What’s On Stage? Ben Platt: Singing with Bette Midler and Judith Light in The Politician new series was really special By David Gordon, New York 26 May 2020
Ben Platt and Bette Midler at Hulaween 2019
Mister D: This is a partial interview with Ben Platt talking about Season 2 of The Politician and what to expect with some great news concerning Bette Midler’s part. For the whole interview check out: What’s On Stage?
It’s a banner moment for Dear Evan Hansen Tony winner Ben Platt. Last week he debuted his concert film, Ben Platt Live From Radio City Music Hall. 19 June marks the release of season two of Netflix’s The Politician, in which his politically inclined character will face off against Judith Light and Bette Midler. And Platt is still recording and releasing music while holed up in Los Angeles. Here, he tells us about all of his forthcoming projects.
Your show The Politician comes back June 19. Were you affected by the Covid shutdown and what can we expect from this season? We shot it from October through about February, and luckily, we got in under the wire. There was one outstanding scene left to do, and that’s been turned into a very Covid-like FaceTime scene that worked really, really well.
This season is all about going head to head with Judith Light’s character in a senate race for New York. It’s all about Manhattan, and the aesthetic of the show is much more East Coast. It’s gotten more adult and sharper and focused, because the kids are in their twenties and it’s a real political race.
On top of all that, Bette Midler and Judith Light are giving incredible performances. Judith is always spectacular, but it’s really special to see Bette Midler give this all-in comedic performance on screen. It’s been a minute since we’ve gotten to see her do that and she’s every bit as good as she always has been. There is one musical moment in the show and both Bette and Judith are there. Singing with them present was really special.
