Is it wrong the previews kind of make me want to watch the new Joan Allen/Kevin Costner rom-com? The one in which he's playing a retired ball player to boot, and she's got four perfect-looking blond daughters? (But I *like* Joan Allen, damnit.)

This NYT article may make you feel more at peace with the wanting. The writer-director made the film all on his own, without studio backing, because all the studios who were interested told him he'd have to cast someone more bankable than Joan Allen and he was having none of it. Make the film with Joan Allen or don't make it at all, and if funding it himself was the only way to get Joan Allen, well, then, that was just what he'd have to do.

Well, I also think that the promo for that movie looks good. I really like the scene in the promo where Joan, her daughters and the dog are lying in the yard looking up at the stars.

Well, at least, that's what I think they're doing.

Though I imagine the vocal requirements for 50 Odd Foot of Grunts, or whatever the band's name is, is significantly less than those for the role of Sweeney Todd.

Pretty much. Most Sondheim is tough vocally, and Sweeney Todd takes the cake, especially his stuff. (I'd imagine, at least. All I've ever sung is the Joanna stuff (Green Finch and Linnet Bird is a biatch), and one Toby song, which is probably actually easier if you're a girl.

I think Russell Crowe could really be fantastic in the part, but I'd hate to hear songs as fabulous as 'Epiphany' growled through. Oddly enough, I saw the man who plays Adam Chandler on All My Children play Sweeney years ago, and he was fantastic. (Note: In no way am I endorsing Adam Chandler as Sweeney Todd onscreen. But he was unexpectedly good.)

Thankfully there is a long tradition of substitute singers in Hollywood musicals.

I think it'd be for the best.

Yeah, but Crowe is a Hollywood star who's also (debatably) a singer on the side and has an ego the size of Nebraska. What are the odds that he's going to agree to someone else's singing being dubbed over his?

I saw the man who plays Adam Chandler on All My Children play Sweeney years ago, and he was fantastic.

That's cool to know! I love finding out the secret skills of longtime soap stars.

It's almost as cool as seing that staged performance of Sweeney Todd that was on PBS a couple of Halloweens ago, and finding out that Doogie Howser is a really good singer. (He played Toby.) Actually, I think finding out anybody is a really good singer, when you don't really expect it, is really cool. (To wit: Hugh Jackman hosting the Tonys.)

I think Russell Crowe could really be fantastic in the part, but I'd hate to hear songs as fabulous as 'Epiphany' growled through.

I place hope in the fact that Mr. Crowe's ego is outsized, but not so outsized that he spurns research and training. Which will (hopefully) prod him to take some serious vocal training in order to prove that he can do it all by himself. Physically, I think he'd make a fantastic Sweeney.

Doogie Howser is a really good singer. (He played Toby.)

Which was very distracting when I saw him in Proof with Len Cariou playing the father.

Thankfully there is a long tradition of substitute singers in Hollywood musicals.

Yes, and why the FRELL didn't they follow this tradition in POTO?