The Tonys tonight reminded me of the last Grammy awards show that I ever watched. For best recorded song of the year it offered "New York, New York" by Ol' Blue Eyes, "The Rose" by Midler, and "Sailing" by Christopher Cross. Which one of these is not like the others? Apparently unable or unwilling to choose one of the great recordings for the top, they settled on the forgettable and forgotten "Sailing." (Yeah, I know. Cross' mother is probably reading this and you heard it on the radio just a month ago.)
So tonight Broadway ignored two of its best ever and settled on the admirable, but diminutive Band's Visit.
Not a show that is going to pack in the tourists. Not a show that required mountains of hours just to design and build the sets and costumes. Not a show that requires double and triple threat lead actors and actresses to spend two and a half hours onstage, with most of the rest of the time spent changing costumes.
Which brings me back to my last Grammy experience. That many of the Tony voters could not choose either My Fair Lady or Carousel, so they chose the third choice. They picked the easier actor and actress award over the the actors' in the main music revivals who are just more talented in most cases.
I haven't missed the Grammys since I stopped watching and I don't think that I'll miss the Tonys.
Your mileage may differ.