Neil Patrick Harris saves Broadway -- kinda
Did you catch Neil Patrick Harris on "Saturday Night Live" last night?
In a clever skit about efforts to save Broadway, Harris portrays Mark from the hit musical "Rent." If he looked perfectly at home in the sweater, scarf, specs and head mike, that's because he starred as Mark in "Rent" at the La Jolla Playhouse in 1997 and in a separate production at the Ahmanson Theatre that same year. The "SNL" skit references a slew of well-known shows (on and off-Broadway) — from "Cats" to "Wicked" — and even throws in a joke about Culture Monster's favorite Broadway dropout, Jeremy Piven.
Most people probably recognize Harris from his television roles in CBS' current Monday night sitcom "How I Met Your Mother" and, long before, "Doogie Howser, M.D.," or from his hilarious film turn in "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle." But theater fans have savored his work on Broadway in such musicals as 2004's "Assassins" and "Chicago." Closer to home, in addition to "Rent," he appeared in 2006"s "All My Sons" at the Geffen Playhouse, and as Tobias in a semi-staged concert version of "Sweeney Todd" (also in New York) as well as other roles. The actor remains committed to Los Angeles theater and has served multiple times as host of L.A. Stage Alliance's Ovation Awards.
Want more? Check out Harris in the video on "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog." Fun stuff. (The video follows on the jump.)
--Lisa Fung
LOOK UP "PROP 8 MUSICAL" ON YOUTUBE AND U WILL SEE HOW NEIL PATRICK HARRIS TOTALLY INSULTS JESUS CHRIST. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE AND DISGUSTING! I USED TO BE A FAN, BUT I WILL NEVER SUPPORT ANYTHING HE EVER APPEARS IN AGAIN. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD AFTER YOU SEE HIS FILTH. THANK YOU.
Posted by: Big Leroy | January 12, 2009 at 06:10 AM
Uh, Leroy, did you actually watch the video? Anything that might have been derogatory about Jesus Christ (which is debatable) occurred *before* Harris appeared. His portion put forth the notion that gay marriage could be an economic book, and thus a stimulus at the time we need it the most. Maybe not at the level the Internet was 15 years ago, but still...
Posted by: calliaume | January 12, 2009 at 02:44 PM
I think Jesus can handle it himself
Posted by: donald Wilson | January 19, 2009 at 03:01 PM
Yeah, the Jesus thing was a little shocky, perhaps, but certainly not anti-Jesus. It was more anti-fundamentalist than anything else. Ill advised, if you are seeking to change minds (because it is so easily misinterpreted by conservatives who see it), but certainly not offensive if viewed charitably.
Posted by: Rico | April 27, 2009 at 12:58 AM