Johnny Simmons: Jane Krakowski

Showing posts with label Jane Krakowski. Show all posts

Wednesday, 19 January 2011

From the Stage to the (Small) Screen

0 comments Posted by 2011 at 14:22

Regardless of if my appreciation for Glee ever peters out (which at this point seems unlikely) I’ll always be especially grateful to them for two things. One, was ensuring that after the untimely cancellation of Pushing Daisies allowing Kristin Chenoweth to return to the tube to show us just why she’s so brilliant – and the second is bringing Idina Menzel to the small screen in a role which managed to show that she was as good an actor as a singer. In its ideal form Glee is the sort of veritable playground for any Broadway actor and although guest stars don’t definitively improve the quality of the episodes – I’d love if this quintet of ladies from the Great White Way would get featured on Glee (I’ve featured some of them before in my original From Stage to Screen Post).

Jane Krakowski

I suppose, in reality, there’s little chance of this coming to fruition since Krakowski is continuing her hilarious stint on 30 Rock where she continues to be the best-in-show. Still, the very basics of Glee seem perfect for Krakowski’s own brand of strange and sultry humour. With her very blonde hair she seems like a perfect candidate for some subplot involving Sam or Quinn, but she’s probably too old to be Quinn’s sister and unless Sam was a teenage birth she’s probably too young for that – although, who knows what they’d decide to do. I’ll always be grateful to Tina Fey and company for allowing Jane to actually perform somewhat regularly on the show, so it’s not like she’s being robbed of the chance to showcase her talent – but you can’t deny that her brand of crazy would work perfectly at McKinley High.

Audra McDonald

As good an actor as Audra McDonald is, her voice is just sublime. It’s almost offensive that she’s never done any singing on any television show – Private Practice doesn’t deserve her most of the times (not that they deserve Kate Walsh, either – but I digress). I’m sort of stumped as to how Audra could fit into the fabric of Glee. If it weren’t for Cheyenne Jackson (who hasn’t even had a significant plot-point thus far) I’d think she’d be a great successor to Idina’s Shelby – original director of Vocal Adrenaline. What’s so weird about her is that you don’t think she’s a natural comedienne (she’s probably not) – but she’ll always surprise you in dramatic moments with some weird choices that always end up being humorous. I don’t know how, but I want her on Glee.

Donna Murphy

If Tangled was good for anything, other than the occasional vaguely entertaining tune from Alan Menken, it was reminding me how great Donna Murphy is. It’s probably because I associate her most with the very dour Passion that I forget that she’s a great comedienne (which manages to emerge even on an album recording of Wonderful Town). It’s that broad comedic talent of hers that would make her a perfect choice for a nemesis to Sue. Really, there’s no telling how they’d get her to sing but if there’s anyone that can take down Jane Lynch it’d be Murphy.

Bernadette Peters

Honestly, I’m sort of surprised she hasn’t turned up on Glee as yet. Before the idea of Carol Burnett (which turned into perfection) was pitched I’d contemplated the idea of Peters being Sue’s mother. Now, I’m sort of stumped but whatever role they do give her she’d be remarkable. With all these children in the club, at least one of them has to have a crazy – potentially boozy – grandmother. It’d be a stroke of genius if they get Peters to tag along on an episode with Chenoweth (I still think the two are reincarnations of the other). Perhaps the idea of Peters as April’s own boozy mother would be a sort of perfect idea. That I’d love to see.

Sara Ramirez

Two words: Santana’s sister. Sara Ramirez is brilliant, and she’s constantly doing good things with occasionally middling writing on Grey’s Anatomy (I’m still a vague fan of the show, truth be told). It’s watching the clips of her in Spamalot that make me realise just how vociferous and passionate she can be – they always make Callie a beat too sedate. Wouldn’t it be great seeing her play opposite Glee’s own resident crazy Latina? I can already imagine her – in typical Santana fashion – trying to seduce Will Schuster.

Which of these ladies would you love most to appear for a guest stint on Glee?

Monday, 18 October 2010

Music Break [...with Carla from Nine]

0 comments Posted by 2011 at 06:55

I can’t say there would be anything wrong with waking up to this on a Monday morning...

The Original Carla

The New Broadway Carla

The Movie Version of Carla

This has got to be one of the most misleadingly titled songs, “Call from the Vatican”? Sure. The visual quality for the two Broadway versions is poor, but still not completely unsalvageable. One thing is certain: phone sex will never be the same after Maury Yeston.

And, yeah, Jane Krakowski kind of tops them all for me. And you?

Saturday, 4 September 2010

TV Season, 2009/2010: Top Fifteen Supporting Actresses, Comedy and Drama

0 comments Posted by 2011 at 12:39

Eligible Shows (Eligible does not mean featured): 30 Rock, Big Love, Brothers & Sisters, Burn Notice, Californication, The Closer, Community, Cougar Town, Desperate Housewives, Dexter, Entourage, Glee, Gossip Girl, Grey’s Anatomy, How I Met Your Mother, Law & Order: SVU, Lost, Mad Men, Medium, Monk, The Office, Parks & Recreation, Private Practice, Psych, Royal Pains, Samantha Who, Supernatural, The Tudors, Ugly Betty, Weeds

Runners Up: Alison Brie in Community, Sharon Gless in Burn Notice, Christina Hendricks in Mad Men, Audra McDonald in Private Practice, Elizabeth Perkins in Weeds, Busy Philips in Cougar Town, Jean Smart in Samantha Who, Angela Smith in The Office

#15: Vanessa Williams in Ugly Betty

She didn't get the Emmy send-off I was expecting, which was unfortunate. My general interest in Ugly Betty waned long ago but Vanessa still continued be an asset to television. I'm interested in seeing what she does on Desperate Housewives next season. I hope the writing is worthy of her talent.

#14: Sara Ramirez in Grey’s Anatomy

She's finally managed to get some significant story arcs, and really it's about time. Ramirez has potential to be one of the strongest on the show and she was especially good in the first half of the season. There's still a whole lot of fine tuning that needs to be done as far as her relationship with Arizona goes, but it's getting better.

#13: Elizabeth Moss in Mad Men

as Peggy Olson

Perhaps it's the prototypical deglam at times but I always end up being moved by her Olson the most. Perhaps the character is too much at times, but I'm always pleased with the direction she takes it and though she can get overly technical at times I'm always appreciative of what she does.

#12: Gabrielle Anwar in Burn Notice

as Fiona Glenanne

Am I blinded by lust? She’s one of the reasons that I often think that maybe Burn Notice is a comedy. She’s trigger-happy in the worst of ways, and her perkiness (if we can call it that) is scary at times. But it all blends together gloriously because she's oftentimes responsible for the biggest laughs of the show. She and Donavan are golden together.

#11: Aubrey Plaza in Parks & Recreation

as April Ludgate

She’s like a young Nick Offerman in training (well without his moroseness, actually scratch that with his moroseness). It would be easy to write her off as frigid, you’d be missing the point – I think. It’s sort of the ultimate comedic performances, she works more off actions than dialogue; odd considering that the show is so well written. The fallout between her and Ron was a highlight.

#10: Rashida Jones in Parks & Recreation

as Ann Perkins

Sometimes I wonder if she’s too understated. And then I remember that that’s what makes her special. For example, her drunkenness towards the end of the season was so well played, and never over-the-top. She doesn’t mug the camera, and yet I’m often looking for her. Like Schneider she’s playing a straight-guy to the crazies, and like Schenider she works brilliantly with Poehler. I liked her a bit more in the first season, but I’m getting picky.

#9: Ginnifer Goodwin in Big Love

as Margene Heffman

I ALWAYS forget how good she is (and it doesn’t help that Jeanne and Chloe keep up turning in those excellent performances) but she’s a good actress. She's the kind of actor who works well on the TV because we get to see her explore more than one facet of character. She'll always be the *third* wife - but she's still worthy of praise.

#8: Yvette Nicole Brown in Community

as Shirley Bennett

She is Community’s secret weapon – even if they don’t realise it. As clichéd as it sounds (and it does) she winds up being the heart of the show. She knows that Community is as realistic as Jeff’s original college degree, but she’s somewhere between enjoyably over-the-top and gloriously perfect, leaning more to the latter.

#7: Sandra Oh in Grey’s Anatomy

as Cristina Yang

It’s a pity that Sandra Oh doesn’t have an Emmy, but from Danner to Danner to Heigl to Wiest to Jones (the latter of whom I’ll assume was good from word-of-mouth) her competition was fierce. She fools you into thinking that her forte is the comedic portion (her almost offensive recalling of Schindler’s List complete with deadpan was brilliant), but then she’ll throw you for a curve when she gets emotive.

#6: Jane Lynch in Glee

as Sue Sylvester

She’s having so much fun playing this role and it shows. It’s comedic over-posturing at its best. The very concept of Sue Sylvester is ridiculous, she knows that and so do the writers which is why every time she pushes the envelope it doesn’t elicit an eye-roll from me but a bright chuckle. I still single out her diatribes in “Throwdown” as her highpoint, but what’s even more hilarious is her ability to deliver dialogue like no one’s business. Her delivery of the “I am Ajax” line still has me rolling with laughter for reasons beyond my comprehension.

#5: Jenna Fischer in The Office

as Pam Beasley –Halpert

It’s nice when the writers grow and are willing to make even Pam a little snarky; though it’s just regular with an extra bite. She still can’t rival Krasinski with the deadpan facial reactions, and it’s odd that her strongest moment of the season was her acting very unlike Pam (the reaction to Michael and her mother). It’s to Jenna’s talents that she pulled off an almost childish tantrum. We couldn’t root against Michael…but we could not root against her either.

#4: Chandra Wilson in Grey’s Anatomy

as Miranda Bailey

At the height of her talent few actors can deliver an emotional juggernaut like Chandra Wilson. It’s ironic that in the weakest of seasons (see Season Four) Wilson ends up becoming even better. A potentially exasperating storyline in the final episode led to an oddly moving performance from Wilson. She’s been doing the titanic task of keeping it serious (and she almost pulled off those braids in the flashback episodes. Almost).

#3: Jayma Mays in Glee

as Emma Pillsbury

Mays has the most distinctive speaking voice of the cast and her strange enunciation works impeccably in fashioning the strange creation of Emma Pillsbury. It’s easy (too easy) to write off her many tics as over-the-top. She stood as the strongest in the Madonna themed episode because Mays is aware of all the things that make Emma crazy and all the things that make Emma attractive.

#2: Chloe Sevigny in Big Love

as Niccollette Grant

It’s criminal in some ways how Big Love’s talented cast is continuously ignored by the Emmys. Sevigny continues to be the strongest, by now she has the caustic manner down and manages to humanise her character when necessary too. Her reaction to Bill's campaign, though surprising, was well played.

#1: Jane Krakowski in 30 Rock

It’s even stranger when I think that Jenna’s role has been decidedly shortened in this last season, but that’s the brilliance of how Jane Krakowski makes a few minutes in a 20 minute comedy that much better. She continues to make the most of the writers’ one-liners continuing to make Jenna’s theatricality a reality and not a peculiarity. She comes out as the strongest in the cast most often than not, even when she’s only there for a moment.

Previously:

Lead Actor
Lead Actresses
Supporting Actors
Guest Performers

Who were the supporting women that had you cheering last season?

Friday, 7 May 2010

Comedy Tonight Last Night

0 comments Posted by 2011 at 12:43

Another entry in my irregular series on NBC’s Thursday’s comedy slot: LAST WEEK'S ENTRY

I haven’t seen Community in some time. It emerged last year as a somewhat off kilter lead-in for Parks & Recreation. Like any show, it has its good and it’s bad but when it’s bad it’s really bad and for me last night was one of those “bad” episodes. The entire episode"Modern Warfare" centred on the community college students engaging a series of paintball face-offs in hope of gaining priority registration. One of the conceits that sometimes fail on the show is their tendency to veto the belief of there being a real college with students and the resultant being the main characters being the only students. Of course any show focusing on school has this issue but whereas others pull it off (see Glee) Community often fails. The entire premise of the school engaging in a paintball fight was just a bit too ridiculous, even by the standards of TV Land. I figure that Community aims to be a satire, but I’m never sure if their incessant use of clichés is lazy writing or some attempt to make a point (whatever that may be).

Parks & Recreation fared better. In another strong episode this time we saw Leslie dealing with an all night telethon in Pawnee. Amy Poehler continues to give some of the best comedic performances on any TV show; I’m really hoping Emmy remembers. Nick Offerman's attempts to liven the telethon with his chair making skills were indeed funny. The subplot dealt with Mark’s imminent proposal to Ann, but it seems as if the relationship may be heading south. (Honestly, the Ann and Mark relationship is one of my less favourite things on Parks & Recreation. Both Schneider and Jones are actors I like, but they just seem too normal together, combating the whole ridiculousness that should be Parks & Recreation.) However, the person who ended up stealing the show was Aziz Ansari's Tom. His meeting Detlef Shcrempf and ensuing drunkedness (after two lite beers) was golden, and nothing last night precipitated as loud a laugh as when he got up to do an impromptu version of “Turn My Swag On”. I’m going to be missing this when the summer comes.

The Office followed up a good episode last week with a very good one last night. It had much of what I liked, and less of what I didn’t. I’m wondering if my telepathy is working because I’m getting more and more of Ryan and Kelly, easily my favourite two people on the show. It makes sense that it was these two who planted the seed in Michael’s thoughts that his new girlfriend was cheating. Kelly’s awareness of pop culture (and her lack of awareness in everything else) never fails to amuse me, and Ryan’s tips on finding out if your girlfriend is cheating were quite helpful (Does she shower after sex? Does she shower before sex?). Even the iffy subplot of Daryl and Andy managed to work. Even though I didn’t expect it, I wasn’t too shocked to find out that Donna was married. Michael’s delivery was classic, “I’m the other woman?” The episode was filled with small cute moments like Michael’s mayonnaise and black olives (fake ice-cream) or Dwight’s attempt to pickup Donna at the gym in his sweaty repulsiveness.

30 Rock was back on the uphill, somewhat, even if it took a theme episode to bring out – celebrating Mother’s Day. The thing is, as enjoyable as the episode was the one thing that keeps preventing me from loving 30 Rock is the lack of character development – especially with the secondary characters. I’m guessing, though, now that Liz has realised that there’s no such thing as the perfect man she’ll stop setting her standards so high. The episode had some cute moments, though. Jack’s mother attempts to make Kenneth forget his name (which worked) were quite entertaining. It actually was quite fun seeing the cast interact with their “mothers”, though some were fake. All in a pleasant episode, but not quite stellar, but Jane Krakowski continues her excellence.

RATINGS

Community, "Modern Warfare": C

30 Rock, "The Moms": B/B-

Parks & Recreation, "The Telethon": B+

The Office, "The Cover Up" B+

Quotables:

#3 Amy Poehler on Parks & Recreation: There are two types of diabetes, but only one type of caring: type 1 caring, and I hope you'll all be stricken with it tonight. (It works better in context, but still cracks me up.)

#2 Nick Offerman on Parks & Recreation: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day…don’t teach a man to fish and you feed yourself.

#1 Jane Krakowski on 30 Rock (in response to Tracy’s belief that we all have our faults): Yes, sometimes I sing too beautifully.

What did you watch last night?

Friday, 30 April 2010

Comedy Tonight Last Night

0 comments Posted by 2011 at 13:09

I am never particularly interested in the machinations of NBC, as a network they’re usually apt to annoy me or at least bore. Of course, all their faults (or whatever we wish to call them) are all eviscerated on Thursdays when week after week they give us a strong line-up of good old-fashioned (sort of) comedies. The thing is, I never count Community as part of this somewhat impenetrable line-up. It’s not that the show doesn’t have its good points, but I more than often end up missing its episodes. That leaves us with three. There’s the granddaddy of them all, The Office now in its sixth season. The (relatively) new and eccentric Parks & Recreation and the “cool” (I use the word loosely) one 30 Rock. Not to knock at 30 Rock, a show with a number of excellent units, but I’m often nonplussed as to why it usually ends up being the show with the most critically acclaim of the three.

Last night’s episodes for each show, though not the best of the season, perfect encapsulate the merits (and demerits) of each show and I wonder if 30 Rock will be the only getting any Emmy love when summer comes around. Parks & Recreation, I suppose I should admit, made a dubious last year – but I was a believer form the inception. I can’t say it is, but few shows on television are as glee inducing (pun unintended) as the exploits of Leslie Knope and her flawed workmates. Amy Poehler’s Leslie strikes me as a more subtle (but less self-aware) incarnation of Kristin Chenoweth’s Olive. I’m nowhere near as avid a TV lover as some are (here and here) but Poehler constantly does excellent work and is continually ignored. I probably have some sort of chip on my shoulder since her Saturday Night Live alumni Tina Fey manages to be continuously praised for her sometimes good (but often uninspired) work on 30 Rock. I don’t what my issue with Fey is, she’s a good writer – an excellent one even – but I’m never completely willing to believe her as actor, at least not continuously. To throw The Office into the group, each show’s protagonist Leslie, Michael and Liz (and no, Alec Baldwin is not a protagonist on 30 Rock, no matter what those awards say) is an extreme neurotic. Carrell’s Michael often moves between shades of excellence and hilarious (but cringe worthy) moments. Luckily, last night’s episode was more of the former. The thing is, Fey might be playing herself but I’m often feeling as if something’s missing.

Another thing the three shows shake hands on is in their necessity of peculiar supporting characters to balance the scales. Last night’s Office episode played it just right. So often I want to see more of the silly office employees and last night, though it wasn’t as expansive, it was fun. B. J. Novak continues to be one of the best comedic actors on TV with the least lines. Everyone loves Jim and Pam, or Andy and Erin but it’s Ryan and Kelly’s flawed and perverse relationship that I find most hilarious. They’re a bit like Jenna and Tracy on 30 Rock. Yes, they’re not a real couple, but those moments when the two come together to increase their craziness exponentially are some of the most fulfilling. Last night wasn’t one of those, though. I only find Tracy humorous when he’s combated by someone less over-the-top. The thing is Krakowski’s Jenna is not exactly sedate, but the woman has such a talent for holding back that I’m always blissfully aware that Jenna is playing every one in the room as if she’s in a prolonged TV show (pun intended). Like her cross-dressing boyfriend last night? Like she didn’t see that coming. Speaking of seeing things coming, who’d have thought Chris Pratt would be the Everwood actor to go on to biggest success (unless you count Marcia Cross’ guest roles as her being an Everwood alumni, too). Where Parks & Recreations edges in front of its ancestors (by just a smidgen) is that any pairing of the cast could result in comedy. The chemistry between the actors is just that good. It’s always a difficulty thinking how they’ll get Rashida Jones involved in the plot, since she doesn’t work in the office, but it’s always more hit than miss.

Each show had their issues last night, though. I could have done without Don Geiss’ peacock, as the main plot of the evening it felt really dull and when did Pam turn into such a…peppy person. I suppose it’s the baby, but it’s still weird and I wish the writers would examine Leslie's take on Mark and Ann's impending marriage a little more, still each was good in its own rite.

30 Rock, Argus – B–

Best Moment: Jenna kissing her boyfriend (who just happens to be made up like Jenna)

The Office, Body Language – B

Best Moment: Kelly and Ryan trying to sabotage a teenage foe on facebook.

Ryan: Tell her everyone in homeroom thinks she’s fat.

Parks & Recreation, 94 Meetings – B+

Best Moment: Leslie chaining herself to the gate and her ensuing embarrassment. “When a couple get married, two single people die.” It’s classic.

Did you watch any last night? Which impressed you most?

Wednesday, 6 May 2009

FROM THE STAGE TO THE SCREEN

0 comments Posted by 2011 at 10:32

So I was looking at the legend Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl the other day and it occurred to me that she got her start acting on Broadway, and although she is regarded more as a singer than an actress, she has been successful in making the transition from stage to screen quite well along with another legend of her time the luminous Julie Andrews. So I compiled a list of 13 Broadway gems I would like to see make it big on the screen. I had to put some restrictions on the list because you’d have probably seen Bernadette Peters or maybe Chita Viera make the list. I mean, why hasn’t Bernadette Peters had a successful movie career? I’ll assume she doesn’t want one… not that that’s any consolation, but I digress. These women are too old (I know I lack tact) to break it into the business now. Anyhow, here’s the list continuing with my trend of Nines…

Sutton Foster (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Little Women, The Drowsy Chaperone)

She’s talented and she has unique features. That sounds like Ms. Streisand actually. And she has a weird name – it seems like that is a status quo for actresses these days.

Casted Roles She Could Have Done: Poppy in Happy Go Lucky
Don’t ask why. I just feel she would have been really good, granted she is not British – but nonetheless. I feel this would have been right up her alley.

Un-casted Roles She Could Do: Although I hate having Broadway stars come to big screen for only musical roles I will say I would love to see her do Clara from Stephen Sondheim’s Tony winning Passion. She has the chops, it’s a siren role and she goes nude. If that doesn’t get her an Oscar… I'd choose her for the Lead - Fosca, but I think she's too young.

Anika Noni Rose (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Caroline, Or Change)

She was introduced to mainstream audiences in Dreamgirls, and to be honest – if they really wanted to give someone in that talented ensemble an Oscar – why not give it to her? She was head and shoulders above Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson. She’s in her mid thirties – which she doesn’t look like – and she has a sweet personality. Where are the offers?

Casted Roles She Could Have Done: Queenie in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Granted Taraji owned this role, but I think she would (like Taraji) have had that innate comic timing necessary for this role. Oh, God, I can see it now!

Un-casted Roles She Could Do: Carmen Jones in Carmen Jones
Not sure if she has the right look for the movie, but damn can she sing. That’s why I want her to do a musical. The problem with her (and Beyonce to an extent) in Dreamgirls was that they had to undersing themselves, so we never saw the power she had. She can knock it out of the ballpark and I really want to see her do a movie musical.

Sheri Rene Scott (Aida, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels)

Casted Roles She Could Have Done: Ulla in The Producers
Uma Thurman was not the problem with this movie – it just wasn’t the type of film meant to be made into a movie. Sheri’s strong point is her sweet voice and it would have been perfect for this role.

Un-casted Roles She Could Do: Adelaide in Guys & Dolls
She’d be good at this. Enough said.

Lea Michele (Spring Awakening, Les Miserables)

Doesn’t she look like Idina Menzel? She has a sweet voice, but I think she needs to vere away from musical roles until she is older. I don’t want her to end up type-casted.

Casted Roles She Could Have Done: Johanna in Sweeney Todd
A musical yes, but this could have been good.

Un-casted Roles She Could Do: Fanny in Mansfield Park
This may be a bit too generic. I’m not sure what role she could do. I do not love this Jane Austen novel – but it could make a good film adaptation in the vein of Joe Wright’s Pride & Prejudice. Can she manage an English accent? Or maybe Jane Eyre.

Laura Benanti (Into the Woods, Gypsy)

Casted Roles She Could Have Done: Cristine in The Phantom of the Opera
Why exactly was the film version of this long running musical such a flop? Even though it had Miranda Richardson in it? I don’t know. I mean the bulk of the problem was not Emmy Rossum, but she wasn’t that much help either. And Laura Benanti has the voice of an angel.

Un-casted Roles She Could Do: Laura in The Glass Menagerie
These are two vastly dissimilar roles and I suppose she may be too old, but I always felt that she had the look for Laura. And considering that this is a Tennessee Williams play – there is so much that lends itself to a cinematic adaptation. Of course you’d have to have a good supporting cast – Susan Sarandon perhaps as her mother. I don’t know who’d play Tom… but it could work.

Jane Krakowski (Grand Hotel, Nine)

Do any of you look at 30 Rock? I don’t like it. At least that’s what I tell myself every Thursday while I look at it. Still, I think Jane Krakowski is the standout in the cast. She has perfect comedict timing and I am appalled at the Emmy Snubs she has received. They certainly need to apologise with a nomination and perhaps a win for her this season. Krakowski earned her Tony for her role in Yeston’s Nine.

Casted Roles She Could Have Done: Roxie Hart in Chicago
This is really a no brainer. As good as Renee Zellweger was Jane would have been superb. Of course having a Broadway star that was not bankable would have detracted from the entire point of Rob Marshall’s vision. I could also have seen her in the Naomi Watts role in King Kong – if only for the look. Still she would have killed as Roxie.

Un-casted Roles She Could Do: I’m actually stumped here… which probably means I have no imagination. I think more than Chenoweth Jane needs a project writer for her. But if I had to pick something I think Bernadette Peter’s Tony winning musical Song & Dance would be great for Jane. It’s not uber popular so it wouldn’t have tons of hype to live up to and what’s more it has Tell Me On A Sunday which (despite being a faithful Sondheim lover) is my second favourite Webber ballad (behind Memory of course).

Idina Menzel (Rent, Wicked!)

I like Idina Menzel. Her fans seem a bit rabid sometimes, but she is a great singer and wonderful actress and very sexy too, so there! She looks like a really gorgeous version of Nelly Furtado. She’s another surprising person that hasn’t done well in film. She was good in Enchanted.

Casted Roles She Could Have Done: Vivian in Pretty Women
This would be killer. I could just see her as the stripper – okay obviously she couldn’t have done it then, she would have been a child, but it could have / would have been great. Okay, maybe I cheated.

Un-casted Roles She Could Do: I don’t know if she can do Shakespeare (it’s not for everyone), but I would love to see her do Katharine in The Taming of the Shrew. I think that sort of shrewish character that needs to be tamed is her specialty – only now I have to think which male actor could tame her… I’m tempted to think Peter Sarasgard or maybe Billy Crudup… She’ll upstage whoever, it doesn’t matter.

Audra McDonald (110 in the Shade, Master Class, A Raisin in the Sun)

Oh how I love this woman – she has Four Tony Awards and an Emmy, so you know she has talent. Right now she’s starring in Private Practice which I hope will make her popular with audiences. She needs a big screen career… and fast.

Casted Roles She Could Have Done: Tatiana Rusesabagina in Hotel Rwanda
Nothing less for Audra than Sophie Okenodo’s Oscar nominated turn in this wonderful film. She has the dramatic chops to pull it off, although I do wonder what her accent would be like… She’d have good chemistry with Don Cheadle though.

Un-casted Roles She Could Do: Any of the leads in God of Carnage
This play is currently on Broadway with Hope Davis and the delightful Marcia Gay Harden. I’d like to see Audra take on either of these roles – although Marcia’s role seems more up her alley. I have not seen the original, but I have read snippets of the script. Of course if it comes to screen the original cast members are popular enough to get the roles. Still, I’d like to see Audra in this. A lot.

Kristin Chenoweth (Candide, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Wicked!)

I love this woman. I still find it shocking to believe that she is forty years old, and I will forever resent ABC (otherwise my favourite network) for cancelling Pushing Daisies, thereby stopping my weekly dose of Cheno. I think the reason it’s hard for her to get roles is because of her height (she’s a few inches below 5 feet), and her nasally voice, but like any actress she can change her voice. Apparently Wicked! will be made into a film, but I suppose she will be too old, and then they’ll probably recast it with stars.

Casted Roles She Could Have Done: Giselle in Enchanted
I think this would have been an obvious choice – and not because of her at the Oscars – but it is so reminiscent of her Tony Nominated role in Wicked! She would have rocked this, but Amy Adams was good too.

Un-casted Roles She Could Do: The Muse in Pygmalion
Not as a musical – or adaptation of My Fair Lady, but an actual adaptation of the original play. I think Cheno would be great, and if they do it as a comedy they could write her height (or lack thereof) into the script. It could be genius – cast Robert Downey Jr. or Johnny Depp as the male lead and get Lasse Hallestrome to direct.

Which actress could have a big film career?