For anyone who still relishes the day they first saw the musical Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Once More With Feeling", one of the indisputable high points of an already genius TV series, writer/director Joss Whedon is tunesmithing again. The first act of his web series Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog is up. Whedon isn't a brilliant composer (Dr. Horrible's music sounds a lot like the score of "Once More With Feeling") but he understands the beats of musical storytelling and his love of the genre shines radiantly through. Plus, any opportunity to hear Neil Patrick Harris sing, I take. (He was super fine in Sondheim's Assassins)Harris --still working that amazing career upswing (cross your fingers for an Emmy nod tomorrow for How I Met Your Mother) since coming out -- is adorable and funny as a low rent super villian trying to gain membership into the Evil League of Evil. The episode begins as he's rehearsing his evil laugh
I'm working with a vocal coach. Strengthening the "aahh-ah". A lot of guys ignore the laugh. And that's about standards!>giggle<
His nemesis, super smug good guy "Captain Hammer", is played by 'Captain Tight Pants' himself from Firefly (tv) and Serenity (its movie), Nathan Fillion (pictured, right). One of the things I most cherish about Whedon as an artist is that he sticks with his favorite actors. Maybe I'm especially drawn to writer/directors who do that because I imagine that I'd do the same if I were in their line of work. I love the idea of old school entertainment troupes --roving bands of actors, the same faces over and over again in different roles. It's one reason I love the first 2/3rds of Woody Allen's career so much and a reason I cherish Almodovar's entire filmography. I get why P.T. Anderson (another troupe friendly auteur) recently went with all new players for his fifth picture There Will Be Blood but I hope it's not a sign that he feels he needs to slough off any old skin. His team (Moore, Reilly, Hall, Walters, Guzmán, Macy) was killer after all.Anyway... enjoy this 15 minute musical and report back. I'd also love to hear what other web series you're watching. There are more and more of them vying for our attention.
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