Today on Broadway: Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Summary

BroadwayRadio Podcast Summary Episode: Today on Broadway: Wednesday, February 5, 2025

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Introduction

In the February 5, 2025 episode of BroadwayRadio's "Today on Broadway," host James Marino welcomes listeners to an engaging discussion on the latest happenings in Broadway and broader pop culture. Skipping over the initial sponsored segments, the episode dives directly into news updates and a vibrant conversation between James, Matt Tamonini, and Jennifer McHugh, focusing on their favorite pop culture highlights from the past month and looking ahead to upcoming events.

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Broadway News Highlights

1. Shifting Broadway Demographics Philip Baroff's Broadway Journal reports a significant shift in Broadway's audience demographics. Contrary to the previous trend of younger theatergoers, ticket sales from audiences aged 50 and above have increased. This change marks a reversal from the 2023-2024 season, where the average theatergoer was reported to be 40 years old. According to the Broadway League, the average age has now risen to 42, aligning closely with figures from 2018 and 2019. James Marino notes, “For every age group under 50 years old, ticket buyers who are 50 and up increased” ([Broadway Radio Transcript, 00:50]).

2. Grammys Viewership Decline The Grammys attracted 15.4 million viewers on CBS, reflecting a 12% decrease from the previous year’s 17.5 million viewers, as reported by Variety and Nielsen Live + same day Broadway News.

3. Patrick Wilson Leads "Big Fish" Industry Reading Patrick Wilson is set to lead an industry reading of the newly updated edition of "Big Fish," directed by Jerry Zaks. The Broadway-bound presentation will feature a distinguished cast, including Jordan Donica, Nikki Renee Daniels, Hannah Cruz, and Alexander Gemignani, and is scheduled for February 7th in New York City.

4. Record Broadway Box Office The latest Broadway grosses report a strong performance with several shows joining the Million Dollar Club. Notable productions exceeding $1 million include "Wicked," "Lion King," "Gypsy," "Hamilton," "Sunset Boulevard," "The Outsiders," "Death Becomes Her," "MJ the Musical," "Aladdin," "The Great Gatsby," "Hell's Kitchen," "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," and "Romeo and Juliet and Juliet." Nearly half of the currently running shows achieved impressive weekly grosses.

5. Museum of Broadway Celebrates Black Storytellers A special exhibit at the Museum of Broadway honors over 40 Black individuals who have significantly contributed to Broadway through original plays and musicals. The exhibit showcases costumes from productions like "The Color Purple," "Choir Boy," and "The Wild Party," and is presented in partnership with Broadway Care's Equity Fights Aid. The exhibit runs through March 16, 2025.

6. February Birthdays The episode highlights notable birthdays on February 5th, including Alex Brightman, Darren Criss, and Laura Linney, commemorating their contributions to Broadway and entertainment.

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Pop Culture Favorites of January

Jennifer McHugh’s Picks

1. SNL Documentary on Peacock Jennifer expresses enthusiasm for the upcoming 50th-anniversary documentary of Saturday Night Live available on Peacock. She describes it as a "four-part series" that delves into the show's history, including auditions, iconic sketches like the cowbell segment, the writers' room dynamics, and the tumultuous period when Lorne Michaels left, and Dick Ebersol took over ([Transcript, 08:40]).

Notable Quote:

“It's surprisingly moving to watch some of these people watch themselves audition... It's really fascinating.” — Jennifer McHugh ([Transcript, 09:15])

2. "Mamma Mia" National Tour Jennifer shares her excitement about the national tour of "Mamma Mia," directed by Philadelloyd. She praises the production's consistency, having seen the same rendition both on a cruise and at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Jennifer appreciates the show's Shakespearean elements disguised within its lively musical framework.

Notable Quote:

“If you take out the Mamma Mia and put it in iambic pentameter, it really could be a Shakespearean plot.” — Grace ([Transcript, 10:53])

3. Book Recommendation: "Trust" by Hernan Diaz Jennifer recommends "Trust," the 2023 Pulitzer-winning novel by Hernan Diaz. The book employs four different narratives to tell the story of a financier during the Great Depression, exploring themes of truth and perspective.

Notable Quote:

“It's about how easily you can be swayed by who's telling the story.” — Jennifer McHugh ([Transcript, 15:31])

Host’s Picks

1. Film Review: "Conclave" Grace reviews "Conclave," a political thriller about the selection of a new Pope. Praising its stellar cast, including Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci, Grace highlights the film's intrigue and suspense, likening its political maneuverings to shows like "The West Wing" and "Scandal."

Notable Quote:

“As someone who grew up as an Altar Boy, I was gripped. I was sitting on the edge of my seat throughout it.” — Grace ([Transcript, 19:42])

2. Movie Review: "Kneecap" Jennifer discusses "Kneecap," a Netflix film about a hip-hop trio in Northern Ireland striving to preserve the Irish language. Based on a true story, the film combines cultural preservation with modern music, offering an uplifting narrative amid historical tensions.

Notable Quote:

“It's really enjoyable, especially with the recent history on the Troubles and how people use different methods to preserve their voice and their heritage.” — Jennifer McHugh ([Transcript, 24:07])

3. Play Review: "Cult of Love" Grace delves into "Cult of Love," a Broadway play by Leslie Hedlund featuring a notable cast including Molly Bernard, Roberta Calandres, and Shailene Woodley. She praises its portrayal of a dysfunctional family gathering during Christmas, drawing parallels to Midwestern familial dynamics.

Notable Quote:

“It is one of the smartest, funniest plays that I've seen in a very long time.” — Grace ([Transcript, 28:10])

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Upcoming Highlights for February

1. TV Shows to Watch

• "White Lotus" Season 3
• "Yellowjackets" Season 3
• "Severance" continues to intrigue with its latest episodes.

2. CBS Launches New Soap Opera: "Beyond the Gates" On February 24th, CBS introduces "Beyond the Gates," a groundbreaking daytime series centering on a Black family—an unprecedented focus in broadcast soap operas. This move marks a historic step in daytime television diversity.

Notable Quote:

“It focuses on a black family, which has never been the case on any broadcast soap operas.” — Grace ([Transcript, 35:29])

3. Upcoming Movies in February

• "Macbeth" starring David Tennant and Kush Jumbo, directed by Trafalgar.
• "Love Hurts," an action-romcom featuring Kean and Ariana DeBose.
• "Captain Brave New World," despite its troubled production involving numerous reshoots, is set for a February 14th release.

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Conclusion

The February 5, 2025 episode of BroadwayRadio's "Today on Broadway" offers a comprehensive overview of the latest Broadway news, thoughtful reviews of recent pop culture offerings, and a glimpse into exciting upcoming events. From shifting audience demographics and record-breaking box office numbers to engaging discussions on beloved shows and films, the episode provides valuable insights for Broadway enthusiasts and pop culture aficionados alike.

Notable Ending Quote:

“Love is like a flame it burned you when it's high. Love hurry.” — Jennifer McHugh ([Transcript, 39:13])

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For more detailed information and links to featured stories, listeners are encouraged to visit the show notes on BroadwayRadio’s official website.

Transcript

[James Marino]

Welcome to Today on Broadway for Wednesday, February 5, 2025. I am Broadway Radio's James Marino. This week's show is sponsored by Factor Meals that are Smart and delicious. Get 50% off plus free shipping on your first box. Order at FactorMeals.com Broadway50OFF and use the code Broadway50OFF. Broadway radio is also supported by listeners like you patrons through Patreon who get our shows early, receive bonus show and get to listen live. Find out [e-mail] broadwayradio in the second half of today's episode, Matt Tamonini and Jennifer McHugh weigh in on their favorite pieces of pop culture of the past month. But first, let's catch you up on the news. Philip Baroff's Broadway Journal brought us the news that Broadway's older audiences are staging a comeback, quoting from his email newsletter. As the audience shrank modestly in 2023 through 2024, for every age group under 50 years old, ticket buyers who are 50 and up increased, according to the Broadway League. The results are a reversal from the previous season, when the league reported that the average theatergoer was the youngest in two decades, 40 years old in 2023 2024. In contrast, the average age increased to 42 years old, roughly the same age as in 2018 and 2019. For more of this information, you can subscribe to the Broadway journal [e-mail] Next up, news that the Grammys draw 15.4 million viewers on CBS, down 12% from last year. This news, brought to us by Variety, Music's Biggest Night, drew 15.4 million viewers on CBS on Sunday night. That's down 12% from the last last year's Grammys, which brought 17.5 million viewers as per Nielsen Live + same day Broadway News brings us word that Patrick Wilson will lead an industry reading of the newly updated edition of Big Fish. Jerry Zaks will direct the private presentation. The presentation, which is being billed as a Broadway bound show, will be held on February 7th in New York City. This presentation will be starring Patrick Wilson, Jordan Donica, Nikki, Renee Daniels, Hannah Cruz, Alexander Gemignani and more. In last week's Broadway grosses, Jimmy Fallon went all in and joined the $2 million club. I don't recall a January being so strong in the box office in recent years. I could be wrong about that, but I'm not sure. But the Million Dollar Club that shows above a million dollars last week at the box office included Wicked, All In. As we talked about the Lion King, Gypsy Hamilton, Sunset Boulevard, the Outsiders, Death Becomes Her, MJ the Musical, Aladdin, the Great Gatsby, Hell's Kitchen, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Romeo and Juliet and Juliet. It's quite a list. It's 15 of the 29 shows that are currently running had grosses above a million dollars last week. The Museum of Broadway celebrates Black storytellers of Broadway pat past and present with a special exhibit highlighting more than 40 individuals whose original plays and musicals have been presented on Broadway. The exhibit will also feature costumes worn by Cynthia Erivo in the Color Purple, Jeremy Pope in Choir Boy, Eartha Kitt in the Wild Party and more. It's presented in partnership with Broadway Care's Equity Fights aids. The exhibit will celebrate the work of organizations including Black Theatre, United Broadway Advocacy Coalition and Building for Change. You can see this special exhibit now through March 16, 2025. We'll have links to all of those stories in the show notes if you want to get to them quickly in Our bonus section, February 5th birthdays include Alex Brightman, the Bright Monster himself, Darren Criss. Run over to the Belasco and scream Happy Birthday to him. But scream it in German because it's scary. And also Laura Linney, All February 5th Birthdays on February 5th, 1900 was the first Broadway revival of the Pirates of Penzance. Broadway Radio would like to thank this week's sponsor, Factor.

[Grace]

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[Matt Tamonini]

Even though like sometimes I'm trying to do a calorie conscious meal or I'm trying to do a protein heavy meal, whatever it might be, they have a million dietary restriction options for you. My mother specifically is on keto and the fact that there are 40 options across eight dietary preferences is super helpful for the both of us as especially when she's visiting me. I'm able to order more meals. You can vacillate on whatever your plan might be from week to week. It is the most easy and efficient protein packed meal that you can have.

[Grace]

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[James Marino]

Finally today we're going to throw in a little Patreon extra. These are the type of shows that you get if you subscribe to Broadway Radio at [e-mail] patreon or patreon.com broadwayradio and patreon is spelled P A T R E O N.

[Grace]

Welcome to the January 2025 episode of Broadway Radio. Something Like a Pop. My name is Matt Tamnini and I'm joined as always by the brains of our operation, Broadway radio's Los Angeles bureau chief, Jennifer McHugh. Jen, I know it's been a really tough month out there in Southern California. How are you? How, how is your city, how is your state and what can we do to help?

[Jennifer McHugh]

We are doing okay personally. The city is pulling together and doing what we can as we feel like we're on, we're on our own federally but you know, it's just, it's really hard trauma wise. But you know, we have to rebuild and clean up and do what we can to help everybody. If anyone wants to help, I would recommend looking into the California Fire charities as well as the Pasadena and Palisades animals charities who are still housing a lot of displaced and harmed animals from the fires that were rescued.

[Grace]

Very good recommendations there. So as we do every month, we are talking about the pop culture things that we enjoyed the most throughout the past 30 to 31 and next month 28 days. Obviously these things all pale in comparison to the real world issues that are going on, especially impacting you, Jen, because I know you guys had to evacuate for a couple of days, but hopefully if your month has been especially trying, you are able to find some break from that in pop culture. These can be tv, movies, books, music, podcasts, theater, anything and everything at all. So Jen, why don't you start us off by giving us your first thing that you enjoyed from the month of January.

[Jennifer McHugh]

Okay. We're going to keep these choices light hearted because of all the things aforementioned. So first I was going to talk about TV. The 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Lies is next week. So I've been enjoying on Peacock, the SNL documentary TV show, as well as a full length documentary on both the history of the show and the music of the show. I know from your travelog episode that you're not a huge SNL guy if you didn't know who Simon Rich was.

[Grace]

Nope. And I didn't know who his father was either. Someone had to tell me his dad was Frank Rich. So I had no idea. No idea at all.

[Jennifer McHugh]

I heard that when you said it, I was like, he doesn't know Simon Riches. But you know, different interests. But this is a four part documentary. It's a TV show and the first episode is about the auditions and it's surprisingly moving to watch some of these people watch themselves audition. You know, there's some like cringy, there's some get very emotional and some get nervous all over again and can't watch, which is fascinating. The second episode's about the cowbell sketch, the origination of it and the reaction to it. The third episode is all about the writer's room. The fourth episode is about the weird year and if you are an SNL fan, you know which one I'm talking about. And it was a year when Lorne Michaels left and Dick Ebersole took over and it's very strange. So anyway, very fascinating four part series. And then Questlove made a full length documentary on the history of the music of SNL which is really fascinating. It's just a nice timeline of pop culture to see what bands were super hot and some, you know, lasted a while, some are still around, some you never heard of again, but which I guess you can say from the the hosts of SNL too, you can really tell who was hot for a few years when they hosted a bunch of times looking at you, Timberlake. But I'm just a huge SNL fan. I love the behind the scenes stories and it's all up on Peacock and a really fun watch and a good distraction.

[Grace]

And I know on, I think it's actually on Valentine's Day Peacock is going to have a live concert as well with some of the biggest music acts from SNL coming back together to do something. I haven't really revealed who it's going to be, but I am sure that that is going to be a ton of Fun for lots of folks. All right, my first one, I am also going to keep light. And earlier in January, two times I went over to the Dr. Phillips center for the Performing Arts to check out the national tour of Mamma Mia. And I've got to tell you, this production is wonderful, but that show is just so ridiculous and fun that I absolutely love it. What's interesting is that I actually saw Mamma Mia three times over the course of like three and a half weeks. Because the little three day cruise that I went on in December also had a production of Mamma Mia. And when I tell you it was the exact same production. It was the exact same production, same sets, same costumes, same choreo. All of it based off of. I mean, not even based off of. They still actually have Philadelloyd credited as the director of this tour, which is the 25th anniversary tour. It's not like so and so directed based off of the original direction by Philadelloy. They still still credit her. And you know what I think is so interesting about this show is that Philadelloyd, who directed the original production in London and then on Broadway as well, she is one of the most heralded British Shakespearean directors. And when you really sit down and look at this show, if you take out the Mamma Mia. And if you put it in iambic pentameter, it really could be a Shakespearean plot. Jen. It has not mistaken identity, but like secrets and hiding people and a little bit of misdirection and pushing people this way while someone's looking over here. It's got a wedding at the end. It really does have a lot of the hallmarks of a Shakespearean comedy and it really works. It's so much fun. And I will say this is something you will. You know, you might want to put in the back of your mind. I have heard that after this tour goes across the country, it's here in Florida, then it's going out across the south, makes a stop in Syracuse, New York, from Virginia to New York to Tennessee, which is a little weird. Goes down through Texas, then heads over to the West Coast, California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, and it ends in the last week of June in Denver, Colorado. However, I don't think it's ending there and maybe it's something completely unrelated, but I think we're going to have Mamma Mia. On Broadway this summer. At the end of the summer. Maybe it'll just be a spring run to celebrate the 25th anniversary. But I would not be surprised if this cast and this Production ends up on a very respected Broadway stage later this year. So if you have an opportunity to check it out, I highly recommend it. It is a ton of fun. The talent is insane. So lots of people with Broadway experience with Mamma Mia. Lots of people with Las Vegas experience with Mamma Mia. There was a long time sit down production there. So if you like Mamma Mia. If you like abba, I think you'll really enjoy this.

[Jennifer McHugh]

I love the inside scoop. And as you know, I have. I have two really good friends that live near you. And you've never met them as you've never met me, but they went to the same that you did, and they were raving about it as well. Also a little humble brag Is one of my best friends in college, was in the original Broadway cast.

[Grace]

Oh, nice.

[Jennifer McHugh]

Was the original Lisa.

[Grace]

Which one's Lisa?

[Jennifer McHugh]

One of the bridesmaids in the very beginning. Who sings Honey, Honey?

[Grace]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And then they, like, have like four lines of the rest of the show. Right?

[Jennifer McHugh]

It was a big deal.

[Grace]

Exactly. Yeah, of course, of course. What's her name?

[Jennifer McHugh]

Tanya Duran.

[Grace]

Okay, very cool. Awesome. What's she doing now?

[Jennifer McHugh]

She is being a mom.

[Grace]

Good for her.

[Jennifer McHugh]

Good for her.

[Grace]

Better her than me. I mean, for obvious reasons. But anyway. All right, Jen, what's next for you?

[Jennifer McHugh]

I would like to recommend a book to you because I know you're looking for reading material.

[Grace]

Oh, okay.

[Jennifer McHugh]

This is called Trust by Hernan Diaz. It was the 2023 Pulitzer.

[Grace]

Oh, that's too. That's too smart for me. I can't do that.

[Jennifer McHugh]

It's not. And let me tell you, let me sell you on, is one a story about one thing told in four different ways by four different people. The reason it's called Trust is because you have to figure out what's the real story. And the description of it sounds really boring, but it was honestly one of my favorite books I've ever read. The first part is a fictional novelization of the story about financier during the Great Depression. How exciting. But then the second part is that financier writing a manuscript correcting all of the wrongs that the novel got wrong. So he hires an assistant to help him with the manuscript. Then the third part is the assistant slash ghostwriter writing a memoir about what it was like to work with the financier and all the things that he got wrong. And then the fourth part is the diary of the financier's wife who tells us the quote unquote, real story. So I found it fascinating, especially right now. Who do you believe? You know, it. It's four different POVs. It's four different mediums in telling the story and the characters. You just don't know. You know, you feel one way about a character in the first part and by the third part you're like, I don't know if I like that guy. Or there's somewhere. You're like, oh, he kind of got a raw deal. But I just found it really fascinating and it was a quick read and I. I honestly just thought you would like it as a journalist because we're in this age of what is true and alternative facts and everything, and it's just about how easily you can be swayed by who's telling the story.

[Grace]

I do love that. So trust. What. What is the author's name?

[Jennifer McHugh]

Hernan. H E R N A N. Diaz.

[Grace]

Okay, is this one that is. Is. Do you think that I would be able to do audiobook wise? But I know you probably did an audiobook, but like, I need, like, things that are a little bit more in depth. I struggle with audiobook. Do you think this is one I could listen to or one that I would probably benefit from actually reading it, especially because of the genre, medium changes between the different sections.

[Jennifer McHugh]

Well, the reason I enjoyed the audiobook was for that reason, because it was four different narrators.

[Grace]

Okay.

[Jennifer McHugh]

So it was easier to hear that voice in that person's. Well, voice.

[Grace]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Jennifer McHugh]

But, yeah, I just, I think you would enjoy it because of, you know, you work with words and you work with truth. And it really. It's really stayed with me for a few weeks after I read it.

[Grace]

Awesome. I will put that on the list and see if I can pick that up before I head off on a cruise tomorrow morning.

[Jennifer McHugh]

Your life is crazy.

[Grace]

It is. It really, really is. I'm going to London. So I come back from the cruise on a Saturday, that next Friday. I go to Nashville for a weekend. I come back on a Sunday, and then that next Thursday I do a red eye to London for the weekend. So this, these last six weeks or week period is bonkers. I. I don't know how it all happened. It was not the intention, but it certainly ended up being one heck of a month and a half run. All right, Jen, I'm going to talk about a film that is up for multiple Academy Awards. And it is, you know, it's something that, because of my background and your background certainly probably appealed to me a little bit more than some other people, but just because I'm very Excited to.

[Jennifer McHugh]

Hear your review of this.

[Grace]

Well, I'm not going to go too in depth because I want people to see it. But even if you're not Catholic, Conclave is an absolute must see movie. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It won Best Screenplay at the golden globes. It had 11 Critics Choice nominations. It tied with Wicked for the most. And it has just one of the great casts that you're going to see anywhere of actors of a certain age. Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini. And it basically follows, as the title suggests, a conclave, which is what the College of Cardinals does after a Pope either dies or steps aside to determine who the next Pope will be. And we all know the black smoke and the white smoke and all that stuff. But what this does is it looks at this one specific conclave, where I am assuming this is always how it is, because we have stories back to, you know, the. The, you know, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance where people were power brokering in conclaves to get someone to be Pope. But it is as political as anything you ever saw on the West Wing. It is as political as anything you saw on Scandal. It is also sometimes just as shocking as something you would see on Scandal. But the acting is incredible. The twists and turns are incredible. As somebody who, like I said, grew up as an Altar Boy, the St. Pius X parish 1994 altar server of the year, I was gripped. I was sitting on the edge of my seat throughout it. So I don't want to, like, get into, like, what happens, because it's. It's one of those movies that I think you have to watch and see, but it is very much a political thriller, which I don't know that I realized, Jen, before I started watching it. Like, I knew everyone said it was really good and all of that stuff, but, like, I didn't realize, like, this was, I mean, not Born Identity thriller, because there's no one, like, you know, doing Superhuman, you know, fighting stuff. But, like, the intrigue and the plots and the twists and the turns were as political thrillery as anything I've seen in a very long time.

[Jennifer McHugh]

Well, I, too, watched that movie.

[Grace]

Yeah.

[Jennifer McHugh]

Well, first I thought. First, for some reason, I thought you were going to talk about Emilio Perez, but.

[Grace]

Oh, no, no, no.

[Jennifer McHugh]

Which is a whole other discussion. Yeah, we're gonna need to talk about that when you watch it. No, I loved Conclave because of or despite of Catholic upbringing. But I. Anytime Lithgow or Tucci comes on screen, I'm. The ticket is bought. There's just no question about it. The process was fascinating to watch, but it was riveting. And I can't believe this is Isabella Rossellini's first Oscar nomination. That's insane.

[Grace]

Absolutely not. How is that possible?

[Jennifer McHugh]

I don't understand.

[Grace]

It really is stupid. It's just dumb. It's just dumb. And you know what else is kind of crazy is like all of the people that she has either been married to or in long term relationships with, like she was married to Scorsese, married to Jonathan Weidman, who, I don't know who that is, but then partners with David lynch and Gary Oldman. It's like what? Like insane, you know, and her, her mother, Ingrid Bergman. It's just nuts. What a crazy life that, that she has led. But yeah. All right. All right, Jan, what is your third option from the month of January?

[Jennifer McHugh]

Also a 2024 movie that was not nominated, criminally called Kneecap. Okay, this is on Netflix and it is about a hip hop trio called Kneecap. What's your, what's your knowledge of the Troubles.

[Grace]

Talking about, like, Ireland. Trouble?

[Jennifer McHugh]

Ireland? Yeah, yeah.

[Grace]

I mean, basics.

[Jennifer McHugh]

Okay, so this takes place about 10 years after the Good Friday agreement. So we're talking like late 2010s. So now you're, now you're seeing the repercussions of all that. And this is a hip hop trio in Northern Ireland and Belfast. And there's a strong movement to make Irish one of the national languages and not let it disappear. Which seems like a duh statement because they're in Ireland and Northern Ireland, but there is a real movement by the Crown and to make English, you know, the main language and push Irish out. So in an effort to support this, this hip hop trio starts rapping in Irish and gains this huge cult like following. So it sounds like a simple story, but. And like Conclave, I don't want to say too much about that, but it's just really enjoyable, especially with the recent history on the Troubles and you know, with everything that's going on in the world and how people use different methods to preserve their voice and their heritage. And these unlikely group of three 20 somethings who, they're not great people, they're just trying to save a piece of their heritage. So they're not heroes, but they just see an opening where like, oh, I can do something with this. And they become, you know, it's, it is based on a true story. They are a real group. So. And it's the real people in them. In there, playing them. But it's a really, really fun watch on Netflix. And I started following them on Instagram because they're just so fun. But it. It's just something different. It's just a story. I've never seen like that, and I really enjoyed it.

[Grace]

My question was going to be if. If it was a true story. And not only is it a true story, but it's actually the real people doing it. That's fascinating. So.

[Jennifer McHugh]

It is. Yeah. I didn't realize it was really them. And then there's one point where one of the actors started rapping, and I was like, okay, that's not an actor. That's a rapper. And I had to look it up, like, oh, okay, he's really in the group.

[Grace]

Because, like, yeah, yeah. It's like one of those things when you realize, like, you hear Riz Ahmed rap and you're like, oh, he's. Oh, okay, got it. He's actually a rapper. Yeah, got it.

[Jennifer McHugh]

Right. So anyway, it's on Netflix. It's really, if you need something different and uplifting in these trying times.

[Grace]

Yeah. And I don't know that I mentioned. Maybe I didn't. I forgot. But Conclave is on Peacock if you want to watch it there. Right. All right. The last one I'm going to do, I'm going to do something that I generally try not to do, especially because this is coming out just a few days after my second travelogue episode for my New York trip. But I'm going to talk about a play that I just saw on Broadway that is going to be part of that travelogue episode. The reason I'm going to do that is because of all of the TV and film people involved. And if you listen to Fridays Today on Broadway, it's going to be turned into a movie. So I thought it was appropriate with all of those connections that I talk about. Cult of Love. Cult of Love is a play that will undoubtedly be nominated for best play this year. It is written by Leslie Hedlund, who has long been one of my favorite playwrights, and I cannot believe this is her Broadway debut. It is directed by trip Coleman, which 75% of every good play in New York City is directed by Trip Coleman. And the cast features Molly Bernard, who was on the TV show Younger Roberta Calandres, who we know as Changing my major to Joan from Fun Home, but she was also on the TV show A League of Their Own. Barbie Ferreira is from the TV show Euphoria. Rebecca Henderson, who I most saw as A green alien in Star Wars Acolyte. But she has also been in Russian Doll and she is Leslie Hedlund's wife, Christopher Lowell, who I think most recently people might know him from glow, but Jen. Christopher Lowell. You know how.

[Jennifer McHugh]

Oh, I know.

[Grace]

I always think of him, don't you?

[Jennifer McHugh]

Of course. He's Piz.

[Grace]

He's Piz. He'S Piz, baby. From Veronica Mars. From Veronica Mars. Yeah. The like the boyfriend that everybody hated when she's all of a sudden got a new boyfriend in season three. But PIZ is there. The great Zachary Quinto, who I don't need to tell you who he is. David Raiche, who I did not realize was a fairly major character on succession. Mayor Winningham. The great Mayor Winningham. And then Shailene Woodley, who of course is a huge star of both big and small screens. And then the one person that I didn't know much of anything at all is Christopher Sears, who this is his Broadway debut as well. But he is somebody who has been with the show for its entire time, like dating back to the very first performances of it. And he's done a few tv, TV things, but not much. Just kind of pops up in like maybe some guests. Not even guest starring role, just like extra roles. And he's done some video game stuff as well. But anyway, the cast is tremendous. The play is tremendous. Leslie Hedlund said in a Variety article last week that they are going to make a film version of it, which makes a ton of sense because she is a tremendous screenwriter, both for television and film. But what I loved about this Shojin and I'm gonna try not to go too much into it because I don't want to overlap with what I said said on the the Travelogue episode. But Jen, it is. It is about as dysfunctional of a family as you could possibly get. But there is something in there that feels. And maybe this is true everywhere, but something about it to me feels very Midwest, northeast, where I think it's set in New York, like upstate New York or something. But it's when you get everybody into a home for Christmas and it's cold outside and maybe people haven't been together maybe since last Christmas and it's your family and there's all of the shared memories and the emotions that go with that. But there's also like the adult animosities that kind of go with things as well, where even though you might have been raised by the same people, you don't necessarily see the world the same way. But there is this weird feeling of love and camaraderie that I think comes over people during that time of year, especially when it's cold outside and you're all wearing sweaters and stuff. Fortunately, my family is nothing like this family. But that vibe and all of the little traditions that you do and the weird inside jokes and things that you have with your family felt very familiar to me. Unfortunately, no one in my family is as crazy as some of the people in the Dahl family who is at the center of this story. But this is a show that if you ever have an opportunity to see it, if you can. I mean, actually, by the time you're hearing this, it is closed on Broadway. But if you have an opportunity to see a production somewhere else or whenever this movie comes out, you have to. It is one of the smartest, funniest plays that I've seen in a very long time. I don't know that the resolution of the show lives up to what I would have wanted it to be, but save that little five minutes towards the end, which is obviously a pretty big deal when it's the end of the show, but save that. I think it is one of the best things that I've seen in a long time in terms of new plays. It's a top fiver I've seen in the past five years. Cult of Love, Leslie Headland, all of those incredible stages, stage and screen stars hopefully coming to the big screen or a. Or a streaming service soon because it is excellent.

[Jennifer McHugh]

I feel like it was written about my family.

[Grace]

Well, that's why I kind of felt like maybe you would know what I'm. What I'm talking about there.

[Jennifer McHugh]

You're like, northeast, big family gets together once a year. I'm like, good boy. Triggering.

[Grace]

All right, Jen, so let's talk about February. It's a shorter month, but what are you looking forward to in the month of February coming out?

[Jennifer McHugh]

Well, first and foremost, I'm looking forward to January being over. And then the only two TV shows I have on my radar are the White Lotus season three and Yellow Jackets season three. And honestly, more severance. I don't know if you're caught up, but the most recent episode was pretty batshit crazy. And I am not a binger. I am all for week by week, but, boy, am I champing to get to the next episode to see what the hell just happened.

[Grace]

Yeah, I've heard only great things about this season. And as we've talked about here on Some, like, I probably for, like, I loved season one. One of My favorite things, I just haven't had the opportunity, but I am downloading every episode of shows that I've missed to take on this cruise with me. So I am very much looking forward to that. In terms of TV shows, there's nothing really that stands out to me. Like, this is great. I have to, you know, this is like one of these great shows that I have to watch. But I will say that two of my favorite guilty pleasures are coming back in February, both the Voice and the Masked Singer. But I will point out something that is happening that is pretty historic on TV. And on February 24th, 4th, CBS is launching a new daytime series. This is something that has not happened in decades where a broadcast network has launched a new soap opera. Generally, soap operas are getting canceled Left and right. ABC, which are the ones I've always watched, went from four soap operas, three hour long, one half hour, to just one. And it's been like that for 15 years. But they are launching a new show called beyond the Gates. And what makes this even more special is, is that it focuses on a black family, which has never been the case on any broadcast soap operas. While of course there have been black characters and, you know, major black characters, it has never been the Quartermains, the Chandlers, the Foresters. None of these people that really were at the center of, of any of the iconic soap operas have been black families. And there are white characters just like there were black characters in all the other soap operas. But I think the fact that it is centering a black family in a brand new daytime drama I think is very, very cool. And it's also just kind of like for people who love soap operas, it's an opportunity to do something that really people haven't been able to do in generations, is to start at the beginning of a soap. And I will be doing it. I've never watched a CBS soap opera. I've always been ABC only. But beyond the Gates I am going to be checking out when it start on cbs. And this is why they canceled the Talk. So if you watch the Talk and are mad that it's been canceled, that is why I think it's funny that.

[Jennifer McHugh]

You had to mention your ABC loyal after you talked about the Chandlers and the Quartermains.

[Grace]

Yeah, well, you know, I threw in the Foresters. I don't even know what show that is, but I know that it is one of those shows, maybe Bold and the Beautiful, but yeah, the Chandlers, the Quartermains, the Martins, the Lords, of course. How can I forget the Lords from One Life to Live.

[Jennifer McHugh]

That's what I thought you were gonna say. I was gonna say the Brady's.

[Grace]

Oh, yeah. I don't know what that means. The Brady Bunch and the Hortons are.

[Jennifer McHugh]

The days of our lives.

[Grace]

Oh, yeah. Got nothing. No idea. But there are a couple movies that I want to point out here. Coming up during the. The month of February, I will say, on February 5th, check out, like, your local theater listings, because Macbeth, starring David Tennant and Kush Jumbo, is gonna be released by Trafalgar. Always love that. On Friday, February 7, Love Hurts, starring Kean and Ariana DeBose is going to be out. It's a kind of an action rom com with two Oscar winners. So that is always a very cool thing with that. And then on February 14, Captain Brave New World. I have no expectations that this is going to be good based off of everything that went through, that it went through with dozens and dozens of reshoots and all that stuff going to be there with bells on to sing it, to see it. Nonetheless. So those are the movies that I'm looking forward to in February.

[Jennifer McHugh]

I think it'd be more interesting if you sang it.

[Grace]

What do you mean?

[Jennifer McHugh]

Because you said, I'll be there to sing it.

[Grace]

Oh, did I say that?

[Jennifer McHugh]

Yeah.

[Grace]

Oh, I meant see it. I'll be there to see it. I thought you were talking about Love Hurts, because. Who was I talking to? I was talking to my friend Janie about Love Hurts. And I was like, like, we're talking about, like. Because it used to have a different name that it was supposed to be, I think, like, with Love was the name, and then they changed it to Love Hurts. I was like, well, yeah. And also, like, you can use the song in the marketing. And she goes, what song? And I said, jane, you're. I'm only like, five years older than you. There's no way you don't know the song Love Hurts. She had never heard the song Love Hurts. I sang a little bit to her. That didn't help. So, like, I. Like, she's in her late mid to late 30s. Like, there's. How could she not know the song Love Hurts just by Nazareth Love Hurts. It actually, I think it was by the Beverly Brothers first, but then Nazareth, like, made it a big, you know, thing for people our age and older. But, yeah, like, I don't. It blew my mind. Blew my mind. Made me feel old, too.

[Jennifer McHugh]

Yeah, it hurts.

[Grace]

Love. Love does hurt. All right, everybody, thank you for listening to this episode of Some Like It Pop. Let us know what your favorite things that you watch watched were in the month of January and pass along what you were most looking forward to in February as well. Jen, I hope your February is much better than your January was, and I think that applies to basically everybody else out there because that was a Travis sham. Ockery. So hopefully we'll have an opportunity to celebrate a few more things when we do this episode in a month's time. Thanks for listening. Thank you for supporting us, and we'll be back to talk to you next month. On you I really learned a lot. Really learned a lot.

[Jennifer McHugh]

Love is like a flame it burned.

[Grace]

You when it's high Love hurry.