Home » » Ted Turner is the inspiration for the villainous Green Goblin in the new "Spider-Man" musical? That's the truth! Ask the creator, Bono!!

Ted Turner is the inspiration for the villainous Green Goblin in the new "Spider-Man" musical? That's the truth! Ask the creator, Bono!!

Written By mista sense on Wednesday, November 24, 2010 | 7:21 PM

So Bono, the driving, singing, force behind U-2 these past two decades, has co-composed (along with fellow U-2-er The Edge) the music and lyrics for the new "Spider-Man" musical due to open on Broadway in January.   The Cable Gamer loves a good showtune, although she wonders whether or not this new show will rank up there with, say, "Oklahoma!"

But that's not my point here, with this post.  My point is to relate that the Green Goblin one of the chief bad guys in this show,  "Spider-Man; Turn Off the Dark," is based on none other than Ted Turner.  You know, the CNN founder, the ex-husband of Jane Fonda.   Here's a pic from the show, just to give you a sense of what it looks like--that's the GG on the right:


I am not making this up!   Here's how the New York Times' Patrick Healy reported on this:

Bono, for instance, suggested that they base the character of Norman Osborn, an environmental scientist who becomes the villainous Green Goblin, on Ted Turner, the billionaire entrepreneur whose eccentricities had stayed with Bono after meeting at Mr. Turner’s rustic getaway in Georgia. “Bono described this fast-talking, always-thinking, brilliant and strange Southerner, and you’re always looking for vivid characters who will pop on the stage,” said Glen Berger, who wrote the show’s book with Ms. Taymor.

The musical’s Osborn/Goblin (Patrick Page) has the gray hair and Southern accent of Mr. Turner and shares his concerns about the environment (hence, here, the “green” angle). “I hope Ted will like it,” Bono said.


And here's Jim Hubbell's take, combining Ted & Jane, plus other crazy elements from Ted's life, such as CNN and that dumb show he ordered for TBS, "Captain Planet":

Thanks, as always, Jim!  

The Cable Gamer can only wonder: If Ted's friends think that he is a crazy villain, what should the rest of us think?  

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