Sutton Foster stars in ABC Family's original series, BUNHEADS -- Thoughts?

[jacobsnchz14]

On Broadway.com, they have an exclusive code for fans who want to get a sneak peek at the full pilot of the new ABC Family original series, BUNHEADS, starring Tony Award-winner Sutton Foster.

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/162001/only-on-broadwaycom-watch-the-entire-first-episode-of-bunheads-starring-sutton-fosternow/

Any thoughts or comments after seeing the pilot episode?

[MrMidwest]

In some of the previews I've seen, her performance seems a bit, um, big for the cameras.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Got 15 minutes into it and had to turn it off. I thought Sutton was annoying on a stage. She's even more annoying in close-up.

I do love Amy Palladino though...

[lull89]

I'm unfamiliar with Amy Sherman-Palladino's other shows, but I found this very lightweight and fun. Curious that it starts with a number from Catch Me If You Can, although I suppose Shaiman/Wittman are the go-to guys for TV show Broadway music these days. Sutton was her usual charming and hilarious self, I think this has the potential to make her into a big star and she carries that very well. I did not care for the twist and abrupt tone change at the end of the episode.

[CarlosAlberto]

So mean spirited. You found her "annoying" yet you chose to invest your time and watch her in a television show anyway.

Makes perfect sense.

[ashley77]

Whoa, I'm about 10 minutes in and this guy is creeping me out LOL

[iluvtheatertrash]

I watched it because I love Amy Sherman-Palladino and was a big Gilmore Girls fan, not because Sutton was in it. I can't stand her. I wouldn't have watched it all if there were a different director.

I'm sure there are performers that annoy you, too.

[CarlosAlberto]

There may be performers that I necessarily do not care for but I wouldn't go so far as to say I can't stand them or that they annoy me.

[jazzynat]

Lets forget for a second that she basically marries her quasi-stalker which has a certain ehhh feel to it...but I guess they got themselves out of that one by the end.

As for being a little "big" for tv she sorta needs to settle. If you look at Sara Ramirez when she first started Grey's she was a little "big" too, she's mellowed a bit since. Taye Diggs and Audra McDonald didn't really have that issue--trying to remember other Broadway actors I've seen on TV recently. Hard to determine if Megan Hilty is overdoing it or if that's how Ivy is supposed to be.

[Born in a Ditch]

I wasn't expecting to like it, and I really enjoyed it! Just simply fun, and absolutely adorable. I like that it doesn't take itself too seriously.

[iluvtheatertrash]

You're a nicer person than me.

[Owen22]

I didn't think this started till June...at least that's what my TiVo says...

[iluvtheatertrash]

See the original post. You can preview it online.

[Blockhead24]

iluvtheatertrash, I'm in the same boat as you. Love Amy and Gilmore Girls, can't stand Sutton at all. I'm curious about the show but not that curious.

[winston89]

Has anyone seen any of the print ads for this show? The only
Ones I have seen have been on the sides of busses. But, they do have a picture of Sutton, and they bill it as "starring Tony Award winner, Sutton
Foster. I find it funny that they think that will get people to watch it.

Sara Rameriz won a Tony too prior to starring in a TV show. However, that accolade was unknown to most tv viewers

[lovesclassics]

I just watched it. Seems...strange. Who's the target audience? It's certainly not a kids' show.

They kept talking about how great a dancer Sutton's character is, but the little dancing she did wasn't impressive.

Her posture is kind of awkward, too. Certainly doesn't carry herself like a classically trained ABT dancer as described.

Whole thing felt kind of odd.

[aasjb4ever]

This show is so awkward and includes countless cliches. The folks at tvtropes are going to have a field day with this one.
-Teenagers doing regular teenage activity like ballet
-Sleepy town
-Theatrical older woman
-Theatrical mother-in-law
-Theatrical mother-in-law who is a bitch to her daughter-in-law
-Weird stalker
-Dancer who can’t get a break
-Dancer who’s jealous of other dancers
-Dancer who beats other dancer’s skull in with her stiletto
-Pretty actress being called not pretty
-Pretty actress drinking to quell her fears
-Pretty actress looking pensively over a body of water or skyline at night

[NYadgal]

The target audience is the young (mostly female) teen and young adult viewer who has made ABC Family's hit shows so popular.

They've programmed successfully to this audience for a couple of years, branching out from the all-family viewing of their pre-holiday fare (for example).

I think this program is a good fit for the ABC Family programming line-up.

They have a strong on-air promotional platform, coupled with their social media network. The bus signs are just specific location-based targets. Not the main advertising focus.

[ABB2357]

As a fan of both Sutton and Amy Sherman-Palladino, the pilot worked quite nicely for me. Looking forward to future episodes.

[bwayfan7000]

Am I the only one who's having trouble getting the page to load? I'm trying to watch but it won't play for me.

Edit: finally got it to work! It took me all day, though.

[willep]

I had no idea what to expect, but I enjoyed it.

[E.Davis]

Ya, I wasn't sure either but I really enjoyed it and think that the ending worked nice and was surprising. It will be interesting so see what is to come. Also Kelly Bishop and Sutton have pretty good chemistry.

[willep]

^Agreed on all counts. Did not see that ending coming.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Oh please, lighten up. It was a cute, harmless pilot. Sutton is ridiculously charming in it, selling otherwise awkward subplots and lines to the hilt.

It's an ABC Family show and plays exactly to those expectations (on the higher end of the spectrum, I might add...it's certainly entertaining and far from disastrous).

And get real people, I don't think anyone involved with BUNHEADS was exactly trying to reinvent the wheel here.

[jazzynat]

Yeah people this is ABC FAMILY the target audience are a bunch of tweens...not us. Its supposed to be feel good and cheesy so that the awkward girl finds her confidence, the girl w/ the gay dad and the tough exterior finally lets her guard down etc. Its not meant to be ground breaking Emmy winning stuff. Bet hey if some young girls walk away feeling even a smidgen inspired more power to them.

[ken8631]

Looking forward to it! Sutton is one of my fav actresses (along with Steph J Block, Kelli O'hara and Steph D/Abruzzo.