NEWS: Cloris Leachman is Not Afraid of You, and She Will Beat Your Ass.

CELEB: Cloris Leachman is Not Afraid of You, and She Will Beat Your Ass.

Now that the Tony-winning juggernaut that was musical version of The Producers has finally bid adieu to Broadway, you can’t really blame Mel Brooks for taking another trip to the well with Young Frankenstein: The Musical.

You also can’t blame Cloris Leachman, one of the surviving cast members of the original 1974 movie, for auditioning to reprise her role as Frau Blücher (insert whinnying horses here).

An audition that, according to Broadway “insiders,” she aced to the point where Mel Brooks was overheard saying, “Cloris is going to steal the show -- all she has to do is walk on the stage -- she'll bring the house down”. However, when the role eventually went to Andrea Martin, the reason given by Brooks and others involved was that the 81-year-old Leachman was “too old” to do eight performances a week without risking her health. Or as the 81-year-old Brooks phrased it, “We're afraid the show might stop her -- it could kill her…We don't want her to die on stage.”

So of course, Cloris did what any seasoned professional actor would do. While her dedicated fans (or at least her dedicated agent) started the ubiquitous online petition, she channeled Uwe Boll and via her agent challenged Mel Brooks to a fight: “Cloris challenges Mel to three rounds in the ring, and we'll see who's left standing.”

While more staid musical theatre fans may dislike the idea of casting choices being decided by having two octogenarians enter the Octagon, I think it’s a great idea. As the age of the average theater-goer continues to decline, what would bring in more of that coveted “males aged 18-34” demographic than rebranding The Great White Way as The Great Fight Way? At the very least, think of the ratings bonanza of a TV series combining talent and trial by combat!

Mel. let her play Fau B! If she dies, well, that's what understudies are for!

FINALLY a pay per view that I would actually pay for!!!

Who needs a sequel to Young Frankenstein when you have that?

Andrea Martin should ref.

As Edith Prickley.

I love that she wants to do it and is ready to push Octo-sex! WHy can't she go out loving what she does?

Cloris Leachman live on Broadway as Frau Blucher...

There are not many other things I'd be so willing to entrench myself further in deft for.

I think she would like to die on stage ...if it came to that at least..wow what a way to go.!

For serious.

[quote=CheshireCat]I think she would like to die on stage ...if it came to that at least..wow what a way to go.![/q]

I think you've hit it spot-on.

Dude that's friggin awesome!

I've been waiting my whole life to say this:

"Ladies and Gentlemen:

OCTAGENARIAN CAGEMATCH!!!!!!!"

Agreed. Honestly, I think the notion of "resolve all entertainment-figure conflicts via combat" might make up for all the horrors Uwe Boll has wrought, if it catches on.

GOD HELP YOU CLORIS LEACHMAN, JUGGLE THE BEANBAGS!

-TM

I predict Cloris by rear naked choke...

Is it wrong that she turns me on now?

I thought maybe Cloris Leachman was making a cameo on the next Yo La Tengo album.

That's how Irene Ryan (Granny Clampett) went. Died just after performing in Pippin.

She is badass!

eh...
I could take her.

She is a brilliant performer, a wicked-ass-funny woman, and still has eight times the balls of most... humans.

I'd do her...

This makes me like her even more.

i thought i'd never live to see the day that i'd say i wish i were as badass as an 81 year old lady, but alas here it is

Cloris Leachman is all style.
Especially in movies directed by Mel Brooks.
I will always think of her as Nurse Diesel in "High Anxiety"

"You LIVE for BONDAGE and DOMINATION!"

+1