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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 13 april 2019

Ben Platt moves away from ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ with new album

By ALICIA RANCILIO Platt’s producer dad Marc
Associated Press Platt — have secured the
NEW YORK (AP) — Much film rights to “Dear Evan
of Ben Platt’s debut album Hansen” and he hasn’t
“Sing to Me Instead” is in- ruled out reprising the role
spired by past loves, but he on the big screen.
laughs at the notion that “I know it’s in develop-
he could be pulling a Taylor ment and being written.
Swift. Of course, that would be
Platt says the songs are a wonderful thing I would
more about emotions than love to be a part of,” he
specifics, so there’s no said.
need to give any former Platt stars in the upcoming
boyfriends a heads-up. Netflix series “The Politician”
“I didn’t feel the need to from Ryan Murphy, playing
give any warnings,” he said a wealthy, morally chal-
recently. “Thankfully there’s lenged teen seeking to win
nothing too harmful said an election to secure his
about anyone ... I’m sure spot at Harvard. Gwyneth
if these people ever did Paltrow, Jessica Lange and
find out that I had written Zoey Deutch also star.
about them, I’m sure they Platt said Murphy sought
would agree the emotional him out for the role after
experience was what I put In this March 28, 2019 photo, Ben Platt poses for a portrait in New York to promote his debut album seeing him in “Dear Evan
across.” “Sing to Me Instead.” Hansen.”
He does say there was Associated Press “He said, ‘You were this
something cathartic about between Platt and his ent path from the music as examples. open book, this sweet,
looking back through the Tony Award-winning role in he performed in his acting Anyone coming to see the empathetic, very easy to
lens of music. “Dear Evan Hansen.” roles (He played the nerdy star when his concert kicks root for (character). And I
“I always sort of laughed Little on the album is remi- Benji in “Pitch Perfect” and off in May and expect- would like you to now play
when Taylor Swift talks niscent of the songs from its sequel). ing to get a dose of “Dear someone who is conniving
about relationships, and the hit Broadway musical; “I definitely wanted to Evan Hansen” take note: and sociopathic and has
she can only move on when instead, the “Sing to Me make sure it was stylistically Platt won’t be singing any a lot of hubris and is kind of
she’s put it into a song, but Instead” is a more soulful and sort of musically what of that show’s songs on his a brat. I want to challenge
there’s a real truth to that.” project. I liked the most and what I tour. you to just turn completely
The album doesn’t just put It was important to Platt, love to sing,” said Platt, cit- But he hasn’t completely on its head,’” Platt recalls. “I
his exes in the rearview mir- that his first album as an ing James Taylor, Carole left that character behind. was like, ‘What more could
ror, it also puts distance artist take him on a differ- King and Donny Hathaway Universal Pictures — and you ask for as an actor?”q

‘Ladies Who Punch’ offers inside look of ‘The View’

By LINCEE RAY perspectives. orable moments on the show.
Associated Press The show’s beginnings are chron- During O’Donnell’s part in the
“Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive icled through Walters’ viewpoint. book, Setoodeh tackles her rivalry
Inside Story of ‘The View’” (Thomas From auditioning the inaugural with Donald Trump, her on-air cat
Dunne Books), by Ramin Setoodeh hosts to pioneering an ideal rhythm fight with Elisabeth Hasselbeck,
Chances are, if you’ve never tuned for the show, Walters had a lot on and the turmoil she caused among
into the talk show “The View,” you her plate juggling her new job and producers and directors.
have heard about it. other duties at ABC. When she left, a new powerhouse
Legendary journalist and creator Even when executives and critics took over in the curious form of
Barbara Walters had one goal in said it couldn’t be done, Walters movie actress Whoopi Goldberg.
mind in 1997: Gather together a triumphed with the help of broad- Goldberg’s point-of-view in the
panel of multi-generational wom- cast journalist Meredith Vieira, at- book describes her steady hand
en around a table to discuss hot torney Star Jones, comedian Joy that ushered in a new era. Once
topics of the day. What she got Behar, and rookie Debbie Mateno- Walters retired, Goldberg became
was highly successful and ground- poulos. Together, the women a new force with which to be reck-
breaking morning television, changed daytime television. oned. And she still helms the ship
wrapped up in an intricate web of Although the idea of the show was today.
drama. an accomplishment, everyday With a random array of hosts and
In “Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive operations were never smooth. plenty of drama to go around,
Inside Story of ‘The View,’” award- Matenopoulos was let go for being Setoodeh manages to peel back
winning journalist Ramin Setoodeh too green. the composed facade of what
offers readers a backstage look of Jones insisted the show revolve viewers see on their screens in or-
what really went on behind-the- around her pending wedding. And der to focus on raw feelings and
scenes of the transformative talk eventually, Vieira left, leaving a teetering emotions of those closely
show. With unprecedented access handful of spots to fill. Enter Rosie involved with “The View.”
with nearly every host, Setoodeh This cover image released by Thomas O’Donnell. ‘’Ladies Who Punch” is an exciting
paints a vivid and informative pic- Dunne Books shows “Ladies Who Collectively, O’Donnell spent two read that proves there’s always
ture of the highs and lows of the Punch: The Explosive Inside Story of seasons on “The View,” but her stint a little soap opera even if a show
last 20 years from several different ‘The View’, by Ramin Setoodeh. produced many of the most mem- presents itself as hard news.q
Associated Press