When we think of Josh Groban we think of the singer with a deep, hypnotizing voice who sings Operatic type songs and Broadway showtunes, but as a teen it was a different story. On Saturday night, he Tweeted about making music playlists, so I asked him if he made mix tapes for the girls he liked when he younger. He responded back by saying, “I was a 90’s teen so it was all grunge and alternative bands.”
Before you freak out, he also was also listening to Sondheim while still going to see the Grunge and Ska bands live. Something that makes sense when you think about it because his style is very Seattle back in the ’90s. But it is still hard to picture him in a mosh pit at a Pearl Jam concert or head banging to Nirvana’s Smells like Teen Spirit. But I could totally see him belting out Cool from West Side Story in his room thinking how cool he is. That is more how I like it with him. Granted I would not mind hearing his take on Soul Asylum’s Runaway Train.
On that note, another type of music we have come accustomed to hearing him sing is Christmas Carols. On December 19th, he will be headlining CBS’s A Home For the Holidays. The 19th annual holiday special features uplifting family stories about foster care and adoption while showcasing performances from artists like Grobs, Kelly Clarkson, Kacey Musgraves and Kane Brown. Get your tissues ready for this one because it will be a happy tear inducer.
Josh Groban has had his signature beard for as long as we can remember, but the two of them we forced to part ways. That is because the singer is going to play a NYC police officer on the Netflix series The Good Cop, and law enforcement enforces a no beard policy (unless it is for religious reasons or an undercover disguise). The sacrifice for the role is difficult one for Grobs as you can tell from his Tweet, “I’ve shaved. Please respect my privacy during this difficult time.”
While it might be difficult for him, it is not difficult for me because I think he looks so much sexier without it. Even a lot younger, like he better have his ID on him if he wants to order an alcoholic drink.
I also think without the facial hair, he looks a lot like Tony Danza, his TV dad on the upcoming dramedy, when the latter was on Taxi. And I would know because I watch the classic sitcom at least once a week.
They say history repeats itself and in some ways it is doing just that. 46 years ago, America was going through a huge political change and now it is doing the same thing. Lyrics from John Lennon’s songs are coming back, in a way, to haunt us. Who has a voice haunting enough voice to parlay the feeling we get from the late singer? Josh Groban does and this season he is resurrecting his holiday song Happy Xmas (War Is Over). You cannot sing that Christmas tune without a children’s choir, and he got one to recreate that part. What we got is a timeless classic becoming a timeless classic again but by someone one else.
So listen to the song the first time and enjoy the Christmas Carol. Then listen to it again but to the lyrics and see how it is sadly still relevant today nearly a half a century later.
The song is available now along with 5 other new ones on Josh Groban’s 10th anniversary reissue of Noel.
Josh Groban is going to do something he has never done before. The singer is going to co-star in a series and not just be a guest star on one. The Tony nominee will play Tony Danza’s son named Tony in a Netflix show called, Tony, no wait, it is actually called The Good Cop. It just seemed like a logical name since everyone else is going by Tony including Tony Danza.
Anyways, Netflix describes his character Tony Jr as, “an earnest, obsessively honest NYPD detective who makes a point of always following the rules. Tony Jr is son to Tony Sr, a disgraced, former NYPD officer who never followed the rules, played by Tony Danza. In The Good Cop, a new 10 episode one-hour dramedy series, this ‘odd couple’ become unofficial partners as Tony Sr offers his overly cautious son blunt, street-wise advice on everything from handling suspects to handling women.”
I don’t know about you, but I cannot wait for this show to debut next year because Danza has been a favorite of mine ever since I saw him in a little show called Taxi when I was kid. When it comes to the Groobs, it will be interesting to see him in comedic role on episodic series. He proved he has the chops for it on The Crazy Ones and Ally McBeal.
No word if he will sing on the show, but I am sure they will find a way to make that happen. It seems to be mandatory because he always manages to get a note in there in some way like on this past Friday’s Crazy Ex Girlfriend. Shh, don’t tell anyone that is a musical show. Sadly, this one is not.
UPDATE: Groban seemed to hint on Twitter that he will have to shave his beard for the part. Which is a good thing because it will make the two actors look more like father and son. They have the same eyes, so it will be nice to see if they also have the same cheeks and chins. That and I hate beards.
Sesame Street has a new challenge for their viewers and they want them to #ShareTheLaughter. What is the best way to do that? Tell a joke of course. Here is Josh Groban asking, “What kind of songs do planets sing?” To hear the answer, you are going to have to watch the video above as the singer shares a secret only he and Neil deGrasse Tyson would know.
I love Grobs but when it comes to his delivery, it is good thing that he is a double threat. Does anyone know if he can dance and does he dance to Neptunes?
BTW I love kids jokes, so here is one of my favorite, “Knock knock. Who’s there? A little old lady? A little old lady who? I didn’t know you could yodel!” Share some of your favorite jokes for kids because it will brighten everybody’s day including mine.
