The Unbelievable History of Elf...the Musical?

It's the story of Buddy the Elf. If you’re ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. Their fee is free unless they win. For more information go to ForThePeople.c...
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[@WaitintheWings]

If you’re ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. Their fee is free unless they win. For more information go to ForThePeople.com/waitinthewings

[@eiangomez425]

Ho

[@eiangomez425]

Edit I meant to say hi

[@Ms.Opinionated]

I only watch "It's A wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street" during the Christmas holidays. Sad to see so much hard work go down the drain. Not a fan of Elf the movie.

[@racheljackson4428]

RIP James Cann.

[@nelumboandrews6762]

What a strange ad

[@PrimRooks]

So if Patrick Page had a nickel for every time he played an antagonist in a musical with green skin, he’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice.

[@kelseighingram]

An S-tier Phineas and Ferb reference.

[@jakeakawayne6437]

He really needs to do a concert where he can do antiheroes Elphaba and Shrek.

[@sleepyhead757]

you win the comments frfr

[@cbpd89]

Broadway isn't an industry well designed for holiday shows maybe, but community theater is another story. Execs get too fixated on Broadway runs, ignoring how theaters all over the country (and world) are looking to put on a holiday show every December. You always do a good job pointing out that Broadway =\= all musical theater. I just saw Elf at my local community theater, and it was a pretty good production and sold out night after night.

[@floridaflamingogirl3119]

When I saw Percy Jackson on Broadway, my first thought was "this would work really well as a community theater or school production."

[@bjurv6321]

When did you see it?

[@gartenmensch1895]

It really shows, that Musicals dont have to "Win" on broadway to get recognition and be loved in other theaters around the world

[@rosebyanyname]

I thought Bob Martin had terrific taste and an excellent sense of humor before, but the framed picture of Tina Belcher behind him showed me he has *impeccable* taste and a *supreme* sense of humor.

[@skyblade7438]

Running around Broadway dressed as an elf just for an ad for a law firm is dedication I can get behind.

[@mitkitty]

I really appreciated you standing up for movie adaptations. If done right they van be amazing (Groundhog Day is genuinely my favorite musical) and while i think critics serve an important role, theater critics seem to be unnecessarily nasty, especially towards lighter and family oriented musicals.

[@cucckles]

God groundhogs day is so underrated I love that show too

[@floridaflamingogirl3119]

The SpongeBob musical was brilliant as well. It deserves more credit for how well the collaborative songwriting came out, and how accurate the costume design was.

[@char9240]

I CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THE INTERVIEWS YOU GOT FOT THIS!!! great work as per usual!

[@phililili23]

"Beth might not be right for the role..." *cuts to Beth, who has a ridiculously similar vibe to Mary Steenburgen*

[@rikkifishy]

Loved it! I can’t believe who you’re getting to interview on this show - you’re making it big on Broadway!

[@bellarc321]

I saw this show on tour in 2017 with my mom and we both loved it! My theater company is doing Elf next year and I can’t wait to do it!

[@joshkoplow4148]

Somehow each of your videos step up the interviewees every time! Every time a new interview pops up my mouth drops

[@TheDimensionDweller]

My local community theater latched onto A Christmas Story The Musical (my beloved), so I wasn't even aware that this musical existed! Going to have to track down the cast recording

[@shannonkahermanes6080]

My sister is a major Elf fan and we saw the original production on Christmas Day that year… it was crazy to see the city so empty. This is the only musical I’ve seen twice- I saw it again a few years later! Great show!

[@katecastreviews4639]

I have a real soft spot for Elf the Musical, and this is (once again) a really interesting and comprehensive look into the history of its production that was fascinating to listen to. That said I'm surprised Buddy's Musical Christmas, the stop motion animated special made by NBC a few years back, didn't get a shout out, or has any footage used for examples. As it uses shortened versions of some of the hits from this soundtrack for it's musical numbers. And I can't think of many other times that's happened. Either way, great vid! As always! You also couldn't have picked a better line to end on. Too perfect! Merry Christmas lowercase buddy 🎄🎶

[@madisonharrill1935]

This show is a personal guilty pleasure! It’s just such a feel good sweet show

[@NolanThackray]

I love these videos! I can tell you truly care about your topics! You deserve more subscribers man! Keep up the great work

[@KatjaMacabre]

....is that a portrait of Tina from Bob's Burgers?

[@AmbeeLee]

I saw it during it's first of the two runs and had no idea they rewrote some of it for the second run and beyond. Not I'm VERY interested to revisit because yeah... it was okay for a holiday show but I could understand the writer wanting to work out some of the kinks in it after the fact. More writers should not be afraid to keep working on something even after it closes for future runs.

[@alexwhite9799]

I'm going to be honest, when I saw a local production of Elf the musical, I loathed it. Elf the movie isn't perfect, but over the years, I've found it resonates with me as a neurodivergent individual. The production I saw made me deeply uncomfortable, because in a very subtle way, the blame for Walter's job loss was shifted from his own flaws catching up to him, to buddy shredding an important document because he was a giant man child. In the movie, Buddy is different and naive, but this production really leaned into treating him like he was different and thus incompetent. Maybe other shows are better, but that was my experience, and I left the theater feeling really gross. I think what they missed in the production I saw was that Buddy requires balance. He's different and yes, those differences can have drawbacks, but he has his own skills and personality. What they did instead was just water him down to just the slapstick, which came across as pretty uncomfortable at points

[@plkrtn]

They televised a UK production of this a few years ago over here. It just proved how crucial the casting is. Buddy came across terribly in it. It just shows the skill of Will Ferrell.

[@jackjohnston5317]

Morgan & Morgan was a jump scare I'll be honest

[@Asummersdaydreamer14]

It might not sound like the type of musical I would like, but I am glad the interviews you were able to set up showed there was a lot of thought and heart put behind what some people would immediately disregard as only a cash grab. Glad it still has legs in community/ regional theatre though casting Buddy must be so crucial to not be absolutely annoying for those not already in peak Christmas spirit.

[@ejohn87]

Honorable mention, Meredith Wilson's 1963 musical "Here's Love," which is based on "Miracle on 34th Street." A local community theater group did it when I was a kid, but I never hear anyone talk about it. Even the cast album cover wouldn't make you assume it was a Christmas show.

[@devinblackwood5885]

I was hoping someone would bring this up! I would love to see a production of Here’s Love to see if the book is better than the somewhat weak score.

[@kimwhatmatters4085]

The gift given to the candy was classy and thoughtful

[@nickmoney]

It didn't flop, it's not sustainable for Broadway but obviously it's gonna outlive bigger budget shows around the world.

[@__darsoyea5149]

Saw a small local production of this last year and it was super fun! It was my first musical

[@Jeremiahgoff]

I listened to Elf the musical soundtrack and I still love this soundtrack so much

[@benjaminhomer6837]

Last weekend I finished a production of elf and seeing this has made my day

[@limecable1278]

9:15 YOU ACTUALLY SPOKE TO CASEY NICHOLAW christ

[@teddyfurstman1997]

Elf is those Hoilday Movies that makes you feel good. That what makes it work. As a Broadway Show, it looks cool.

[@AllycatlovesAG]

Great video! I’ve known about the musical adaptation but never looked into it or watched it! I had no idea how star studded the cast was!

[@StephenHopkinsRum]

Seeing Gary beach at 8:52 made me scream because he’s my favorite

[@StephenHopkinsRum]

I love Elf the musical

[@JackieWarner13]

"One of the greatest Christmas movies of all time & occupies countless television screens every winter" excuse me sir! also in summer because of us down here in the southern hemisphere 😜😂

[@nathaniellee5277]

Elf was the first musical I was ever in (I was the Macy’s Manager) so it definitely has a special place in my heart

[@TwoWholeWorms]

The puns, they cause physical pain. xD

[@unrelatablecontent629]

26:08 this person didn't like it because it wasn't a movie and buddy didn't look like he wanted him too.

[@user-ld6th3vw8e]

this literally choked me up a little why lol, witw videos are so well made

[@aze4308]

whenever i see a witw video i go "wait?! that HAPPENED?!"

[@SgtxAnus]

remember when plays were like high end bougie stuff? Now we make musicals about fuckin anything even when it only vaguely had one song in it

[@dallasb9411]

Me, who only watches your videos for mentions of Lestat and its cast: "May I have some more, sir?" (Or maybe "I Want More!" is more on brand)

[@TheFoxPrince1]

I hope they make a live telecast of Elf by NBC or Fox

[@GamingSaturnMoonManBoy]

I’ve seen a few productions this musical. One production my Cousin played Buddy and my sister played Charolette Dennon the news reporter

[@chelseabarker8040]

I'm sorry I haven't even watched the full video yet but the fact that Morgan & Morgan is sponsoring KZbin videos now is just truly crazy omg 1:55

[@happyMOO5]

NEVER KNEW ABOUT THIS MUSICAL. I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS SO MUCH CUZ I LEARN SO MUCH

[@PorgWitch]

Omg this reminds me, I'd love for you to cover Lestat!!!!

[@galaxypumpkin38]

You should do a documentary on Deaf West Spring Awakening!

[@vampera82]

This made me feel like I watched a movie but I got recommended this after tons of research because I was playing Walter in my drama club today as we have been planning the musical for about a month now and we did the jr version but it still was absolutely amazing I loved performing it and it will have a place in my heart now

[@videosammy]

Morgan & morgan saying their there to help the common man is just so hilarious xD Your better off having the gecko from geicko defend you, at least they wont claim your new born son and your soul after services rendered xD

[@Livlatte]

I WISH BUDDY HAD BEEN CHRISTIAN BORLE LMAOOO 💔💔💔 WE LOST

[@alyssashannon1218]

❤️🥺 exactly what I needed to see

[@misternathanfowlkes]

I really remember there being a stop motion style musical elf that I watched on TV I'm like 2015. Buddy was played by the guy that plays Sheldon on Big bang theory. Anyone remember that or was it just a fever dream I had?

[@FrankSinatraTheSecond]

The elf the musical ptsd is coming back to me

[@jaydensvhsarchive3.095]

Can you make an avenue a video? I always wanted to know how it was made!

[@anikam3526]

i found out there was an Almost Famous musical from this video! i love the film and i would love you to do a video on the musical:)

[@TheHManShow]

Hi Brendon! Fellow creative named Harper here. Specifically a composer. I love how much research and detail you put in every single video you release. Do you have a business email I can reach out to you from to discuss working on a potential project(s)

[@kimwhatmatters4085]

They couldn’t get little ppl?? I think the little person thing would be cool especially a drop kick. If some smaller Theater troops could’ve gotten a little kid to do it

[@arrow_of_ravenclaw5155]

I just saw it on the tenth. I saw the current north American tour. I thought it was great for what it is; the movie with the musical numbers. The act two opener of a my personal favorite song

[@erikbihari3625]

You mean it's a bigger Christmas classic than home alone?

[@raheemfielder-bey998]

Welp it’s time for Elf 3.0 2024!

[@SebzAU]

I played Buddy recently - a phenomenally underrated show!

[@catrinafraser2545]

Elf was able to make it to a socttish mock exam in the same question with wicked so it made it

[@hiptoalieu]

SO...I love LOVE Christmas and I LOVE Musicals...but, ELF didn't need to be a musical.

[@AlinaAniretake]

13:31 "two comedians" *shows jimmy kimmel* Got me there, I guess.

[@rosallora]

I actually JUST SAW Elf at the Times-Union center in Jacksonville! I'll be honest in that it was really, really underwhelming. The sets aren't nearly as nice as the ones shown here (which I mean I guess I should expect but it was really disappointing) and the energy was just MISSING from the show. It made me feel... well. Not good at all. I'm really happy they were able to make an adaptation, and I love musicals! But this just wasn't it for me :C

[@lexiimaid4200]

This show holds a special place in my heart since it’s the last musical I have done in high school

[@kieronragoonath4385]

Elf is coming back on Nov 9, 2024-Jan 4, 2025

[@otaking3582]

So New Line had a theater division, and yet they DIDN'T create a Nightmare on Elm Street musical?!

[@benjaminhomer6837]

Just finished a local run of this Elf so I am extremely looking forward to this

[@kacie.k]

I saw elf yesterday. I didn’t like it very much, I think the casting of buddy is so crucial and the lead in this production just didn’t have the right feel for me. The show just kind of reminded me of the jokes and scenes that I liked better in the movie 🤷🏼‍♀️ it wasn’t for me.

[@ianhotelling2097]

this show was the final show i did in high school theatre

[@franklesser5655]

I don't like Will Ferrel. Never have.

[@GamingXMovies]

You officially covered both of the show my colleges theatres did last semester, elf and American psycho, and I loved watching both cause for a while I thought they were both cash grab shows that rode off the success of their names

[@elizabethlevesque6978]

Lol I was in a production of Elf the musical in high school. I was the perfume seller. It was so weird but I kinda loved being in it. The music was surprisingly catchy too. And I'm not a fan of the Elf movie so I was surprised at how much I enjoyed being in the musical lol

[@Chibi_Mercury]

i saw elf the musical, but not on broadway. a college? did an awesome and hilarious production of it. some of the actors would be in the section between the audience seats

[@briannakadlecik1903]

This is a great video! I love all the interviews with the creative team.

[@AlyssaVierneza]

Wow I just LOVE these videos. I never knew about this musical and even though it doesn’t come back to broadway every year, it’s still a success after hearing this story.

[@rainbootsandroses]

omg HOW did you get to interview so many broadway legends???? Who are you???

[@ahr4296]

My good sir you can't just mention the Lestat musical offhand like it's nothing

[@karenz3853]

Elf was the first musical I did and the reason I discovered my love of musicals. I also did drowsy chaperone last year which I had never heard of before that. The guy that played buddy in our show was the best man in drowsy chaperone and he was great in both roles (and our man in the chair was hilarious but unfortunately he graduated last year)

[@radiantstar]

I got to see a community theatre production this December! It was so great! I happened to sit next to some friends of the actor who played Buddy and they were so happy to see him up there!

[@broadwaymike92]

Can you do one about how Madison Square Garden had a timing where they had residential seasonal shows each year...... A CHRISTMAS CAROL: THE MUSICAL (1993-2003) and THE WIZARD OF OZ (1997-1999)?!!

[@SpsasMinecraftCorner]

Cool so instead of it being will Ferrell being loud and obnoxious for an hour and a half… it’s the main character being loud and obnoxious broken up by singing… where he’s probably STILL loud and obnoxious!

[@thespian302]

The sponsor of the video might be the most unintentionally funny thing Ive ever seen.

[@CerealWithNoMilkk]

Hey does anyone know why coffee was changed to souvlaki???

[@acmejr]

I remember the first summer ELF was on Broadway and I didn't think much of it. Now she's here to stay. Also, Elf is a flop but it's FLOPULOUS!

[@coletakahashi-s9d]

No it doesn’t distract from the holiday spirit Christmas is part singing carols is part of the Christmas spirit. In the movie Buddy gets his brother raise the Christmas spirit his brother gets his father to sing with the crowd, His coworker becomes part of the family at the end of the movie. The clips you picked to show depict Christmas spirit so you just made your point moot.

[@bacchiguu86]

I saw a preview of 'The Grinch' and boy it was a mess. There was a part where they had a sing-along for the audience and the actor messed-up the sing-along cards and then got visibly and vocally mad at the audience for singing the song anyways. It was the worst thing I saw on stage honestly but I didn't have the heart to tell my grandma because she treated us and she liked it lol

[@dillonohlemiller401]

I’m one of those people who hates the movie. It’s loud, and annoying. Can’t stand it

[@shortpettite]

Completely off topic but in the Hairspray clip I was like is that Shuester lol so looked it up and yep

[@MarcelinoSoliz]

I’ve seen Elf one time and Will Ferrel annoys me. I don’t know how people can enjoy it.

[@agutierrez4328]

The plate detail was so touching

[@noodlearg9745]

i actually did this show during the summer of 2019. that’s right. the summer. we wore coats on a stage with very hot lights and no air conditioning and 100 degree heat. it was really hot but i loved every second of it. also, i saw the papermill playhouse version a very long time ago, but i don’t really remember it all that much so i can’t really say anything about it.

[@Bowling_Dude]

YOU GOT MOGAN AND MORGAN TO SPONSOR?!

[@kmetzz1]

❤️❤️🎄

[@madelinehutchinson]

I love the drowsy chaperone so this was a lovely overlap for me

[@Dom-dq8ru]

me over here waiting in the wings for waiting in the wings videos to pop up in my recommended more often

[@matth3w2002]

Are you gonna do a review of the Matilda: The Musical movie? I really loved it and think it’s one of the best movie musicals I’ve seen in a while.

[@satinahall]

There’s also a pro-shot of the UK Tour that was made for British TV, I think it’s available on KZbin as well.