Billie Joe Armstrong last night — Page 2

Regardless of whether of not he actually is, he sounded like a d-bag. Secondly, wasn't there a rehearsal for presenters and performers? Hadn't he already read off the teleprompter once?

Oh, dear. I don't understand the element in theater audiences that is on their high horses about the fact that they are not in touch with, don't "get", and look down on popular culture or anything that appeals to most young people in this country. Why the attitude toward artists like Green Day, who, judging by last night, are the only ones in the musical theater scene that seemed to create anything here, now, real, relevant, worthwhile? Yes, let's all get offended by the presence of an enormous talent on Broadway who is attempting to bring something new to the scene (an artist who has been around for the better part of two decades and connects with millions people across the country) and then complain about how, ugh, musical theater is just not APPRECIATED anymore (as if there is something greater offered in the cheese fest that MEMPHIS appeared to be).

I sure as hell wouldn't want to see the majority of awful performances that have been on the Tonys in the past years on the Grammys. The Grammy Awards almost universally serve up greater performances. Stop complaining about a "smug" rock star; maybe Broadway should stop looking backwards and step up its game.

ouch. touche.

"Before we get started, I just want to say we've never been around so many creative & talented people as we have on Broadway." **Head cocks back**

That came off as if he's thinking "Really?"

It won't kill Lady Gaga to sit thru 5 minutes of A Little Night Music at the Grammy's just as it didn't kill me to have to suffer thru AI's turn at the show last night.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. If A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC performs at the Grammys like they performed at the Tonys - I think it might kill Lady Gaga and everyone else who has to suffer through that.

I also would like to add that I really did enjoy Green Day's performance at the Tonys. It was one of the better performances of the night.

Boy, when they say theatre dweebs have no understanding of the nature of rock and roll, they're understating it.

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I honestly didn't even notice anything smug or cocky about what he said...all it looked like to me was that he was having issues with the Teleprompter and laughing at himself a little.

I thought the Green Day/American Idiot performances livened up an otherwise dull telecast...much more welcome imo than crap like Memphis.

I saw American Idiot and loved it. I'm a theater queen. (Just thought I'd start there.)

Like a previous poster, I wonder if Mr. Armstrong attended the rehearsal, or took the time to pre-read his lines.

He was smug, but given his lines, it was understandable. Whom ever wrote his copy, did a really poor job. There was absolutely nothing sincere about his intro and Mr. Armstrong was just reacting in the moment.

As for the poster who would love to see the Grammies honor Broadway with one song. Why not?! They should. Showtunes are an important art form and I too am tired that this medium is continually given the shaft.

Also... I don't think that American Idiot played well last night. It's not their performance, it's the nature of the beast. The Tony's is all about establishment. American Idiot is the antithesis of this. (Well, sort of, even though American Idiot is a commercial production... blah blah blah)

In its home at The St. James, American Idiot is loud, visually stunning and... well, I thought brilliant!

Updated On: 6/14/10 at 11:34 PM

I had NO problem with Billie Joe's speech. I did have a problem with Denzel NOT knowing who he was thanking. How crass...go back to Hollywood.

Billie Joe was still more charismatic and less wooden than many of the ACTORS who were presenting.

"It won't kill Lady Gaga to sit thru 5 minutes of A Little Night Music at the Grammy's just as it didn't kill me to have to suffer thru AI's turn at the show last night."

Well, considering Gaga gained early admission and was a student of Tisch before deciding to focus on her music career, maybe she'd appreciate some showtunes- and I bet she does.

A lot of people in the music industry actually like and are indebted to Broadway musicals. Green Day being one such group.

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