Sunday, June 13, 2010

Tony Awards Live Blogging 2010

6:49 Hi kids. Tonight is Tony night! The arrivals have been going on NY1 for approximately 45 minutes now but what do you now? Turns out my cable was all messed up so I spent the first 45 on the telephone with Monique trying to fix this damn thing. I was distracted by occasional glimpses of the stars. It's finally back on so I get the GLEE team.


Matthew Morrison, Lea Michelle and Jonathan Groff. Basically here's what happened
  • Matthew Morrison is going to try to make the PBS taping of South Pacific before it closes (he originated the often shirtless Joe Cable role in the revival) but he doesn't know for sure if he'll be able to do it. Translation: I am way too important now. Everyone must cater to my needs.
  • Lea is busy. She's singing "Don't Rain on My Parade" tonight. Didn't she sing that on Glee? She has no return to Broadway planned. Too busy. Translation: Pay me lots for a short run.
  • Jonathan is about to do the revival of Death Match (fun play -- Christopher Reeve played this role in the 80s movie version) and hopes he can bring it to Broadway, too. "If it's any good," he says. No translation required.... so points for honesty.
6:57 Michelle Williams -- not the great actress but the Destiny's Child -- is on screen right now. "Broadway is a new form of expression for me." Translation: "I'm famous enough for stunt casting. Yay!" She's playing Foxy Roxie Hart in Chicago right now. That role is basically The Slut of All Time (sorry Liz). Everyone has played that role. Chicago is currently the 6th longest running show of all time.

7:00 A few minutes ago the legendary Bernadette Peters was on the screen (left) and proclaimed that she has a Mutual Appreciation Society going with Elaine Stritch. Incredibly they are both going to be taking over for Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury in A Little Night Music. Translation: It's going to be impossible to get tickets. They're both pure magic live. The legends are fully earned. Trust me. I've seen both live and would never trade those experiences.

7:18 Marian Seldes = Greatest Acceptance Speech of All Time. And it's not even being broadcast. I hate CBS and the way they treat the Tonys. She just won the lifetime achievement award. Made this expression...


...and then walked away from the podium.

Awesome, amazing, awezing. Amazsome?

Marian hasn't made that many movies but she's a stage legend. The last time I saw her on stage was in Edward Albee's The Play About the Baby which is basically an abstracted version of his own Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.

While Marian awezed in that show, I would also like to say that David Burtka performed completely starkers. And then Neil Patrick Harris went and snatched him up in the real world. Well, maybe it didn't happen in that order but David Burtka is a beauty, clothed or starkers, is my point and who wouldn't snatch him up? is my second point.

7:31 Memphis and Red are winning lots of tech prizes. Maybe they'll take Musical and Play, tonight? Fela just won Costume Design. American Idiot won lighting design. They are just speeding through these awards. Strangely they are playing CAMELOT's ballad "If Ever I Would Leave You" to celebrate a win for Greenday's "American Idiot" musical. Is there a round table in that show? Or a virtuous knight who gets a lot of royal action?

7:40 Somebody just threw glitter on stage at the Tonys. As if the Tonys needed any encouragement!

7:43 I keep missing things. Live Blogging is hard [/whine]

7:45 I'm always surprised when men thank their wives at the Tonys. I apologize for my reflexive homonormativity.

Now the show proper is being broadcast on CBS

8:02 Wow. They opened with a piano medley which broke into "Blue Suede Shoes" And Sean Hayes can really play the piano. Who knew? Kristin Chenoweth joins him to sing "Say a Little Prayer" and then we get a little Sherie Rene Scott. If I were someone famous, people would say... things ... about my love of blonde divas. I'm insatiable for them.

pint size greatness | regular sized greatness

It's like I'm Alfred Hitchcock only I don't want to visualize them as pretty corpses or terrorize them. Unless you count forcing them into a lifetime servitude of singing, dancing and acting for my entertainment as terrorizing. And you shouldn't. I'm a good grateful fan. Love those two girls.... so... much.

8:10 Green Day is performing. When one of their songs isn't playing I always forget that I like them. I also L-O-V-E that song that Billie Joe Armstrong did with the Go-Gos "Unforgiven". If you don't know that Go-Gos song, you must download it now. It's a beaut. Shoulda been a massive hit.

8:13 Mandatory reaction shots from movie stars: Will Smith, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta Jones. We'll get a lot of those tonight.

8:16 Sean Hayes just tongued Kristin Chenoweth. Hee. Kristin is highlarious as usual although her voice was not in great form earlier. Never heard her voice that weak. Maybe Sean Hayes has cooties.

8:19 Brilliant point from The Boyfriend. Look at Sean Hayes... He could play John Edwards "And you know that's a TV Movie waiting to happen." Look at him. You'll see it.

8:20 Katie Holmes is presenting "Film goes by at 24 frames per second..." Like you know that, Katie! If not for the teleprompter...

<--- OhMyGod. Scarlett Johansson is now a Tony Winner (Best Featured Actress, A View From the Bridge). She just called Ryan Reynolds "My Canadian who I live with" That's quite a weird new way to say "Husband."

8:32 Now that commercials are playing I am forced to consider that Scarlett Johansson may one day be a Triple Crowner. She just needs a deglam movie in about 6 years for the Oscar. The Emmy is easiest.

8:36 ----> Eddie Redmayne just won Best Featured Actor (Red). You've seen him getting randy with screen mommy Julianne Moore (Savage Grace) and trying to kill Cate Blanchett (The Golden Age) and now you just saw him win a Tony. And, as In Contention points out, he'll probably be the lead in Steven Spielberg's War Horse (2012). Could Oscar follow Tony?

8:40 Charming performance from La Cage Aux Folles which I've heard is great. "Zaza" targeted Matthew Morrison and Will Smith in the audience. Really really funny bit with being unable to tear herself away from Matthew Morrison but of course Will Smith had to act horrified that "she" sat on his lap. I hate it when Will Smith reminds me about what an ass he was about the kiss in Six Degrees of Separation (1993).


8:51 I totally can't keep up with this show. It's so speedy. Antonio Banderas was on a few minutes ago and he's SO going to have a major career revival: a Broadway starring role (Zorba the Greek revival) and a new Almodóvar role. Score times two.

8:53 They're talking about Next Fall which I think must be closing any second. I really want to see it. That was cute banter. Maybe it'll sell a few more tickets?

8:56 The Lovely Laura Linney is promoting her play Time Stands Still (I went to an evening where she spoke of this, too) which is returning to Broadway in the fall. But do you think she's thinking about ScarJo right now? Like 'Damnit. She won a Tony before me?'

8:57 That was generous. Jon Bon Jovi just did a live feed intro for Memphis from a stadium concert.

9:00 Commercials. Breathe.

9:04 Angela Lansbury. If she wins tonight, I think that's a record.

---> 9:07 Nope. Katie Finneran wins the category Best Featured Actress in a Musical Promises Promises. No record breaker for Lansbury just yet. I hear from everyone that Finneran is amazing. GREAT speech about focusing on what you love. This bit was so cute. 'Kristin Chenoweth lent me her eyelashes.' And she also informs that Angela Lansbury took her out to dinner. Classy.

9:10 Memphis performance "Never let anyone steal your rock n roll" Fun number but I feel like someone has stolen my showtunes tonight. Not that many yet.

9:20 Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes, co-stars in Promises Promises are practically co-hosts tonight. She's SO much better in this setting than she was on the BFCA awards. She's just hilarious collapsing when she hears she wasn't even nominated. I guffawed, dear readers. (That means I literally LOL'ed, youngsters). She may have lent Finneran her eyelashes but she keeps several spares. Obviously. These lashes are extreme.


9: 24 Catherine Zeta-Jones singing "Send in the Clowns". Just sublime. Nobody can write a song like Stephen Sondheim. I love that he gets these huge birthday extravaganzas every few years. People are scared of losing him. Me, too. It's going to be so so sad. But if Luise Rainer can keep on ticking past 100, so can some of these other showbiz troupers. Random! I know that was random... but Send in the Clowns can send you spinning into all sorts of heartrending places.

P.S. I love CZJ as a musical star. I wish she would star in movie musicals all the time.

9:43 Commercials. But first we had a little Tony sponsored tribute to the NYPD from Kerry Washington. I love Kerry quite a lot as you know. But loving actresses is way more fun if Hollywood plays along. They need to give me more Kerry to love.

9:53 Best Actor and Best Actress went to Fences. That'd be Denzel Washington and Viola Davis (yay! Though I'm sad for Laura Linney who always loses both Oscars and Tonys despite being one of the most amazing actors on the planet).

I find it so odd that none of August Wilson's cycle plays have been made into movies. Don't you find that odd? Is there a playwright of similar stature that has never been translated?

Viola wins her second, Denzel wins his first

Viola gives a beautiful speech but part of me couldn't quite fall in love with it because when people talk about God in their acceptance speeches I always think "Does that mean God loves you more than the other nominees?" And in this case. Well... I'm pretty certain that God loves Laura Linney because, I mean, look at all the gifts he gave that woman! Anyway. I love Viola Davis, too. Denzel's speech was annoying. He didn't know the names. Denzel now has two Oscars and a Tony. But he's never going to be a triple crowner because he just doesn't do television. Not since St. Elsewhere.

10:11 SERIOUSLY? Promises Promises, a full on musical, just did a dance number with Sean Hayes sitting at a desk. Lame. This night is bereft of show tunes.

10:15 Sad Face. In Memoriam... the people the theater lost this year. The theater may lose me tonight if I don't get some show tunes. SAVE ME GLEE PEOPLES.

10:18 It happened ages ago but it's already burned into my mind so it's only fair that it's burned into yours, too. Sean Hayes with padding and Sean Hayes as Lil Orphan Annie.


The sun will not come out tomorrow.

10:20 Cate Blanchett and her Need To Be Ubiquitous share the stage to present Best Revival and Best Play. I kid, I kid. Fences wins Best Revival.

<--- EXCLUSIVE: CATE BLANCHETT TO PLAY TILDA SWINTON IN BIOPIC

10:22-10:35 It just occurred to me that I asked a television show to save me from the lack of showtunes at the Tony Awards. Something is amiss. That said, thank God (who loves Viola Davis more than Laura Linney) for Glee! Lea and Matthew perform actual showtunes. YAY.

P.S. I TOTALLY caught Will Smith enjoying Lea Michelle's Barbra Streisand number. Won't he worry that people will think he is... well... you know?

10:43 La Cage Aux Folles won Best Revival and now American Idiot is performing. This show looks fun.

10:47 I am not a fan of Sean Hayes but I think he's doing a really good job tonight. Here's why I know: I keep giggling about things he did minutes before minutes later. It's a hosting job that keeps on giving. That Spider-Man singing "don't rain on my parade" bit was priceless -- especially when he was scared of the spider on his chest after taking the mask off. Ha!

Well, you probably had to be there. But funny it was.

10:57 Someone much less composed than CATHERINE ZETA-JONES has possessed the body of Catherine Zeta-Jones. That was as spastic a reaction as I've ever seen at an awards show and that includes Meryl Streep marathon hug run at the SAGs and Ally Sheedy's freakout at the Indie Spirits twelve years back. CZJ was crazed. She almost did a spinning heehaw jig after hiking up her dress. She'll be calling her agent tonight demanding an HBO telefilm so she can grab that triple crown.

I'm sad for people who aren't movie stars tonight. Especially my Sherie Rene Scott. So much star-f***ing tonight.

11:02 Memphis closes the night with a Best Musical win. God loved Memphis most. Now I depart for the comments section to try to catch up with y'all.

106 comments:

Jorge Rodrigues said...

I was shocked to look at Peters' IMDb page and find out she's 62. She's amazing and ravishing for a 62-year-old.

Terence said...

did she really not make a speech?! thats genius lol

NATHANIEL R said...

Bernadette is the best.

Terence. She really didn't she stared out at them with that expression and then walked away.

par3182 said...

I'm always surprised when men thank their wives at the Tonys

especially when the guy looks like a leather queen

Terence said...

I hope Fences win big tonight...if only for the hope that Hollywood will take notice and make Fences into a film with Viola and Denzel. Why has no one taken a crack at adapting August Wilson?

Fela! and La Cage wins would also be nice

Thais Afonso said...

I'm reading. I'm glad that at elat we'll have your live blogging here in Brazil. I really wanted to see it...

Julia said...

Thais,

Tenta este feed... Ta picado mas é melhor que nada...

Try this feed. not great, but better than nothing.

http://atdhe.net/tv/watch_cbs.html

Joslynm said...

I haven't seen too many of the shows this year, but I did get to Million Dollar Quartet, so I'd enjoy a Levi Kreis win.

Anonymous said...

I'm reading (and watching) too! I wish I lived in New York and could actually have seen some of these shows, but I don't...so I can't. :(

Anonymous said...
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Walter L. Hollmann said...

Working on a setup schedule at film school means you're my only link to the Tony world right now! I neeeed this! I've got fake money on Memphis, Viola Davis, Douglas Hodge, La Cage, the Featured Actress from Promises, Promises...and I forget what else. Walken or Denzel?

notanotherblog said...

F*ck yes! Scarlett Johannson has a Tony!

Terence said...

is her having a a tony first bad or good? lol

notanotherblog said...

I guess it gives her more cred, but it's too late for that in her case.

Anonymous said...

I'm a ScarJo supporter, I know it's kind of an unpopular disposition nowadays but I admit proudly! So congrats to her, even if I have no idea what her play was about or what kind of reviews she got for her performance in it.

Katey said...

Hell, with her affinity for recording albums, Scarlett could EGOT well before Tracy Jordan does.

Janice said...

Bernadette and elaine together onstage in ALNM? OMG, I so wish I lived in NYC. (And had any money whatsoever *sigh*) BTW - she cannot be 62.

Scarlett is a...? I'm picking pieces of my brain off the floor right now.

Unknown said...

These musical performances are doing absolutely NOTHING for me. I'm pulling for MEMPHIS (the only one I've seen, but what a blast it is). Hopefully, they'll pull out a great number.

And I totally agree with Terence about FENCES.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Matt said...

Nathaniel, you HAVE to see Next Fall. Seriously. Now. Go.

notanotherblog said...

Trivia: Patrick Heusinger, the hotter gay guy in "Next Fall," is also the guy who says "You got it, Lady Broseph!" to Liz Lemon in the classic "Generalissimo" episode on "30 Rock."

Terence said...

Am I the only person who is confused at how a THEATER award show can have so many sound issues?

Unknown said...

They had sound problems last year too. I hope they didn't use the same people.

Terence said...

the performances are so lacking...thank goodness for catherine Z and sondheim saving my musical spirit lol

Walter L. Hollmann said...

That Memphis performance seemed uneven. Love CZJ's vibratto, and that face! That beautiful face filled with sadness! GAAAH!

jbaker475 said...

Yikes...what on earth happened to Zeta-Jones' face in between Chicago and now? An over-the-top, strangely enunciated performance that kept veering dangerously close to talk-singing. Not good. :(

Unknown said...

CZJ looked like a cat chasing a light. Completely weird performance.

notanotherblog said...

Viola Davis!

KTibbs617 said...

Yahoo Viola!!! :)

Terence said...

Horray for Viola and Denzel :)

Philip said...

YESSSS @ Viola!!!! <3

Unknown said...

Now Denzel needs to do a TV movie and win an Emmy to complete the Triple Crown.

jbaker475 said...

I'm happy for Denzel, but Law deserved that Tony. He was magnificent and was better in 'Hamlet' than he's ever been on screen.

Walter L. Hollmann said...

Poor Laura Linney. But it's hard to be upset when the winner is Viola Davis. Fela! is something I've never experienced before. But it's a kind of beautiful cacophony, isn't it?

notanotherblog said...

Cameron bailey just tweeted that "Wait, Scarlett Johansson AND Helen Mirren are at the #Tonys? What do movies have to do to win our leading hotties." You guys wanna answer the question?

Terence said...

@all How long do you think before scott rudin greenlights Fences?

I give it a month after closing lol

APB said...

YESSS at Viola! Im kinda over Denzel and think Jeffrey Wright should take his place as the supposed "Best Black Actor".

Walter L. Hollmann said...

If Denzel gets an Emmy, it will be for directing or producing an HBO film.

Unknown said...

@Walter: I could actually see HBO making FENCES into a movie, with either him at the helm and/or in his Tony-winning role.

NoNo said...

I don't think Viola thought that all. From the entire speech it sounded like she was thanking God for all the good things in her life (her husband).

David Coley said...

I always think Viola would be a great fit for Susannah in a film version of The Dark Tower.

Unknown said...

I hate when people read from big pieces of paper. If you're gonna prepare something, at least put it on a note card.

jimmy said...

denzel will do an HBO movie in the near future to win an EMMY. Prediction - Viola Davis will win a best actress oscar within 3-5 years.

IslandLiberal said...

Congratulations to ScarJo; after a splashy, critically-acclaimed debut in the first half of the decade, she did a lot of movies that didn't do much for her reputation as an actress. A Tony award is a big boost on that front.

Terence said...

lea michelle...le sigh...I had high hopes for that performance

Anonymous said...

Did Lea's performance feel kinda rushed to anyone else? After all that hype about the Glee stars performing that was a real bummer.

Walter L. Hollmann said...

jimmy: Does Viola sing? Could she be cast in that Color Purple movie musical that has been promised to us mere mortals? Not as Celie necessarily (LaChanze LaChanze LaChanze), but maybe Shug?

jimmy said...

lea micehlle - not good. trying too hard. streisand can continue to rest....

jimmy said...

raquel welch.....isn't she about 70? wow wow wow. she doesn't look too surgeried up either.

jimmy said...

Denzel's Emmy: Denzel Washington IS Thurgood Marshall

The boyfriend said...

well look, singing that song? that's like trying to do "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". I don't care who you are, you're never going to beat the original. Some divas are timeless and irreplaceable.

jimmy said...

or maybe....Denzel IS Mister Sammy Davis, Junior....you know he'll win an EMMY for an HBO bio mini series.

APB said...

Viola sings. She did in that Fantasia Barrino movie on Lifetime

Unknown said...

Aaannnddd CZJ just temporarily lost her mind. Let's start picking her Emmy-winning project too. LOL.

APB said...

Nah, Laurence Fishburne is already playing Thurgood Marshall, and he can't dance well enough to play Sammy (Don Cheadle, I see you.)

Philip said...

BOOOOO @ Sherie losing to Catherine! Are you kidding....it's only because of her celebrity..people vote for them when in doubt!

jimmy said...

hmmmm.....ok.....Denzel Washington IS the guy who invited the stop light

jbaker475 said...

Is Catherine Zeta-Jones trying to make me not like her? That acceptance speech was a hideous attempt a pretending to be hyper excited/OMG surprised. Yuck.

Hayden said...

"THAT MAN RIGHT THERE IS A MOVIE STAR AND I GET TO SLEEP WITH HIM EVERY NIGHT!"

Unknown said...

All snarkiness aside, despite who won, the real losers tonight are the average Joes and Janes (like me) toiling in community theatre and going to conservatories and such only to see the prime jobs go to big-name stars who are cast primarily to ensure butts get into the seats -- which isn't to say at least a few of them were deserving of their wins/nods. However, it does speak volumes about the enterprise Broadway theatre has become.

Jude said...

Katie Finneran was AMAZING in Promises, Promises. She does slapstick just like the great silver-screen comediennes of the 1930's/1940's. I went to meet her at the stagedoor but she didn't come out! (I guess I shouldn't be complaining too much though, because I got pictures/autographs with Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes.)

John T said...

How long before HBO has a beautiful 6-part miniseries of Cleopatra starring soon to be Triple Crown winner Catherine Zeta-Jones?

James T said...

Nathaniel, you just proved that whenever someone mentions God, no sentence can make sense. If love means giving gifts such as huge talent then he doesn't love most people. ;)

By the way, Catherine was probably excited because the win was close to her becoming a CBE.

James T said...

Oh, John T commented just before me. If my father posted here, he would use that nick. Sweet :)

notanotherblog said...

That CZJ speech was too fangirly to look like fake humility.

And for the Fences speculation, Scott 'Les Grossman' Rudin is credited as a producer. I hope he takes this play to the big screen.

/3rtfu11 said...

Eddie Redmayne is so much more beautiful in person (at least on live video).

NATHANIEL R said...

notanother -- hmmm. could be. i just find it weird.

James T -- or maybe an EGOT? ;) but about hte God thing. it's just something i always think when people get all crazy about how blessed there lives are.

John T -- ooh, i love that idea. but they better get cracking before ANGELINA JOLIE makes that movie.

NoNo -- i know Viola didn't mean that either. it just always strikes me as so when people view awards as blessings.I LOVE VIOLA so i hope nobody thinks it was a dig.

NATHANIEL R said...

Hayden -- if i had a dime... ;)

Terence -- she did seem a little off right? maybe nerves? but then even Kristin Chenoweth was off tonight and that is RARE (i mean the singing piece. she was totally great otherwise)

troyhopper == agreed. That's why i always get sad when the theater troupers are shunned for stars from other realms. i mean, i've heard SCARJO was great in that show BUT when your acceptance speech has a bit about it being a short break from Iron Man 2... well, it just. it aint right to people doing 8 shows a week every year.

NATHANIEL R said...

/3rtfull -- i totally agree. but maybe he just hasn't been lit well in the movies thus far? i dunno. it's a mystery.

Philipp -- yeah. SHERIE RENE SCOTT is amazing. I will never ever in a million years forget seeing her in THe Last Five Years. I'm going to Everyday Rapture soon. I feel bad that i haven't yet since i've seen her in a few shows and love.

Dave said...

I've been reading elsewhere that the real "triple crown" of acting refers only to wins in leading categories. The "Showbiz grandslam" (EGOT-Emmy, Oscar, Grammy, Tony) doesn't distinguish between categories (ie, you can win for directing, producing, supporting actor, or anything else).

If that's that case, neither Scarjo or CZJ are in the hunt for a true triple crown (as CZJ's Oscar comes in supporting, and ScarJo's Tony comes in feature).

Denzel has a shot, as he's got a leading Oscar and Tony. If he lowers himself to a leading role on television, he's got it.

Dave

/3rtfu11 said...

All snarkiness aside, despite who won, the real losers tonight are the average Joes and Janes (like me) toiling in community theatre and going to conservatories and such only to see the prime jobs go to big-name stars who are cast primarily to ensure butts get into the seats -- which isn't to say at least a few of them were deserving of their wins/nods. However, it does speak volumes about the enterprise Broadway theatre has become.


You need to pull a Kathy Bates and move to LA. Everything she’s done successfully on and off Broadway had another Hollywood star take her parts – well she made a horror movie with Meathead and won an Oscar – take a hint – if you’re more talented than the average actor competing for TV, Film parts – you’re catch a break from some smart casting director or filmmaker.

Esther said...

Catherine Zeta-Jone already has the Emmy-winning project lined up. I saw her on The View in January and she mentioned that she bought the rights to a novel called People of the Book and was going to produce and star in a television movie based on it. So there!

Although I thought Montego Glover deserved to win for Memphis, I did enjoy A Little Night Music and Catherine Zeta-Jones. She was better in the musical than she was on the Tonys tonight.

I also saw her at the stage door and all I could think was, "Wow, that's a movie star." She just looked so stunning, so glamorous. And she signed Playbills, so she's pretty gracious, too.

NATHANIEL R said...

dave -- the triple crown refers to just having those awards. it doesn't distinguish categories, though certainly people can feel that it's worth "more" if it's lead.

But that's like saying that Cate Blanchett is not an Oscar winner because she didn't win in lead. But everyone knows she's an Oscar winner, you know?

Unknown said...

I thought the best performance of the night was Ragtime. Such a shame that it closed so early. But I guess that's what happens when there are no big names. Stunt casting bothers.

Andrew David said...

I thought CZJ was dreadful in her performance... constant dramatic turns of the face? Really Catherine?

I thought Kristen sounded off vocally as well, but her banter with Sean Hayes was hilarious.

Bebe Neuwirth and Nathan Lane were priceless.

And there's no need to call Cate Blanchett ubiquitous. Theatre is actually her field of work. Just because her theatrical work is mainly situated in Australia doesn't mean she can't accept a Tony presenter gig when she's offered it. You didn't call Helen Mirren ubiquitous and she's been on my TV screen more than Cate this year.

NATHANIEL R said...

Drew, i was kidding. Cate hasn't been as ubiquitous as before, it's very true.

Cluster Funk said...

I was at the Tonys and must say:

Best Speech: Mariane Seldes, hands down. She was literally speechless! (And, you know, brevity is the essence of wit.)

Worst Speech: That weirdly smug Memphis composer with the straw hair. (He popped up *during* the end number, too!)

Best Dressed: Kristen Chenoweth & Jada Pinkett Smith, who proved that petite ladies can look dynamite in sparkly or ruffly strapless minis that put Amazonians to shame.

Best Number: The troupe from Fela!, especially the powerhouse vocals of the actress who played the titular character's mother.

Best Role Models for Aging: Helen Mirren, who graciously acknowledged theatergoers in the rafters, & Raquel Welch, both of whom looked sensational in person well into their 60s. (Angela Lansbury also looked great in her red dress.)

Unknown said...

I was planning a trip to NY (I live in Spain) just to go see CZJ and Lansbury in ALNM. Now I'm glad I didn't (I'm short of money right now but that's another story) after watching Zeta Jones perform tonight. What in the world happen to her head? She kept turning it right to left and on like mad! And the pronunciation of every phrase so exagerated! She ruined Send in the clowns for me (her rendition in the CD is so much better). Was it because she was seated? Didn't Trevor Nunn warned her (Now, a warning! ;) ) how to act subtle? Well, after witnessing her embarrasing acceptance speech, she doesn't know subtle for sure. And the part about sleeping with the aging Douglas was just disgusting. I'm only sorry I won't see Lansbury and that she didn't win. That woman is God (go telll Viola).

John T said...

While I'm not a fan of the "worth more" or it only counts if the performing is in lead categories argument of the Triple Crown, considering there was awards trivia to be had, the only nine people to have won the Triple Crown for all leading roles are:

1. Helen Hayes
2. Ingrid Bergman
3. Shirley Booth
4. Ellen Burstyn
5. Al Pacino
6. Geoffrey Rush
7. Paul Scofield
8. Maggie Smith
9. Nathaniel's arch-enemy, Ms. Jessica Tandy

It's also interesting to note that no one who has ever EGOT-ted has started at the Emmys, so maybe Claire Danes has the wrong idea this year.

Robert William Berg said...

Cheno had a tracheal infection that kept her out of Promises, Promises for a week or so, only recently, and she's still recovering.

aclp said...

Why was Katie Holmes there? Why do people keep trying to shove this big nothing down our throats?

Dorian said...

I think a "Fences" movie is coming. How can it not with Scott Rudin as producer and starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis? They can both win lead acting Oscars for that. And August Wilson films have been made before, just for television. "The Piano Lesson" was a big one that was nominated for a couple of Emmys. It starred Charles S. Dutton and Alfre Woodard. It is bizarre that "Fences" hasn't at least made television at least. It's perfect for that medium.

Don't worry about Laura Linney. She'll be winning her FOURTH Emmy next year for "The Big C" in lead actress in a comedy series.

Lea Michele was auditioning for the "Funny Girl" revival hardcore last night. No shame in that I guess. Girl wants her Tony (and she should have been nominated for "Spring Awakening", but that's another story). It was so awesome when she sat on Jonathan Groff's lap. *swoons* Beyonce was about to cut a bitch though when Lea was all up on Jay-Z like that during her number.

Sean Hayes was a great host. Loved all of the costume changes. Kristin Chenoweth should have just been his co-host. Loved the fainting gag. The show itself was nicely paced and didn't feel like three hours at all (take notes, Oscars!)

The sound guys need to be shot and executed. Horrible synching that didn't match up with the singers' voices, mics that didn't work, music cues that were too loud and drowned out the singers, too-fast cutoffs to the acceptance speeches, etc. Broadway's premiere night to the world shouldn't be marred with this kind of amateur hour sound work.

Douglas Hodge stole the show in his number. I thought that the whole Will Smith thing was funny. When Hodge suddenly jumped off of Will's lap, wasn't the implication there that something "popped up", hence the added gag of Will Smith getting a woody to a drag queen. Maybe I misinterpreted that, but I didn't see that as Will Smith being his usual homophobic self for once.

Nathan Lane and BeBe Neuwirth are awesome and great sports. I wouldn't have been that self-deprecating. Everything's about getting awardage, not the work! Duh!

Zeta acted like she was on something last night. Spastic is the perfect word for that initial reaction and loopy acceptance speech (Cinderella? Bragging about sleeping with that crypt-keeper of a husband every night? Gross.) But bitch is super-fiercezzz, so I'm happy for her. I know I'd rather have heard Bernie tackle "Send in the Clowns" instead. Magic indeed.

That "Memphis" number was horrible. Sad that "Fela!" couldn't pull through to a win in best musical. At least it's something different. That's the black-themed work of the night that should have been recognized better than what it was. But then the love for "Fences" makes up for that somewhat. Really happy for Viola Davis. I'd be more happy for Denzel if he knew the damn awards body that was honoring him. Bad form, Denzel. Bad form.

It's sad that Alfred Molina can't win anything major, even as "Red" swept every other category it was nominated for.

Scarlett Johansson! A Tony before an Oscar or Emmy! That's kind of crazy, but great for her! Wish I could have seen her doing something great then some of the blah film roles I've seen her in lately.

Lively night, and an even bigger night for Hollywood. There will be the inevitable backlash for awarding so much A-list and so many one-timers, but they should acknowledge every once in a while the star power that's helping to keep their precious industry afloat. Gotta stroke the hand that feeds you sometimes. Lots to think and talk about with this year's telecast.

Gina Wilhelm Actress said...

Such a great night! I was sorry that a couple of my favorites didn't win (could ALWAYS stand for Angela Lansbury to win and was rooting for "Night Music" and "Lend Me a Tenor"), but that's showbiz. I would also have preferred maybe not cutting acceptance speeches short so that Matthew Morrison and Lea Michele could sing. By that point in the night, I actually just wanted to know who won and get on with it.

Oh well, congratulations to all the winners!

Terence said...

@Dorian I felt like Lea was auditioning too, which is why I was shocked at her bland performance.

@nathaniel I do think she was nervous tho and KCheno was sick for the past week and is just now getting her voice back.

I loved Douglas Hodge's bit about a republican kissing a democrat but Katie Finneran gave the best speech of the night IMO

Trevor said...

The worst part was that Lea was so much better with that Babs number on "Glee" (that was her big number that helped the glee club win sectionals). Don't quite know what the problem was with her last night.

john said...

Clearly they invited Blanchett to present to say 'sorry you could n't be nominated and win, here, present instead'. That and the fact she is a theatre director.

NATHANIEL R said...

@TERENCE & ROBERT -- thanks for filling in the info on Kristin Chenoweth. I've seen her live more than any other Broadway star and she sounds like a million dollars ALWAYS so i was kinda freaked out.

@NEW COMMENTERS -- thanks for saying hi! It's exciting to see new names and I hope you enjoyed the live blog.

@TREVOR - agreed. that was weird.

@DORIAN -- they had those sound issues last year. It's so weird. They're in the business of live performance. Is it just the televised aspect that haunts them? I don't get it.

Kim said...

Nathaniel, I am not sure if someone has said this already, and I am too lazy to look...

I found a lot to ADMIRE in American Idiot...but I thought the show as a whole did not work. There was just not enough story for me...and I enjoyed Moving Out, so it's not like I have never seen a show with a paper thin plot.

Like I said, there is a lot to admire. I love the choreography and the staging (both snubbed in my opinion) and the cast sings the shit out of it. I actually enjoyed listening to the cast album more than the show. JUst go knowing you are seeing a live sung thru version of a Green Day Album.

Unknown said...

Washington and Davis's wins last night have me thinking. How many times (if any) have revivals (play or musical) yielded multiple actings wins in the same year for roles that also won the originators of the same roles Tonys?

NATHANIEL R said...

troy -- wow. better stage trivia people than me would be required to answer that. But it's a good question.

I think west side story always wins its Anita the TONY. but that's the only one I can think of off hand.

Urey said...

No, Karen Olivo's the first. Crazy but true.

Viola Davis is the first black actress to win both the lead actress in a play and featured actress in a play Tonys!

Not sure about the multiple lead wins for both the original and the revival. Don't think it's ever happened before for both men and women for the same work. "Fences" might be the first time. It's happened many times separately in plays and musicals for men and women.

Anonymous said...

Having seen CZ-J perform in the movie, "Chicago," I was predisposed to love her last night.

But damn, I think her "Send in the Clowns" was agonizingly bad. I was so embarrassed for her I had to turn the channel before she got mid-way through the song. I'm thinking anyone who thinks otherwise is either treating her with kid gloves or they are tone deaf. Something was definitely amiss with CZ-J last night.

John D. said...

I wish someone would give Angela Lansbury and Rosemary Harris good film roles.

Anonymous said...

Something interesting that I just found out is that Mary Alice, who originated Viola Davis's role in Fences was nominated and won the Tony in 1987, but she was nominated as a "Featured Actress". So why the switch this time around for Viola when they played the same part? Anyone know or have any guesses?

jimmy said...

2 thoughts.....shirley booth's triple crown....a third of it is for "Hazel." augh. some people get lucky in life. who's the gal who's everbody's pal it's hazel!....really angela lansbury is deserving of an honoraryh Oscar before she dies.

Chris Na Taraja said...

CZJ singing "Send in the clowns" was not sublime!!! She was god awful! I still can't believe that she won the tony. You don't have to push that hard and make all those weird faces to sing Sondheim.

Try Glen Close
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vufO2FZY6XQ&feature=fvw

Or a beautiful rendition by Ruthie Henshall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyscZQmRc6w&feature=related

or how about this truly sublime performance by Dame Judy Dench
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEQrZzjXbnE&feature=related

I dare you to compare any one of these performances!

NATHANIEL R said...

Chris -- i meant the song.

i know i wasn't clear.

though i don't think it was a trainwreck like some people do... though clearly she was having some vocal problems. especially at the end. i think she was just trying to get through and got nervous.

Ian said...

I thought that whatever Catherine Zeta-Jones' vocal deficiences were, she made up for it through her acting throughout the performance. I've never seen "A Little Night Music" and know nothing about the book, but I felt that sense of desperation and longing her character had all through "Send in the Clowns." It was palpable and heartfelt to me. I'll give her some extra leeway there, but I'd agree that for a classic song like that, it would have been nice to hear a better rendition of it on the Tonys, especially for Sondheim's 80th. But damn, what can she do about shot vocal cords? Give her a break.

The producers of "Fences" sought after lead placement for Viola Davis after I guess them seeing how ferocious she was in the role and that she could legitimately be competitive in lead. Her newfound stature aided in the decision too. It could have been a strategic move too to get backing for an upcoming film with two potential Tony-winning leads (which ended up actually happening). Davis won featured actress in a play at the Drama Desk Awards, so she probably could have gone either way. Scarlett Johansson should thank her lucky stars that Viola Davis went lead though.

Peggy Sue said...

What's wrong with Catherine's face? She can't move a single muscle! Probably that's why she kept shacking her head as Linda Blair in "The Exorcist"

Willy said...

I always think Cate looks like Tilda in some way. Cold beautiful. Both are my godesses for sure.

Anonymous said...

The Cate/Tilda bit was spot on. I said something similar to friends when watching.

I'm also sad everyone's loving Kate Finneran's speech. I thought it started strong, but then she got sidetracked into talking at length about her fiance, which is nice but unrelated. I also am not sure I like her message for children. "Go out and you'll find the right teachers"? It seems more apropos to tell them to work hard and things will be okay rather than that everything magically falls into place on its own.

Viola's speech was my pick for classiest of the night. It's similar to Kate's but had a better focus, IMO.

Unknown said...

@Anon 12:54: I have to agree. Barring some monumental or history-making win, I find those speeches that either begin or rapidly devolve into maudlin displays of weeping, face-scrunching, breathlessness, and other such histrionics woefully annoying -- especially coming from the mouths of these delicate flowers who could stand to show a lot more woman and a lot less girl in the first place.

I often think back to Phylicia Rashad's "Raisin in the Sun" win -- which made her the first black lead-actress-in-a-play recipient -- and the classy, dignified, wonderfully eloquent comments that followed. If she could keep it together, then so can everyone else.

Trevor said...

It's their moment in the sun. Let em have their soapbox moment if they want to. I don't even mind overly political speeches if they're done well. Katie Finneran's speech was the best of the night, and I wouldn't have wanted her to "keep it together" just to keep the air of some dignified Tonys aura, whatever that is. (And said aura doesn't exist to begin with. I've never seen that many drag queens on television at one time before in my life). If she wants to ramble on about finding strong mentors and pursuing your dreams no matter what stands in your way, there are worse messages to send out to young kids today.

Anonymous said...

@Trevor- and my point is that she kinda left out the "pursuing your dreams no matter what stands in your way" part. Instead, she said that if you just get out there, you'll find teachers and even the man of your dreams!!!1!1!!

I love people who get emotional (perhaps troyhopper doesn't), but I do prefer it when they are emotional about something relevant to the award they're receiving... not at their recent engagement.

Anonymous said...

I never understand acceptance speeches which encourage young people to follow their dreams against all odds, and assure them that all will turn out well for them in the end. For what percentage of aspiring performers is that actually true? Sounds like a set-up for a lot of heartache in the majority of young listeners, if you ask me.

Trevor said...

If that's their truth (that they followed their dreams to reach that winning moment despite the obstacles), then they should voice that. I think the young audience knows that lasting fame isn't easy. Speeches like that don't bother me, b/c they're in that winning moment saying the first things that pop into their heads. Some of it will be empty platitudes, and others will be genuine sentiments. Either way, it's their time to do with as they please no matter how off on a tangent they go. That's half the fun anyways.