Non-Fiction Continues to be Stranger than Fiction

[oakenguy]

Over in a comic book community, folks are talking about the Spider-Man stage musical and about pictures of two of the villains. Specifically, these:



Which...yeah. Green Goblin on the left, and on the right is a new character named Swiss Miss. NOT, as you might think, the lovechild of Lady Gaga and Snow Miser.

As if this wasn't enough to make my brain overheat for the night, to be 100% sure I had the name right I went to Snow Miser's wiki page, and discovered...well, let me just quote it:

In the 2006 NBC live-action remake, he is played by actor Michael McKean. Also, rather than miniature versions of himself, his underlings are replaced by women in white swimsuits and scarves, warring with Heat Miser by firing giant icicles from a ballista.

Michael "Spinal Tap" McKean, two years after winning his Grammy, as Snow Miser. In a holiday special that includes a ballista fight.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE.

YouTube, bless its copyright-ignoring heart, actually has the song clip from the 2006 show. And Harvey Fierstein, as Heat Miser...my god, scenery chewing? He makes Raul Julia look like Keanu Reeves. It's like he's in the Scenery Competitive Eating finals and he's determined that this year, by gosh, Shatner's not gonna walk away with the trophy.

I have to go lay down with a damp cloth over my head now.

Comments

[darkoni]

Now I'll never be able to forget this. Why would you do this to people? Why?

[sheapottery.livejournal.com]

Why have I never heard oft his? (Not the Spiderman thing, that sounds like a disaster in the making to me.)

I'm shocked and in awe.

Truly, my friend, you are a font of wonder and amazement.

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

YOU ARE EVIL PERSONIFIED.

In a nice way, of course.

Now I have that DAMNED SONG stuck in my HEAD.

[eregyrn.livejournal.com]

Sold me! My only question would be... WHY????

Why in 2006 did they feel the need to make a live-action version of that particular show? Why have we never HEARD of it? (Actually, watching that clip, I think I know why.)

And I'm all distracted by the fact that with the white-girl 'fro hairstyles and McKean's outfit, they've clearly set Snow Miser in the 70s, but I'm not so sure about Heat Miser.

Now of course I've been watching more versions on YouTube.

My favorite cover, actually, is one from the mid-90s that was done by a band that a friend of raqs and I was in, with his wife. They recorded it for a charity CD for a DC children's hospital. Polyknot's Heat Miser. One of the things I like about it is that the lead singer (our friend's wife) really hams up her delivery, which I feel you need for this song. Some of the covers I watched/listened to on YouTube just felt sort of flat, without particular emphasis on delivery. Whatever else you may say about Fierstein, he approached it with suitable gusto.

[kalliejenn2.livejournal.com]

my brain just exploded.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

I think all ballista fights should be to song and dance.
You need to petition congress to make this a law.
It's an election year. They're looking for ways to make voters happy.

[stanharding.livejournal.com]

Hah. I have this on video, but have never been able to watch it.

The original is my least favorite of that trilogy of films, too (the others being Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Rudolph).

[joyeous.livejournal.com]

I actually had to just look up to verify that Harvey Fierstein was indeed in the original Broadway cast of Hairspray because you do NOT forget a voice like that!

Also. WHY WAS THIS MADE???

[gilana]

I hope Rankin and Bass could afford a LOT of lube with the money they got from this... 'cause they sure needed it.

[redfishie.livejournal.com]

because that's how he shows he cares. :P

[darkoni]

I will have to find something online to torment him with to show him just how much I care. It's only fair. ;)

[darkoni]

Also, I have something worse that that planned for Interesting Times.