Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Spider-Man Producers Say "Early" Reviews Just Don't Count
By
Garth Johnston
Published Feb 9, 2011
Modified Feb 9, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Garth Johnston
Published Feb 9, 2011
Modified Feb 9, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
So what did the producers of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark think of yesterday's critical pile-on? They were very disappointed. The idea that those selfish scribes wouldn't keep their mouths shut, even after they were asked nicely, is just not fair. “Changes are still being made, and any review that runs before the show is frozen is totally invalid,” a spokesman whined to the Post.
Critics chose yesterday to collectively drop their web-slicing reviews ("not only the most expensive musical ever to hit Broadway; it may also rank among the worst," Ben Brantley wrote in the Times) because February 7 was supposed to be the show's (third) opening night, before it was pushed back to the Ides of March. Though many suspect the delays were a means to keep selling full-price tickets to a show that was critically always going to be DOA, the producers insist that isn't the case. It costs them more to stay in previews, they argue, since they have to keep the theater open for daytime rehearsals in addition to each night's performances.
Either way, the Oprah-approved show probably doesn't need to worry about a group as small as critics when they've got middle America out panting for blood. As we pointed out yesterday, last week the show grossed $1,297,283 and played to almost 90% capacity. We'd be surprised if there is much drop off in this week's numbers.
Tagged
broadway
glenn beck
oprah
spider man musical
spider man turn off the dark
the critics
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 16, 2026
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .