ALW and Tim Rice now have EGOT’s!! Oh yeah and John Legend, too...

I’m sure people already think the EGOT is a joke, but John Legend winning is the last straw for me. http://www.playbill.com/article/andrew-lloyd-webber-tim-rice-john-legend-join-egot-club-with-jesus-christ-superstar-emmy-win

Well, when I read the article, my thoughts were not as strong as Jorge, but I can see where he is coming from. If you are a poster of a certain age (or know your film history) there are a lot of our film legends over the years who never won anything (by way of Oscar and/or Emmy). Some nominated multiple times, but never a winner. So when I read someone like John Legend, who in my opinion, is just a so so singer, with a few hits, has achieved the EGOT status, yes I think it is surprising.

ArtMan said: "So when I read someone like John Legend, who in my opinion, is just a so so singer, with a few hits, has achieved the EGOT status, yes I think it is surprising."

Only the Grammys he's won are for performance. I can't really disagree regarding your assessment that he's "just a so so singer". Without googling, I can't think of a single song of his, so that tells you how far he is off my radar.

His Oscar was for writing the "Best Original Song" for the movie, Glory. His Tony and Emmy awards were both for producing (Jitney on Broadway and JCS for television).

So... if it makes anyone fell better about his EGOT status (although his being the first African-American male to EGOT should be seen as an honorable and celebrated achievement IMO), 3 out of 4 awards were not performance-based.

Your or my opinion of his vocal talent as a performer really doesn't matter. (Each to his own...) The man's obviously got additional skills that make him a multiple award honoree. Skills like: having the vision to pick projects that are potentially successful, and then to support/produce them.

How can this be anything other than wonderful?
It’s a remarkable achievement!

Congratulations to all!

Updated On: 9/10/18 at 08:59 AM

quizking101 said: "1) John Legend is actually now the youngest person to ever achieve an EGOT"

Actually, he’s the same age that Robert Lopez was when he achieved his EGOT: 39.

Yes, I think Robert Lopez is still the youngest one as he had just turned 39 by a week or so when he won his Oscar for "Let it Go" and thus completing the EGOT. John Legend had been 39 for about 8 months when he won his Emmy last night.

EGOT is EGOT. People in this generation or even the one previous to it are much more cognizant about it since it has become a thing. Before that, nobody really called it an EGOT nor did it really become a goal for people. People wear multiple hats and if they win for producing, it's still a win. If you want to just stick to performance awards, then you can look at the Triple Crown of Acting (Oscar, Emmy, Tony) for American awards or even only look into the subcategory of "performance" based EGOT winners, which I am sure is a thing.

As for John Legend being an EGOT winner but other great actors not being one, that whole thing just shows how winning awards really is dependent on your competition and timing (how people view you at the time v. how they view you and your competition in retrospect). Awards really are about narrative and timing as much if not more than it is actually about merit (which is subjective anyway).

Last note, many people really do LOVE John Legend and find him to be an incredible talent, so not everyone will be as dismissive as the OP and other posters are. If you don't like it, it also says as much about your tastes v. other people's as well. Doesn't make his wins illegitimate.

ChildofEarth said: "I understand what it is. What I meant (and I still believe can be easily inferred from my post, typo and all) is that he is only 39, so he will have time to win more of each - starting with his good chance of winning a second Emmy."

"Time" doesn't earn you EGOT status. If that were the case, many actors over 60 years of age would it.

I can't say that I agree w/you regarding him having a good chance at winning a second Emmy this year. Although my heart was with him during his live performance of Gethsemane, I think there are other nominees who's performances didn't show that level of strain...

Just for the record … so what if John Legend is getting is Emmy for producing? So are Lloyd Webber and Rice. Needless to say, Scott Rudin got his EGOT (all 4 awards) for producing. … Kinda doubt Legend will win a second Emmy for ''Jesus Christ Superstar.'' Many awards pundits are predicting Darren Criss will that category for ''The Assassination of Gianni Versace.'' And if not Criss, Benedict Cumberbatch for ''Patrick Melrose.'' … And Legend won his Oscar for co-writing the song ''Glory'' (with Common) for the 2014 movie ''Selma'' - not to be confused with the 1989 movie ''Glory.''

Updated On: 9/10/18 at 10:38 AM

Wayman_Wong said: "… And Legend won his Oscar for co-writing the song ''Glory'' (with Common) for the 2014 movie ''Selma'' - not to be confused with the 1989 movie ''Glory.''"

Copy that

To me, John Legend getting his EGOT isn't a joke, but the totally unnecessary creation of the 3-year-old category of Outstanding Musical Performance in Daytime TV is. This means that anyone who comes on ''Today,'' or ''Good Morning America,'' or ''Ellen,'' etc., to plug their latest song or Broadway show is Emmy-eligible.

To me, achieving an EGOT has always been a sign of someone's versatility or mastery in four different media. Often, it's a career achievement of sorts, that takes many years to accomplish. Lloyd Webber and Rice just completed their EGOT after 38 years.

This new Daytime Emmy makes it that much easier to get an EGOT. For instance, just take Cynthia Erivo (''The Color Purple'' ) and Ben Platt (''Dear Evan Hansen'' ). They won their Tony for performing a musical on Broadway; their Grammy for doing its cast album, and their Emmy for plugging said musical on ''Today.''

So they are now only an Oscar away from their EGOT … in only a matter of a couple of years for the same artistic property.

Updated On: 9/10/18 at 11:08 AM

Wayman_Wong said: "[...]To me, achieving an EGOT has always been a sign of someone's versatility or mastery in four different media. Often, it's a career achievement of sorts, that takes many years to accomplish. Lloyd Webber and Rice just completed their EGOT after 38 years.

This new Daytime Emmy makes it that much easier to get an EGOT. For instance, just take Cynthia Erivo (''The Color Purple'' ) and Ben Platt (''Dear Evan Hansen'' ). They won their Tony for performing a musical on Broadway; their Grammy for doing its cast album, and their Emmy for plugging said musical on ''Today.''"

I see your point and I agree. If I had my 'druthers, the new Daytime Emmy wouldn't exit (it would be a Clio, instead).

Most award pundits think that the acting Emmy is Darren Criss’es to lose. And EGOT is an EGOT just becsuse you don’t like someone or how they achieved it doesn’t make it any less real or special. Moreover why do people care like?