# IYHO: What are the cheesiest acts that still draw big crowds? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 10, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568 "2013-03-10T20:19:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568/1 "2013-03-10T20:19:39Z")
I recently recorded Celtic Thunder: Mythology off of PBS. I was vaguely familiar with the group, I like Celtic folk music and thought it might be good, and it was the cheesiest thing Ireland has e’er produced without leaving wet an udder: the stage is a huge Celtic cross, there are reels and accents that (allowing for the fact most of the cast really is Irish) have got to be enhanced, all the usual “Our daddy is drunk and the baby is dead and we’ve naught to eat but sheep droppings since March” type dirges followed by rollicking “Our daddy is drunk and the baby is dead and we’ve naught to eat but sheep droppings since March” dances, and it was just dreadful. Reminded me a lot of GLEE actually (which in fact had one of their former members, Damian McGinty, in a recurring role for a while): lots of sparkle and an occasional hummable moment and major points for eye candy (speaking of eyes, check out [those of their lead singer](http://www.celticthundercruise.com/Portals/41/Talent/CT_Colm.jpg)) but ultimately so pandering and cheesy you’re clogged for 8 days. Yet, they generally sell out wherever they go, even in 5,000 seat auditoriums. Who’s another act- individual, group, play, you name it- who still packs them in but you find horrendously cheesy? (I’m defining cheesy as pandering, overly contrived, syrupy, etc.- but feel free to tweek it as you will.) ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568/2 "2013-03-10T21:27:47Z")
WWE ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568/3 "2013-03-10T21:41:23Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > all the usual “Our daddy is drunk and the baby is dead and we’ve naught to eat but sheep droppings since March” type dirges followed by rollicking “Our daddy is drunk and the baby is dead and we’ve naught to eat but sheep droppings since March” dances… Darn you - now you made me want to see the show. My vote is for the Miss America pageant. My wife won’t watch it with me any more, because of the mooing noises I can’t help but make during the Parade of Nations, and the hysterical giggling during the interview portions. Either that, or synchronized swimming. All those years of dedicated training, and it looks like Flipper on crack. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568/4 "2013-03-10T22:52:05Z")
With regard to Oirish stuff though, it seems the cheesier acts are far more popular than ones that go for more authenticity, grittiness. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568/5 "2013-03-10T23:19:20Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > With regard to Oirish stuff though, it seems the cheesier acts are far more popular than ones that go for more authenticity, grittiness. How do you feel about the whole Riverdance thing? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568/6 "2013-03-10T23:20:29Z")
Spoon bending psychics. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568/7 "2013-03-10T23:43:04Z")
Blue Man Group-its been on for too long. Frankly, is there anyone who hasn’t seen it? ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568/8 "2013-03-10T23:52:13Z")
I have not seen Blue Man group. And Sampiro… those eyes! Cheesy is also on the eye of the beholder and country. I’ve seen some shows (on DVD) from other groups, where the outfits, the set, the ensemble… are what the US consider very cheesy. Yet they’re performing to sold out stadiums, and I know they’re popular performers in their region (not lacking any money). ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568/9 "2013-03-10T23:58:07Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > How do you feel about the whole Riverdance thing? I always thought the music was top class and most of the dancing was great too but some of the costuming etc. was cheeserama. To be fair to its creators while it drew on tradition it was new in its scale and spectacle. It’s amazing how far it went from a relatively humble [intermission act](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7ydWMgBBZU) at 1994’s Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568/10 "2013-03-11T00:01:24Z")
I don’t know if they draw big crowds, but I’ve never understood why people pay to see impersonators. ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568/11 "2013-03-11T00:05:31Z")
KISS? ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568/12 "2013-03-11T00:16:42Z")
Yakov Smirnoff still draws big crowds every day in Branson, MO. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568/13 "2013-03-11T00:22:20Z")
Anything ‘On Ice’. Disney On Ice, Dancing On Ice, Stars On Ice, Kung Fu Panda On Ice, Holidays On Ice, Fantasy On Ice, Jersey On Ice, Nurenburg On Ice, you name it. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568/14 "2013-03-11T00:25:11Z")
I’d pay to see Nurenburg On Ice. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568/15 "2013-03-11T00:53:39Z")
Manheim Steamroller. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568/16 "2013-03-11T01:32:14Z")
Eurovision. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568/17 "2013-03-11T01:35:24Z")
Faith healers? Do they still draw crowds? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568/18 "2013-03-11T01:38:35Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Faith healers? Do they still draw crowds? Around here they do yes. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568/19 "2013-03-11T01:45:12Z")
What about Interpretive Dance? Does that draw crowds? Has it ever? Is it finally dead? ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568/20 "2013-03-11T01:50:49Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Manheim Steamroller. > > :rolleyes: Related: Trans-Siberian Orchestra. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-what-are-the-cheesiest-acts-that-still-draw-big-crowds/652568.md?page=2)