After hearing the concept of Blackpool, I was actually optimistic about it. I did theatre in high school and usually enjoy musicals so I thought Blackpool would be interesting. Yes, singing along with the original music is strange but for some reason I had high hopes. Obviously they were WAY too high.
Blackpool did not develop the way I had imagined it would. And I am not nearly curious enough to watch any more episodes to figure out where it was going to go. The music seemed like it was meant to be the hook – what kept the audience involved, interested, and on their toes – but it was not used enough to fulfill the quota. It just fell flat and was very out of place. If the gimmick of the singing was taken out I think it actually could have been a good show. There would have to be some plot changes to work around the “lack of song” but it could have worked better (in my opinion) had it been presented anther way.
I can almost hear the producers, directors, writers, etc. talking and developing this show together. It’s a drama with the added twist of music! Keep it light-hearted enough that audiences won’t be depressed watching it, but intricate enough that they keep guessing at what’s coming next! What actually happened was complete confusion on the actual vision. They didn’t take it to the max the way they should have. When you go for a gimmick like the singing, you have to be 110% committed to it, and Blackpool just wasn’t. Shows here in US with singing – namely Glee and Smash – may be cheesy, but it works. These shows are not ashamed that they are about singing and dancing. I got a vibe of embarrassment while watching Blackpool. Like the characters (and the actors) were not fully into the whole concept…which also led to me not connecting with the show. Overall I just don’t understand Blackpool at all. It’s one of those ideas that may be good in theory, but not so good in practice.
P.S. I am not surprised in the slightest that it did not work in America…especially after watching that short clip of Viva Laughlin in class. What…? How…? Um….? No words.
I definitely relate to your confusion on the use of music within Blackpool. I too enjoy theater and song/dance, unashamedly, but this failed to hit any impressive or creative marks with its music. Other non-musical shows have had successful musical episodes (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Scrubs), but Blackpool didn’t seem clever or like it commented on anything, but instead, came cross as funny…not the point I think they aimed for. Ripley could be believed to perform cheesy numbers, seeing how tacky he and his lifestyle is, and yet music fell awkwardly into gruff situations.
I think the only hope of bettering it would have been something less-staged…it felt out of place. Professor Becker commented on the differing spaces between song and reality lacking from Viva Laughlin, but I didn’t get that from Blackpool either. Perhaps a more Chicago-style edit could have done this some justice.
I wonder if the gangster drama and musicals can ever really mix due to their genre. Most people who want to watch The Sopranos probably don’t want a song-and-dance number, and though Guys and Dolls may prove me wrong, I figure most Glee fans don’t really want life and death stakes week by week. Guys and Dolls does have a distinctly different mood than Blackpool, which in itself was distinct from Viva Laughlin. Blackpool used music in an ironic way, making its sinister characters quirky and likeable. Viva Laughlin didn’t highlight the music with a wink to the audience but rather maintained the serious tone of the dramatic scenes. This made for a ridiculous, mockable mess. I definitely think Blackpool was more successful in its execution than it clearly could have been, but these genres may not be right for each other. The Singing Detective, by the way, made me uncomfortable and sad.