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Post Info TOPIC: Grease's Big "Bite Me!" to the NY Critics
MrE1111


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Grease's Big "Bite Me!" to the NY Critics
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The producers and press team proclaimed "Bite Me!" to the NY critics in today's debut of the new advertising campaign.

As some here already know, once the reviews come out, it's up to the producers, the press team, and the advertisers to pull out positive quotes from the major reviews to use in the new ads.  Well, as we all have seen already...there weren't many usable quotes.

So what did they do?  Every critic had some mention of the television show's title, "Grease: You're the One That I Want."

This is what they came up with:

"The One That I Want!" - NY Post
"The One That I Want!" - NY Daily News
"The One That I Want!" - Associated Press
"The One That I Want!" - The New Yorker

and so on, down the page.  A photo is in the next post.



-- Edited by MrE1111 at 20:50, 2007-08-22

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MrE1111


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1204129191_2d997eb145_o.jpg

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Edwardian


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That is really sweet!

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Laura Mom


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That is absolutely hilarious!  I love it!

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NYC9758


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Just the sort of attitude and sass I'd expect from a bunch of Greasers :) That's hilarious!

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grannygreaser


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Gotta love it!  Go "Grease!" PR team!

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MissKay


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OMG!  I love it, too!  biggrin

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theatremania


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Thanks so much for posting this!  Good on the "greasers" for the smack down to critics!!!



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Eris


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They've certainly got marbles

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Kait


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Yes, those of us who love Grease will see this as a gutsy, 'greaser'-type move. Those who don't will see it in another way. ;)

I think there are probably a few other nuggets of positivity, even in the worst of the reviews. I imagine they'll also make an appearance in the coming months.

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gramps3


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I can understand enjoying "putting one over" on those who have criticized the show, but I am no supporter of deliberately dishonest advertising no matter for what reason. The end does not justify the means even though such spin practices are common in the entertainment P.R. business.

In the long run I don't believe that such a practice is justified by either the results or the motivation and I am one who is as big a fan of Grease as anyone on the list and also one who doesn't think much of Riedel. Neither do I see dishonesty as "gutsy."

The following story doesn't help our stars' reputation any either even if they personally had nothing to do with it. Knowing a fair amount aboout Laura from other soources I am sure that such dishonesty would be repugnant to her too and I expect the same is true for Max.

See:

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/culture/2007/08/23/2007-08-23_hopelessly_deluded_post_grease_flap.html


Stan/gramps

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Kait


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You know, I saw that whole thing as a stunt. They have pulled the ad. I can't imagine that too many 'regular folk' would see it as anything BUT a prank, and I really don't believe anyone would attribute it to Max, Laura, Kathleen Marshall or any of the rest of the Grease cast.

I doubt that too many people who aren't following the Grease story will have seen it. It wasn't in any of our news sources. I saw it only online, on the Grease or Broadway sites.

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DogsandBirds


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I saw it as a joke and I am sure that is what the producers intended. It is the producers that get involved with the advertising, not the cast or the creative team.

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gramps3


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Read the article. The newspapers didn't see it as a joke.  And, read my post more carefully.  Obviously it is not of the cast's doing.  It was the producers and their advertising agency and it was a pretty expensive and poorly conceived "joke." 

And not too many people saw it?  Come on: be realistic. It was a full page color ad in a NY daily paper.

But all that is beside the point. It wasn't honest and was intended to mislead.
And that just does not match the morals and personality I associate with Laura. I doubt very much that Laura identifies positively with that sort of practice. I certainly don't view her nor her family as being that kind of people.

I was sorry to see it published.

s/g




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DogsandBirds


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I disagree. Firstly, this is show business. Shows, movies, tv are always quoting out of context, using only the phrases they chose. Secondly, it got press. Publicity is good since it didn't come from a scandal of any sort. Yes! Lots of people saw it - good.

It's advertising! Morals in advertising? I think the attempt to advertise almost anything is an attempt to lead, or mislead the public. They didn't say anything but what was in the reviews and every review used You're the one that I want, so therefore, they weren't be dishonest, just quoting!

Laura and everyone else in the cast is hoping for a good long run. To do that, advertising is needed. The cast does not get to chose what kind of advertising is done on their part, so why does any of them have to identify with any of it?

The whole thing is a moot point in any case. They did it, they got press for it and took it down. It's over.

Can't wait to see what's next....wink



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MrE1111


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Reminds me of the days of David Merrick.

When his production of "Subways are for Sleeping" got critically panned by the major NY papers, he had his press reps find 8 people who shared the names of the major critics...wined and dined 'em, gave 'em free tickets, and, in return, "Walter Kerr" (of, oh, let's say Flushing, Queens), gave the show a good quote for an ad.

Boy was that funny.

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Kait


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I suppose I should say that of all of the people planning to see Grease on Broadway, many of whom don't get a NY paper, a high percentage probably didn't see the darned ad. I'm sorry if I ruffled feathers.

One thing is for certain, Grease is getting a lot of publicity. Recently on BWW, where they love to hate on this production, four of the ten "hottest" articles are about Grease.

-- Edited by Kait at 19:32, 2007-08-23

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gramps3


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I just don't believe that situational morality is defensible. It's an adolescent defense.

I am perfectly aware that it is a common thing but that doesn't mean it is right. Car theft and child abuse is common too. The crimes aren't comparable but the morality issue is.

s/g

-- Edited by gramps3 at 21:08, 2007-08-23

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Ray


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I disagree...surprise, surprise! Since I saw the exact same finished product that the reviewers saw, I know for a fact that the negative reviews are full of shit.
The audience went nuts at the end, and what a shame it would be to discourage anybody who enjoys this kind of thing from the thrills that only Grease can deliver.

There's an old story of false advertising...the review said something like "What could have been an exciting, uplifting evening in the theater was"...whatever. Guess which words appeared in the ad.

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Kait


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Yes, I think some of us as disgusted with the reviews as you are at the advertising gimmick. It's almost as if our beloved cast has taken a punch in the gut, so we're glad to see anyone stand up and fight for them.

I didn't love the ad, BTW. I just didn't take it seriously.

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DogsandBirds


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You got something against Flushing, Queens? Born and ill bred there, I will have you know!

LOL!

Morality of Grease? You mean the show with teenage drinking, stealing, gangs and sex? Let's not look to far into the "morality" of advertising since there is none and to even suggest there is any similarity between child abuse and car theft and an attempt at silly advertising is just that, silly.

No one, even those not in the right mind, would associate the advertising with the people in the cast. Many comments were made about it, not one about the cast members.

-- Edited by DogsandBirds at 22:32, 2007-08-23

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Hello799


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I can agree with gramps3 on the aspect of false advertising. And the fact that they spent over $10k on this ad just proves that they were trying to get back at the critics.

However, call me adolescent all you want. I completely agree with the ad.

I for one, would not say that all the reviews from the critics were morally defensible either. It was nice to see all the cheap shots taken down with a simple one day ad.

Bravo to the advertisement department (this time), but of course, please don't do it again!!!!!

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grannygreaser


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You know, if I had been working PR on this, I probably would have been tempted to do this kind of an ad as well and for the same reasons.  The difference is that I would have probably changed the names a little of all the newspapers so it was, legally speaking, not from the newspapers.  Like New Yolk Times or the Newyakker, which accomplishes the nose-thumb to the critics.  Yes, it is sophmoric. 

But there are little bits of praise in the reviews and they can be used for the advertising.  And some other sources, like Time Magazine gave it a decent review.  The quotes don't have to come from the NYC papers.  Just a few that I can pick out from some of the reviews (and notnecessarily friendly ones) as examples:

"Osnes sings well and throws herself into Marshall's spirited choreography." - Forbes

Marshall builds..."an enthusiasm that demonstrates why she is one of the best choreographers on Broadway."  Forbes

"Dramatic and vocal honors go to Jenny Powers as Rizzo" Forbes

Daniel Everidge (Roger) "turns one of the show's sillier songs, "Mooning," into something that is more entertaining than it has any right to be." Forbes

Osnes has ..."a sweet singing voice and eyes that instantly well up during emotional moments."  New York Times, Ben Brantley

Crumm ... "a refreshing if improbable choice for the studly Danny Zuko." New York Times, Ben Brantley

Osnes' "vocals, especially, are lovely and she handles the high notes with admirable ease." - Variety

Jenny Powers "...delivers the show's best song, the rueful yet unapologetic 'There Are Worse Things I Could Do' with conviction" - Variety

Matthew Saldivar's Kenickie balances "ice-cool self-assurance with disarming
touches of oafishness and insecurity, not to mention sharp comic timing."  Variety

"Osnes, as Sandy, is adorable and charming." Theater News Online, Mervyn Rothstein

Osnes "becomes eye-catchingly sexy and has just enough edge to be fully convincing." Theater News Online, Mervyn Rothstein

Crumm "...sings well, and his charm and cuteness make him perfect as "wholesome Danny" Theater News Online, Mervyn Rothstein

"Lindsay Mendez gives a loose, infectious performance as the zaftig Jan" The New York Sun, Eric Grode







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DogsandBirds


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You forgot, "Jose Restrepo strikes a chord as Sonny."- Jacques Le OSourd, The Journal News.

There is also a quote about Cha Cha too.

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MrE1111


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Not to burst anyones bubble, but as a loyal reader of Brantley's, I don't think the line about Laura's eyes "welling up" was a compliment....though I could be wrong.

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grannygreaser


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As I said, just a few examples and you can probably find at least one workable one for almost every principal in the cast.  So the PR team can find some.

And if Laura's eyes welling up isn't a positive from Brantley, then cut it off before then.  (I am not that familiar with Brantley's reviews since I don't usually read them.)



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grannygreaser


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DogsandBirds wrote:

You forgot, "Jose Restrepo strikes a chord as Sonny."- Jacques Le OSourd, The Journal News.


Sorry, I didn't get to that review when I was going through.  (I only looked at 5 or 6 and 2 of them truly didn't have anything useable.) But another great example!

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Future_Sandy


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oh my gosh that's amazing!! haha, they're great

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greatwhiteway


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I loved the ad and don't think there was anything more immoral in it than some of the meanspirited and biased ideas expressed by some critics. And I do believe in situational morality. 10 grand for a hilarious in your face rebuke that reaches millions is a small price to pay. And who knows what Laura and Max really like.

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Edwardian


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I see the ad as being in line with this production of Grease. The show is all about rebellious kids who thumb their noses at authority and do things their own way. From the TV reality show casting to incorporating songs from the movie to that outrageous ad, they are very much in sync with the spirit of Grease. Anyone looking ad that ad, with supposedly identical quotes from every critic, has to realize that it's a parody. There is no pretense that it should be taken seriously. I love it!

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Maxismylove


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MrE1111 wrote:

1204129191_2d997eb145_o.jpg


How can I get a copy of this?  I cannot find it online at all.



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MrE1111


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Maxismylove - check your private messages. I may be of some help in finding a hard copy of it.

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Maxismylove


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Thank you very much.  I ordered one just to have it in my collection.

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MrE1111


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Glad I could be of some help.

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