I love drag queens, I love divas and I love musical theater, so, obviously, the prospect of Barbra Streisand coming to my television screen on a Ryan Murphy show has got me excited.
According to Deadline, after a bidding war between the major streaming services, Netflix has picked up the latest project from Ryan and his Glee collaborators Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan. The new one-hour comedy, The Politician, stars Ben Platt, who won a Tony for Dear Evan Hansen and whom you may remember as Benji in the first two Pitch Perfect flicks. Each season of the series will deal with Ben’s character, a rich kid from Santa Barbara with political aspirations, in a different political race. The show has already been given a two season order from the network
Ms. Streisand and Gwyneth, who appeared on Glee and is engaged to Brad Falchuk, are technically still in negotiations to take part in this new series, and there are no details about their characters as of yet. Most of the details about the show are being “kept under wraps”, but with this cast, there are sure to be some musical moments. Deadline reports that in addition to acting, Babs may be working behind the scenes and directing a few episodes. Ryan is reportedly taking the helm for the first episode.
I’m getting the impression that Ryan Murphy doesn’t sleep. At all. Back in September, Netflix picked up Ratched, a prequel telling the origin story of one of the more infamous characters from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Sarah Paulson, Ryan’s muse, is taking over the role that won Louise Fletcher an Academy Award in 1975.
There’s also the latest season of American Crime Story and the FOX drama series 911, which has already been picked up for a second season. And let’s not forget his upcoming projects, including American Crime Story seasons about Hurricane Katrina and Monica Lewinsky, the second season of Feud about Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and the next season of American Horror Story. If that’s not enough, he and David Stone are bringing a revival of the groundbreaking 1968 play The Boys in the Band to Broadway, starring Zachary Quinto and Jim Parsons. I’d love to possess this man’s work ethic.
I have loved Barbra Streisand since I first saw her in What’s Up Doc. I hope she signs on and hope The Politician will be as much of a hit for her as Grace and Frankie has been for Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. I wonder if trying to sign her is the reason our Netflix subscription fees increased this month. But I’m not complaining if they can make this casting happen.
Photos: Getty Images, WENN.com
hmm, Ryan Murphy has great ideas, but the follow through is not always there. Glee had a wonderful first season and then got lost in tons of different storylines without a lot of follow through.
I agree about Glee, an excellent dark high school musical in S1…that went off the rails soon after.
Even S2 of American Crime Story isn’t wow-ing me as much, I guess it is hard to follow the first series in that case.
THIS! AHS always starts with a strong idea, and loses me a few eps in, mid-season at best. He’s like the M. Night Shyamalan of television.
ITA. His ideas seem to expire quickly.
That said, Ben Platt is amazeballs.
This has potential and I always have high hopes for any Murphy show
La Streisand’s done a lot to her face.
Goopy’s so excited about the show she’s already getting colonics (in character, of course) to prep!
I thought this was a Jennifer Aniston thread for a quick sec. Resemblance is strong, especially since they both use fillers up the wazoo now.
I do have to say, I think Streisand’s work is better in that she looks more like herself than Aniston looks like her old face.
Never into glee .. but Netflix plus gp is a yes for me!
Borrow, based on, borrow, borrow, based on. Lol.
Seeing an icon, a legend, a woman I have admired and appreciated for decades, succumb to the devils of fecking with her face breaks my heart.
Ryan Murphy is an idea man, but his execution and follow through are nonexistent. He needs better teams to see his visions through to the end, after he’s flitted off to another project.
i totally agree. Which is a real shame, because some of his ideas are really good. I think he fares better on shorter projects like the American Crime ones.
She looks like the cat woman.
Please leave Monica Lewinsky alone!
No kidding. I have little respect for someone having an affair with a married man, but that pales to what I feel about married men violating their vows.
Lewinsky had to go into hiding and the butt of jokes for decades. Not saying Bill got off scot free, but in comparison nothing compared to the slut-shaming and humiliation handed to her on a platter.
And what in beejeezus happened to Barbara Streisand’s face?