2017 Tony Awards Host — Page 4

Maybe we won't have a host this year and it will just be different presenters.

Someone suggested billy Eichner on here before and I think that is GENIUS

That's such a stupid idea. They're not theatre people, and probably have never been to the theatre...

Maybe they can get Patti Lupone and Christine Ebersole to host!

Or even Bette Midler who would be fabulous!

Laura Benanti and Annaleigh Ashford!

Updated On: 4/13/17 at 10:59 PM

Butter Broadway said: "That's such a stupid idea. They're not theatre people, and probably have never been to the theatre..."

Have you forgotten that Emma Stone spent three months on Broadway playing Sally Bowles in Cabaret?

I'm the person who suggested Billy Eichner because he's funny, he has a strong connection to NYC and NYC actors, he loves Broadway, and he can sing. Plus, people who don't watch the Tonys would watch them for him. People seem to forget that CBS doesn't air the Tonys as a public service. They and their advertisers would like people to watch them, and, for that reason, some of the suggestions on this thread are pretty ridiculous. I LOVE the Tonys, but their viewership is notoriously low. Having a host that is known outside of the Broadway community is a way to make them more accessible to the general public.

Stephen Colbert would be fantastic.

CT2NYC said: "UncleCharlie said:


The key for the host is to draw in viewers who aren't Broadway addicts and aren't people who would tune in regardless of who is hosting. I think you vastly overestimate the number of people who wouldn't watch normally but will tune in because of him. People want to see a major star, not a minor, basic cable "celebrity" and I have doubts his core audience of people who enjoy adlib sidewalk gags are all of a sudden going to want to know all about theater. Suffice to say, if you want to make sure CBS walks away from this once and for all, he'd be perfect.

"A minor basic cable 'celebrity'" who's had two Oscar winners running around the streets with him, did a segment with Michelle Obama, and had an article written about him in the New Yorker. Just because he's not as big as Neil Patrick Harris or Hugh Jackman, doesn't make him "minor." I might overestimate his ability to increase viewership, but I think you underestimate his general popularity.



I'm pretty sure I'm not. 2 or 3 appearances by name celebrities and an article in a magazine don't scream "national awards show host". Celebrities do these one time shots for a number of shows for a variety of reasons.. It's not a huge deal. President Obama and Hillary Clinton along with more "A" list actors than you can name did "Between Two Ferns" on Funny or Die and it won two Emmys but I'm not going to suggest Zack Galifianakis be the host even though he's far better known. Look, nothing against Billy Eichner but people with his resume are pretty common. The Tonys don't have a draw like Hamilton to lean on this year. They need a star. Eichner isn't it.

'

Updated On: 4/14/17 at 01:56 AM

I would love Eichner too, but maybe in a few years once he's established himself a bit more. He's getting there for sure.

No to Gosling and Stone. I love Ryan Gosling but I'm not over the secondhand embarrassment of him having to pretend he knew a lot about musicals in the La La Land promo tour when he clearly knew basically nothing. Plus the La La Land hype just feels over now.

While not a sexy notion, why not David Hyde Pierce and Allison Janney as co-host? If I remember correctly they might have hosted the Emmys together, both are on Broadway, and Janney is on a CBS hit show.

Alexander Lamar said: "I just googled Eichner, and still have no idea who he is. He doesn't even look vaguely familiar. I think you may be overestimating his star power.

Well, he's big enough to have been featured prominently in ads for his very brief cameo in the recent HAIRSPRAY LIVE!, alongside Rosie O'Donnell, Sean Hayes, and Andrea Martin. So, obviously, NBC thought people would know who he is. While I understand that he might be too much of an up-and-comer at this point, he's definitely a star on the rise.

I mean either way it's going to be a dramatic drop in ratings from last year with Hamilton bringing in the highest ratings in 15 years and up 33% from 2015. So they may as well just find someone who will do a decent job and then work on getting someone more famous next year, maybe Tina Fey will be free then. I know that article says expect to see Lin hosting in 2018 but he has said numerous times he doesn't want to host an award show and I can't blame him for that.

Updated On: 4/14/17 at 10:35 AM

But regular theatregoers will be watching anyway, the trick is to get people who may not ordinarily watch the Tonys to tune in, particularly young people who usually choose to watch things online afterwards. So those are actually points in Eichner's favor if anything, although I do think he should wait 2 or 3 years to host.