Sometimes – okay, a lot – I just SMH over stories like this. Mega-superstars are jockeying for convention slots!https://t.co/x9em5Eymyf
— Al Giordano (@AlGiordano) June 21, 2016
Yeah, well, readership capture. From the Politico article:
Democratic operatives planning next month’s national convention in Philadelphia have reached out to Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Tony Award-winning writer and star of the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton,” about performing at the Wells Fargo Center, sources told POLITICO.
It’s part of an ambitious plan to generate excitement and boost television viewership for the party convention after what Democrats expect to be a four-day reality show at the Republican convention in Cleveland…
His father, Luis Miranda Jr., a major player in New York Democratic politics, said, “There is no truth to these rumors” about his son’s potential star turn at the convention. A spokesman for the Clinton campaign and a spokesman for the DNC declined to comment.
But the push for Miranda, as well as other A-listers with a point of view, is a sign that Clinton operatives are seeking to engage core Democratic groups like young voters, African-Americans and Latinos, with headliners other than the expected roster of gray-haired politicians.
“The nights are three-hour prime-time TV shows,” said PR executive Ken Sunshine, a Clinton fundraiser with deep ties to the entertainment world. “Entertainment and adding excitement become a key part of it, as opposed to hard-core politics. The one that understands that is Trump, except that’s all he seems to understand.”…
The ultimate goal of the convention, according to operatives involved in the planning, is to produce a “coming together” moment that unites the party against Trump.
But second to party unity is the goal of producing some memorable, watchable moments that will encourage core Democratic demos to tune in to the live cable coverage of the four-day convention — and share it broadly across social media…
“Good entertainment doesn’t have to appeal to the lowest level of expression,” said Sunshine. “Great art and humor can be inspirational, uplifting, can celebrate our diversity instead of cheap laughs at the expense of other Americans.”…
Gwangung
LMM would have at least five folks from the blog raptly watching….
Major Major Major Major
LMM is a superstar? Who’s that? What’s Hamiltom?
Omnes Omnibus
Dear god, don’t enable the Hamilpeople.
hellslittlestangel
I don’t have a problem with this. If it’s well done, it’s smart and effective. (If not, it’s a senile cowboy talking to a chair.)
seaboogie
Imma get ahead of Mnem, and say “Just you wait…”
Seriously, though – after all the Trumpendrama and the ongoing Bern-feeling, I’d kind of like for something to be kind of normal, politically. Perhaps that ship has sailed.
Gwangung
@Omnes Omnibus: Actually,, I find them more tolerable than the Sanders/Clinton wars….
seaboogie
@Omnes Omnibus:
Forgive them Omnes, because that shit is seriously sticky, and any port in our current storm. But yeah, I get it.
Major Major Major Major
@Gwangung: I resemble that remark.
? Martin
Ok, I’ve given up on Michele Fiore as Trump running mate because she’s now got loser stink on her. I figured out Trump’s perfect running mate:
Kanye West
Steeplejack (phone)
As well-intentioned as this may be, it feels like one more step toward Idiocracy—politics as entertainment.
seaboogie
@Omnes Omnibus: Has efg come up with Hamilection yet as part of his Hamilexicon?
Major Major Major Major
@? Martin: With any luck they’d both vanish into a supermassive ego hole during their first joint appearance. But then who’d be the nominee?
Brachiator
@? Martin: Kanye might not stick to script and be a looser cannon than Trump.
Major Major Major Major
Speaking of fun musicals, anybody watch Crazy Ex-Girlfriend?
Mike J
Club just bought a new Catalina 27, fun little cruiser that feels twice as big as our 24′. Tonight I did my check sail and am now cleared to sail the central Puget Sound (20-25 miles north and south of Seattle, mainly day trip stuff) One more checkout before I’m cleared for the entire Salish Sea (Sound+ Straits of Juan de Fuca and Georgia.) I’m in no hurry to sail 200 miles north of Vancouver, but I like being qualified to do it. My only planed trips right now are daysailng in Elliot Bay and Seafair.
whiskeyjuvenile
this is going to be fucking terrible and if it happens everyone responsible should be taken behind the woodshed
Mnemosyne
The Lyric Opera of Chicago got funny today.
LMM has said many times that he’d rather not get involved in partisan politics, but we’ll see. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are already plans in place to have him do non-partisan GOTV and registration stuff in the Spanish-language media (and probably some English-language as well).
Miss Bianca
@Omnes Omnibus: So…this would be a problem for realz, or just because it’s fun to take the piss out of Hamilmania?
@Mike J: sounds awesome!
Mnemosyne
@Miss Bianca:
From hints that he’s dropped, OO seems to be an OG fan of Alexander Hamilton (the historical figure) and is very annoyed by all of us johnny-come-latelies who didn’t care about the guy until there was a hit play. But that’s just what I’m inferring from what he’s said.
eemom
Put me down for Jesus H.W. Christ, what a stupid fucking idea. Sure, let’s play RIGHT into the bullshit memes about the Clintons being as one with other glitzy gazillionaires. Broadway isn’t Hollywood, but neither is the distinction particularly compelling in this context.
Idiots.
eta: I also thought it was wildly inappropriate for Michelle Obama to announce the Oscar winner, fwiw.
Anne Laurie
@Mnemosyne: From the hints he’s dropped, I believe Omnes to be a supporter of moderation as a key form of social etiquette.
Mnemosyne
@efgoldman:
I think the frequent commenter closest to the fires right now is Roger Moore, who’s in Pasadena (the fires are about 10 miles east of him). Bill and I are about 10 miles west of Pasadena, so we’re getting all of the crap in the air, but in no physical danger. One of our managers at work lives out that way and had to leave early to make sure he wasn’t going to have to pack his important stuff into his car and evacuate, but so far the fire has been heading in the opposite direction.
Major Major Major Major
@efgoldman:
We’re about to nominate a woman as the presidential candidate for a major political party? I really feel like somebody would have reported on the historic nature of this development if it were true.
seaboogie
@efgoldman: I’m in NorCal, so no fires here…Mnem is closer to it. Climate change is so much fun – like this fucking election!
seaboogie
@Major Major Major Major: Well, the male reporters who are entirely neutral don’t see gender or race or sexuality, and the lady reporters are probably all on the rag, so – you know – no news here…..
Mary G
@efgoldman: It’s far away from me so far, but having fire season start in June is seriously scary, plus they might run out of water at some point.
seaboogie
@Mary G: I’ve lived in many places in the US and Canada, and it’s hard to explain to someone unfamilair with the experience what living in a drought feels like. I eye all dry grasses with trepidation and suspicion now.
Mary G
@Mnemosyne: I think Ruckus is in the Pasadena area also too. The air quality is probably pretty bad. Once when I lived up there I came outside in the morning and the ash looked like dirty snow only car and I couldn’t breathe without coughing. I hope it’s not blowing your way.
Major Major Major Major
@srv: Oh god, I misspelled it. This is what I get for commenting while cooking.
Redshift
It’s silly to be reporting on this as if it’s a brand new thing. I was at the last night of the 2012 convention, and in addition to speeches, the entertainment ranged from James Taylor to Foo Fighters.
NotMax
Perhaps Trump will run three nights of Jeopardy during the convention to settle on a veep.
Or, better yet, Supermarket Sweep, using (of course) all Trump brand products, prominently displayed.
“Christie seems to be breathing more heavily as he rounds the corner to race down aisle three, Let’s check in with FOX’s [insert name there], who’s stationed there next to those luscious steaks.”
Convention related:
Woody Guthrie spinning in his grave. (all emphasis added)
Will they insist on renaming the stadium (Progressive Field) in Cleveland as well?
Mnemosyne
@Mary G:
So far, it seems to be blowing the other direction, but I have my inhaler at the ready if needed.
It especially sucks because there’s supposed to be a big open streets event this weekend that runs from South Pasadena to Azusa, and nobody is going to want to bike or walk with the bad air.
@Redshift:
IIRC, in 2008 they had a celebrity DJ who was kind of a big deal. But, let’s face it, Politico just wanted to be able to say “Hamilton” so they could get those clicks.
NotMax
Beginning to look at theatrical offerings for the late summer trip to NYC area. Still no interest in seeing Hamilton (passed on it last year, too), and nothing currently on Broadway says “Pick me!” thus far. The off-Broadway musical Cagney sounds interesting on first glance, although perhaps a tad schmaltzy.
Any recommendations from BJers?
Last year saw The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Something Rotten.
An actual production running way downtown (talk about a mouthful):
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Gynecologic Oncology Unit At Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center of New York City.
Jordan Rules
@Redshift: That was my first thought too. Nothing new here.
Maybe MSM will push reality TV race much like they do the vote horse race.
Mike J
@Mnemosyne: 2008 they had Jennifer Hudson, will.i.am, Sheryl Crow, and Stevie Wonder.
gwangung
@Major Major Major Major: Asian American guys as hunks, friends on the show? Heh.
opiejeanne
@Omnes Omnibus: The Hamilpeople have infected me, I’m afraid. I find myself singing little bits of King George’s “You’ll Be Back” when I’m working in the garden, not to mention “The Room Where It Happens”.
I fear there’s no hope for me now.
opiejeanne
@Mike J: That’s wonderful.
I want to take sailing classes at some point, AFTER the wedding in July. Maybe next year.
opiejeanne
@seaboogie: Being a native of Los Angeles county, I am looking at some hillsides about 10 miles east of Seattle, where the tall grass has died and I worry about the 4th of July in my neighborhood.
When we first moved here the locals didn’t worry about a stray roman candle setting fire to the pine trees because it was so wet; you could tell who was from SoCal by their reaction when one landed in a tree or on a shake roof. It’s been different the last two summers, everything is so dry already.
Major Major Major Major
@gwangung: Yeah, it’ll never go anywhere, you’re right.
Bobby Thomson
@Omnes Omnibus: can we get back to politics?
tybee
@Mike J:
i love that “new boat” smell.
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
@Bobby Thomson: Please?
*mops at eye with hankie*
More seriously: Kinda sorta in a technical sense non partisan GOTV vid from You Know Who:
I only wear Hamilton’s coat to Burr’s house for Very Special Messages. Vote.
Tom65
As TV ratings go, absolutely nothing will come close to the shit storm in Cleveland. It will be bigger than the final episode of M*A*S*H*.
Shana
@NotMax: Fun Home. She Loves Me.