Comments on: Elaine Stritch as Ursula? Kinda makes sense...

Elaine Stritch as Ursula? Kinda makes sense...

ThePinkSuperhero — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:43:52 -0800

"Why (For) Pat Carroll wasn't actually Disney's first choice to voice Ursula in 'The Little Mermaid'? The casting story of one of Disney's most delightful demons.

By: ThePinkSuperhero

ThePinkSuperhero — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:44:59 -0800

But Elaine Stritch.... that could have been funny.

By: sneakin

sneakin — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:30:22 -0800

Best cartoon villain evar. Pat Carroll was perfection. Bea Arthur would've been sublime, I gotta say.

By: mr_crash_davis

mr_crash_davis — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:43:39 -0800

Good God, they considered Roseanne for the part?

By: Wolfdog

Wolfdog — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:12:24 -0800

Best cartoon villain evar. Beg to differ.

By: amberglow

amberglow — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:12:53 -0800

Stritch or Arthur would have both been wonderful. Carroll was a good fallback. Totally interesting story--thanks Pink! Joan Collins??? -- No.

By: matt_od

matt_od — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:44:54 -0800

Beg to differ. Squeaky, uh, squeak, sqeaker, squeakin'.

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:50:01 -0800

Little Mermaid? Meh. Samuel L. Jackson was Frozone. Jason Lee was Syndrome. THAT was Incredible. Craig T Nelson, Sarah Vowell. Holly Hunter. Elizabeth Pena. They almost got Lilly Tomlin to play Edna Mode, but she heard producer/writer/director Brad Bird doing a voice like what he was wanting her to do for him, and she was like, "you already got the voice, what you need me for?" The entire cast was an inspired list of choices. I'm still geeking out about it!!

By: bonecrusher

bonecrusher — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:59:18 -0800

Carrol was amazing in that role - but I would love to see Bea Arthur do it. I came here from a faraway planet. A planet ruled by a chauvinistic Manputer that was really a Manbot. Have you any idea how it feels to be a Fembot living in a Manbot's Manputer's world?

By: WolfDaddy

WolfDaddy — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 17:02:10 -0800

I didn't realize for nearly 10 years that Ursula wasn't voiced by Bea Arthur. Great story, TPS, thanks! Futurama quotes always get my favorite!

By: Robert Angelo

Robert Angelo — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:18:14 -0800

Thanks! Love Ursula, love Pat Carrol's performance. Some years ago I saw an huge drag queen portray Ursula in the San Diego Pride Parade: She Lives!!!!

By: Servo5678

Servo5678 — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:35:31 -0800

Some years ago I saw an huge drag queen portray Ursula in the San Diego Pride Parade: She Lives!!!!

You poor unfortunate soul.

By: Medieval Maven

Medieval Maven — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:39:35 -0800

Neat! Although Bea Arthur might have been awesome, I loved the film as it was and Ursula was such a centerpiece.

By: Jilder

Jilder — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 20:58:01 -0800

Beg to differ? But Ursula is a pretty tight second...if only because I resent Disney tacking a happy ending onto The Little Mermaid.

By: stavrogin

stavrogin — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 21:06:22 -0800

There's pictures of all of the prospective Ursulas, but not Pat Carroll. huh.

By: vronsky

vronsky — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 22:03:41 -0800

beg to differ

By: rob511

rob511 — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 23:44:53 -0800

Carroll has a long, distinguished career as a character actress, and many will recognize her face, even if her name is unfamiliar. Here's her take on Ursula: [Pat] drew her inspiration for the sea witch from a very unusual place. As Carroll explained, "I (saw Ursula as this) ex-Shakespearean actress who now sold cars."

By: doift

doift — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 08:42:25 -0800

Aw, man, Pat Carroll was great, but I would pay a substantial amount of money to see what Elaine Stritch did with the part. Much as I love Bea Arthur (and oh, I do), that doesn't sound as interesting to me.

By: amberglow

amberglow — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:11:47 -0800

Caroll's also been a Disney actress/voice for ages--they knew her (as opposed to a B'way person or TV/B'way person like Stritch and Arthur). It's like how they are with Angela Lansbury.