Steve On Broadway (SOB)

Hopes Raised For Martha Plimpton

Hopes Raised For Martha Plimpton

Earlier today, I touted the new ABC drama "Detroit 1-8-7."

Since I'm such an avid fan and ardent supporter of Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre, I'd be remiss if I didn't also mention that I'm excited to see another Steppenwolf ensemble member, Martha Plimpton, in the premiere of her new FOX comedy series, "Raising Hope." Like "Detroit 1-8-7," "Raising Hope" also starts this evening.

After years of watching her consistently proving her chops, both on Broadway and in Chicago, I asked in 2008:

Is there nothing Martha Plimpton cannot do? First, as the wine-swilling pontifica-ting, pompous Pope Joan and then as an English teen, both as part of Caryl Churchill's Top Girls, she was simply mindblowing.

But as Gladys Bumps in the current Broadway revival of Pal Joey, Plimpton proves nothing short of a complete revelation. We already knew this Tony-nominated actress had the dramatic chops, but who knew she also possesses such an sensational singing voice? Her "Zip" alone is worth the price of admission. Along with her sly moves, it truly does appear that there's nothing Plimpton can't do.

So why not television as a series regular?

On "Raising Hope," Plimpton stars as a new grandmother, Virginia Chance. On the TV series' official site, Plimpton answers a Q&A. In addition to rating her own parents "on a scale from Jimmy to June Cleaver," Plimpton says that if she were writing an episode of the show, she said, "I think it'll be essential that Virginia end up in sequins with dancing boys in tight thongs."

I'll be tuning in this evening for pure Plimpton, with or without those dancing boys.

"Raising Hope" premieres on FOX tonight at 9 p.m./8 p.m. Central.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).


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Labels: Broadway, Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope, Steppenwolf, Television

posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Tuesday, September 21, 2010