Obsessed! Seth Rudetsky takes on the Brady Bunch

f there is a word to describe Seth Rudetsky it is obsessed. He is obsessed with Barbra; obsessed with obscure Broadway musicals (okay, any Broadway musical); he's obsessed with songs that end on ridiculously high notes. He's even been chided by his followers on YouTube for using the word too much.

But if he wasn't so obsessed, would Rudetsky be the informed and intense raconteur that he is? He bursts with a kind of enthusiasm for performing that is infectious, channeling it into seemingly improbable, yet ridiculously entertaining evenings where he deconstructs every one from Audra, Liza, Kristen, Patti, Idina, Betty (as in Buckley), Barbara (as in Cook), and - no surprise - Barbra (as in, well, you know).

EDGE spoke to Rudetsky about the "Brady Bunch," the 1970s and just who is Dora Hall.

This coming Tuesday and Wednesday, though, Rudetsky is doing something somewhat different - a show called "That 70s Deconstructing Show" in which he will turn his attention to rare clips of some of the best - and very worst - performances culled from a collection of '70s variety and award shows. "Watch in horror as the Brady family attempts a comeback with an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza called The Brady Bunch Variety Hour," reads the description on the SpeakEasy Stage website, "even though none of them can actually sing or dance. See Liza Minnelli sing "I Don't Know How To Love Him" without blinking for 47 straight seconds. And marvel at Dora Hall, who got her own variety show in 1977 at age 77!"

A bedazzled Alice?

EDGE: Is this going to be a night of 'guilty pleasures'?��

Seth Rudetsky: it's a night of dumbfounded-ness and slack-jaw-ness. People are not going to believe what was allowed to be on television... a disco version of "America"? �check. Alice the maid in a bedazzled pant suit? �Check it out.

EDGE: Television variety shows are a thing of the past - do you miss them?�

Seth Rudetsky: YES! �They were chock full of brilliant performing and then a musical medley by the Sweathogs. Bring them back!

EDGE: Do you have an all-time favorite television variety show?�

Seth Rudetsky: Definitely the "Brady Bunch Variety Hour" which will make up the bulk of my show. �I have had so many parties at my house where we all watch, rewind and push the pause button repeatedly.�

Dora who?

EDGE: How do you find these videos?�

Seth Rudetsky: My good friend Jack Plotnick got a video from his friend Dennis Hensley (from Kathy Griffin's TV show) that was a mix tape of the all the best/worst moments from the show. �Then the author of the book "Love to Love Your Brady" sent me the original DVD's and I formed the show. �As for the other clips, people are always giving videos they know I'm going to love/hate.

EDGE: Who was Dora Hall?�

Seth Rudetsky: A woman whose husband owned Solo Cups so he bought an hour of commercial time which he filled with her TV variety show. �It was in 1970 and she was born in 1900.

EDGE: Have any artists taken exception to your deconstructions?�

No. �As a matter of fact, I got a "you're groovy" email from the girl was the Fake Jan in the "Brady Bunch Variety Hour" when she saw my clip online!

EDGE: You talk about your love/hate relationship with Barbra - is it more love than hate or hate than love?��

Seth Rudetsky: YES! �Both. I'm obsessed!

EDGE: Is there anything else you have love/hate relationship with?�

�Seth Rudetsky: Broadway.

EDGE: You've worked quite a bit on Broadway - what's been your favorite experience?��

Seth Rudetsky: Playing the pit of "Ragtime" and writing the opening number for the Tony Awards featuring Patti LuPone, Betty Buckley and Jennifer Holliday.

EDGE: And least favorite?�

Seth Rudetsky: Playing "Mamma Mia." �it's a 9-person band. Shameful.

On ’Idol’

Seth Rudetsky performs That 70s Deconstructing Show on May 24 25, 2011 at the Roberts Studio Theatre, Calderwood Pavilion, Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont Street, Boston, MA. For more information about the show visit For a taste or Rudetsky" s="" talents,="" watch="" these="" YouTube="" videos.
Seth's deconstructs Idina Menzel: