Fosse/Verdon

This is a great series. The way I can tell just two episodes in, is that when I start watching it, the hour passes in about five minutes. I can count on one hand the number of TV series that I have felt that way about. The last one was The Americans. I really enjoy the music and dancing even though there hasn't been much of either yet. If the remaining six episodes are anywhere near as good as the first two, FX will win some awards with this.

Bob Fosse (Sam Rockwell) is the legendary American choreographer and director for Broadway and the big screen. Gwen Verdon (Michelle Williams) is his third wife, his dancer, and his artistic partner. This FX series examines the couple's relationship in eight episodes. Each one follows an aspect of their lives together.

The easiest praise is that Rockwell and Williams are great. That's a given. They are great actors. The structure of the show is somewhat different. It's not a straight linear story telling. It deals more with a single subject per episode. It takes some getting used to. At first, I couldn't take the way the show presents time in its text. It's some weird artsy indirect thing. I just want the date and year. Once I got used to it, it becomes a minor annoyance. The good aspect is that it narrows the focus of the episode. It's an intriguing way to do an bio mini-series. There is also the great acting.

Partly due to the non-linear timeline of this series, I think it helps if the viewer is familiar with the work of Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon. My introduction came during the Broadway run of "Dancin' ", the amazing dance revue that inspired my love of Broadway, musical theater, and the style of Bob Fosse.

After watching the first two episodes, I am pleasantly surprised, due especially to the performance by Michelle Williams (Verdon). She seems to embody Verdon, even to the point that any issues I have with her representation of the dancing are merely quibbles. She conveys the nuances of the Fosse dance mannerisms and the subtleties of a woman who led a confused life under the influence of the infuriating Fosse.

Sam Rockwell delivers a convincing depiction of Fosse. I prefer it to the Roy Scheider portrayal in "All That Jazz". Rockwell's Fosse is meticulous, quiet, emotionally distant and possessing a ruthless honesty that manages to betray him when personal relationships get tough.

The show demonstrates the unique language of dance and style that Verdon and Fosse shared. Fosse had an addictive personality, so it is no surprise that their relationship revolved around the muse-meal ticket disjunction. Other productions have focused on a woman's love for a flawed man. "Fosse/Verdon" tells the same story and is quite believable. She clearly loves him more than he loves himself.

As with the TV show "Smash", I love the behind the scenes look at the creative processes and the personality conflicts.

Watch for Paul Reiser as Cy Feuer. In upcoming episodes, I am looking forward to the portrayal of Ann Reinking, among others.

'Razzle Dazzle' Two of the most gifted artists of the time - choreographer/dance/director Bob Fosse and actress/dancer Gwen Verdon - are brought to life in this exceptional miniseries FOSSE/VERDON - a title that could just as easily been VERDON/FOSSE, so intertwined and interdependent were these two extraordinary people. Michelle Williams is pitch-perfect as Verdon - in looks, amazingly fine dancing and body movement and acting, and Sam Rockwell is equally impressive as Fosse, again able to dance extremely well and act a difficult part of a man at odds with his inclinations.

The series becomes a bit disconcerting at times, due to the seemingly haphazard fast forward and fast backward at crucial moments in the depicting the rocky relationship and marriage as Fosse and Verdon grow and deflate as a couple, in life and on stage. Fosse's genius is abetted by Verdon's input and influence, making the viewer at times puzzled as to the primary force in their position as pioneers in American entertainment.

The assorted entourage of actors portraying the people involved in the couple's lives offers strong support and the performing aspects of the songs and dance numbers exhumes great memories of shows such as CABARET, DAMN YANKEES, SWEET CHARITY. CAN-CAN, CHICAGO, and ALL THAT JAZZ. The psychological problems these two encounter are many, but Williams and Rockwell make them all credible. This is a fine biographical, musically enhanced 'docudrama.'

I knew about Bob Fosse as a choreographer but had no idea he was such a talented dancer. Both protagonists are spot on in their performances. Michelle Williams is incredible. You can't see any differences and the real Verdon if you watch original footage of Verdon dancing.

As an Astaire enthusiast I never thought that I would say Fosse was better although he did copy many of Astaire's moves.

Anyone who loves dance and musicals will love this series.