by Pa Rock
TV Junkie
I'm old enough to remember Woody Allen doing stand-up comedy routines on the Ed Sullivan Show back in the 1960's, but for the past half-century or so the prolific writer, director, and actor has showcased his comedic and dramatic skills on the big screen - with an amazing total of twenty-four Oscar nominations for his work in those three areas. Allen is, whether one cares for his work or not, literally in an artistic class by himself.
Now, fifty years after doing self-deprecating monologues on the Ed Sullivan Show, Woody Allen has returned to the small screen with a six-part mini-series for Amazon, a series which he, not surprisingly wrote, directed, and starred in. The show is titled "Crisis in Six Scenes." In addition to Woody Allen, the series stars another comedic genius, Elaine May, and former Disney star Miley Cyrus.
Allen's foray into television collectively isn't much longer than a movie, with the six episodes being less than thirty minutes each. The brevity of the project however does not limit the laughter. The story centers on Allen and May playing an old married couple living on Long Island in the politically turbulent 1960's. Allen is a writer of commercials who has had modest success with a couple of novels, but has fallen short of his life's goal of becoming the next J.D. Salinger. May is a marriage therapist who works out of their home and has some unconventional approaches to saving marriages.
The plot kicks into gear when Miley Cyrus's character, an escaped sixties' radical, slips into their home one night seeking sanctuary until she can organize a relocation to Cuba. The Cyrus character is the daughter of people that May had known earlier and thus has a connection with her. May is supportive of the new arrival, but Allen is resentful (she eats his food) and paranoid that because he has helped to harbor a fugitive, he will spend the rest of his life in prison where he will be badly used by big convicts in the showers.
The show offers a refresher course in the philosophies of Chairman Mao and Che Guevara, along with a sense of what it was like to oppose the Vietnam War from behind the security fence of wealth and privilege. And through the entire ordeal radical ideas are shared, tolerances and alliances are formed, and laughter prevails.
"Crisis in Six Scenes" is Woody Allen at his absolute best, and Elaine May ain't too shabby either!
Highly recommended!
TV Junkie
I'm old enough to remember Woody Allen doing stand-up comedy routines on the Ed Sullivan Show back in the 1960's, but for the past half-century or so the prolific writer, director, and actor has showcased his comedic and dramatic skills on the big screen - with an amazing total of twenty-four Oscar nominations for his work in those three areas. Allen is, whether one cares for his work or not, literally in an artistic class by himself.
Now, fifty years after doing self-deprecating monologues on the Ed Sullivan Show, Woody Allen has returned to the small screen with a six-part mini-series for Amazon, a series which he, not surprisingly wrote, directed, and starred in. The show is titled "Crisis in Six Scenes." In addition to Woody Allen, the series stars another comedic genius, Elaine May, and former Disney star Miley Cyrus.
Allen's foray into television collectively isn't much longer than a movie, with the six episodes being less than thirty minutes each. The brevity of the project however does not limit the laughter. The story centers on Allen and May playing an old married couple living on Long Island in the politically turbulent 1960's. Allen is a writer of commercials who has had modest success with a couple of novels, but has fallen short of his life's goal of becoming the next J.D. Salinger. May is a marriage therapist who works out of their home and has some unconventional approaches to saving marriages.
The plot kicks into gear when Miley Cyrus's character, an escaped sixties' radical, slips into their home one night seeking sanctuary until she can organize a relocation to Cuba. The Cyrus character is the daughter of people that May had known earlier and thus has a connection with her. May is supportive of the new arrival, but Allen is resentful (she eats his food) and paranoid that because he has helped to harbor a fugitive, he will spend the rest of his life in prison where he will be badly used by big convicts in the showers.
The show offers a refresher course in the philosophies of Chairman Mao and Che Guevara, along with a sense of what it was like to oppose the Vietnam War from behind the security fence of wealth and privilege. And through the entire ordeal radical ideas are shared, tolerances and alliances are formed, and laughter prevails.
"Crisis in Six Scenes" is Woody Allen at his absolute best, and Elaine May ain't too shabby either!
Highly recommended!
1 comment:
LOVE Woody Allen's work! Looking forward to watching this. Thanks for the heads up. Saw him play his clarinet one October Monday evening at Michael's Pub in 1976.
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