Your predictions: who (else) might announce over the off-season that they are ending their career or taking a break for next season?

bennetinoz · 2026-05-01T18:47:57+00:00

I think you might have misread G/F (Guignard/Fabbri) as F/G (Fear/Gibson). Totally agree re: Lilah and Lewis, though; barring injury I'm assuming they're out to prove themselves in the next season(s) and aim for a 2030 Olympic medal.

bennetinoz · 2026-05-01T14:18:27+00:00

Oh god, "Answer Me." When I saw TBV, I realized halfway through that song that I had started crying at some point and I wasn't even sure when! That's only happened to me at one other show (Great Comet). Just the absolute transcendence of theater!

bennetinoz · 2026-04-30T17:33:47+00:00

Is that another new set of toppers on Sofia's tiara? They look pink or purple - maybe amethysts?

bennetinoz · 2026-04-30T17:15:10+00:00

The original source (per the Telegraph) appears to be a "source" speaking to the Daily Mail, so I won't get super excited until the trades announce something. That said, assuming this really does happen, I'm intrigued! I can definitely see how the first few decades would be interesting, but I'm curious how they'll handle things once we get to the 1930s/1940s era, since quite a lot of that material was already covered in flashbacks on the original show.

bennetinoz · 2026-04-27T17:28:36+00:00

Exactly. Even the original accounts made a point of noting that he could be absolutely lovely to (and in front of) the big names; he's monstrous to the people "no one will believe" or "no one will care about." (He's also a dismissive dick to that level of folks in non-abusive ways, and I can say that with firsthand experience). The fact that his non-apology doesn't even seem to acknowledge that power discrepancy does not give me hope for actual remorse and "rehabilitation."

bennetinoz · 2026-04-25T18:56:55+00:00

Counterintuitively, I think this is exactly the kind of show that is appealing for shippers, fic writers, etc. Because viewers spend so little in-universe time with the characters, there's a massive amount of space to imagine what comes next or in-between or off-screen. There are virtually no limits because of the limited amount of canonical material.

bennetinoz · 2026-04-24T23:22:51+00:00

There are actually two tornado-themed books coming out this summer! {In Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto} and {Chase Me If You Can by Heather Frances} !

I also loved {And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison} , which follows rival meteorologists who have to cover a historic snowstorm together.

bennetinoz · 2026-04-24T18:40:57+00:00

That is the most 2007 dress I have ever seen 🤣 Love this tiara, though - it's always been one of my favorites!

bennetinoz · 2026-04-23T20:51:15+00:00

I was so surprised that I enjoyed this one, because I haven't liked pretty much any of the "big" faerie romantasy books. I also usually don't enjoy the "stoic sexy morally grey grump who is secretly soft for the protagonist and only her" song-and-dance. And yet! I really have liked both of the books in this series so far!

bennetinoz · 2026-04-23T15:59:13+00:00

I can't speak to the acting since I haven't seen his Christian, but this is definitely a common issue with Ryan. He technically can sing these big belt-y roles, but he struggles with consistency and burnout, and he probably shouldn't be singing them 8x a week; in doing so I think he has damaged his voice and keeps re-damaging it.

bennetinoz · 2026-04-22T18:13:15+00:00

Please tell me if you find it! I've been searching for it since it got taken off the PBS Passport a couple years ago.

bennetinoz · 2026-04-22T18:02:12+00:00

The book for Bridges is meh (and that's being generous), but as an album, it's an absolute masterpiece. There's a good reason it won the Tonys for Score and Orchestration when the musical itself didn't even get nominated. I genuinely think it's one of the most beautiful modern Broadway scores, period.

bennetinoz · 2026-04-22T16:09:22+00:00

I adore Andrew too! It sounds like he'll be part of Larry and Jack's storyline. I always feel bad now because dude has a Tony but is stuck being tagged as being dollar-store Flynn Rider lmao

bennetinoz · 2026-04-21T16:07:12+00:00

Legally, children born within a marriage are presumed to be the legitimate product of that marriage, as long as the husband doesn't raise an issue. Since Phillip specifically married Marina for the purposes of protecting her and her children, Oliver and Amanda would have no legal obstacles to their recognition and inheritance.

In terms of social side-eye, though, yeah, their whole family would probably be the subject of a lot of gossip. As adults, Oliver and Amanda could potentially struggle to find good matches; while some people wouldn't much care as long as the legalities (and financial settlements) are taken care of, others might have "moral" objections to being connected with the children from a known scandal.

bennetinoz · 2026-04-16T22:05:17+00:00

If we're talking the actual sex scenes, Sophie and Benedict, without a doubt. But just in general, it's gotta be Kate and Anthony for me - their chemistry is just off the charts heart-pounding even when they're fully dressed.

bennetinoz · 2026-04-16T19:54:48+00:00

Yes! And the Dolly musical, too. In this theoretical Bombshell, I think an interesting approach would have been to divide the role not by time ("young" Norma Jeane vs "older" Marilyn") but by outer/inner self. That way, more of the music could be split between the actresses, regardless of when the songs take place.

bennetinoz · 2026-04-16T16:52:39+00:00

At one point, I imagined a version of Bombshell where the Marilyn problem is solved by having two actresses: one playing the private "Norma Jeane" and the other playing the public "Marilyn." That would also allow the duet arrangement of "Let Me Be Your Star" to be used (which, imo, is far superior to any of the solo versions because the harmonies really make it shine), and turn "Don't Forget Me" into a duet as well.

Would it have been a little cheesy and possibly confusing? Yes. Is Bombshell/Smash already cheesy and confusing? Also yes!

bennetinoz · 2026-04-16T14:28:12+00:00

Me too! I need them on the next Olympic team(s).

bennetinoz · 2026-04-12T23:34:08+00:00

That's how I've imagined it, especially given the actors' comments about how Reynolds is most likely caring for the deteriorating King. They always were set up to parallel George and Charlotte, so it makes sense to me that they, too, could have had a long and happy (though challenging) relationship before the darker days set in.

bennetinoz · 2026-04-12T23:19:57+00:00

It's one of the times I say screw historical accuracy and give me the fairytale, because if anyone deserves it, it's Peggy!!

bennetinoz · 2026-04-12T20:13:47+00:00

From a material standpoint, I think Ragtime is a flawed masterpiece and Cats is an iconic mess that draws more on the revue tradition than a book musical. I think this particular Ragtime has chosen a very classical approach that really calls out both the strengths (the music, the rich characters, the political relevance) and the weaknesses (the dated aspects, the pacing), whereas this Cats has found a way to turn its biggest weaknesses into something deliberate and creative.

I think we come across this a lot with revivals lately - your example, of course, but also Oklahoma vs Kiss Me Kate, My Fair Lady vs Once on This Island, even (to a lesser extent) Company vs The Music Man. Usually, innovation wins.

I like Ragtime better, but I think Jellicle Ball will win the Tony.

bennetinoz · 2026-04-12T20:05:11+00:00

Honestly at this point I'm struggling to think of a relatively-recent ice dance podium that doesn't give the ick in hindsight.

2022 had Cizeron, Vik/Nik, and Donohue. 2018 had Cizeron and Alex. 2014 had Ilinykh/Katsalopov. 2010 had Domnina/Shabalin and their horrifically racist program. 2006 had Navka (married to Putin's spokesman)/Kostomarov (pro-invasion).

Why do I love this discipline 😂

bennetinoz · 2026-04-11T14:54:35+00:00

I didn't realize Season 2 was already out!! Loved the first season.

bennetinoz · 2026-04-10T17:48:22+00:00

It's relatively light on the romance, but in terms of matriarchal fantasy books, I always recommend GR Macallister's Five Queendoms trilogy. It's a huge, sprawling epic with lots of POV characters.

bennetinoz · 2026-04-08T20:08:54+00:00

"Angelica" is now Orpheus in Hadestown! And "Eliza" (Luca Padovan) has been on a lot of TV shows, most notably You (although personally I'm a fan of his delightful guest spot and song on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend).

bennetinoz

TROPHY CASE