Carrie Underwood sounds off on 'mean people' post-'Sound of Music'

LA Times ^ | Nardine Saad

[BenLurkin]

The live production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein 1959 Broadway musical, also starred "True Bloods" star Stephen Moyer as Maria's employer and love interest, the strict Capt. Georg Von Trapp; Laura Benanti as the Captain's fiancée, Elsa Schrader; multiple Tony Award-winner and "Private Practice" star Audra McDonald as Mother Abbess and "Smash" alum Christian Borle as family friend Max Detweiler. Somehow, each supporting star outshined Underwood in a show fraught with numerous problems, which were promptly maligned on social media.

...

Kym Karath, who played Gretl Von Trapp in the film, echoed the family's sentiments.

"Love Carrie Underwood but this role is just not right for her," Karath tweeted during the show. "She is lovely her voice is beautiful but acting is wrong."

"To be clear I love Carrie Underwood. Just not as Maria. She was brave to take it on. And this doesn't lessen my respect for her talent," Karath added.

[Bryanw92]

I despise musicals! I love Carrie Underwood. I sat all the way through this and shocked my wife. Carrie was good from beginning to end.

I’m sure the LATimes critic just hated it because none of the children were openly gay.

[lee martell]

I’m surprised this has become so controversial. Just you basic family values, God loving and flag waving everyman. Nothing special. Yet, I’m almost expecting people to hold picket lines at wherever this was filmed. Picketers with big signs showing the New Maria’s face x’ed out or wearing devil horns. There is nothing they can Boycott.

[BenLurkin]

Well, there are musicals and then there are musicals.

I don’t care for either kind for the most part — but TSOM is and always has been just plain nauseating.

No matter who is in it.

[Pajamajan]

"Mean people need Jesus"
- Underwood Tweeted.

Ha.. that's a keeper.

It must be very difficult to do a live TV production-at least give her some credit for trying. And it was nice of NBC to put on something wholesome, for families to watch this time of year.

[chicagolady]

Carrie Underwood is a Wonderful comedian!

Her spoof on Miley Cirus is a Winner!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H9ofSB5DBw

[GeronL]

everyone has different tastes and I have seen people say Carrie cannot act

[Junk Silver]

There is not a nastier more vindictive group of people in the world than Broadway theater queens. These people were horrified that a country artist would be hired to play Maria. They also deeply resent Underwood’s poking fun at Obamacare during the recent CMAs, as they still think the Dear Leader walks on water.

The Sound of Music Broadcast gave NBC some of its highest ratings in years, Underwood should be proud of her part in it.

[BenLurkin]

I’d like to see more live TV.

Stage performances are always good, but when they are they exceed in quality.

[Bryanw92]

>>but TSOM is and always has been just plain nauseating.

I’ve never seen the Julie Andrews version, so I’ll have to take your word for it.

[GeronL]

This was live apparently, which means it is 100 time tougher to do than any TV show/movie

[Revolting cat!]

What is this ‘sound of music’ and who is this Carrie Underwood person (if that is its real name)? I mean, I know that music “sounds”, doesn’t everyone?

[Slyfox]

Within the group of trained actors, I think Carrie held her own pretty well. Especially the scene where the mother superior sings, “Climb Every Mountain.” Carrie touchingly played Maria, with tears and everything.

[BenLurkin]

There are those who love it.

[SoFloFreeper]

We watched it...she did a fine job. No, acting isn’t her strong suit...big deal. She’ll get better...her ambition and talent more than made up for what was a bit of a stretch in the character development.

Damn, folks, she was doing something new for an entire generation of television viewing. The entertainment was decent family fare, her voice was beautiful.

For the first live full blown musical in 50 years on television, I give it an A. B+ at worst.

What was everyone expecting? Julie Andrews II?

God bless you, Carrie.

[GeronL]

like in the old days of b/w TV?

[9YearLurker]

I think people have taken issue with her being cast in the role, not in her giving it the old college try.

[Sans-Culotte]

My wife and I enjoyed the production. We are not Carrie Underwood fans. We knew who she was, but that's it. I admire her courage to take on the role in the long shadow of Julie Andrews. I thought her singing was quite good. Her acting simply lacked any feeling. I chalk it up to inexperience and nerves. With more work, she could probably be very good. The scene where Audra McDonald sang 'Climb Every Mountain' was very touching. Carrie's eyes were welled up with tears. It was one of those great moments that a better actor might have missed. I think Carried got totally caught up in the moment and she was displaying real emotion.

It's silly for the Von Trapp family to weigh in on this, as the story only vaguely resembles history. From what I've read, the real Maria was even more of a martinet than the captain. I really admired the entire production for pulling off all the singing and choreography live the way they did.

[Nervous Tick]

I saw a little of it. I though Carrie Underwood did fine.

>> I’m sure the LATimes critic just hated it because none of the children were openly gay.

But hey, they DID give an openly black Austrian nun a key role... (snicker... as if!... wonder how many black nuns there really were in Austria back then...)

[SoFloFreeper]

They also deeply resent Underwood’s poking fun at Obamacare during the recent CMAs...

Good point. Forgot about that....