjoyed by NBC with The Tonight Show (Mon.-Fri.) and SNL (Sat.). So they came up with Wide World of Entertainment which aired at 11:30 PM. It was usually specials (like a roast of OJ Simpson) or TV movies (Like "The Werewolf of Woodstock"). By 1979, that show was history and Fridays (ABC's answer to SNL) which aired on Friday nights for a few seasons. Now on ABC, Jimmy Kimmel airs at 11:30 followed by Nightline.
The Mobster version of the Pledge of Allegiance should not have made me laugh as hard as it did
5:25 Oh my gosh! Second from the left next to the head mafia guy is Al Molinaro who played Murray from the original Odd Couple TV show, and Al on Happy Days.
10 time Nobel Prize loser? Actually that sounds like a motivation for a villain from the "Golden Age", or the " Silver Age" or for any character written by Cary Bates!
I think we can all agree that the best superhero musical at this point is Holy Musical B@man
If you want to do a more comedic superhero story, go all the way. The video mentions that this show took inspiration from Batman 66, but whilst that show went all-in with bright colours and odd angles, this Superman show has a really gray and drab color scheme…
Cool review! I was actually in a production of this musical back in 2015! And honestly, I totally agree with your points about it.
This filmed version is quite a bit different from the stage version. Some characters were cut/replaced, as well as some scenes and dialogue. A lot of the plot was changed in this version too.
I will say, it was fun show to be a part of because of the cast and performing with friends, but good god was it a weird show.
The stage version isn’t any better when it comes to poor aging. It has some racist stereotypes, and other stuff that’s just... very reflective of the time in which It was made. Granted, I think it does have some catchy songs in it that this film doesn’t do justice because of how they changed the instrumentals. But yeah, the show itself... is... something else. 😬😂
@8:25-8:27 When Dr. Sedwich said "Look at me. Look at me!" I just wanted that audio clip from _The Dark Knight_ of The Joker saying "LOOK. AT. ME!!" to play.
3:35: Oh, so I'm not the only one who was starting to notice parallels.
7:00: Supervillain-grade weaponry deployed to stop protestors...seems vaguely topical.
13:20: In fairness, abducting someone in the middle of someone else's musical number is generally taboo. These are pretty dag-nasty crooks to pull a move like that!
17:30: Such a shame Superman doesn't have the speed to rescue all three inside a minute or the strength to carry all three at once. (This is a live Superman from the 70's-special effects can only go so far!)
Me watching on my iPod: “Wait! Leslie Ann Warren?! What have you done to her?!”
A minute later.
“Is that Loretta Swit?! NO!!”
You didn’t punish this movie enough. Nothing will ever be enough...
Such a waste of Loretta Swit. Honestly just watch the _Muppets Show_ episode with her.
After Disney bought Marvel, it's weird to see a character in a DC Comics-based production mention Mickey Mouse by name.
Just want to say I saw the Broadway version at Encores, and you know, this score is better than it has any right to be. Not every song rips, but when it works, it just works.
Hey, thanks, Diva.
"Revenge" and that other villain song give me the same vibes as "Yodel-Adle-Eedle-Idle-Oo" from Home on the Range.
“We should do something!”
“We should do something.”
“We should. . .”
"Should we do something?"
"We should do something!"
"Should we do something?"
"We should do something!"
Fellow AT4W fans, I see.
"Should we do something?"
@@theangryholmesian4556 WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING!
I'm CHAAAAANGIIIIIIING! (Hi AT4W fans!)
I was so excited to see you do this one because I have NEVER been more bored by a musical than Supernan
Wow, this mad scientist makes Dr. Doofenshmirtz look like Lex Luthor.
I’m still surprised they actually acknowledged it in the CW’s take on Crisis on Infinite Earths. Though when it did they gave it the most appropriate ending.
They did? I don’t remember that
@@nolanmcbride5653 In part 2 of the Crisis event Lex is going around the multiverse to kill other Supermen and while Superman and Lois are trying to stop him they go to Earth-75 which is the Earth that this musical is supposedly on.
@@bizarroguy6570 Oh🤔 I wasn’t aware this was referenced 😅
@@bizarroguy6570 I’m guessing it’s one of the earths that’s destroyed then🤷♀️
@@gracekim1998 Well, they all were destroyed by the end part 3 and probably revived after Crisis, but if their Superman is alive again after Luthor killed him? Eh, not clear.
This is one of those musicals that feels like a parody of bad musicals.
Ya mean it isn't?
@@colleen4ever
Considering when it was made, it feels hard to tell!
I hate to flash my mathy side to a fine arts major, but although it's spelled "Euler's," it's pronounced "Oilers," just as the football team.
I can't believe it took me this long to realise that Sydney is Margaret Houlihan!
Okay, I need to ask this. Outside of the title character, were Lois, Ma and Pa Kent the only Superman characters they could use for this? The mad scientist guy is clearly meant to be Lex Luthor (I would've also said Max, but the version he's reminding me of didn't come into being until the 80s) and Sydney's part in forming a love triangle between Supes and Lois is obviously meant for Lana Lang.
Perry White and Jimmy Olsen do show up in the newsroom scenes, but they have jack all to do with the plot.
Yes - the original musical was not allowed to use anyone other than Clark, Lois, Jimmy, Perry and Superman. www.vulture.com/article/superman-broadway-musical-its-a-bird-flop.html
@@ggersten You do know you don't have to separate Clark and Superman into two different characters, right?
*Chapter 5: The Net Tightens*
I had to say it
Happy anniversary of Musical Hell, Diva
Looking forward for the future reviews
I look forward to them every month!
Let's see:
This show has You've Got Possibilities,
Quest for Camelot has The Prayer,
Should we make Beautiful Ghosts the big breakout hit to disassociate with Cats 2019?
That deserted warehouse with the oh-so-helpful "Deserted Warehouse" sign on it is no exaggeration. Remember those Marvel Superhero cartoon shorts from the sixties, with the insanely catchy theme songs?* They were pretty much the comic panels with some minimal animation, and one of them featured an old building...with a sign on it proclaiming, "Old Building." I'm assuming that was straight out of the comics as well.
*The melody of the Iron Man theme song ("Tony Stark makes you feel/He's a cool exec with a heart of steel...") was used in the first Iron Man movie...when Tony's award is announced, and when he's shown at the gambling table.
I loved the Captain America one. "When Captain America swings his mighty shield..."
What a pity - this has a nifty cast. In addition to Warren, there's Loretta Swit, David Wayne Kenneth Mars (!!!); and I see Malachi Throne and Al Molinaro in supporting roles. As a bit of trivia, Warren (Lois) played the mother of Teri Hatcher's character in "Desperate Housewives", and Hatcher played Lois in the tv series "Lois and Clark" (which benefited with John Shea in the recurring role of Lex Luthor).
As a true Superman nerd, I was shocked I’d not heard of this!……………then I watched it 😩
1:49 RIP Gary Owens, the GREATEST narrator/announcer EVER!
@BK Beatty Exactly.
Wait. Didn't LEx Luthor have just about the same 'cause disaster while superman is standing there, get him blamed' plot in Batman v Superman?
In near total agreement with you on this. Horrific arrangements, awful script (hey, let's cut a major character but add an origin prologue with Ma & Pa Kent); but I've always liked the song 'Revenge'. What can I say, I'm a character actor, too. The OCR remains a favorite of my childhood.
The fact that they cut We Don’t Matter At All shows that they didn’t care about making Lois seem any sort of smart. She has a great rebuttal to the professor being like we don’t matter and she’s like “Dude no.”
So... you mean to say... this entire case... will judge itself guilty?...
An evil mastermind who want to destroy my home nation?
Where do I sign up?!
A whiny Superman? Zach Snyder must have been taking notes.
That's Loretta Swit (aka "Hot Lips" Houlihan) playing Sydney!
After more than *2* months, I finally made time to for the "It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman" episode.
EDITS- 3:34 P.M.: *finishes episode 22 minutes later*
I didn't know about this adaptation of the musical until now.
3:35 P.M.: It looked... bad! 😬
My high school did this in the sixties! Back then, we called it "camp"--even the Chinese acrobats! The Sixties; I guess you had to be there..,.
I can dig it.
Incidentally, the Overture to the show would have a legacy of its own by becoming a TV News theme in the 70s (Most notably for WTOP/WDVM/WUSA Washington DC)
This is pretty much the only reason I know this musical exists.
Yes! I’ve been wanting this for years! I’m so glad you finally reviewed it!
If they wanted a Superman musical, they should've made it based on the Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane comics. The storylines of those Silver Age comics were sometimes so bonkers that even if the musical turned out less than Broadway worthy, it would at least be entertaining by way of absurdity.
6:54, what's interesting is that she auditioned for the part of Lois Lane for the 1978 film but as we all know Margot Kidder got the part.
Only three years later, we got Margot Kidder's Lois proclaim she would "go bananas in a week" living a super-domestic lifestyle. That's some progress, I'd say.
The villain duet sounds a bit like "I'm Number Two" from Muppets Most Wanted.
10:20-10:30 is missing a "Get on with it!" clip. XD
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...a piss-poor use of a superhero's time! Even the Man of Steel can't save this train wreck.
I have never heard of this musical, but if Diva has been looking forward to a chance to review it, I know it'll be a treat...of one sort or another.
4:44 literally labeled "deserted warehouse " 🤣🤣
Weirdly this joke would work great in Megas XLR
It annoys me that these comic adaptations have to make up characters when there are plenty of supporting characters and villains in the original comics.
At least the 60’s Batman got that right.
To be fair, sometimes characters made up in comic adaptations can work. Harley Quinn and Phil Blumbert both weren't in the original comics, and they were great characters.
I believe the musical was not allowed to use anyone other than Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Perry White, Jimmy Olsen and Superman. www.vulture.com/article/superman-broadway-musical-its-a-bird-flop.html
@@jeremyusreevu237 I think the reasons characters like Harley Quinn worked so well is there really wasn't anyone filling her role in the original comics.
DC Comics didn’t give the musical’s producers to use the villains.
At times this seems like a SNL sketch from the 1970s making fun of a Superman musical but if it forgot it wasn’t meant to be taken seriously.
I’m more than a bird! I’m more than a plane! I’m a bird-plane! BIRD-PLANE!
I was 7 in 1975, and a huge Superman fan, and I remember this being advertised and of course, I was thrilled. But, for some reason, it was on late at night, like after midnight… wtf?
Fortunately, my mother let me stay up to watch it … let’s just say I immediately figured out why it was on in the middle of the night. It was then I learned about absolute disappointment.
I was 13 & also stayed up to watch it. I enjoyed it then, but didn't see it again until about 40 years later. It doesn't hold up well at all.
@@johnpjones182 crazy that it was on so late at night. Unusual for 1975. Especially since I had to have seen it advertised somewhere to even know about it
@@bradforddillman7671 I recall reading that it was made in a hurry to fill a vacant time slot.
@@johnpjones182 maybe. But I distinctly remember saving the ad from TV Guide or whatever. It was a big deal to me at the time … what a letdown!
16:57 The guy on the left looks like Noel Fielding.
In retrospect. For having a scheme about trying to make a character destroy themself. I would've added Abner & Max being forced to suffer an eternity of watching Lawnmower Man 2. Also. Would've possibly added a sin for leaving out Jimmy Olsen. And I thought Batman V Superman killing him off early in the film was bad.
Well, this episode has already taught me what a grawlix is and that Euler's number has an actual name besides "That e I used in algebra class."
Between this and "Turn Off The Dark," I'm wondering if a superhero/comic-book-y musical could ever work. I think a "Birds of Prey v. Gotham City Sirens" idea could be pretty cool.
Annie...it was pretty good on Broadway, and I liked the TV-movie version.
@@MelanieNLee That's true, but I'm thinking more of comic-book superheroes.
The scary part is...this is still better than My Adventures With Superman!
Care to explain why? Because even as....unwelcome as the takes on the villains are, MAWS is still the best take on the title character in a long time.
Happy anniversary, Diva! All hail our favorite demon!
I'm shocked there were no Holy Musical Batman references throughout this whole review.
Good video always, Diva.
The purest irony of it all, I suppose, is that the musical is supposed to be a tribute to Siegel and Schuster's legendary character, but it makes me react more along the lines of a take on another legendary comic icon.... J.K. Simmons' version of J. Jonah Jameson after Peter Parker asking if he could be paid in advance.
And the reward for most repetitive villain goes to Sedgwick! Whoo!
Also congrats on your Anniversary!
thank god for holy musical b@tman...great review as always!
Happy Anniversary, Diva! May you only be doing this for as long as there are bad musicals.
Wait, I think that came out wrong.
I watched the TV adaptation when it originally aired; mercifully, I forgot EVERYTHING about it until you reminded me. (I may have fallen asleep during the second act.) A talented cast is a terrible thing to waste.
When this popped up in my feed, I thought this was a video you already covered. But then I saw this was just posted a day ago. Now I'm wracking my brain trying to remember whether I'm misremembering another musical youtuber's work or if maybe if is a repost?
I already know this is gonna be amazing. YAY ANNIVERSARY
You mean to say that the superman musical destroyed itself?
Perfect timing, this is exactly what I needed right now
Happy anniversary to my favorite demon. May you continue to kick ass at what you know and what you do.
So, you mean to say that "Max" in Wonder Woman 1984 was based, and the actor cast, on this "Max" character?
Sin # 1: Bad Beginning.
I woke up, had a lousy breakfast and found out there's another musical I was better off not knowing about.
I'm not sure why I keep watching MH. Either i hate myself or I'm just a glutton for punishment.
Can't wait for the next episode. 😁
So how does he know he was runner up when you can't publish the nominations for the prize for at least 50 years after they picked the winner for that year?
The looniness in this musical gives me Popeye vibes!!!😂😂😂
17:03- When did Superman become an After School Special?!
I'm sorry, but what was that about the University-owned death ray used to prevent student protests?
I never knew that there was a Superman musical before in which I read about it years ago!