Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Amy Sherman (she dropped Palladino) Rocks the Quick Wit with Bunheads

One of my favorite television writers is back at it with a new television show on ABC Family entitled Bunheads.  Amy Sherman-Palladino (or just Amy Sherman as she is cited on imdb now) wrote, directed, and produced the television series Gilmore Girls.  Gilmore Girls was one of the most underrated shows on the air, and while I hear fans talk about the show fondly, the show never got any serious awards recognition, except a Golden Globe nod for Lauren Graham once, and some attention from critics groups.  Sherman has re-tooled the original concept for this new series now entitled Bunheads about a Las Vegas showgirl who is swept off her feet, gets married to a man, and moves to a small town in California.

Sherman is back to her old form; she knows how to create that small town charm, and like within Gilmore Girls she knows how to talk about dance ala Miss. Patty.  Throughout the the first episode Sherman's dialgoue ran at a rapid pace, and the quick wit is there.  Sherman's writing elevates this beyond more than the typical ABC Family fare, and the network has a truly quality show on their hands.

Leading the charge within the cast is the Broadway baby Sutton Foster.  Foster is a two time Tony winner for the shows Thoroughly Modern Millie and Anything Goes; she was also Tony nominated for her roles in The Drowsy Chaperone, and Shrek the Musical.  This girl has talent to boot, and boy can handle the dialogue with great ease.  Returning to the world of Amy Sherman is Kelly Bishop who like Foster started out in Boradway; she won a Tony for her performance in A Chorus Line.  Bishop is most known for her role in the Gilmore Girls where she played stuffy socialite Emily Gilmore.  Bishop's character is somewhat similar, but in the end it does not mater because she is a great actress, and the material helps transform her into this incredibly fun dance instructor.  The younger cast of the show seem like they will provide a good amount of entertainment, and bring about a wonderful balance.  While they all seem to play archetypes I know Amy Sherman will help flesh out their characters well.

I am excited to return to a world created by Amy Sherman with the quick wit, the great pop culture references, and a small town where everyone is in everyone's business.  Welcome back Amy Sherman!

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