EAT YOUR HEART OUT TOM CRUISE - SAYS JOHN BARROWMAN
WE all know that John Barrowman has arguably the biggest ego in British showbusiness right now.
So much so, he recently unzipped himself in a BBC Radio 1 studio for a supposed laugh - just days after the Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand controversy,
It was hardly a big sacrifice for him to go on to Loose Women ready to admit that he 'had made a mistake' (so that's all right then).
Especially as it doesn't seem as if he's learned anything from the episode if Barrowman's new panto at the Birmingham Hippodrome today is any guide.
I saw the colourful production today and... guess what!
Robin Hood The Pantomime Adventure might be a cracking panto for the most part, but it's embarrassingly overloaded with 'gay' gags.
And this is supposed to be a family show?
Not only that, but the Scot thinks he's a superstar who resembles a Hollywood legend.
Described as 'tall, dark, handsome... sort of looks like Tom Cruise', Barrowman adds: 'But I've got the full package'.
In your dreams, son! In your dreams!
My full review of the Robin Hood The Pantomime should be in our sister paper, The Birmingham Post, on Monday.
Colleagues Roz Laws and Diane Parkes will be giving their respective verdicts in the Sunday Mercury tomorrow and in the Birmingham Mail on Monday.
Don't miss 'em!
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Graham Young
er..it's Panto. Guys dress as women, double entendres, are the norm! I've been to plenty of Pantos before that have had gay gags!
Robin Hood is indeed a 'cracking panto' and I would recommend it for all the family!
Err, the Tom Cruise comment was tongue in cheek - that's what panto is all about.
And there are a few gay gags (as there are in many pantos) and there's no reason why there shouldn't be in a 'family' show - gay men are part of families too you know.
It was a great panto and John was hilarious. You must have seen a different show to me!
Actually having reread your article perhaps I misinterpreted what you said.
Can you clarify, when you said 'it's embarrassingly overloaded with 'gay' gags. And this is supposed to be a family show?'
Were you simply offended on behalf of children who have gay relatives who might somehow take offence at the 'gay' jokes?. If so then I can say that I found nothing offensive in the shows to gays or to anyone else.
for years John has been compared to Tom Cruise. For years he's listened to it. Now HE says it it's a problem? I thought your article was more offensive than any "gay" content in the Panto. It was really funny, an excellent cast and a superb leading man! I'm suprised a local paper isn't more supportive of it. Get your tickets if you can get there folks! Best panto I've seen!
What an offensive article.
You obviously don't understand the tongue in cheek nature of panto.
The panto is brilliant. There were plenty of families there, all enjoying the show. John Barrowman is a great entertainer and many people have told him he looks like Tom Cruise, hence the jokes.....
Having a laugh is what panto's all about and if anything, this article has offended me more than any pantomime could.
Those going to see RH, you'll have a great time!
Absolutely brilliant panto! All the panto elements but in a different setting and with some wonderful surprises. Gay jokes? So what! What panto doesn't have them! And guess what, there are plenty of "straight" jokes too!
The audience was about the most diverse I've ever seen. Young and old, families, groups of friends, and every single one of them (well, except the reviewer, obviously!) having a blast.
John Barrowman is the leading men of leading men and a terrific all-round entertainer (and he happens to bear a passing resemblance to Tom Cruise, something that is often remarked on in the press, hence the jokes here). Get your tickets quickly people, because this show is selling out *fast* and you'll be missing a great time if you don't go!
blimey, this is usually the kind of offensive and homophobic article on usually finds hogging the pages of the gutter rag the Daily Mail.
apart from the homophobic and outright uncalled for attack on Mr Barrowman and the panto, how exactly is 6 weeks considered 'just days'? you make it sound like he did it in the same week. The Ross Brand debacle happened in mid october and JBs radio prank happened at the start of december. how can you consider 6 WEEKS to be 'just days'. It's misreporting that facts and makes your article even more offensive.
I used to have respect for your paper, now i have none. You sicken me.
I feel offended by the connexion you make between "gay gags" and your "family show" outraged remark. If anything it proves that the filth is in the mind of the beholder or the listener.
The Tom Cruise joke was... a joke. Barrowman is the first one to laugh at himself and his pseudo-ego, and if you don't get it nevermind.
By the way, I typed this message completely naked. I know, how offensive!
It's Panto, it's supposed to have double entendres, men dressed as women etc. You might want to check out this website http://www.its-behind-you.com/ and read the history of panto.
Ever since Mr. Barrowman starred in the West End Production of A Few Good Men, he has been compared to Tom Cruise. It's been around for quite a few years. If you can't take a tongue and cheek sense of humor about being compared to someone, then you have no right to bash someone who can.
I find this whole entry quite insulting to a majority of people.
I disagree with all these comments. I don't think Graham is in the least bit homophobic, just aware that, while pantos are traditionally full of double entendres which go over the heads of kids, these jokes weren't in the least bit subtle and there were loads of them. Barrowman needs taking down a peg or two, his ego is out of control!
Maria, to say that gay gags are somehow inappropriate in a family show where one of the main characters constantly crossdresses (and there were plenty of jokes about that!) is frankly ludicrous!
I suggest you read the review in the Birmingham Mail by Graham's colleague Diane Parkes, She (and her kids) obviously saw a completely different panto at the Hippodrome to Graham, and loved it! As she said
"Overall this is great entertainment for all of the family. I took my 13-year-old nephew Joe and five-year-old niece Emma and they both loved it, although for slightly different reasons. While Joe was won over by the comedy it was the fairtytale nature which charmed Emma.And we adults who accompanied them were just as carried away.."
It would have been nice to have read a review of the panto rather than an attempted character assassination. You don't appear to like John Barrowman - fair enough but you are supposed to give a balanced view of the performance rather than rehash old news unrelated to the show.
Or perhaps you didn't go to the panto as I see no comments about other characters, the story or audience reaction?
Scrooge is alive and kicking and now works under the alias of Graham Young! Perhaps Santa can give him a dictionary for Christmas so he can look up the meaning of review - 2 lines of comment on a show in a 20 line article I think could be reported under the trade description act.
I cannot believe I have just read this review. Obviously you don't like John which is fair enough. Each to their own. However, there is no need for a character assassination.
The Panto is hilarious. John is a fabulous entertainer. He is better looking than Tom Cruise anyway.
Why does he need taking down a peg or two? He hasn't done anything wrong in the Panto that I can see.