And then the rest of the world...

Although i am very grateful that they are broadcasted, i see very little reason for the tonys to be shown anywhere except california and New York. Ive asked several people, in jest of course, "so what are we going to do for this years big Tony Award Party" and no one yet even knew that they are broadcasted on tv. The rest of the country for the most part doesn't care

What incentive does the network have in broadcasting the tonys?

---

well, there are quality people like you and i that appreciate them, but most people dont care. I want to know why NBC or whoever is doing it still broadcasts them.

---

Well, the Tonys used to be the one "classy" awards show of the year (set apart from the Grammys, Emmys, ...), marked by hosts like Angela Lansbury, Julie Andrews, Anthony Hopkins and Tony Randall, et al honoring "The Theatre" -- Shakespeare, Chekhov, Sondheim, Richard Rodgers, etc... and containing annual tributes to Lerner & Loewe and Gershwin and Cole Porter et al & truly first rate production numbers (and musical excerpts) by the likes of Fosse, Bennett, Tune, and Robbins rather than the Debbie Allen travesties the Oscars and the other shows came up with year after year.... The best of Broadway really knew how to put on a show and could demonstrate to the world just how it was done, showcasing the greatest singers, dancers, actors and choreographers on the planet. CBS telecast it because it seemed distinguished and dignified (no matter what crazy shows might pop up in a given year) and usually picked up the Emmy for Special Television Event almost every year. During the decades that Alexander Cohen (producer of several dozen major Broadway shows) was in charge (from the first telecast in 1967 to the mid-80's), it was a true credit to the network.

Cohen retired from producing the Tonys several years ago (and passed away in 2000) and the Tony show has never been quite the same. Less class, more second tier celebrities, less emphasis and showcasing of all of that great Broadway talent, the show lost its identity and started to look like any other awards show on the network, except more and more it became about just the awards (and who the hell around the country really cared who won the awards???).

CBS continues with its commitment to the show because its audience, though small, attracts a "fancy" demographic (people who can shell out $100 a piece for theatre tickets plus airfare, hotels, babysitters etc...) and higher end advertisers, which means they still make a decent profit on the show. Not sure how many more years this will go on, but I don't think inviting Jimmy Fallon and Mary J Blige to be on the show is going to solve the ratings doldrums and help it regain its identity.

---

Updated On: 6/2/04 at 02:27 AM

How do you like them apples?! I'll bet more than 80% of us are in the same boat.

P.
(in the same boat)

"theatre is life, film is art, television is furniture."

Fear not, you can find books, articles and publications bemoaning the "death" of Broadway and the end of live theatre as we know it going back to the early part of the century and beyond (Arthur Miller talked about once being part of a panel discussing runaway ticket prices and how it was the death knell of Broadway .... this panel took place back in the early 50's.....).

Theatre -- the imaginary invalid.....

---