Parents' Guide to

Fosse/Verdon

By Jenny Nixon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Strong performances boost unfocused retro-showbiz drama.

TV FX Drama 2019
Fosse/Verdon Poster Image

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What's the Story?

FOSSE/VERDON is an eight-episode biographical series examining the professional and personal life of famed choreographer/director Bob Fosse (Sam Rockwell) and his third wife, Tony-winning Broadway star Gwen Verdon (Michelle Williams) -- a highly collaborative partnership which led to the creation of some of the most acclaimed Broadway and movie musicals of all time (including Cabaret and All That Jazz). The show hops through various time periods in the couple's relationship, from their euphoric early days having an affair while working together on Damn Yankees, to the embittered later years, which saw the couple battle-scarred after years of womanizing and substance abuse. A strong cast of supporting players is on hand playing some familiar pop culture figures, including Evan Handler (American Crime Story, Sex and the City) as producer/director Hal Prince, Nate Corddry (Mom) as playwright Neil Simon, and Aya Cash (You're the Worst) as Simon's wife Joan, a former Martha Graham dancer and close friend of Verdon.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
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Kids say (1):

True story or no, this isn't the first time we've watched a mercurial, booze-addled man ascend to great professional heights thanks in large part to his long-suffering, largely uncredited wife. Fosse/Verdon doesn't make either player out to be an absolute angel or a villain -- the two met and embarked on a relationship, after all, while both were in committed relationships (in Fosse's case, during his second marriage). Fosse is depicted as a troubled workhorse with a penchant for showing off who, despite achieving great success, was still haunted by childhood trauma and his failure to become the next Fred Astaire. Meanwhile, though early episodes stress Verdon's own formidable talent and magnetism (and her uncanny ability to "speak Bob," a skill that made her invaluable on his film sets), too often she is relegated to going through the usual domestic dramas until she finally tires of enabling his bad behavior. The performances by Rockwell and especially Williams are fantastic -- they're utterly believable both as performers and as partners -- but the era-jumping the show utilizes can be a bit dizzying, making it a challenge to stay invested in the timeline. Still, theater junkies will likely swoon over Fosse/Verdon, while more casual fans may not find the series salacious or sensational enough to maintain their interest.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the kind of impact that fame and success -- or lack thereof -- can have on a relationship. Is it fair that Verdon is so integral to Fosse's success, yet doesn't receive any professional credit for it? Do you think this had more to do with the time period, gender issues, or both? Do you think women in show business have made strides in this department since Verdon and Fosse's heyday?

  • What do you think motivates Bob Fosse's self-destructive decisions? How does Fosse/Verdon portray his womanizing and abuse issues? Are there consequences to these behaviors?

TV Details

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