Nelson Mandela passed away on Thursday, which I found out in the early evening (EST). I spent most of that evening switching between CNN and MSNBC’s coverage of Mandela’s passing – both channels were able to put together some nice pieces and panel discussions about Mandela’s life and legacy.
You know what else happened on Thursday night? Carrie Underwood starred in a “live event” on NBC – a live, stage show of The Sound of Music. Out of curiosity, I stopped on NBC at one point to see how she was doing. It was awful! Like… even though I don’t care for Carrie (at all), I think she has a good voice and I’ll admit to singing “Jesus Take the Wheel” on occasion (it IS a good song!). But the role of Maria requires a lot more than a decent voice. Maria is sweet, almost sugary. She so innocent she doesn’t even realize that she’s in love with the Captain, and she doesn’t realize that the Captain loves her as well. But the way Carrie played Maria… all of a sudden, Maria was a conniving, devious nun who couldn’t wait to take down the Baroness. It was terrible.
A lot of other people thought so too – the TV event earned Carrie some of the worst criticisms of her career (but the event did bring in a decent ratings spike for NBC). People panned her “acting,” and her performance in total and some of the criticism was… sharp, to say the least. So how has Carrie reacted? Well, she tweeted this:
“Plain and simple: Mean people need Jesus. They will be in my prayers tonight…1 Peter 2:1-25.” The Biblical reference is here – it’s basically like “Haters be haters, especially when it comes to people of faith.” But no one was really saying anything about Carrie’s faith or who she is as a Christian, so I don’t really understand that argument. We can criticize Carrie’s performance without it becoming some sort of “we’re attacking the very essence of who she is,” right? I hate when people use their faith like it’s some sort of invincibility cloak that will shield them from reality. In other words, Carrie, get off the cross, people need the wood.
Photos courtesy of WENN, NBC.
Oh my god, this is gross from a professional supposedly mature woman. Carrie, even Jesus thought you were terrible. Grow up.
Yes, I need Jesus to explain to me why they hired a singer who cannot act to play Maria.
Lol, love this comment 😉
Mean people need Jesus = Good Christian B******!!!! LOL
That line is comedy gold.
“””Carrie, get off the cross, people need the wood.”” best riposte to a GCB. I’m stealing that line.
I’m sorry I missed it! Darn!!
Hells yes. I never had anything against her but the insinuation that “mean” people are people that don’t believe in God, in other words ATHEISTS. Well, damn straight I take that personally.
She also is aiming at Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and every other non-Christain religion.
🙁
The line is from Dolly Parton in the movie Straight Talk. It’s a good one and I use it too. But in the movie, Dolly uses it to describe someone who whines a lot, not necessarily a Christian. Great movie and I love Dolly Parton.
Jesus loves you Carrie. The rest of us wonder why you’re so bitchy.
I think for years there were rumors that she was a bitch and that sweet demeanor was just an act. I hope she doesn’t go all LeAnn on us.
Mean people may need Jesus, but Carrie needs Jesus to direct her to some acting lessons. She should try watching the performance before she judges.
LOL!!!
Such a lame response. I hate people who assume that any form of criticism directed towards them is “hating,” even though sometimes, the criticism is valid. And using religion to “teach a thing or two” to your “haters” is equally as lazy.
I really dislike that so many people can’t distinguish hate from criticism. They *are* different.
Exactly!
Amen (pun intended).
Haters gonna hate…and people with eyes and ears are gonna wince if you’ve been unpleasantly miscast. I know it’s not catchy but….!
Praise Jesus! Hallelujah!
(More irony especially as I’m not Christian)
I’ve just read her Bible reference and it does say to turn away from hate and such. True. And fantastic advice. But as a great many have pointed out — she got criticism and not hate. So she is totally misinterpreting that quote. And it’s a damn good quote to be sullied in such a way too. (Common mistake by her but she’s not alone as we’ve been discussing)
Damn right! It seems like nearly every popstar/musician these days is completely averse to criticism. You criticise them and you’re just a hater whose opinion is invalid!
Sean, ‘hate’ is now a societal thing. You criticise anything anywhere and it’s automatically reduced to hate. Social media clearly highlights how pervasive it is.
I want to know how we can teach people there is a difference and show them the distinguishing features of the two….
+1 to what both of you said!
Do people nowadays think they’re THAT special that they’re absolved of any (valid) criticism? I don’t understand how people can’t distinguish between “Your acting could be improved, but your singing was fantastic!” from “I don’t hate you because you’re ugly, you’re ugly because i hate you.”
Obviously, that was an exaggeration but you get my point, i hope!
Saying that people “hate” them is a pat on the back for themselves. It asserts that people are emotionally invested in them, or care about them. It’s delusional in so many instances, but a deflection of criticism based on the old ad hominen approach. They don’t know how to argue a point or, likely because it is true, they name call to shut the conversation down. Unfortunately, it’s misguided, but it makes them feel superior to those doing the criticizing.
How about just replying that you have mad respect for Julie Andrews and the classic movie, you did the best you could, but could never hope to match it or surpass it? Modesty and humility seem to be character assets that are nearing extinction.
I wonder what Simon would have said if she had performed any of the songs on Idol. I’m guessing he would have panned it. Not sure what he’d say today, since she’s been subsequently promoted up the wazoo.
“I want to know how we can teach people there is a difference and show them the distinguishing features of the two….” – LadySlippers
Here’s the difference between valid criticism and mindless hate. The former is reasoned intelligent points meant to illuminate, and the latter is foolishly churlish animosity that seeks to stop intelligent discourse in its tracks. For example, Carrie could have replied to her criticism with negative assertion, but she took the lazy, bigoted way out, otherwise popularly known as a ‘cop-out’.
@Sloane: Wonderful and succinct explanation — should be broadcasted to the world’s population.
@Kiddo: EXACTLY.
@Tifzlan: Yup.
Yes, Underwood (emphasis on the “-wood” as far as her acting is concerned) is the female version of Justin Timberlake: two (admittedly good) pop singers who have thrown public hissy fits over the realization that lots of people think they’re crap actors. These people are not critics but “haters” who “couldn’t do what I do in a million years” (Timberlake paraphrase) or “meanies who need to find Jesus” (Underwood paraphrase).
Newsflash, kids: YOU BOTH STINK AT ACTING. Fact, not hate. It’s empirical and has nothing to do with our personal talent or religious affiliations. Take a lesson.
social media overuses hating and racism, IMO
Yes they do. Hate, racism, slut shaming, and a great many other words are bandied about with the author completely clueless as to the real meaning of the word. And it’s compounded by other people, equally ignorant of the word’s meaning, that join the discussion. People that do know or have intelligent arguments are bashed and ignored.
I like having real, mature, intelligent exchange of opinions that include and embrace different points of view. And in this day and age, those kinds of interactions are sadly becoming extinct.
Exactly, @Kate and LadySlippers. I’ve commented here about several instances of that (criticize a woman’s sexual behavior and you’re “slut-shaming”; criticize someone who happens to be non-white and you’re “racist”, criticize someone who happens to be gay and you’re “homophobic”, etc). It’s really just another form of playground name-calling, except that it involves grown-ups. Carrie Underwood is using her own version of that when really she’s just an un-interesting person who lacks the talent and charisma to capture such an iconic character as Maria von Trapp. It’s not the critics, Carrie. It’s YOU.
It’s a classic ploy to de-value the criticisms being laid at their feet. It’s much easier to believe people are just “haters” and dismiss what they say than to actually listen to and respond to valid criticism. That being said the Internet is also full of trolls and meanies who really go too far with the talk and the vitriol.
Emphasis on ‘your’ haters. When I see anyone, famous or not, talk about “having their haters,’| I want to scream. You’re not that special!
Don’t invoke the name of Jesus, just because people are saying that your performance (as an actor) is shitty. I’d take it as a compliment that people were saying that my singing was great–but my acting bad, IF I was a singer. Which she is. I saw a few clips on youtube–that was the main issue that almost everyone who watched it said–that girlfriend can’t act.
But seriously, why does it even matter what they said? As long as they aren’t screaming it at her everywhere she goes, why would she care if people said she can’t act?
Maybe she stressed out from all those Brad Paisley affair rumors.
Personally I disagree with anyone that invokes any deity as a blanket defence (‘cloak’ is a fantastic metaphor). Religion doesn’t work that way nor should it.
However, feel free to draw on the strength of your religion to get through a challenging period in your life. In that way, it keeps your religion to yourself, uses it appropriately while still respecting others.
LadySlippers, you are absolutely right. There’s a difference between feeling free to draw on the strength of your religion to get through a challenging period in your life and hurling a bible verse at critics of your work.
Carrie’s saying her detractors are all hostile and full of animosity in need of some righteous bible educatin’. – http://racheldangerw.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/throwing-bible-gif.gif
You’re killing it on this thread, Ladyslippers. +1,000,00 to everything you’ve said.
I agree, too @LadySlippers
It’s quite an arrogant, uppity thing to do. She’s basically saying she’s SO far above everyone else and that we’re all mean and hateful but SHE will deign (in her mercy and goodness!) to look down on us with pity and say a prayer for us. For our hateful, mean ways. Doesn’t it feel like that’s what she’s doing?
Anyone who gets into the entertainment business knows they’re going to be subjected to criticism. And it won’t always be glowing, because most entertainers are not perfect.
Thanks y’all! 😀
I do think she and a great many people are looking down at others that they don’t like or don’t support their particular version of the ‘truth’. And it’s wrong. I feel very sad that this is the direction the world is going. Didn’t we fight enough wars to see that conflict doesn’t solve anything? Also didn’t we preach and teach diversity matters enough for it to sink in? People can be different without it being the end if the world. And it’s all due to how we handle those differences.
ETA: As humans none of us is perfect and all of us can improve.
@LadySlippers who said, “Didn’t we fight enough wars to see that conflict doesn’t solve anything?”
I sadly, really don’t think humans are ever going to fight enough wars to realize it’s wrong. There could be 3 people left on the whole planet and there will still be power struggles. We should have realized after the first human conflict that it was wrong. Instead, we build better bombs.
Is that an American thing? I can’t remember any of our celebrities using Jesus or their faith to defend themselves from criticism. I can’t remember any of them using Jesus in anything really.
Maybe it’s a culturological thing.
I think it’s just an idiot person thing–religion is just one of many things used. It’s building on the ‘you’re just jealous’ argument.
I think it might be a bit f an American thing. It isn’t common to use Jesus here, people don’t thank him in award shows, or use him the way Carrie did now.
@Spooks – I can’t speak as to other country’s habits in this regard, but even if it *is* something more commonly found in America, that still doesn’t make it ‘an American thing’, which implies that simply bc we’re American, we act that way. (I don’t think you meant it that way or to be offensive, I just think it’s unfair to declare it in a way that paints all Americans with the same brush.)
I’m with Virgilia, it’s an ‘idiot’ thing.
As an Englishwoman in the US, it is very much an American thing …
Oh, sorry, I meant it as something more commonly found in America then 🙂
@Spooks
I wasn’t offended or anything. I just see it as the tween, high school version of ‘you’re just jealous’! You can be like “God is on my side! You need Jesus!” or you can be like Justin Timberlake who said that the ‘trade magazines’ didn’t know wtf they were talking about because they weren’t actors or musicians.
I think that^^^^^^^kind of talk is found everywhere, but maybe it’s the ‘American’ way to say it out loud. Either way, she’s an idiot for saying it. That’s the type of attitude I would expect from a kindergardener.I’d rather be like Homer Simpson—he told Lisa (when the teachers at Springfield were striking to get better work conditions, and the school was shut down) that if she didn’t like her work conditions, not to strike. He said to go in every day and ‘do it really half assed’–THAT’S the American way….
(didn’t have anything to do w/the post, but I love it)
I think you misunderstood me. I didn’t mean her defending herself in that way, just speaking about her faith and Jesus so publicly. I saw an interview with her husband where he spoke about their love and faith. Or as someone said, thanking Jesus in award shows and stuff. That doesn’t really happen here. Even the hardcore religious people don’t speak about their faith so often.
Spooks,
Unfortunately, it’s very much an American thing. Even more so, it’s a country music thing. Watch one country music awards ceremony. There is a lot of gospel music in the origins of country music. But there’s also a lot of arrogance in there too. They think no one loves God, country, the military, and apple pie like country folk. (And no one loves a Republican president as well as them either) I’m an Atlanta area transplant and I gag on this stuff daily.
@Spooks – I hope I didnt come across as jumping on you (if I did, I apologize!), like I said above, I really didn’t think you meant it that way, & was sort of replying to another comment at the same time, who declares (as an Englishwoman living in the US) that it *is* an ‘American’ thing, like we’re all the same, which of course isnt true for *any country*. I understand what you meant, now. =)
It IS an American thing. Sorry, but it is.
I do feel it’s an American thing. I really do. There’s something historically in the American strain of Christianity where practitioners outwardly use religion this way. I find it really distasteful. It makes Christians seem pathetic and helpless and ill-equipped to deal with the world as they confront it. Since I went to Catholic university most of my classmates were Catholic as well, and the ones who were REALLY religious Catholics were like this. They were like born-again Christians are. But then I’ve had many friends from Europe and other places who are Christian — some more religious than others — and none of them actually really talked about religion. It was just something they lived, like a personal code they live by but they don’t feel the need to draw attention to it. As an aside, I once knew a girl who was literally unable to have a conversation with anyone about anything without bringing in religious references. It was really, really weird and over-bearing. It was just too, too much. It was all, “thank Jesus for that!” and “I’ll get through this because Jesus is in charge!”, a LOT of “Jesus is in control” commentary about just everything. Even if the bus was late she was all “Jesus will see me through this”. Extremist is the only word I know for it.
It IS very much an American thing and Maureen, I think it stems from the Puritans that founded our culture. The Puritans left the UK and brought a rather abrasive, pushy, prudish, and non-tolerant form of religion and thinking to the ‘New World’ that attracted other like minded religions and people (not always as we also have some very open minded and tolerant people).
In my experience other countries don’t feel the need to shove their religion into everyone’s faces or wage a fake war against Christmas/Christains (decorations now go up in October — hardly under attack).
The hard part is this type of thinking is very hard to correct.
The *only* aspect of these comments I find offensive is what I mentoned In reply to Spooks, above. To say “American” gives the impresson that ALL American Christians think that way, & shove their religious opinions into not only every aspect of their lives, but in other’s faces (& as a way to feel ‘superior’ to others & disregard even completely *unrelated* criticism, which is the *height* of immaturity.)
My family are from Alabama & W. Virginia. Papa, from Alabama, is a pastor (as well as 2 of his daughter’s husbands) for the Christian ‘Church of God’. My mother raised me in church until around 7, but for various reasons unrelated to her beliefs, we just didn’t go often. I grew into a feminist teen, which (among *many* other things) caused me to have a lot of issues with the Bible & so-called ‘rules’ therein. While I do consider myself ‘Christian’, it’s only a very *basic* belief, not really covering specifics. Only to be the best you can be, love & care for people & animals, be generous & do for others whenever possible. I believe in God & Jesus, but that’s all I can say I’m committed to. I love to learn about other religions, & I’m not arrogant enough to think ‘my way’ is the ‘end-all-be-all’, & respect other’s beliefs.
My family are morally good people, but have also done wrong in the name of their beliefs, & are far less open minded than I (& now my Mom) (& has caused tension & hurt our relationships with them).
BUT. To call it ‘American’ implies either ALL or MOST, which isn’t fair to those who are American & *don’t* act or feel that way. Even to say it’s an ‘American Christian’ thing would be generalizing & unfair. I don’t understand why there has to be such sweeping all-inclusive references. One could say it’s ‘something more commonly seen’ in America than _________’ (fill in the blank).
I’m sorry for the long post, I don’t know *why* this bugs me so much, but it does… I guess because I’m *not* that, & it feels like an insult to be associated with it simply because I’m ‘American’. *>___<*
Hakura: Shoving our beliefs onto others isn’t limited to just Christianity though. This happens all over the place with numerous beliefs and it is something that is rather unique to the US. Most other cultures have a ‘live and let live’ kinda mentality whereas we proselytise any number of ideas or beliefs. A non-religious example is Gwyneth Paltrow. Most people would be okay with her if she didn’t going around insinuating her lifestyle is the correct way to live. There are numerous people that are health food/lifestyle nuts but don’t make others feel bad for choosing another path. We Americans, all too often, feel our highway is THE only highway to travel on.
@LadySlippers – You make good points, & I understand what you’re saying. It’s true that, *as a country*, we’re arrrogant, thinking ‘our way is the ONLY right way’. And there are more times in my life than I can count, in which I’ve listened to someone act as though the ONLY belief of any value was Christianity, only to turn around & apply the fact that they’re Christian to a situation in an arrogant way thats *wrong* in Christianity.
I guess, not being of that particular mind (& after having literally fought/argued with my devoutly Christian family regarding some of the same things), it just annoys me to be put in the same category bc I live in America, that’s all. =) LOL, & then you had to bring *GOOP* into it. xD (totally understand what you meant by doing so, though).
What Christianity has become in America should not be laid at the feet of the Puritans but at the numerous grifters who have turned religion into a commodity here. We all endlessly hear our politicians proudly declare their allegiance to God and flag. As long as society continues to pretend allegiance to a church represents something meaningful people will be publicly declaring their faith. BTW none of these people impress me as good Christians.
You misunderstand my comment and I *sincerely* apologise if I wasn’t clear.
American society’s foundation is based on the principles the Puritans brought with them from the UK (there is a reason they left the UK as they had issues being in mainstream British society). The Puritans had some very distinguishing traits and theories that still can be seen in a variety of contexts today. Just one example is our conflicted attitude towards sexuality, including our prudishness (which is something not necessarily found in other religions, including other denominations of Christianity), as is the current trend of ‘slut shaming,’ both of those actions echo the teachings of the Puritans. But by no means does that mean everything in the US stems from them. I just see their fingerprint in numerous examples of stereotypical ‘American’ behaviours.
BTW, how does laying the blame at ‘various grifters’ any better or any worse than hypothesising the Puritans are at fault? I honestly fail to make a distinction. Although I do agree that whenever we make religion a commodity, we all lose.
Christianity has numerous forms and I personally have spoken to many respectful, open minded, not pushy, tolerant, and loving American Christians. So I absolutely understand that not all Christians feel the need to proselytise and force their beliefs on me or to the world. ‘A few bad apples always ruin it for the whole bushel’ really is true here. Unfortunately for a lot of Americans those ‘apples’ are very loud and it’s more than ‘just a few apples’ too.
I just looked up her cite in the bible. It’s a very nice one but it doesn’t seem to apply to her situation at all. Julie Andrews gave an iconic performance as Maria and Carrie despite her efforts didn’t measure up. I’m a Christian and even I understand that. Carrie is a singer without much acting experience especially on the live stage. Simple enough to me.
Hey Carrie: Bitchy people need Jesus just as much as mean people.
I would argue that nobody “needs” Jesus and the implication is offensive. I do good for good’s sake, with no thought of reward or compensation. Jesus is not a part of my life and I still somehow manage to have a strong moral compass. Crazay but true.
TOK: Didn’t mean to offend at all… My comment was more of an eyeroll/slam to Carrie’s tweet because she comes off as extremely ‘holier than thou’ with a side of bitchy (got to get better w/my online sarcasm!)
But I agree w/your point that nobody “needs” Jesus. And I agree w/your other posts that it’s offensive to equate good w/Jesus and bad w/non-believers. It reminds me of my mom telling me I “need Jesus in my heart” because that’s what is going to make me healthy and happy — sort of the same thing bc she’s telling me I’m not whole w/out Jesus, which is entirely not true. I think it’s good to believe in something, anything but that’s for you to decide, not Carrie Underwood.
As a Christian I would argue that everyone needs Jesus. But this is just my opinion as yours belongs to you. What people think and feel should be respected. I do feel however, the people who really actually have Jesus in their hearts don’t feel the need to be mean to others. That is the difference between being a Christian and being religious. I’m a Christian I’m not religious
I would argue the whole world needs Jesus and I’m agnostic. The problem is not Jesus but the men who have corrupted his message and his legacy and the far too-many people who are willing to commit violence over religious differences.
Isn’t Miss Underwood known for being a mean girl. Like a vicious piece of work. I believe Lainey has a special name for Carrie. Doesn’t she… 🙂
So I find it rich of Carrie, to start to toss around her Jesus card. In defense of having bad reviews. For a bad performance. She just wants everyone to know they are the DEVIL! hahahaha!
I always find it interesting when a mean girl has to take one on the chin, in public. Because they are always the ones that behave the worst. I bet her agent and manager have taken a few ugly phone calls, from Carrie, in the last few days.
Sorry, the fact that she sucked and whether or not people who recognized that fact have Jesus in their lives are totally separate issues.
The Impression Kaiser had of Carrie’s Maria makes me feel better. It kind of justifies my feelings towards her. Sounds like she brought a lot of herself to the role.
I am a huge fan of SOM. A bigger fan of the incomparable Julie Andrews. I tuned in out of curiosity for a few minutes and had to turn away after Underwood hit a hell of a clunker of a note. Cringe worthy.
I applaud the idea of a live show. It is hard work and something we do not see much of in television these days. Good on Underwood and the rest of the cast for undertaking a big task. Just because I felt the few minutes I watched were bad does not mean I am a hater or in need of Jesus. It means I have an ear, a set of eyes and an opinion. None of which are evil and mired in hate.
Is she 13yrs old and expecting everyone to give her high praise to smooth her fragile ego? It is further insulting that opinions are met with the idea that those giving them are lacking in faith.
Grow up Carrie. That is what happens in show biz. You win some. You lose some.
Exactly. You said it better than I did.
Thanks Judy! 🙂
I’m like you and could get past the DO-RE-MI song. But I also could not get passed the fact that the person playing Captain Von Trapp looked to young.
I also could not get past the fact that the Captain was actually Vampire Beeehl. I didn’t watch this travesty. Not a Carrie Underwood fan to start with, and tired of singers and other types of celebs thinking they can act.
Thank you @Eliza. She wasn’t even that great vocally either. Yay, she didn’t sing with a southern accent. But the idea of phrasing seemed to escape her and she kept inhaling at inappropriate moments (She did it in “The Sound of Music” and a few other time. When she started moving around in the last verse of Do-Re-Mi, she was gasping). Which illustrates that she didn’t have much training in vocal and breathing techniques. She kinda’ just belted everything. But her way of belting was bleating/shouting with vibrato. A voice like hers was not meant to sing these songs. And I’m comparing her to Mary Martin, fuhgeddaboud Julie Andrews.
Moyer stunk in different ways and reasons. But he was equally bad. I’d pile on him too, but he’s not running his mouth like an indignant, petulant, spoiled toddler on Twitter. Audra, Peter and Laura made the more “famous” (not for me) performers look like amateurs. Christians need to know their limitations, Carrie. Isn’t that the whole concept of Jesus taking the wheel? I was yelling out, “Sweet Jesus!”, every time she had a bit out dialogue. Does that count for something? Carrie was dead-eyed, awkward and cringe-worthy overall. She didn’t know what do with her face, unless she could smile. It seemed like she was reciting lines, as if coached to “Say that like this.” I’ve seen FAR better acting in high school productions. And this was a $9 million, WalMart sponsored, nationally broadcast, cash and ratings grab. So I can judge all I want and everyone involved put themselves out there. Kudos for the attempt and thanks NBC for trying to get ratings by airing a 3 hr, live version of a musical. I think like 19 million people watched. No doubt NBC and other networks are going to try to repeat that “success”. There aren’t many bigger musicals (with a guaranteed, built-in audience) than TSoM. But if they try to give us amateur hour again and just throw in a couple of big-name celebs, they got another thing coming.
I also think it was a mistake to set it up so they couldn’t have a live audience. That added to the clumsiness. We need to be vocal and critical. B/c I do not want to see a Miley Cyrus/Selena Gomez “Chicago” and that just makes too much damn “sense”, doesn’t it? Kanye as Billy Flynn, Kerry Washington as Mama Morton, Norbert Leo Butz as Amos. You could use Cyrus and Gomez for “Sweet Charity” too and add in Rihanna. But I’d rather save RiRi for “Little Shop of Horrors” with Aaron Tveit as Seymour and Chris Brown… I’m sorry. How about next year FOX could have the young women from “Glee” round the cast out when they do “Cabaret” with Taylor Swift, the Sheriff from the Walking Dead (Andrew Lincoln is English) and Raul Esparza as The Emcee. The sprinkling in of legit triple-threats and Tony winners is just to f*ck with you and rub the wasted potential of the production in your face. Are only Stage-Movie-Live versions allowed? So they can make the excuse that they’re not really even doing a play and they’re not remaking the films (most people’s only experience with musicals)? Because I’m certain “Top Hat” or any Fred & Ginger movie, would kill in the ratings with Justin Timberlake and Beyonce.
Kerry Washington as Mama Morton? the lady in charge of the prison from Chicago? nah. that role requires a larger woman, imo. maybe she could be the role catherine zeta jones played
It’s ridiculous, inappropriate, cynical casting all around (but with a few people with talent who actually would be appropriate for roles mixed in). I’m joking and being sarcastic. Like, “I’m looking forward to NBC doing The Rocky Horror Show with Katy Perry as Janet, Jonathan Groff as Brad, and Harvey Fierstein as Dr. Frank-N-Furter”.
I hope you’re kidding. What you describe here could only be called “horrorshows.”
Brrrr!
THIS a thousand times. Very well said, Eliza.
Michael K’s take on The Sound of Music is as almost funny as his take on the Barefoot C_ntessa. I was crying I was laughing so hard. Carrie Underwood put the wood in Underwood.
I admire her for taking on an iconic role and to do it LIVE but her response is so ‘closed/ego’. Criticism can be constructive and if she was open, she can learn and use it to improve herself. By shutting it all down and brining religion into it does her no favors but show her character etc.
I can’t sing a note but I can recognize talent in that area and was surprised that Carrie has the range she has–still, her Oklahoma accent came through several times (and I’m from Oklahoma).
Just as Kate Gosselin’s smile never reaches her eyes, Carrie’s voice never made the emotional connection with the material, and, except for the scenes with the children, her acting was cold and flat.
And, uh, yeah, religion (or lack thereof) has nothing to do with criticism of her performance, nor does it give more credibility to her performance. Good for her for getting through it, though–that’s an accomplishment in itself.
Ugh, I can’t stand people that use religion as a way to ward off any genuine criticism that comes their way. Believing that you are above criticism is a sign of pride, Carrie. It’s interesting how she forgot to quote the verse where it says that pride goes before a fall.
THIS. You’re right, it is unbearable when people hide behind their religion to deflect any form of criticism. Ugh.
Amen, and I say that as a Christian. If I hear another person use the phrase, “don’t judge”, I’ll scream. Not only is it not wrong to judge, we are absolutely commanded to set up laws and standards of behavior, and judge accordingly. What we are not supposed to do is have a separate standard of behavior for ourselves, and another standard for others. In other words, don’t be a hypocrite.
Carrie has a great voice, but her acting was pretty terrible. Now, what an adult would do is take in all the criticism, accept it, and use it as motivation to become a better actress.
Great comment
Grow up & suck it up.
Soooo, Carrie….people who thought your acting sucked are godless, Jesus-hating barbarians…then I guess it follows that a GOOD review of your performance could earn a pass to heaven, amiright? So, that means you are, like, a God in your own right. So I was thinking…I know a guy who is ALSO a god. Name of Yeezus. Maybe the two of you could look around for a third godly personage and start your own Blessed Trinity.
Ouch! (Followed by a wicked LOL.)
On point, LahdidahBaby!
The superciliousness nature of Carrie Underwood’s tweet is repugnant.
I’m a godless jesus-hating barbarian and I didn’t think her performance was that bad.
If she wants to seriously do acting then she’s gonna have to grow up and realize that criticism comes with that.
People using religion to cover for them is gross. You gave a bad performance, nobody cares about your religion. They care that you ruined an iconic role.
Stop bringing religion into unrelated stuff. I know a lady who uses religion to cover for being a bad mom and I wanna slap her
She was not horrible, just noone can compare to Julie Andrews.
I think the criticism was too harsh.
I wasmore disaooointed by Moyer – I could not see past vampire Bill as much as I tried.
Showbiz is all about being critiqued and if as a performer you cannot deal with the negative as well as the positive, then maybe your ego is much too fragile and another line of work is perhaps a better choice.
You don’t see Meryl Streep or other performers taking to Twitter like Tweens to basically call people and their opinions Godless, do you? Not everything you do as a performer is going to be met with praise. The sooner Underwood realizes it, the better off she will be.
I agree with Splinter. No one can match Julie’s performance, everyone get over it, that’s not the point. NBC’s version was about the singing. You expect an Oscar-worthy performance for what was basically a live TV stage show. Accept it for what it is. NBC needed an amazing superstar singer who would draw a huge audience, and Carrie was perfect for the role. Everyone needs to lighten up, you are all taking this way too seriously.
@Ramona – If everything was *just* about the *singing*, then they should’ve just had Carrie perform the songs alone, or *only* perform the scenes that included the songs. But *bc* they didn’t go that route, & had her perform ‘TSoM’ in it’s entirety, it is not wrong or unreasonable to expect acting ability. They (& she) opened themselves up for that critique by choice, deciding to attempt the acting scenes.
It is not wrong to express opinions on *any* aspect of her performance, simply bc we aren’t saying what she wanted to hear. She’s making the immature, defensive statement that *any* criticism of her performance is ‘hateful’, & a reflection of their lack of morality.
Which is SO incredibly assinine. =\
I saw it, it was not good. Moyers was better than Carrie probably because he’s an actor. The kids were cute. The singing was inconsistent and Carrie’s inexperience came through. She was breathing heavily and obviously out of breath more than once which was distracting. Obviously no one can compare to Mary Martin or Julie Andrews in this role but Carrie brought nothing at all and IMO was mis-cast. If any of you watched How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? you’ll understand, this wasn’t even close to as good as the singing in that competition.
Saw it with Richard Chamberlain and someone I don’t remember but they were outstanding! So it is possible to not be Martin or Andrews and still shine.
Being a HUGE fan of the original Sound of Music, I admit, I went into this a little biased. I’ve even been to Saltzburg and taken the Sound of Music tour. But, I was still determined to give it a fair chance. I allowed my daughter to stay up late and watch it with me. She too, has been raised on the original. I got lambasted on another site for giving my honest opinion but I don’t mind repeating it because we all know what opinions are like and everyone is entitled to theirs…
Carrie is cute and she can sing, but she’s no Julie Andrews and there was absolutely NO chemistry between her & Stephen Moyer. I didn’t buy their “love” at all. The scene when Maria & The Captain dance is still one of the most romantic moments in film history, at least for me, and it just fell flat on tv. Plus, Stephen is not a strong singer and I kept mistaking him for Beehl since he sported the same scowl and overacting he uses on True Blood. I kept waiting for him to call her “Sookeh!” by mistake.
Other issues I had were there was no chemistry between Rolf & Leisle either. The Baroness didn’t exude the same air of aristocracy, probably because she was reduced to just another Frau and she played the part to sweet for my taste. Also, although I’m all for equal opportunity and the woman has a beautiful and powerful voice, I couldn’t wrap my head around a black Mother Abbass in 1930’s Austria. I would love to see the actress in another show because this part was miscast. And since the story took place in Austria, couldn’t Carrie have at least attempted a European accent? By the time my daughter fell asleep around half way through, I just wanted someone to mess up BAD purely for entertainment. I know, evil. But I was soooo bored. As soon as I determined the kid was out, I popped in my dvd and was much more entertained. I give them credit for trying but you can’t replace these iconic characters.
I agree about Moyer, he basically was playing Bill, but not about the Mother Abbess – it made no difference she was black. On the pther hand, if we had black Maria.. Ok, I get your point.
I don’t get why Maria should speak with “an European accent”, what is that? British, English with a German accent? Or maybe French?
I don’t think so, guys. We’ve had many a color blind rendition of beloved classics. I would love to see what Nicole Beharie of ‘Sleepy Hollow’ could do with the role of Maria!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1yMBT_o58E – Nicole Beharie singing the Title Track of the headily romantic movie ‘My Last Day Without You’
Splinter, I just meant something that wouldn’t sound inherently “American” might have made me suspend disbelief. And that’s a huge “might”. And just to be clear, I meant no disrespect towards the actress playing Mother Abbass. I guess I’m just a stickler for historical accuracy when it comes to playing real people, not made up ones like Annie. Again, that actress gave the best performance out of all of them.
JM, I find it just as jarring that Maria and the Von Trapp family have an English accent. Or, American accents trying to sound like Austrians with English accents (in the case of many of the children).
I’ve always loved The Sound of Music, but it’s dimmed a little bit by the knowledge that the real Maria was a controlling bitch who made her step-children miserable.
Mayamae, I hear you about the real Maria. Didn’t know about her until I bought the anniversary edition that had “making of” bonus material. It did taint the story a little but Julie Andrews is so amazing, I like to pretend Maria really was that way.
JM, I’m sure you saw the commentary about how the real Maria fame whored like crazy, and was practically shoving Julie Andrews out of the way to get more camera time. Her poor step-daughters were enslaved (by Maria) to the Von Trapp Family Singers well past the age where they should have moved out and married. I think she also gave them all of the chores to do as well. I believe Maria had 1-2 children, and the Captain seems to have been more a passive man who allowed Maria to command the family because it was easier. It makes me wonder if he actually fell in love with her, or if she told him he was and commanded him to marry her. A very unpleasant woman.
There was a reunion of the child actors years ago. Liesl married a dentist and never acted again. Frederick portrayed Spider Man on TV in the 1960’s, Louisa married Robert Urich, Brigida (Angela Cartwright) became somewhat famous (Lost in Space, Alien). I always felt sorry for Marta – the most neglected child in the movie in my opinion. By the way, not one of the names from the movie is accurate.
There’s a great book on the real family by William Anderson:
http://www.amazon.com/The-World-Trapp-Family-Legendary/dp/1890757004
I took the Sound of Music tour in Salzburg this summer too 🙂
I thought Carrie was terrible-she can sing but she oversang a lot of it and her acting was meh. Gives you a greater appreciation of what scores of Broadway actors do with little recognition
I saw an excerpt. I don’t think it was the acting alone. She can not compete with a voice like Julie Andrews’. She’s a competent pop singer, but not a great voice. She needs to get over herself and stop the proselytizing. She has to understand that people like myself don’t even think about her, much less exhaust/waste any energy on such a strong emotion, such as hate, on her. She’s a packaged Idol brand, not an amazing soprano.
Well said and I would add just another generic pop singer. Give me Tina turner any day.
Yeah. I think it the concept might be interesting, but don’t try to duplicate what was perfect in its genre to begin with. Change the arrangements of songs and the style of the music to better suit the singer. KWIM? When a certain standard is set in a classic film, you either take it up a notch in the same vein, or you make it your own version. Mariah Carey and other singers do this sort of thing, very effectively, with Christmas music. Or change the music altogether, like what was done with The Wiz, as a soulful update to the Wizard of Oz.
“Concept” should have been in parentheses (the concept).
She was not good, the whole thing sucked, and I don’t like it when people use religion like that and I’m not even religious. That said I do think a lot of people set out to hate it and exaggerated how awful it was because of that.
The whole production was odd. Carrie’s acting was just bad. Stephen Moyer was out of place. I’m a little surprised that they cast him. He could sing, but did not have the strength in his voice that is needed. I will say that I thought that Audra McDonald, Laura Bernanti, and Christian Borle were the bright spots in the production.
I tried to watch it but couldn’t it was so bad. I got through several portions but Carrie’s acting was the worst I have seen in a long time. Her singing was beautiful though and when she sang I could forget it was not really Julie Andrews. Also, Carrie has permanent b*tch face which does’t work when playing the character of someone so sweet as Maria.
She has a very sharp chin, I noticed that.
Like Reese Witherspoon.
I have to disagree, her singing did not hold a candle to Julie Andrews, not even close, at all. She did a fine job, got through it but her singing was not great. As I watched it, I remember thinking I hope Julie Andrews is not watching this because I thought she would be so disappointed to hear this lackluster delivery.
I prefer “honest.” Some things don’t need to be remade. The sound of music is one of them. It could have been ANYONE in that role, and they couldn’t have measured up to Julie Andrews. Carrie can sing but she couldn’t act her way out of paper bag. Her performance was shit-tacular. Like, twilight bad. Stick to singing, Carrie.
Oh. And not everyone is Christian, but I would be willing to bet most of the people panning your performance ARE Christian. My Mimi included. She thinks your performance was crap, and she’s the best, nicest Christian I know. Sorry, not sorry.
I have no problem with someone else as Maria, Connie Fisher was amazing during ALW’s Maria reality-show competition and I hear she killed it on the West End in the revival, I believe it. But you need an amazing theatrical singer for the role and Carrie isn’t one.
And people who can’t take constructive criticism and grow from the experience need to go to Wal-Mart and buy themselves a set of Big Girl Panties, Carrie.
Or she could go to Nordstrom’s and get herself an entitled pair to match her betrayed sense of privilege!
Don’t knock Nordstroms. They have great customer service and some reasonable items, but you have to look. Having bought items online for family members and now paying the price with the clusterF of missing items and clueless customer service, I have more respect for Nordstroms, where I had no issues last year.
Maybe we do need Jesus, Carrie but you need acting lessons 😀
Ha!
ZING!! best counter jab ever!!
Proverbs 12:1: Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
Proverbs 15:31: If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.
Proverbs 15:32: He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.
God Bless Everyone! Happy Sunday!
Take THAT, Underwood.
Fabulous!
Proverbs is the best read, what I usually flip through if I only have Gideon’s for company.
I just never saw her in that part when they announced it. I agree about how sweet and innocent the role is. Carrie doesn’t have a speaking voice that fits that role and her acting skills aren’t there. Plus, not that Carrie isn’t attractive, but something about her face never fit that part for me. Also, she always has a fake tan on her face. They didn’t back then and I am a stickler for that and these women with their fake tans on any part,
I can’t believe she whined about valid criticism. She obviously shouldn’t try to be an actress ever again if she is going to play the everybody is being mean to me, need Jesus in their life card.
Jayna: I agree w/you & with the comment above about Carrie’s permanent bitch-face. She’s not unattractive but she is missing the natural, innocent beauty that Maria has. I’m glad they didn’t let her wear her usual gallons of makeup but yeah, the fake tan stood out to me too.
Maria didn’t trowel on the makeup like a junior Lady Marmalade!
Christina Aguilera doing her LADY MARMALADE war paint – http://media.photobucket.com/user/fastfoodjunkie/media/Moving/2.gif.html?filters%5Bterm%5D=christina%20aguilera%20lady%20marmalade&filters%5Bprimary%5D=images&filters%5Bsecondary%5D=videos&sort=1&o=4
Yes, because no one has ever done anything mean in the name of Jesus, right?
That was my thought, too. Some of the meanest people I’ve ever known ‘had’ Jesus.
Hey Judyjudy-I was hoping you’d weigh in on this.
The things she said are things that I’ve heard since I was 7 years old, in elementary school in the most Irish Catholic town in the US. I take it very personally because it reminds me of how kids teased me and called me a “devil-worshipper’ because I didn’t go to church and didn’t believe in God. The insinuation that good=religious and bad=non-religious (or atheist) is false and disrespectful towards people who don’t believe.
I don’t think you should go there, O’Kitten. That’s what Underwood was hoping. It’s an often seen tactic in this country that people try to discredit others by bringing up religion, and whether someone is a Christian. It effectively changes the subject, if you bite. People’s belief systems have nothing to do with whether or not they can make a valid critique of the arts. I think she was flying with the assumption that everyone was Christian, to begin with, and that they would feel shame based on this, that they were going against teachings. It’s simple ignorance that ignores other followers of religions who don’t believe in Jesus, or those or don’t believe, period. In other words, she’s a twit.
Agreed Kiddo and very well stated.
And I can critique her singing and it was NOT good. At all. Like horrible bad. I’m seriously surprised that she didn’t get professional vocal lessons for this. Madonna did for Dick Tracy and her singing improved immensely after that.
All Carrie showed me with her attempt at singing is what a one-trick pony she is vocally.
Professional vocal lessons would make an enormous difference to her vocal abilities.
(I haven’t even touched her acting which was on par with her singing)
Or those who don’t believe. I’m a twit too.
“Performers who take on enormous projects that require aptitude need talent and training.”–Jesus
Wow. You’d think someone in show business would have thicker skin. So what she’s saying is that anyone who though the show was lousy, which was pretty much everyone, is Godless? Even Jesus is rolling his eyes!
Cut her some slack guys. She was probably referring to the hateful abuse she no doubt received via tweets etc, not necessarily polite criticism.
This! I am so surprised by the harshness of the criticism thrown at Carrie, I had no opinion of her before, but it seems everyone else did. I also do not get the love for the Abbess and Max, they were good, not amazing, but then again I saw them all for the first time. Elsa, on the other hand, seemed amazing to me.
No, she honestly believes she was good and her critics are jealous. A lot of people I know were involved in the production and said she’s very sweet, but unfortunately everyone around her fed into her delusion; they should’ve done The Emperor’s New Clothes, instead.
Her terrible speaking voice and Okie accent just magnified the woodenness of her acting; no subtlety or motivation other than “this is the line I am to say now”. They picked a weak Georg (and fellow non-stage-actor) to match her lack of ability and go for pop appeal, but loaded the cast with Tony Award winners and seasoned theater vets, further emphasizing her shortcomings.
And a nice pop singing voice doesn’t always (and in this case, didn’t) translate to a classic Broadway style, although she gets props for nailing the high note at the end of the Lonely Goatherd Song (the style of which suited her voice very well, actually, with the yodeling and pace).
Derek McLane’s sets were gorgeous, everyone else (except for Marta) was great, so whenever Underwood wasn’t onstage, the show was actually quite good.
I think it was the sheer volume of negative feedback that she’s pouty about.
Why bring religion into it?
Mean people need a lot of things, but that still doesn’t negate the fact you need acting lessons, Carrie.
Agree. I watched parts of the show, and she did come across wooden in her acting. No one is perfect, so I don’t get why she’s choosing to be judgy in her tweet(s).
The header made me laugh – thanks for the lol’s.
Mean people need Jesus?
Three words for you, Carrie.
Westboro Baptist Church
+1,000,000
Now that bit from George Clooney about being famous and an idiot if you are on twitter makes perfect sense.
Maybe Carrie should have prayed to be a better actor.
Well, I watched the whole show. At first, I just tuned in to see if Maria was going to have a southern accent…but, I’m a sucker for the SOM songs! Its not really fair to compare this to the Julie Andrews movie. It was supposed to be more like the stage play. And while, Carrie, is no Meryl Streep, I thought the scenes she had with the Mother Superior and the children were fine. However, the scenes between her and Stephen Moyer were horrible. No chemistry, and Stephen Moyer can’t sing and can’t act. I was shocked at how bad he was, after all, he is a professional actor and Carrie is not! I will, however, say, that her tweet was childish! I read some of the reviews the next day, and while critics panned it, most of the commenters actually liked more than they thought they would. If she is going into the world of acting, she had better grow a pair!!!!!
Well if people were sending me death threats over a performance that I was asked to play then I would think those people needed Jesus as well. Yes, her acting wasn’t great but there was NO NEED for people to send Carrie death threats!
Carrie should have tweeted a link to a list of notable psychiatrists for the unhinged threateners.
Nope sorry try again. The problem with your comment: religious people send death threats too. Some people blow up abortion clinics in the name of religion, some people drive planes into buildings in the name of religion, some people shoot up schools in the name of religion and some people fight wars in the name of religion. How many serial killers go to church every Sunday?
Come on..please stop perpetuating this idea that people who believe in God are untouchable. It’s simply NOT TRUE and it’s harmful and disrespectful to people who don’t believe in what you believe in. Live and let live.
Kitten, You nailed it here. Religion doesn’t make anyone better than another. Period/Full Stop.
While I agree with you that no one should be sending Carrie death threats, I disagree with the she is innocent because she was asked to play. She could have turned the role down knowing she wasn’t qualified but her ego wouldn’t let her. I am mystified that no one during the weeks of rehearsal realized how bed she really is at acting.
No, they don’t “need Jesus”, they need to learn how to be decent and sane people. A belief in Jesus does not magically = a better person. I don’t believe in any of that stuff and I’ve never uttered a death threat.
I saw a clip from the performance and turned it off immediately because it was so painful to watch. But I could be biased because I have never liked Carrie Underwood. She annoys me. I didn’t even vote for her on American Idol. lol
I am thanking Jesus for having correctly told me this “special” was not worth watching.
I don’t think she was responding to criticism. She was responding to vicious attacks. I don’t even have a problem with her try Jesus comment and I’m an atheist. Some people sure should try to be less hateful.
“We can criticize Carrie’s performance without it becoming some sort of “we’re attacking the very essence of who she is,” right?”
Yes, yes you can.
However, yours seems to be quite a negative and certain assumption about what CU’s tweet was directed towards, don’t you think (or care).
Happy holidays.
I was just going to shrug this article off until I read the last line “get off the cross, people need the wood” had me choking back laughter. Wonderful line! Now how can I work that into conversion today?
i think it says very little of her that this is where she turns to when she experiences criticism. she’s experienced so much success and ass kissing since she won american idol, she clearly can’t take criticism. did she even take acting lessons? she was so stiff, was she too full of herself to think she needed to work on here abilities prior to taking on this iconic role?
In CW defense, some people went way too far in slamming her performance. It wasn’t a good performance by any means though it wasn’t the worst performance either. And even if it was the worst performance ever, that doesn’t make her the anti-Christ.
For what its worth, I question the casting director for picking a country pop star to play one of the most iconic roles in history.
The casting of Audra, Christian and Laura showed that casting Carrie was not a good idea. She was a bit out her depth with a cast like that.
“Get off the cross, people need the wood.” Oh snap! I MUST use that line someday.
I tuned in for a while (until I fell asleep). I love the Sound of Music, in many versions. I am not a professional critic, but I really liked the kids – and I LOVED THE gal who played the Mother Superior, she was amazing!
Audra McDonald is a four time Tony winner.
I too gave her credit for trying it, esp live, and even more so when she would be singing in the company of established B’way performers. She is a fine pop singer, but the limitations of her voice really stood out. And her acting was beyond stiff. Even with all that, I still thought it was A for effort- until this insufferable exercise in ego. Someone thinks you’re a bad actress, and he or she needs Jesus??? Looks like someone has confused being able to host an awards show with actual acting!
I’m sure she got some terrible comments, but that’s part of the game when you take on an iconic role- and make yourself available to the public via Twitter. You need a thick skin for that sort of thing.
That comment was not a wise move, especially since it makes it sound like everyone who criticized it is some sort of Godless heathen. She doesn’t need to respond at all, but she could have just said she was proud of all their hard work, had fun, and was thrilled with the huge ratings.
I watched the first 20 minutes of my DVR version (I hate commercials) and then deleted it because it was so bad. It was kind of like a “small town” version where only 10 people in the community can carry a tune so that’s how they cast it.
“Carrie,get off the cross, people need the wood.” This is fantastic! Nowhere do I remember a passage that read, “Yea, verily I say to thee, use the brain I gave you, but not to honestly criticize a bad performance.” And it was bad. Carrie looked not like Maria,but a bad-tempered Heidi. She had no breath control on Do-Re-Mi, she belted out My Favorite Things like it was a contest with Audra McDonald, she was stiff and chemistry-free with the Captain,and she delivered her lines stiffly while staring at her co-stars challengingly.
But I guess the good news is that if any network exec had been thinking about ruining Camelot or My Fair Lady with a big production, they probably will drop the idea. Or at least they won’t choose Carrie Underwood as the star.
Actually, I do wish that networks would consider doing well-known musical productions. But I also wish they were professionally done and appropriately cast.
This had the best of the best of Broadway associated with it, the only thing non-professional about it was the casting and performance of the leads.
(To John) Which is too bad. Because now even if they did a better cast musical, most people probably wouldn’t tune in. They used to do programming somewhat like this on network t.v. I’ll never forget three things I watched as a kid/teenager: Carol Burnett in “Once Upon a Mattress,” Leslie Ann Warren in “Cinderella,” and Baryshnikov and Kirkland’s “The Nutcracker.” All were wonderfully performed and drew wide audiences.
Thiajoka– Because they ran that kind of programming back then without reality show slackjaw divertiseement– three networks, everyone watched the same thing. And most TV and screen actors of the era came from theater backgrounds, or at least actual training.
There were three Tony Award winners alongside the aptly named UnderWOOD, the rest of the cast was superb (except Marta and Georg, in my opinion), she dragged the whole thing down, and since that’s all NBC was interested in– ratings– most of the people who *did* watch won’t be able to discern the difference between good and bad.
I find your comments on Carrie to be a bit ignorant and narrow minded. She isn’t using her faith as a shield of invincibility, but her ego.
Also, the non religious use shields to block them from criticism too. This isn’t a one sided thing like you are making it out to be.
“Also, the non religious use shields to block them from criticism too.”
Examples? I mean, of an atheist using atheism to excuse a very poor acting performance.
I’m not sure exactly how one would do that, but I feel strongly that the words “ignorant,” “narrow-minded,” “faith,” and “ego” would all somehow work into it.
Carrie’s citation includes these lines:
“But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.”
So first of all, she’s being criticized for her poor performance, not persecuted for her beliefs, so the reference is hardly appropriate.
Second of all, she needs to own up to her faults (endure the deserved beating) and accept responsibility for her own shortcomings.
Lastly, she undoubtedly received mean-spirited criticism, which is unfortunate, but comes with fame (and a massive paycheck) and doesn’t warrant her claims of undue persecution.
So everyone that doesn’t like what I do, I can just tell them they need Jesus? Sweeeet!
She’s right, I DID need Jesus. He probably would have known where the remote was.
I think that would have been Saint Anthony. But Jesus is so nice he probably would have helped, too.
Totally. Such a mensch, that one.
I guess “When the show bites, when the reviews sting, when you’re feeling saaaad, launch a polarizing defensive religious attack disguised as platitude to redirect and justify your talent by dismissing any contrary assessment as moral decay and corrosion, then you don’t feel so baaaaad”. . . Julie Andrews could make it work.
LOL!
Ha!
Kaiser did not come up with the “Get off the Cross” line. It has appeared in writings for decades, including as an AA slogan, and has been used in Joan Jett, Tori Amos and Firewater songs.
My mom liked it and most of her friends did too. It wasn’t great but it wasn’t terrible either. It was getting bad reviews before it even aired though so a lot of people tuned in to hate watch it in my opinion. I think that it would have been better with that lady from GCB and wicked. I cannt remember her name but she’s from broadway and is tiny.
I love the original movie, it was a household tradition to watch it every year around this time, but didn’t feel like they were trying to remake the movie but more the play. While it wasn’t perfect, I enjoyed Carrie & Stephen’s performance and found myself humming along to all the songs. The sets were beautiful and I loved the costumes. I was also blown away by the singing and acting of the children too. The fact that it was live with no retakes was amazing! But I love plays, (my favorite is Wicked) perhaps alot of people aren’t use to that? I’m not sure, but I think they all did wonderful including Carrie.
You know, it IS musical theater. I thought she did fine.
I agree, it certainly was not the best, but certainly not the worst. Watched part of it and enjoyed the experience of a live performance which is such a rarity these days.
Maybe Carrie should have asked, “WWJD?” – What Would Julie Do?
Oh, that reminds me, I f**cin looove the SOM and chitty chitty bang bang. Reminds me of childhood and also my stoner days. Oh, give me some old school charlie and the chocolate factory too…yeyah. I am going to see if I can download on amazon. Love that ol school technicolor musical…thankyou Jesus!! I need it and I MEAN it!!
I think people need to give her a break–there is a difference between an honest criticism (given with at least somewhat detached consideration) and snide, rude, callous, viscous, mean and mean-spirited nastiness disguised as so-called ‘giving my opinion’ and ‘criticism’.
What kind of comments do you think you normally find on the internet?
There is an excellent review of her performance on the Huffington Post website. It also criticises Underwood’s performance–in fact citing many of the same problems posters here had issues with–but done in a respectful, intelligent, non-belligerent manner. That type of review, while it might sting her professional pride, I doubt is what she was reacting to so strongly.
I do agree, however, that her tweet was poorly judged and was only going to invite backlash. I second whoever pointed out that George Clooney was SO RIGHT about celebs and Twitter!
I am definitely a Carrie Underwood fan, but this tweet makes her seem like a big baby who can’t handle criticism.
Thank you. I’m not a big fan of her music – though that “Before He Cheats” is kinda catchy – but I admire her stand on animal rights and marriage equality, and think she seems like a basically good-hearted, well-intentioned person. She needs to grow up a bit, though, if this is her response to criticism. You’re in show business, sweetie. You’re gonna run out of retorts fast if you take everything personally… ESPECIALLY if you plan on acting in remakes of beloved classics.
I couldn’t stand to watch more than about 20 seconds of the “Favorite Things” scene, but it wasn’t just her. I really, REALLY hate the look of live TV productions like this. Maybe it’s the difference between video and film (???), but it just looks… AMATEURISH. Like someone videotaping their friends at the school play. Between that, and the way I hear they messed with the timeline/script, I don’t think Carrie Underwood could have saved this mess if she was Meryl Streep with Tony Award pipes.
She’s had it easy really. She’s never been criticized when you think about it. She’s kind of been the darling of CM ever since her first album. She couldn’t handle the across the board criticism of her acting skills.
I don’t get her comment, some of the meanest and most judgmental people I know are those with Jesus in their lives already.
“But no one was really saying anything about Carrie’s faith or who she is as a Christian, so I don’t really understand that argument.”
She didn’t say that they were attacking her faith.
What she said was, as I understand it, that people who are MEAN – in their approach to other people, or in general – “need Jesus” (to overcome their pettiness or whatever).
Carrie has always had edge to her and does not handle criticisim well at all.If you honestly go back and look she herself has the mean girl edge to her and while her PR would have you believe she is perfect and well liked it is fact that many in Nashville etc do not care for this woman..She needs to reecheck herself on the mean issue and leave Jesus out of it
“But the way Carrie played Maria… all of a sudden, Maria was a conniving, devious nun who couldn’t wait to take down the Baroness.”
Huh? I didn’t get that from her performance at all. I actually thought Carrie played Maria as an extremely naive girl, clueless in matters of love to the point that a kid had to explain to her that she and the Captain were in love with each other. If anything Carrie’s Maria was too passive, but a lot of that has to do with how the original stage production is written. The movie really emphasized the love story, especially compared to the real life story where Maria von Trapp’s admitted she wasn’t in love with the Captain when she married him (she married him because she loved the kids, then fell in love with the Captain later in life).
Anyway, as far as her comment, maybe it wasn’t the smartest thing for her to say but she was getting a lot of nastiness about this even before the show aired. She probably should’ve stayed off Twitter. I think it was pretty clear she was referring to some really horrible things that were being directed at her, and maybe at some of her castmates too (Audra McDonald got some truly heinous racist comments sent her way before and after).
Carrie should focus on the positives. Tons of people watched, most liked her well enough despite the reviews of her acting, and if the tweets from the cast and crew are any indication, the cast loved her too. She shouldn’t have empowered the hate by acknowledging it.
Watching this crap live, was like nails on a chalkboard. That was BEYOND horrible, and felt like a joke.