Bunheads -2012- Official

This was Foster’s first major TV lead role. She is a Broadway legend (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Anything Goes). The show is one of the few that actually lets a triple-threat actress sing, dance, act, and do physical comedy weekly. Her Michelle is lovably selfish, messy, and hilarious.

At its heart, Bunheads is about the relationship between Michelle and four teenage students at Fanny's dance studio: Bunheads -2012-

The show featured elaborate, often surreal dance numbers—ranging from classical ballet to Tom Waits-inspired modern pieces—that served as emotional metaphors. This was Foster’s first major TV lead role

A Las Vegas showgirl, (Sutton Foster), impulsively marries a nice but nerdy guy, Hubbell (Alan Ruck). She moves to his quirky, small coastal town of Paradise. When Hubbell dies suddenly, Michelle is stuck in Paradise. Her mother-in-law, Fanny Flowers (Kelly Bishop), runs a struggling ballet studio. To survive, Michelle reluctantly helps teach ballet to a group of talented, angsty teenage girls. Her Michelle is lovably selfish, messy, and hilarious

When "Bunheads" was announced, critics labeled it the "dance show." But fans knew better. It was a spiritual successor. The DNA was identical: a whip-smart, pop-culture-referencing protagonist; a quirky, insular town (Paradise Springs, replacing Stars Hollow); and a clash of generations. Yet, "Bunheads" offered something its predecessor didn't: a layer of melancholy and a gritty realism about the arts that "Gilmore Girls" often glossed over in favor of whimsy.

But a warning: Bunheads is not a binge for closure. It is a binge for the journey. You will fall in love with Fanny’s withering stares, Boo’s quiet courage, and Michelle’s messy resurrection. And you will be furious that you only get 18 episodes.