by Zach Raffio. @zachraffio.
The FX original miniseries “Fosse/Verdon” bowed last week, profiling the storied career of theater legends Bob Fosse (portrayed by Oscar winner Sam Rockwell) and Gwen Verdon (four-time Oscar nom Michelle Williams), as well as a who’s who of Broadway royalty. The Broadway Beat planned to review the series, but nobody on our staff has cable, so unfortunately we can’t do that.
We would have LOVED to discuss Rockwell’s layered portrayal of Broadway’s most influential choreographer, but staff writer Craig Simmons dropped the ball on getting his cousin’s Verizon Fios login, so we can’t. We watched the trailer on YouTube a couple of times, but we also can only afford the slowest wifi package available, so the video buffered far too often for us to gauge a proper examination.
We can’t discuss Michelle Williams take on the power hierarchy between Fosse and Verdon, or any of the show’s likely meticulously crafted dance numbers. However, we can tell you the posters on the subway feature Rockwell and Williams sitting and staring with cold, determined expressions.
The posters also feature an odd scribble that reads “Dirt Money 666”, but our journalists have concluded that this was graffiti added AFTER the posters were put in place.
If any of us had cable, or even a friend who had cable, we’d surely talk about how the show handles the infamous darker side of Fosse, including his history with drugs. However, we don’t, so I don’t know. Want to play video games? We don’t have any, but if you do, we can come over. Also do you have air conditioning? It’s getting warmer out and my 9 roommates and I share one desk fan.
In conclusion, “Fosse/Verdon” is, above all else, a show on FX - which is a TV network requiring cable service, as well as a television and electricity. Be on the lookout for our upcoming review of FOX’s 2016 “Grease Live!” as soon as we find time to go watch it at the library.