Biggest Tony Upset ever?- Page 2

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 5:00pm

Idina over Tonya Pinkins still pisses me off along with LaChanze over Patti and Daisy Eagan over LaChanze.

[sesot]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 5:03pm

I agree with you zepka- all of the other choices had significantly more and better choreography than Spring Awakening. Don't forget about Gavin Lee in Mary Poppins dancing on the ceiling. I think the tony voters were just on a Spring Awakening kick, personally I don't think it should have been the Best musical- but that was not an upset, it was the front runner.
David Hyde Pierce over Raul Esparza was definitely an upset. Avenue Q winning was as well.

[dented146]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 5:04pm

Even though Music Man was good so this isn't really an upset, the West Side Story loss ranks up there for me.

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 5:04pm

Avenue Q beating Wicked for Best Score. Lyrically, Ave Q wins, but musically (i think the more important of the two) Wicked all the way. Come to think of it, lyrics and music need to be re separated into different categories. Ave Q DID deserved Best Musical though, its a much more solid show all around.

I agree with whoever said that the role of Elphaba won that Tony, it's totally true. Idina Menzel's characterization can't hold a match to Julia Murney's or Stephanie Block's, while Kristin's work has still yet to be bettered.

I think Lion King and Ragtime were both really solid shows that each did a lot to deserve the award.

[Dyllun Von]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 5:04pm

He's the man behind what gets in and what's left out of the Tony's. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa8sPwfdn9g
Cubby Bernstein

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 5:04pm

I'm still surprised about David Hyde Pierce last year. I like him, but damn if every other person nominated wasn't light years ahead of him as far as their performances were concerned.

[BWayJunkie]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 5:12pm

Unfortunately it seems that a lot of the award wins, not only in the Tonys but Oscars and such as well, come down to politics. I didn't see Esparza or DHP in their respective shows but if it is a general consensus that RP should've won, he must've done something to piss off a few too many important people. The 4 musicals up this year to me aren't too much of a toss up. In The Heights seems to be the front runner with Passing Strange being an unlikely but possible second. Last year's Spring Awakening phenomenon might happen again with PS but that could also be its downfall. I think A LOT of people would be upset if CB got it and it would be considered an upset if Xanadu won. So ITH is the safest bet (and IMO, the best bet) for the Best Musical win. Sorry for the bit of a departure

[Jon]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 5:27pm

How about 1991 - Will Rodgers Follies winning Best Score over Secret Garden, Once On This Island and Miss Saigon (all superior scores)?

Especially annoying since Cy Coleman had won the previous year for City of Angels (which DID deserve it).

[zepka102]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 5:28pm

I completely forgot about Mary Poppins in that choreography batch! "Step in Time" as a whole was so much better than Spring Awakening's jumping.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 5:52pm

What about Ashford's choreography for Curtains?

I wanted YF to get Passing's spot.

To mention Grease & Gypsy in the same catagory. The theater god's are spinning right about now.Sort of like mentioning Ed Wood at the oscars or calling Roger Corman a world class director.

[BillyE]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 5:53pm

David Hyde Pierce over Raul Esparza, that one just stands out.

Also, choreography for Spring Awakening, although I loved that show , but choreography, come on. A bunch of kids jumping up and down, give me a break.

And Avenue Q over Wicked, but I'm very happy about that one.

[changinandhow]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 5:55pm

outdamnwench - I don't think Stephanie not getting a nom for Pirate Queen was an upset/snub/whatever. Last year was a pretty tight year, other years it might have been possible that the committee would have thrown her a bone for being the bright light in what most people thought was a dismal show, but I don't think it was expected. Even coming from someone who is one of the few who enjoyed Pirate Queen and is also a fan of Stephanie's, I pretty much knew my hope for her nomination would be unfulfilled.

Although I do agree that it was a nomination upset (?) when Pirate Queen did not receive at least a nom for costume design over the costumes in shows like Legally Blonde.

Updated On: 5/13/08 at 05:55 PM

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 6:00pm

SPRING AWAKENING for Choreography still gets to me. I would've chosen CURTAINS in a heart beat.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 6:09pm

Spring Awakening should not have gotten the choreography Tony, unless you call jumping up and down touching yourself great dancing.

[JulianHookbucks]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 6:30pm

ps. Kids... Stephanie J. Block was never set to be the original Elphaba. She was performing the role in readings while they still auditioned for the actual actress to sign on for the full ride to Broadway. Then they found Idina at the auditions.

[Malice]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 8:38pm

I wanted to throw something at the tv when Patti Lupone lost to La Chanze but I must say I am kind of rooting for a Kerry Butler upset this year.

[The White Half-Mask]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 9:44pm

The only ones that come to mind for year are from last year. I haven't seen Spring Awakening, but judging from the clips of it I've seen, I don't think it deserved Best Choreography. Jumping around & stomping your feet is enough to win the Tony Award?

Also, the upset that will probably forever irk me is David Hyde Pierce's win over Raul Esparza. Not that I hold anything against DHP, but I truly believe in my heart of hearts that Esparza gave the finest performance that year.

[heathurrr]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 9:54pm

DHP beating Raúl Esparza... nearly a year later and it still makes me grumble.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 9:55pm

Clay Aiken!


for not being nominated last year in ACL as Featured Actress! Travesty!!!

J*

[moulin724rouge]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 10:00pm

I hope Cry-baby takes it all! Its a great show!

[antz]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 10:17pm

Martin Short (Little Me) over Brent Carver (Parade)

The rest have all been said, but worth repeating...

Though I loved the show tremendously, I wouldn't call what they do in Spring Awakening, choreography. That was truly an upset.

Will Rogers Follies winning over either Miss Saigon or The Secret Garden

LaChanze over Patti

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 10:33pm

Though Idina over Pinkins or Murphy will haunt me for the rest of my life, I think the biggest upset (at least in recent memory) was Fosse winning Best Musical over Parade in 1999.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 10:37pm

^^^ I agree! Fosse over PARADE.

I even remember when they performed on TONYS (eventhough the show was already closed) Carolee & Brent sang a duet "All This Wasted Time" and the whole cast came out to sing "Old Red Hills of Home" at the end of the number... They all look so dignified! I almost cried!

Damn! I just remember how I love PARADE in 1999. btw- I thanked JRB last Sunday when I met him at "13" in CT for composing PARADE and he told me..."oh that was a long time ago!

J*

Updated On: 5/13/08 at 10:37 PM

[iluvcioffiiluvtea23]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 10:43pm

Def Poetry Jam over The Play What I Wrote.

And I even wanted The Play What I Wrote to win!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 10:47pm

Speaking of Gypsy, howabout the original production getting eight Tony nominations and no awards?