Broadway Breakdown

Host: Matt Koplik
Episode: Announcing: Broadway Breakdown's Lineup for 2024
Date: September 1, 2024

Overview

In this vibrant episode, Matt Koplik, self-described as "the least famous and most opinionated of all the Broadway podcast hosts," announces Broadway Breakdown’s much-anticipated 2024 "Grab Bag" series lineup. The episode is a blend of sharp insights, irreverent humor, and community shoutouts as Matt talks through the shows chosen by his listeners for the season, details the chaotic selection process, and teases upcoming episodes. The show’s ever-growing Discord community takes the spotlight, and Matt weaves in memorable anecdotes, strong opinions, and plenty of four-letter words—exactly what the podcast’s fans have come to expect.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Origins & Process of the "Grab Bag" Series

• Listener-Driven Selections:
  • The new “Grab Bag” series features shows nominated and voted on by Broadway Breakdown’s Discord community.
  • Over 60 new members joined the Discord following the announcement, highlighting the show’s growing, passionate audience.
• Selection Process:
  • Nominated titles were drawn from a bowl live on Instagram to ensure transparency and fun.
  • "Some shows and movies...had multiple votes. And when we got a repeat, I had to toss it aside and pick a new one." (03:15)
• Community Engagement:
  • Discord members contributed by making Spotify playlists of all nominated and then selected shows/movies, creating study resources for new listeners.

2. Housekeeping and Community Recognitions

• Podcast Growth:
  • The show is up to 249 Apple Podcasters ratings and 273 overall (across all platforms).
• Highlighted Listener Review:
  • Matt reads and comments on a glowing five-star podcast review, appreciating the recognition for his "deep academic level understanding" and passionate critiques.
  • "Even if you’re the creator of a show that Matt doesn’t praise, you’ll recognize...the validity of his critique..." (09:45)

3. Upcoming Mini-Episodes & Series Plans

• “Shorty McShort Short” Episodes for Broadway grosses and season recaps are teased.
• Matt’s Commitment to Quality:
  • Consulting industry insiders to ensure accuracy, especially for the Broadway grosses episode.

2024 "Grab Bag" Series Lineup

Matt reveals the full list of selected titles for the season, alongside candid first takes and background info.

1. American Psycho (The Musical)

• "I did not enjoy American Psycho when it was on Broadway, but it does have a passionate fan base...the movie is incredible. The book is fascinating..." (15:32)
• Hints at potential guests: "Maybe I will...have [the host of Waiting in the Wings] on..."

2. Angels in America

• "Tony Kushner Pulitzer and Tony-winning masterpiece...no way you can talk about both plays in one episode and not have it be a million hours long." (17:31)
• Will be a two-parter: Millennium Approaches & Perestroika.

3. Come From Away

• "Looking forward to this...this is a musical choice that I’m happy got selected by the fickle finger of fate." (18:42)
• Notes on accessibility: pro-shot is on Apple TV+.

4. Fat Ham

• "Probably my pick to win that year...I look forward to talking about it." (19:41)
• Notes the potential difficulties in finding a high-quality recording.

5. A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder

• "Had some of the most votes in the grab bag submissions...has a very fascinating legacy and it’s not artistic, it’s financial." (20:10)
• Will delve into Tony Awards’ impact on Broadway runs.

6. Jekyll and Hyde

• "Our first Frank Wildhorn musical...I ultimately think this show is kind of cotton candy trash and, like, not even curated artisanal cotton candy." (21:06)
• Balancing bitchiness and honesty.

7. Little Shop of Horrors

• "I love this musical with all of my heart...holds a special place in my heart." (22:08)
• Will tap into personal history and production anecdotes.

8. Nine

• "One of the greatest scores of the 80s, if not all of musical theater...I both love it and recognize a lot of its flaws." (23:04)
• Potential guest: "Friend of the pod who 9 is his favorite musical."

9. Passion

• Sondheim entry. "A musical that I never liked...I came around to it a bit more when we did our episode about it...” (24:38)
• Teases emotional openness and coded personal stories.

10. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut

• "This movie is a masterpiece and…should be talked about much more openly and seriously as a movie musical." (25:50)
• Sondheim called it the best musical of the 90s—even including his own work.

11. A Streetcar Named Desire

• "Perhaps the most famous Tennessee Williams play of all time...and we will talk about the movie adaptation because I personally think Tennessee Williams might be the most fucked over American playwright..." (27:30)
• Will connect to other Williams adaptations and touch on comparisons to Carousel.

12. West Side Story (2021 Film Remake)

• Mixed feelings. "I still think it’s good, at times incredibly good, but I do have feelings about it. I have notes on it..." (29:15)
• Will discuss legacy, cast, and why Chicago (the movie) holds up better.

13. The Wiz (1978 Film)

• "The Wiz movie means a lot to a great many people...I did not grow up with the movie. I came to it late in life...confounded me, one might say." (32:16)
• Distinguishes it from stage version and addresses cultural impact.

14. The Women

• "A baller and quotable as fuck...This play is sort of the mother to Valley of the Dolls, which is then the mother to Gossip Girl." (34:23)
• Will discuss feminism, representation, and influence.

[Series Recap Timestamp: 35:45]

• Matt recaps all titles: "To sum it up, we have American Psycho, we have Angels in Two Parter, Come From Away, Fat Ham, A Gentleman’s Guide…"

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On episode length and audience habits:
  "When episodes of series are less than two hours, y’all don’t listen to it right away. I think you guys think when the episode is long it means, 'Oh, Matt had a lot to say about this' and it's true, I did." (18:45)

• On Jekyll and Hyde:
  "As I've gotten older, I must say that I've become disillusioned to its quality. But I cannot deny the fun that can be had with it. I ultimately think that this show is kind of cotton candy trash..." (21:12)

• On South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut:
  "What it says about censorship, what it says about cultural outrage and mob mentality and xenophobia, all while being a silly ass cartoon that's less than 90 minutes." (25:58)

• On The Women:
  "It's a ball and quotable as fuck...This play is sort of the mother to Valley of the Dolls, which is then the mother to Gossip Girl." (34:23)

• On Discord community:
  "Everyone is having a blast there. Again, we are now up to 160 members. Everyone’s very kind and very considerate. We can be a little snarky, but no one has crossed a line yet." (36:23)

Important Timestamps

• [00:27]: Introduction and context for "Grab Bag" series
• [03:15]: Explanation of selection process; community involvement
• [09:45]: Reading the five-star Apple Podcasts review
• [15:32 – 36:00]: Comprehensive rundown of each "Grab Bag" show/movie with commentary
• [35:45]: Recap of full lineup and notable stats (e.g., number of Pulitzers)
• [36:23]: Details on joining the Discord for listener engagement and future show questions

Listener Engagement Going Forward

• All listener questions and show-specific discussion will now happen on Discord, not Instagram.
• The Discord will serve as a "living syllabus" with links, media, and discussions for deeper dives into each show/film.
• Matt encourages listeners to "expand your rep—don’t just limit yourself to the four shows you like or the ten shows you like."

Closing

Matt closes the episode by hyping excitement for the lineup, shamelessly plugging the Discord, and promising future episodes on grosses and the new Broadway season. As a final flourish, he signs off with a dose of Babs (Barbra Streisand).

For full Discord details and podcasts episodes, see: bwaybreakdown.substack.com