All stories by MARK BLANKENSHIP on BroadwayStars

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Hidden flavors in “Olive and the Bitter Herbs” by Mark Blankenship

  How Charles Busch puts real feeling in wild comedy You don’t have to believe in ghosts to enjoy Charles Busch’s new comedy Olive and the Bitter Herbs. You just have to bel…

SOURCE: TDF at 01:46PM

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Round 2: Groove Thang (pt. 2) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to ROUND 2 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 15 and 16! These games are OPEN. They will close at midnight on Sunday, August 7. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the updated brack…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 09:25AM

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Round 2: Groove Thang by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to ROUND 2 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 13 and 14! These games are OPEN. They will close at midnight on Sunday, August 7. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the updated bracke…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 04:59AM
Wednesday, August 3, 2011

“True Blood” Sucker Punch!: Season 4, Ep. 6 by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to Sucker Punch, the only blog post that ranks the gaudiest moments in this week’s episode of True Blood. — You guys? I am considering launching a blog called Evil Baby W…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 12:33PM

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Round 2: Rock Warrior (pt. 2) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to  ROUND 2 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 11 and 12! These games are OPEN. They will close at midnight on Saturday, August 6. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the updated brac…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 09:15AM

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Round 2: Rock Warrior by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to  ROUND 2 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 9 and 10! These games are OPEN. They will close at midnight on Saturday, August 6. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the updated bracke…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 04:36AM
Tuesday, August 2, 2011

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: The Kate Bush Conundrum by Mark Blankenship

Hey everyone! Let me start by reiterating how happy I am that so many people are voting and commenting on the tournament. Truly, I am. HOWEVER, for the second round in a row, Kate Bush’…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 10:52PM

I Know What You Did The Summer Before Last!: Reviewing a deliciously terrible movie by Mark Blankenship

As part of the Dog Days of Summer Movies project over at Tomato Nation, I have just written a review of 1997‘s I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, which is one of the most wonderful…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 12:45PM

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Round 2: Deep Feelings (pt. 2) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to  ROUND 2 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 6 and7! These games are OPEN. They will close at midnight on Friday, August 5. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the updated bracket, j…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 09:40AM

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Round 2: Deep Feelings by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to  ROUND 2 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 5 and 6! These games are OPEN. They will close at midnight on Friday, August 5. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the updated bracket, …

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 04:11AM
Monday, August 1, 2011

“Frances:” Watch this movie when you need to cut a bitch. by Mark Blankenship

I’d like to welcome guest critic Mark Peikert, managing editor of the New York Press and City Arts, to tell us why the movie Frances is perfect viewing when you need to cut a bitch the…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 03:00PM

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament ROUND 2: Joy Bombs 3 and 4 by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to  ROUND 2 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 3 and 4! These games are OPEN. They will close at midnight on Thursday, August 4. REMINDER: The last six games of Round 1 are…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 11:01AM

Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, ROUND 2: Joy Bombs 1 and 2 by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to  ROUND 2 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament, Games 1 and 2! These games are OPEN. They will close at midnight on Thursday, August 4. REMINDER: The last six games of Round 1 are…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 02:08AM

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: ROUND 2 UPDATE by Mark Blankenship

Hello everyone! It’s time to launch ROUND 2 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament! Through your votes, you’ve narrowed the field from 64 songs to 32, and this week, we’ll cut…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 12:05AM
Friday, July 29, 2011

Why I Hate Romcom Anthologies by Mark Blankenship

Doug’s Trailer Scaler for New Year’s Eve struck a nerve, arousing feelings so strong that I could not express them in a mere comment on his post. So now, I present an entirely se…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 02:37PM

The Ultimate Pop Songs Tournament: Games 31 and 32 (Groove Thang Division) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to Games 31 and 32 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament! These games are OPEN. They will close on Tuesday, August 2. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the complete bracket, just go here. Fo…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 11:31AM

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: Games 29 and 30 (Groove Thang Division) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to Games 29 and 30 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament! These games are OPEN. They will close on Tuesday, August 2. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the complete bracket, just go here. For…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 09:34AM

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: Games 27 and 28 (Groove Thang Division) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to Games 27 and 28 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament! These games are OPEN. They will close on Tuesday, August 2. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the complete bracket, just go here. Fo…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 04:54AM
Thursday, July 28, 2011

When Justin Timberlake Became “Justin Timberlake” by Mark Blankenship

10 years ago this week, ‘NSYNC released its final album, Celebrity, and Justin Timberlake began his slow-but-steady transformation from a mere member of groups into a Major Media Maste…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 05:07PM

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: Games 23 and 24 (Rock Warrior Division) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to Games 23 and 24 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament! These games are OPEN. They will close on Monday, August 1. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the complete bracket, just go here. For …

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 11:12AM

The Ulitmate Pop Song Tournament: Games 21 and 22 (Rock Warrior Division) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to Games 21 and 22 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament! These games are OPEN. They will close on Monday, August 1. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the complete bracket, just go here. For …

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 09:45AM

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: Games 19 and 20 (Rock Warrior Division) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to Games 19 and 20 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament! These games are OPEN. They will close on Monday, August 1. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the complete bracket, just go here. For …

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 04:20AM

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: Games 25 and 26 (Groove Thang Division) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to Games 25 and 26 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament! These games are OPEN. They will close on Monday, August 1. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the complete bracket, just go here. For …

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 12:02AM
Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: Mid-Week Update! by Mark Blankenship

Mid-Week Update for the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament I will be damned… there is a lot to say! First of all, I cannot thank you guys enough for your enthusiasm and participation. The fa…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 04:29PM

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: Games 17 and 18 (Rock Warrior Division) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to Games 17 and 18 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament! These games are OPEN. They will close on Sunday, July 31. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the complete bracket, just go here. For …

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 11:44AM

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: Games 15 and 16 (Deep Feelings Division) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to Games 15 and 16 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament! These games are OPEN. They will close on Sunday, July 31. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the complete bracket, just go here. For …

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 09:55AM

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: Games 13 and 14 (Deep Feelings Division) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to Games 13 and 14 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament! These games are OPEN. They will close on Sunday, July 31. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the complete bracket, just go here. For …

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 03:31AM
Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Trailer Scaler: Can “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” Please Be Good? Please? by Mark Blankenship

There are many signs that Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which hits theatres on August 5, will suck. For one thing, it’s being released in August, which is where movies like Final Des…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 04:47PM

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: Games 11 and 12 (Deep Feelings Division) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to Games 11 and 12 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament! These games are OPEN. They will close on Saturday, July 30. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the complete bracket, just go here. For…

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 12:09PM

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: Games 9 and 10 (Deep Feelings Division) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to Games 9 and 10 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament! These games are OPEN. They will close on Tuesday, August 2. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the complete bracket, just go here. For …

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 09:38AM

The Ultimate Pop Song Tournament: Games 7 and 8 (Joy Bomb Division) by Mark Blankenship

Welcome to Games 7 and 8 of the Ultimate Pop Song Tournament! These games are OPEN. They will close on Tuesday, August 2. (ALL OPEN GAMES) To see the complete bracket, just go here. For …

SOURCE: The Critical Condition at 07:31AM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Nov 17, 2024: Elf - Marquis Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre