★★★★★ REVIEW: Groundhog Day (Old Vic Theatre) | London return of Tim Minchin, Danny Rubin musical
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- Опубліковано 19 чер 2024
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OHMYGOD HEY!
One of the best reviewed recent openings in London is the musical adaptation of GROUNDHOG DAY, which has returned for a summer run at the Old Vic Theatre where it originally premiered.
The show, which features a book by Danny Rubin and a score by Tim Minchin stars Andy Karl as Phil Connors, a weatherman stuck reliving the same day over and over again.
Check out today's brand new review video for my thoughts on this acclaimed show...
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#timminchin #musical #groundhogday - Розваги
I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that Tim got another chance to really show this musical to the west end. I hope he will bring it home to Australia soon!
Tim has teased that it will probably tour once the West End run is completed!
We all live in hope, after what Broadway did to it.
It’s really too bad because I think it would do really well in a US tour but producers will be hesitant
Melbourne Jan-Mar, 2024
@@jonnaughton thank you!!!!
I found Hope devastating. The darkest twisted use of a word which we are so used to bringing light- so trapped that not even suicide can bring relief. The deepest depths of despair, and probably the only way this particular character can learn what he needs to learn to grow and change. I'm glad Groundhog Day is finally getting the love it deserves. Genius lyrics matched with amazing music. Perfect
"I'm a lot of things! But I'm not a quitter!"
Love Tim Minchin so much...
The way you write is very evocative in a very necessary good way. Please keep writing, perhaps write more and become a scholar or a collector or theatrical experiences. I’d very much like to see more of what you have to say.
Just saw this last night in Melbourne. For being my all time favourite musical that had such a short Broadway run, I thought I’d never get to see it live (totally haven’t watched the yt bootleg 10 times), but it was everything I ever imagined. As a person who’s memorised the cast album, I love the new orchestrations: some different lyrics, removed sections, added ones. This show made me cry for the first time in a theatre, twice (first time at the end of If I Had My Time Again (my fav) when the ensemble harmonies kick in, second time, again, ensemble harmonies coming in in Seeing You). I wish I could see it again before it closes.
Side note: Hope, omg, everything about this song
I’m so thrilled to see a theatre pundit who GETS IT! I’ve been raving about this show for YEARS now, despite living on the wrong coast for Broadway and the American tour never happening. I flew down to San Francisco for the first regional production, and had intended to get out to London for this revival. Well, instead I’m moving to Australia, with my husband (who I met in an online Tim Minchin fan group 😆), so I’m living vicariously through all my friends. I was actually nervous for your take, but I shouldn’t have been. You’re a bright guy, and you absolutely nailed the brilliance of the show. I’ve seen so many reviews and comments from people who didn’t understand “Playing Nancy” or “Night Will Come”. As a massive Minchin fan, it’s always great seeing him get some of the recognition he deserves for this masterpiece.
So how much do we need to crowdfund to get a pro-shot? Because while I’m hopeful (if not tomorrow, perhaps the day after) there will be an Australian production, this show only gets better with repeat viewings. I’ve been listening to the cast album almost every day for a couple of years now, and it’s the only cast album I can think of that I never skip tracks.
There has never been a closing number like “Seeing You”, I have to say.
Argh I’m just so glad you liked it!!
Seems unlikely that you don't already know this but just in case: the London production has temporarily transferred to Melbourne for a limited run.
@@peterford5408 I know, but even though I’ve recently moved to Australia, I can’t get to Melbourne 😭
I’m really hoping it’ll come to Brisbane, which I CAN get to 😆🤞🏻
Saw this musical the week it closed on Broadway. I was visiting with my family, we got the tickets last minute and I was really skeptical, but it blew me away and remains one of my favorite musicals to this day. I’m really glad it’s being given another opportunity on the west end, it deserved so much more than what it got in New York!
I saw the show last weekend. The show is an absolute joy. Andy Karl is fantastic as Phil Conners. And the supporting cast are one of the best I have seen in a long time. I have just re-booked to see the show again as its one of most re-watchable shows out there. And there is so much you miss especially the amazing way Phil is somewhere else but then appears in bed a split second late.
I'm seeing this in August and still can't believe it's actually happening. When they posted the teaser trailer back in November I honestly lost my mind. This show means so much to me even though I've never actually seen it live, and I can't quite believe it's actually back, AND with the original staging, AND with Andy Karl, AND by the sounds of it even better than before! It's like the universe is doing this specifically for me and honestly, I'm immeasurably grateful. Yes, I wholeheartedly belive this is the superior Tim minchin musical
I am sooooo glad the revisions etc have made this show even better. Tim Minchin is a genius.
I adore Groundhog Day! I won free tickets to the first Broadway preview (when the turntable completely broke down and they performed the show cabaret style instead). I went back during one of the last previews (the show where Andy Karl tore his ACL). I might have cursed this show's Broadway run lol.
It deserved so much better than the response it got on Broadway (and so did Matilda). As an American, I hate that American audiences don't appreciate Tim Minchin's work enough. I hope GHD finds a long-term home in the West End.
I saw it the day after Andy's accident. Got to see Andrew Call in the role after only having a few hours of rehearsal and he was magnificent. My face was on the floor with how much he had to do and how little time he truly had to do it in. It did deserve so much better than it got.
I'm so happy seeing all of the Groundhog Day love! It's a favorite of mine, and the final song still makes me tear up.
I have just come out of the performance here in Melbourne. I bought tickets because of this review so thank you!!! I really enjoyed it but i totally get why people could easily miss it. Thanks again!
I found a very low quality audience video somebody floated on UA-cam awhile ago. This is the best musical I have ever seen or heard. And since I live in the US, I will probably never get to see this show live. Which breaks my heart. Everything you said is right on. It is astonishing art.
We watched this show in its original run (and Tim Minchin was in the audience, same row as our seats). It for sure is my favourite musical. We'll be back in the UK in August to watch it again.
For all the genius Tim Minchin shows in his great songs, we should acknowledge the extra icing Chris Nightingale put on top through his scoring. This, again, is an example of two of the creators not just doing their own jobs, but really collaborating.
I was at the same show the first time Groundhog Day was in the West End, Tim was sat 3 rows in front
Went again when it came back to London as was so glad my memory didn't fail me and it lived up to how amazing it was the first time I saw it
Saw this on Broadway 3 times and is easily my favorite musical. (Or at least top 3) the way Andy Karl portrays Phil Connors is incredible and so nuanced (and sorry should have won the Tony over Ben Platt). Every single song is so good esp Hope which is near and dear to me. Seeing You is incredible too. Thank you for mentioning how strong the second act is. It still baffles me to this day how American audiences didn't really take to this musical as much as the British did.
I've loved Groundhog Day since I saw its Tony's performance. It took on a whole new depth of meaning during lockdown.
I flew from the West Coast to see GROUNDHOG DAY on Broadway a few days before it closed. I really didn't know what to expect but it blew me away so much that I immediately bought tickets to see it again the day before it closed. The audience (by then) was completely invested and it was a truly glorious theatrical experience. Unfortunately, it was an extremely competitive season on Broadway and GHD was one of the victims. I only know that it was THE BEST show I saw that year -- and one that I still love and remember to this day.
The 'night will come' sequence is my favourite bit of this show. Ned's relationship with death, going through the trauma of losing his wife and trying to make that easier for otherr's with his insurance business, makes the lyrics morer profound and that paired with Phil's fruitless endeavour to save the homeless man is so daunting and fully captures the inevbitability of death. And the use off the 'gotta love life' motif at the end floored me!!
Went to see this the other day (after missing out on the last run). It lives up to the all the hype its getting its a brilliant show. Andy Karl is excellent in the role and the rest of the cast are great (love that each of the ensemble have there story). The music is great with clear lyrics (was blown away with the song Hope and how it was delivered). Such a enjoyable show. Up their with one of the best shows I seen.
I’ve been listening to the soundtrack for years and fell in love with this show. I was talking to my sister about what show I would love to go to London to see and I said Groundhog Day, but only if Andy Karl plays the lead role again. Of course this would NEVER happen because it closed so long ago on Broadway. And then two days later, I heard the news that it was returning to London WITH Andy Karl. Of course, I got tickets as soon as I could and saw it on May 31st. I’m so glad I got to experience this show in person. It was absolutely phenomenal. The music is genius, the staging is incredible, the characters are so endearing. I just loved everything about it
Saw your video in the algorithm and immediately went to the Old Vic website and found it ended its run in August. I was looking for it a lot of last year and am gutted Ive just missed it! Damn, enjoyed your review of it, hope it has another run in it!
Just saw it in Melbourne yesterday and that start of the 2nd act was MIND-BLOWING
Groundhog Day is my second favorite musical of all time (right behind Les Mis), and I was SO HAPPY when I found out it came back this year!! Really hoping this limited run will lead to more Groundhog Day (back on Broadway? Touring? Who knows)
At the very best, I'm hoping this production gets a pro-shot released like with the Grinning Man musical!
Someone should do a medley of "Hope" and "Big Ass Rock" from Full Monty. Also glad Andy Karl survived Rocky, which I saw near it's opening!
15:00 Your speaking about the song "Philanthropy"..
Your Review just makes my more hyped for my trip in 3 weeks
i ate the soundtrack for the whole 2019
Tim Minchin is an outstanding talent and I will die on this hill.
I missed it first time so when they announced it was coming back i had to see it. Saw it on Saturday and my god did it not disappoint. Andy Karl is phoenominal, the ensemble have incredible energy, and the music and book are fantastic.
I really really hope they tour this, because so many people ive spoken to since now want to see it but wont get a chance, and that would be a huge shame.
Mikey, you absolutely nailed this. You’ve really captured everything the show is about and honestly, I don’t know how you’ve done it with just one viewing! 😅
That number with the drumming groundhog is called Philanthropy. There’s a couple other “Phil-“ sections too: Philandering and Philosophy
And thanks for the love ❤
God I'm so desperate to see this. I stumbled onto it via spotify in 2017 and was devastated i never got to see it
Saw it on Bway twice, and it became an unexpected love. So happy it’s back on in London!
I saw this on Broadway when it ran in 2017 and I fell in love with it. It was nominated for several categories but didn't end up winning anything which led to the national tour across across the US falling through. DEH was the darling of Broadway that year. Producer (and Billionaire) Stacey Mindich and her PR team for DEH threw buckets of money to get it good press. I loved the DEH soundtrack but when I finally saw it in person I really had a problem liking Evan Hansen's character.
When I heard it was coming back to London with Andy Karl I bought the best house tickets I could afford and made a trip out of it. We saw it Monday and we fell in love all over again. I was crying. This show is perfection. (We also got last minute tickets to see Tim Minchin and I got a selfie with Andy Karl).
I LOVE this show, especially the staging and the...special effects? Would you call them special effects on the stage? It had criminally hard competition in the Broadway season when it came out and really got disregarded because of it, I'm glad that they didn't give up (never give up) on putting this show on again.
it's one of those rare shows that uses the magic of theatre to really elevate the art rather than viewing it as a constraint to work around
I adored GHD when I saw the Broadway production, back when I was a Tony voter. I liked it so much that I went back 3 more times, including the final performance as an unofficial representative of GHD Set & Costume Designer Rob Howell, who I had assisted on Broadway's MATILDA. Everyone's work was phenomenal - great music and lyrics, wonderful direction, fantastic designs, brilliant performances. I was devastated when it closed in NYC, far too soon. I'm very happy to hear that it's come back to London for a well-received second chance. BRAVO to everyone involved in the new production... I'm so jealous, Mackey Jo 😂
My absolute favourite musical. Saw it 6 times. So fucking good
So glad you loved it. Was lucky enough to see the original run and was blown away by how clever and brilliant it was. Can't wait to revisit it in a few weeks.
I’m so thrilled that you loved it so much - just got back from a 4-day theatre bender primarily to see this show (again) 😅 GHD is one of my favourite shows ever and even though I have been listening since 2017, I still find new little nuggets that call back or foreshadow other parts. Thank you for this lovely review (have you seen your pal Brendan’s analysis with Broadway By Ghostlight?) Well worth tracking down videos of Tim explaining the music if you haven’t already - he is an actual genius. ❤
I will have you know that because of this video, after getting up at 3.30 am to travel to London from Dublin, I left my travel friends behind to go see this musical. It was so beautiful. All I'll say is, if the elderly woman next to me was concerned at all about the girl who came Groundhog Day on her own and sobbed for the entire second act, she did a remarkable job of hiding it.
Congrats on Tim seeing the video/review Mickey!! hopoe Australia can get Groundhog day especially with Tim being Aussie. Maybe we'll get it soon now that its hit the west end again as we usually get shows from west end a bit quicker.
One thing I picked up was that when he was at the bar singing 'Nobody Cares' with the two barflies, they were singing about how every day of their lives was exactly the same as well. They, however, got no escape.
I had a chance to see this on Broadway, I found it very touching and well done. So glad you enjoyed it!
Saw it at the Old Vic the first time through. 4 thoughts:
1: They have brought out the sadness of the situation better than the movie. Phil realizes he can never grow a beard...or have children. That sorrow sets up the despair and suicides. 2: Andy Karl succeeds because is NOT Bill Murray. He doesn't try to be him at all. He is better looking, so he plays up the sexiness more than Murray could. 3: The shower suicide fake-out is one of the cleverest things I have ever seen on stage. I had to watch a UA-cam clip to understand how they did it so well. 4: How ironic for the actors. They have to do the same thing every night. Night after night. : )
Is there a link for the explanation to the shower suicide clip?
Nope. You just have to watch it many times. You see Karl get into tub. There is a double inside who puts hand on shower curtain rod. Karl is gone and moves into bed.
Saw this in London at the weekend and just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone at the Old Vic for bringing this show back to the West End - and especially to Andy Karl, who came out after the show (despite the typical rainy London summer) to speak to the fans and sign autographs (and even take a picture with my kids). This show is fantastic! The script builds on the characters in the movie (with some truly touching moments in Act 2), the songs are amazing and the cast is wonderful.
We missed this show first time around - so we are so glad we got this second chance to see it (and isn't 'Groundhog Day' all about second chances?) There's only two weeks left, so if you haven't seen it yet - GO SEE IT NOW!!!
Thank you to everyone at The Old Vic - this was truly a GREAT NIGHT at the theatre! ("If I had my time again" - we'd see this show again, and again, and again...)
Until a few weeks ago, I subconsciously assumed that 'the West End' was just a synonym for the London theatre scene.
You too, perhaps?
Then I heard that Groundhog Day would be transferring "from the Old Vic to the West End" (with a gap in-between that left just enough time for a Melbourne run).
@@peterford5408 You're right! The Old Vic is on the other side of the Thames, outside of the West End. I always thought of it as being part of London's 'Theatre Land' so sort of grouped it in as part of the 'West End' scene (as you can tell, I did not study Geography at school!)
Anyway, great show and great cast - I didn't know it was coming back to London though (following the Old Vic 2023 revival), do you have any more details? (Which theatre? When is it opening? Who is in the cast?) Many thanks.
@@bondfan51 Unfortunately not. I heard about the transfer, almost certainly, from a video about the Melbourne run. Probably mentioned to emphasise that it was an inherently limited run.
I don't remember what video.
But I can see that Warchus also hinted at a West End move in a statement in August last year. "I can’t wait to bring it to a wider audience in the near future. Watch this space…"
Hope is some of the best musical theatre song I've heard in such a long time and the best staging I've ever seen. Nothing has broken my heart like that, ever, and I just cried my eyes out the entire time. I could cry now, just thinking about it.
I was waiting for this! Travelled from Australia to see some West End shows and this was my absolute favourite!! (Besides Jamie Muscato as Christian in MR 🥵)
it got okay reviews on broadway. he was awesome, funny, and tough when i saw him as Rocky, Kyle in Legally Blonde and Joe in 9 to 5. his wife orfeh is so talented.
I was so lucky to have been at that final dress rehearsal and first public performance in 2016. A magical moment I’ll never forget
saw this musical in Melbourne this evening. Absolute brilliance and an astonishing production. Minchin is a genius.
So glad Australian audiences are getting the pleasure of this show!
@@MickeyJoTheatre only half houses though, they are not advertising it very well!
Thank you for this video. Based on the enthusiasm of your review, I decided that this would win the competition to be the one-and-only show my daughter and I got to see while we were in London for our annual visit home (obviously a VERY big decision), and we L O V E D it!!!! Such a fantastic show! So creative, and slick, and fun! Thank you :)
I saw this for the first time last week with my mum who had seen it on its previous rub. I absolutely loved it and I'm so glad to see such an enthusiastic detailed review. I desperately want to go back too! Thank you ❤️
I'm seeing this in a couple of weeks, glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Sounds like this could be a candidate for a stage to screen adaptation.
As they say in 'Fiddler ......' - 'From your mouth to God's ears'!
I love that toy say all this because Tim has said that it is his best piece of musical theatre (to date). I saw it is Australia last weekend (before it heads back to the Old Vic again) and I loved it SO MUCH!
Groundhog Day is my absolute favourite musical since I saw it a few years back, Hope is an absolute banger especially with Andy Karl’s performance, and Night Will Come is heart wrenching…dude I don’t even like the movie at all, I’ll take this please
You got me in the beginning with you repeating that intro and I thought what is Mickey's problem? LOL, then it dawned on me that this was Groundhog Day you're reviewing and Bill Murray's 90s film came to mind LOL. I'm in in awe by your captivating description of this broadway revival musical - I wanna watch it now. I should also scope out soundtrack too.
It only ran for a short time on Broadway, but I saw it four times. I truly was not interested in this musical (I haaaaate the trend of turning well loved movies from the 80s and 90s into musicals), but I got a free ticket to the second preview, so I figured I might as well check it out. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the show, and went back to see it again with my mom five days later. After that second viewing, I realized I had completely fallen in love with it, and I still count it one of the best musicals I have ever seen on Broadway. It's one of those shows you just cannot stop thinking about.
So happy about this review. 👍
Oh my gosh, I was so legitimately discombobulated and confused! Your timing was SO spot on, that the moment I got the joke was immediately before you broke character. Ok. Ok. We see you. You got jokes!
Fun fact, in State of Pennsylvania and they started the groundhogs day in February 2 1887. In Punxsutawney the state of Pennsylvania. They do it every year to celebrate the Groundhog Day in the America. They did the movie and the musical to. It pretty interesting to learn the history of Groundhogs Day. It part of tradition and they keep Celebrating in every year.
I saw this on Wednesday and I found it absolutely amazing. I loved it so much. Andy Karl was wonderful!
Very good opening!! I was really hoping you'd keep going, and the first 5 minutes would just be the intro!
This might be the only time I've seen a show before your review. I got to see this in New York the day after Andy Karl tore his ACL. I got to see his understudy that night, Andrew Call, and he was absolutely spectacular. This show encompasses a lot of what Tim Minchin does so well in his music: his humor, his lyrical trickery.. and still absolutely devastates you at the end. Night Will Come is one of the most haunting songs even in its simplicity, and Seeing You always stops the show at the end. You never think when you see Phil Connors at the beginning that someone that much of a complete jerk could have such a dramatic turnaround and have you on his side at the end.. and they pull it off brilliantly.
This is one of the most superlative reviews you've ever given. Which makes me wonder - why don't I even remember that this was on Broadway?! - it must not have lasted long. I now wonder why...?
I think it lost money, slightly. Other comments here talk about possible reasons.
I saw this on Thursday and I was blown away with how phenomenal and clever this show was. I’m obsessed. I would love to see it again!
Excellent. Now I just have to hope it gets extended to November so I can see it. (I already have tickets to Back to the Future and Time Traveler's Wife, so it would also be thematic.)
An excellent review . This was my third time. Twice here and once in nyc. Tanisha spring is amazing and I loved her in moulin rouge. Andy Karl is genius
Literally sat here booking tickets as I listened to this review, colour me convinced!
Hahah I see what you did there; ;) also how awesome is it that Tim liked your post!! I saw this show a couple fo weeks ago courtesy of a work social offer and it was amazing!!! SO many how did they do that moments! Met Andy afterwards and he is such a lovely bloke.I am so glad this came back to the Old Vic with him in it and that I got to see him in this role/ PS don't you agree they missed a trick by not selling Groundhog plushies!
Saw it on Broadway 6 times. One of my favorite musicals.
Just saw this last night and it's blown my mind. I don't know how you can even find words to describe it. I think I had a similar reaction that my socks weren't blown off early (or any time in the first half), but sometime in the second act I realised just what a masterpiece I was watching. Night Will Come just destroyed me.
Also the way they handled the end, when Phil wakes up the next morning and it's done so quietly, is just beautiful.
I would so love to see this as I missed it by one week when it first played and this time around, we arrive two weeks too late😢 I can only hope they extend the run ❤❤
Love, love love this musical
I'm soooooo glad we share the same opinions on this show!! I haven't seen this production as I live about an hour outside of Chicago but I work at a The Paramount Theater and worked there during their production of Groundhog Day the Musical. I went through so many mixed emotions for the show in the beginning of the run and grew to love it so much I saw it 3 times during our month and a half run. The score and lyrics are so beautiful and clever and it's such a fun show. I was disappointed but not surprised at the amount of Midwesterners who left half way through the show or literally said: That was the stupidest thing I've ever seen... on their way out..
*sigh*
Glad to see I'm not the one with bad taste.
Love your videos!
I saw the show three times in their unfortunate too short NYC run and I was floored by how beautiful the music and the story actually was. I am not able to see the London run unless it extends a few more weeks but I hope that there can be a new recording of it somehow (either a new cast recording since I do remember some lyrics have changed or maybe a proshot/one time only stream)
Went to see the show yesterday - didn’t know anything about it going in (very rare for me) but came out a big fan!
Looking forward to listening to the soundtrack on my car ride home today 😉
Just saw this in Melbourne and was blown away - interesting to note tho - we don't have a revolve.
Okay, MickeyJo, we did as you said. We saw it. We LOVED it. You were right about everything.
I wish i could afford to fly to the uk to see the show
I saw it on Broadway in previews and LOVED it!
Going to see it on closing night - so excited!!
I went to see this the other week and it was just amazing!
I went to this yesterday and loved it! Only just cottoned on to why you were doing oh my god hey over and over….😂oh man I’m slow! Definitely agree with the book and songs going with each other so well and not having songs then script a little more separate
I was in London over the weekend and saw the show on the Saturday matinee. I really enjoyed it
I’m going to watch Tim Minchins concert this Sunday
Thanks!
I saw this 4 times on Broadway I loved it so much!
Also saw this revival after missing the original run. It was great, deserves a long term run in the west-end.
“I know things about theatre and literally nothing else”, wow too relatable….. Groundhog Day looks amazing! Definitely would love to go
as you start talking abstractly, all i can think about how are overtures are small tastes of what’s to come; and how this musical feels like the whole first act acts like a slow-burn overture to slap you on the side of the face in act 2
Didn’t need much convincing before….but now have to go and see !
Please can we have a shout out for the genius that is Chris Nightingale who orchestrated the show!!
Wait, didn't you upload this yesterday?
THIS HAD ME SO CONFUSED FOR A SECOND - well done to you! 🤣
ANDY KARL did get a tony nomination for the role
he was hurt before the opening night .....hurt his knee BUT he still went on
Do you think there's is any chance of an extension or transfer? I am unable to go to any of the performances 😢 so was wondering if you think it may transfer to a west end venue? It looks AMAZING and I LOVE Tim Minchin's score, so it would be great to see it!
From what I understand, it might be going on tour...
Only tickets I can afford are the ones at the Lillian Bayliss circle. Is this too far away or will I still enjoy it?
I got lottery tickets to see this on Broadway and was shocked at how good it was, I was bummed it closed so soon after I'll admit I was initially judgy that it was another show based on a movie and the only reason I gave it a chance was because it won the Olivier.
Glad it's getting another chance out there to find fans.
Would so love to see this, but despite multiple prayers it closes before we get to London 😢
Did they cut the revolves? From the pics I’ve seen, it looks like they’re gone
I’m still hoping I get a chance to see it in the U.S. as I missed it the first time around.
Saw this twice on Broadway-I’m still sad it never ran for longer, and even sadder that it wasn’t getting as much love as it should. Hopefully that’ll change soon. 🤞
The groundhog puppet is cute AF, I'm seriously tempted to go and watch it, and your enthusiasm is finish the job convincing me.
Old Vic is just by Waterloo Station. You missed a chance to say your sock were blown off, boarded a train and went somewhere.
I am going next Wednesday and at this point my expectation is so high I feel sick!!
I loved this show in its original run, but I felt the ending was a little flat. I wonder if they've changed anything to end the show with a grin rather than a gentle smile?