I missed this when it came out yesterday, but in the spirit of taking one’s sweet-ass time, here’s the Marc Shaiman-written, Adam Shankman-directed Prop 8 – The Musical from Funny Or Die. The celebrity-studded high school musical might have had a real-world practical application if it’d been conceived before the election, but now it’ll have to suffice for simply making a difference in your morning, because at least one of your famous-people crushes is sure to pop up — or in the case of Darryl from The Office, get slightly bent.
What do you think — could Prop 8 – The Musical have changed voters’ minds if it had come out before Nov. 4?
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i loved this. i wish it would have come earlier. i hope many listen closely to the lyrics. marc shaiman is brilliant. he started out with bette midler.
I saw this yesterday and laughed soo hard at work. I sent it to everyone I knew. Brilliant!
Hysterical.
http://backorforth.blogspot.com
It wouldn’t have changed most voters’ minds, but I think the point of this and other protests and efforts are that it’s not too late for things to change.
Oh my god, I thought this was so great, and it’s nice to see all those Famous People taking part. I posted the link on Facebook…it’s funny AND educational!
Thousands of years of a traditional understanding of marriage from a secular viewpoint which crosses religious and cultural lines, vs, a… a… a comedy sketch? Don’t be so narcissistic. Prop 8 was going to pass even if none of the churches gave money, and that is because you cannot change a foundational issue by democratic vote. But if two ssa individuals want to live with each other and reserve their own rental halls and throw confetti and eat cake and recite their vows to each other and declare themselves “married”, they have every right to do so. They just don’t have the right to bully those who hold differing views to the point of violent acts, public nude acts, and blacklists. (Hint to Prop8naysayers: It doesn’t bode well for your cause if McCarthyism is your activist blueprint).
Brilliant – unfortunatley the only thing that will change voters minds is time (social change never comes easily, especially when people throw organized religion into the mix)
Don’t forget, snarf… it was organized religion that helped institute social change (against slavery, against racism, creating hospitals, creating univerisites). If you’re going to pit this as an organized religion debate, you’re going to mis-state the obvious.
This kind of self-indulgent skit only preaches to the choir (sorry for the pun). Maybe it will make the celebrities feel better about themselves, but that’s about it. It’s not going to change any minds because it directly takes aim at offending, ridiculing, and distorting the values of the people they would need to convince. By the way, newsflash, Prop 8 was passed by a clear majority of California voters not because a bunch of mormons and fundamentalists voted for it, but because a majority of EVERYone voted for it, including a solid majority of blacks and hispanics.
Too bad Mormons aren’t big fans of web virals.
Great video, very well-done. Also, chances are, the only people who will see/watch this video, are those already opposed to Prop 8.
However, I felt that “Milk” starring Sean Penn will (hopefully) have a greater impact on ignorance and intolerance. This film is moving and powerful and should be shown in highschools across the country.
History is not on the side of Prop 8. In 50 years, the people who voted to pass Prop 8 will be viewed as ignorant and shortsighted in history books and in classrooms, just like the people who fought against ending segregation and slavery. Bigotry and hatred are qualities that don’t age well.
I tried to watch it, but they lost me at Jack Black. That guy does nothing for me. Not amusing or entertaining.
Christopher, who are you to say what will be looked upon in 50 years? Perhaps in 50 years, the blacklists and hatred of anti-Prop 8 agitators would be seen for the anti-religious bigotry that they are?
Then again, perhaps in 50 years, there will be a medicinal cure for homosexuality.
Could this have changed minds? Of course not. This is one of those issues where everyone has their preconceived position and digs as deep a trench as possible in order to defend it. All this video provides is a couple of mild chuckles.
How do you think the vandalism and hate crimes inflicted upon churches will be viewed in 50 years?
Very clever and well done (Love ya Darryl and NPH!) but I have to agree with Mr. (Ms?) Pantsuit. A video full of Hollywood stars isn’t going to change people’s minds on this issue.
Wouldn’t have changed any minds – but it was AWESOME!!!
Martha, you’re being way to generous. I think Jack Black is probably the ONLY person in that sketch who could widely be considered a “star”. Perhaps NPH qualifies as a TV star but I think even that’s a stretch.
Shorter Nick: Hey anti-Prop 8, where do you get off trying to get organized?
I love Marc Shaiman, but didn’t find this very amusing, actually, a little cringe-worthy. I know, I know, irony–but make it entertaining. Prop 8 was hateful and I’m hoping the courts overrule fear and ignorance. (That’s how the 60s civil rights came about. Equal rights for all races was too unpopular to vote on or wait for the legislators to act first. We got “good” because we were forced into it–not very different now.)
The thing that cracks me up the most about this video is that they start off by singing the praises of Barack Obama, their champion of “change of tolerance” who will now supposedly make it a better world for gay people….
Except that BARACK OBAMA DOES NOT SUPPORT GAY MARRIAGE. A fact that everyone loves to forget. He does, however, support legally joined gay couples having the same legal rights as married couples, which they currently do in California.
So really, this issue is not about hate and unequal rights (certainly not like the hate crimes committed against churches by anti-Prop 8 people), but rather, the right to redefine a thousands-year old religious ritual that is strictly defined by ALL major religions, including the Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu religions.
If you support Gay marriage shouldn’t you also campaign to have restrictions against polygamy/bigamy and any other religion based laws also reversed? What’s the difference, since you argue that’s it all about “consenting Adults” anyway. Hey, I’m all about whatever floats your boat. Now THAT would make a great musical.
*”change and tolerance”
Hasn’t history taught religious freaks, like Nick, anything? Sooner or later, you people lose!
Uh Anna, I guess you like to forget the fact that he did not support Prop 8 either.
Pretty funny stuff. For the record, Jack Black was actually one of the funniest parts of the video, so you missed out, MC. Neil Patrick Harris stole the show, though, as always. I’m getting used to it by now
.
Also, let the record show that I am Mormon, watching a web viral, and in support of gay marriage. Getting a little sick of the sweeping generalizations.
Also, “Milk” wasn’t that good. And bombed at the box office.
Okay, I’m done. That is all.
Hey lady, get your facts straight. “Milk” is a hit in what people in that bussiness call ’specialty box office’. And although I haven’t seen it, I’m sure it’s gotta be a little good for critics to drool over it like they have.
Hey Anna, I guess you forgot the fact that Barack did not support Prop 8 either.
Sorry for double post.