“Fosse/Verdon”: A moving end to a great mini-series

Earlier, I posted a quickie preview of the “Fosse/Verdon” finale. It didn’t say much, because almost everything was under embargo.
Now that the show has aired, I can start with the obvious: This was a fitting finish to a great mini-series. Sam Rockwell, Michelle Williams and director Tommy Kail did Emmy-worthy work, making us care deeply about a guy (Bob Fosse) we shouldn’t have even liked.Y
ou can catch reruns on FX on the next two Saturday nights — midnight this week, 2 a.m. next week. (Technically, that’s 12 a.m. on Sunday, June 2, 2 a.m. on Sunday, June 9.) Read more…

Earlier, I posted a quickie preview of the “Fosse/Verdon” finale. It didn’t say much, because almost everything was under embargo.

Now that the show has aired, I can start with the obvious: This was a fitting finish to a great mini-series. Sam Rockwell, Michelle Williams and director Tommy Kail did Emmy-worthy work, making us care deeply about a guy (Bob Fosse) we shouldn’t have even liked.

You can catch reruns on FX on the next two Saturday nights — midnight this week, 2 a.m. next week. (Technically, that’s 12 a.m. on Sunday, June 2, 2 a.m. on Sunday, June 9.)

And yes, the ending matched real life. Fosse died in 1987 at 60, while walking to a “Sweet Charity” revival with Gwen Verdon. They had separated 16 years earlier, but never divorced.

That revival ran 10 months on Broadway; another, in 2005, ran eight months. But Verdon’s big goal was always to see “Chicago” come back, bringing royalties to her and to their daughter, Nicole.’

It did — big time. The revival reached Broadway in 1996. In 2002 — two years after Verdon’s death at 75 — the movie opened; it won six Academy Awards, including best picture …. and brought new people to Broadway, where it’s now in its 23rd year.

Anyway, here’s the note I posted earlier:

“Fosse/Verdon,” the FX mini-series, wraps up it splendid, eight-week run today (May 28).

And that, alas, is almost all I can tell you. Virtually everything is under embargo until it airs. What I can say is:

— It’s extra-long, starting at 10 p.m. and concluding at 11:22.

— Tommy Kail, the “Hamilton” director, directed this one, with Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams (shown here) in the title roles. The guest cast includes Debbie Allen, Peter Scolari … and someone we’re not allowed to mention yet. (Later note: That turned out to be Roy Scheider.)

— The story revolves around Bob Fosse directing “All That Jazz,” the mostly autobiographical movie that would cement his place in theater history. More later.

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