It's interesting that people think she's mad. It seems to me like she knew exactly what was going on the whole time. The producers wanted a "name" and she wanted to perform on Broadway. Sounds like a deal to me. She obviously was not too concerned with the Tony Awards, considering that her contract was negotiated to end before June.
If it wasn't such a competitive category I would have loved to see Jennifer and even Joannna nominated. Jen"s connection with Cynthia was so real and palpable. Oh well. I hope this doesn't discourage her from coming back
I agree...it MIGHT not be saltiness at all....but just honesty. And if she was hired simply for her celebrity, good for the committee not to just placate her with a nom.
I liked her performance VERY much until the last scene, then I felt I was just watching JHud waiting to go home.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
I thought the entire show was her waiting to go home and pick up a paycheck.
Jennifer Simard deserves the nomination, as does everyone else in the category. Sometimes people are just better than other people - and that can be difficult to accept when you've been told you're a special snowflake for so long.
backwoodsbarbie said: "She's right. She was cast for her celebrity and she is selling the tickets. Shug Avery isn't a particularly well written role.
Of course she was cast for her celebrity. High-profile roles rarely go to unknowns. But that doesn't mean she doesn't also have recognizable talent. I guess she hasn't learned yet that awards aren't everything.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
DontTellPaul2 said: "It's interesting that people think she's mad. It seems to me like she knew exactly what was going on the whole time. The producers wanted a "name" and she wanted to perform on Broadway. Sounds like a deal to me. She obviously was not too concerned with the Tony Awards, considering that her contract was negotiated to end before June."
That's exactly how I read it too. Statement of fact: my presence was used for my celebrity. And I'm usually the first one to find the sarcasm in something!
Getting compliments and standing ovations nightly should be enough for her. When I was there people roared and whistled for her for a long time. I don't like people who come in to a show JUST for a Tony, and then leave shortly after. It's annoying, and it happens all the time.
After giving a string of wooden film performances, Hudson's performance reminded me she can actually act. Brooks, however, was the star for me. So happy for her!
But who is her tweet directed at? Doesn't even make sense. "They used me for my celebrity and not my talent." Is that directed at the Tony committee? Her producers? Was she expected more of a push from them to try and get a nomination? Seems a bit misdirected.
Let's be honest, Jennifer can sing the hell out of that role. But she can sing the hell out of anything. It just did not have the standout acting performance the other two ladies gave in addition to their singing.
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
Hudson has a voice that will melt your face and bring you to tears. Exceptional. Her acting is weak. Shug Avery is dangerous, volatile, sensual and volcanic. She is alluring to everyone. Hudson played her like a Miss Thing with side eyes, eye rolls, hand on hip. She had moments where Cynthia elevated her performance to transcendent but that was due to Cynthia.
It's a good thing she is on her way out. She'll probably be more difficult now.
Beyoncé was better in Dreamgirls-a complete physical transformation and a shattering performance that got overshadowed.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
Let's be real: Hudson's acting skills have never been her glory. Bill Condon and Virginia Katz should have their names engraved on her Oscar.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
For what it's worth, she seems to have endeared herself to her castmates. I attended the Drama League Up Close event with Cynthia Erivo and she got very choked up when asked about Jennifer leaving the show. It was genuine.
It really seemed like Hudson took to the Broadway vibe and enjoyed all of its quirks but likely has gotten tired towards the end of her run.