Comments on When Bad Means Boring: The Lessons of Viva Laughlin

Try to dig up Viva Blackpool. Scarecrow has it in PAL and there are NTSC EMMY screener copies floating around eBay. It's just a magical ride and is also one of the few productions David "Doctor Who" Tennant has appeared in whilst using his real, Scottish accent.

I shall, I'm totally curious about it. Did Viva Blackpool do a similar sort of singing-along-to-the-car-radio performance style for the musical numbers?

I LOVE Showgirls.

Um, David, I'm the one who sent you some Jon Stewart stuff and promised not to stalk you. Still not stalking! But I do have VIVA BLACKPOOL recorded from BBC (by friends) and I can send you a copy if you like. It's currently on my hard drive, 'cause a friend wants it.

They do the singing to the radio bit, yes. The best way to think of it, I feel is to remember the times in your life when a song seemed to sum up that was in your head at that moment. Thus, when Ripley's daughter marries the man twice her age, the musical number is the Communards "Don't Leave Me This Way".

I haven't pronounced Versace correctly since about 1997.

I had the same reaction to the monumentally craptacular movie, The English Patient that your friend Mindy had to Forrest Gump. I still can't figure out how The English Patient won any Oscars at all.

Brit accent, slow motion, class undertones they couldn't hear: MADE for the Oscars. Ditto "Chariots of Fire", my own pick for worst piece of shit to win an Oscar. Or any Merchant Ivory production. Ugh.

Chrissy, I'm on my way to Scarecrow for "Viva Blackpool", it sounds fantastic. EVERYBODY should get an all-region DVD player.

Monkey, you are the greatest.

Reassure your friend she was completely right about Forrest Gump.

Fnarf, if you get this!!!! Viva Blackpool was the US title; the DVDs from the UK will be found (in the British TV section) under "B". It was just called Blackpool over there.

David Tennant? I'm so getting that.

No Wolverine? Moonves is a dead man.

Chrissy! First, thanks for the Jon Stewart stuff. And yes, I would love to see some of the original Blackpool, thanks for the offer.

I saw a clip from Viva Blackpool and it was incredible. Choreography, slightly hammy acting, David Tennant, more choreography, The Smiths...it just makes me sad about what could have been. I mean, in the episode of Viva Laughlin I made myself sit through, they only sang twice in the whole hour. If you're going to make a terrible musical, make it as over-the-top as possible since that's the only way you'll get people to care.

Oh yes, I was gonna mention that Viva Blackpool has much, much more singing.

David, I'll bung a copy in the mail to you. It was recorded off air, but the quality is still very good.

I'll find it, Chrissy. I know the Scarecrow Brit TV section pretty well. I was just in Blackpool recently, and it was probably the greatest place I've ever been. Ten miles of pure tat. Can't wait to see the show.

I've been to Blackpool too, but years ago. Need to get there again if our dollar ever recovers.

As you watch the series you'll wonder, as did I, whether David Tennant had a special rider on his contract in case he developed Type 1 Diabetes during the shoot. He was never without some sugary, greasy, salty snack in his hand or mouth.

That sounds like Blackpool all right. I think the average life expectancy there is about 49 years. I ate some things there that defy description.

A CENSORED Sympathy for the Devil. "I was 'round when Jesus Christ had his moment of doubt and pain" is nowhere. Die, Laughlin.

This reminds me of the line in Ghost World, when Enid comments that the band at their graduation party is "so bad they go beyond good and back to bad again."

Blackpool is amazing.

Viva Blackpool, which I haven't seen yet, is the sequel.