Back in 2017, I posted what is considered the best "making of" documentary about a Broadway show cast album. It was called Original Cast Album: Company, about the making of Stephen Sondheim's musical Company. The film was directed by acclaimed documentarian D.A. Pennebaker, and what made it stand out was that it was not made as a feel-good promotional vehicle for the musical, but showed how the album was made, warts and all. It's most famous sequence was when Elaine Stritch, wearing her sailor's cap throughout, was not able to get her showstopping number, The Ladies Who Lunch, right -- and kept getting more frustrated and upset as the clock ticked to morning. And they finally had to send everyone home, to try and get it the next day. If you haven't seen it, you can watch it here. And I highly recommend that, not just because it's so good...but also it will make today's video all the better. There's a wonderful series on the IFC Channel, Documentary Now!, which is a parody of documentary series on PBS. The show has a strong Saturday Night Live pedigree, being created by Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers, and Rhys Thomas. And they often get very well-known actors to take part, including Cate Blanchett (who's been in three), Owen Wilson, Michael Keaton, Jack Black, Anne Hathaway, Faye Dunaway, Kenny Loggins, Haim and more -- sometimes in a leading role, sometimes as "talking heads." In fact, the authoritative, serious host who introduces each half-hour film is Helen Mirren. Back in 2019, they did one of my favorites -- a parody of that Pennebaker documentary about a musical called Co-Op. It was written by Seth Meyers and John Mulaney (which confirms my suspicion that it's been Mulaney who writes all the musical parodies whenever he guest hosts SNL.) It's meticulous in its detail, down to an Elaine Stritch-like character wearing a little sailor-like cap throughout. And happily, I was able to track the production down online. The Documentary Now! film, which they properly call "Original Cast Album: Co-Op" is funny on its own, though I think it goes to another level if you watch the Pennebaker film first. But however you choose to fly, here it is.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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