Kevin Spacey Hits Out at Reality TV Musicals
March 31st, 2008 by Laura WestThe Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey has hit out at the BBC for it’s reality TV musicals, he believes they put people off going to the theatre and offer an unfair ‘13-week’ promotion. He’s blasted Andrew Lloyd Webber’s How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, Any Dream Will Do and I’d Do Anything and highlighted the fact the BBC are not a commercial operation and should not be crossing the line as they are doing.
Spacey, who currently has a play at The Old Vic Theatre, has complained to Sir Michael Lyons (chairman of the BBC) and quite fairly asked “where’s our 13 week promotion or programme?”. The BBC have replied issuing a statement saying that it doesn’t have any commercial interests in the West End productions or spin-offs relating to How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, Any Dream Will Do and I’d Do Anything, the current offering to cast leads in Cameron Mackintosh’s upcoming revival of Oliver! , adding, “They provide quality Saturday night entertainment and are about finding new talent.”
Furthermore Andrew Lloyd Webber has commented on Spacey’s slur saying these programmes have boosted the West End in terms of visitors and box office sales. Webber states “It has always been my job to get people into the West End” and through these programmes he’s certainly done that, he’s even managed the task of getting young people interested in the West End.
So whether you love them or hate them, I think that reality TV musicals are here to stay - well for a while yet at least!
Technorati Tags: andrew lloyd webber, any dream will do, bbc, bbc one, how do you solve a problem like maria, id do anything, kevin spacey, kevin spacy, michael lyons, old vic theatre, reality tv, reality tv musicals, reality tv musicals kevin spaceyRelated Posts:
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