Arts & Culture

Variety is reporting this morning that the $6 million Broadway production of Coram Boy, which garnered six Tony nominations but has had mixed reviews and underwhelming audiences, will shut down May 27th if receipts don't pick up.

Our own John Heilpern had this to say about the Dickensian world of Coram Boy, and the theater scene that produced it:

Nowadays, you feel fortunate if a Broadway play has four actors, one set and a dog. With its cast of 40 and its 20-strong choir singing George Frideric Handel, of all people, there’s never been anything like Coram Boy.

It’s the kind of massive undertaking that only a major subsidized theater like the National could even contemplate.

And which, apparently, Broadway cannot.

Of all the characters--and of all the actors--still around for this last season of The Sopranos, David Chase has not only chosen, but has actually succeeded in doing something with A.J. (Robert Iler).

Long the afterthought of the ensemble, A.J.’s only memorable contribution to the series was when he got his eyebrows shaved off at some party in the city, while Iler’s only memorable contribution was when he pleaded guilty to mugging two fellow teenagers and marijuana possession..

Anyway, it is really surprising that A.J. has not only become the focal point to the second half of this season, but also appears to be the key to wrapping up the entire show in a nice big bow.

A.J., as the episode title tells us, is "the second coming." He’s Tony Soprano alright, but without any of Tony’s personality, menace or charisma. If there is a twist to these last episodes of The Sopranos, I’d say that is it.

And like the much-maligned Dominic Monaghan on Lost, Iler has actually shown himself to be quite an actor when given his chance in the spotlight. In a season filled with great performances—mostly from the usual suspects: Gandolfini, Falco, and Imperioli—Iler can stand proudly along side his cast mates.

"We approached our development this year with a specific goal in mind—to be daring and different," said Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment. "The Fall and mid-season series we have selected offer creativity and variety with great potential to excite and surprise television audiences everywhere."

They’re bringing us musicals, vampires and swingers!

But the big news broke yesterday: they’ll be renewing How I Met Your Mother, the hilarious show you’re not watching (fill up the Netflix queue with the first and second season). This morning came the official announcement of that decision, as well as confirming the new comedy and three new dramas added to their fall line-up.

Hugh Jackman is producing and starring in a mystery musical called Viva Laughlin, an American version of BBC’s Viva Blackpool, a wealthy casino entrepreneur and an ambitious businessman in Nevada.

The West Wing’s Jimmy Smits will lead Cane, a drama about an Cuban-American family who runs a rum and sugar cane business in Florida. This could be a snoozer, unless you knock back a few Long Island Iced teas while you’re watching.

Moonlight is some kind cross between the X-Files and Buffy the Vampire Slayer about a detective who investigates the undead. Spooky.

And the new comedy from the producer of Two and a Half Men brings two nerds (Johnny Galecki of Roseanne and Jim Parsons of Judging Amy) and a sexy mentor for The Big Bang Theory. A sultry Kaley Cuoco of 8 Simple Rules trades info about the birds and the bees for their knowledge about quantum physics. Seems like a Weird Science project to us.

Swingtown, a midseason series, is CBS’s biggest leap from their usually tame line-up. The director of Big Love will bring audiences into the suburban homes of 1970s swingers.

Click "read more" to read the whole press release.