Blast From The Past: Nathan Lane & Gregory Hines - 1995 Tonys

[Overkill]

Posted: 4/4/11 at 2:47pm

Recently rediscovered this. So much fun! Just thought I'd share. :)


Broadway Diva Medley

[Orangesaretuesdays]

Posted: 4/4/11 at 2:58pm

I love that so much!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/4/11 at 3:01pm

I believe this was the year Nathan was starring in Love! Valour! Compassion! He came out wearing one of his costumes from the show (just an apron, nothing else) and said "If I did a cartwheel right now, the ratings would soar!!"

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/4/11 at 3:14pm

Wow, that was quite fun!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/4/11 at 3:22pm

This was also the year where there were only two Best Actress Musical nominees: Glenn Close (Sunset Boulevard) and Rebecca Luker (ShowBoat). I wonder why Meagan Mullally wasn't put up for "H2S"?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/4/11 at 3:39pm

I'm so glad you posted this- I recall it as a highlight of the show, but it was mostly blasted by reviewers and I've never seen it posted again.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 4/4/11 at 3:58pm

Oh! I miss Gregory Hines.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/4/11 at 4:00pm

Oh, the 1995 Tony Awards. Live from the Shubert Theatre and co-hosted by Glenn Close, Nathan Lane and Gregory Hines. The cast from SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE' opened the show with "On Broadway" that had them walking to the Shubert Theatre from Broadway. Glenn Close made her entrance on the enormous Norma Desmond mansion set as it descended onto the stage. Once the set was in place, Glenn humorously floated down the staircase while Nathan and Gregory greeted her at the foot of the steps. The rest of the evening, presenters made their entrances via the mansion set's foyer. Presenter Carol Burnett stated that they did not let her make her entrance coming down the Norma's staircase.

If ONLY the Tony Awards could emulate evening's like this one again.
Updated On: 4/4/11 at 04:00 PM

[Overkill]

Posted: 4/4/11 at 5:13pm

I loved Gregory Hines. And Nathan is always such a good host! They should bring him back to host. Wasn't this also the same year Julie Andrews turned the Tony nomination down for Victor/Victoria? Nathan came out dressed as a man, dressed as a woman, dressed as a man, dressed as a woman, I beleive. lol

"It's like Euro Disney, it looked good on paper, but...."

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/4/11 at 5:45pm

1995. It was the best of times. It was the worst of times...

Nathan still was such a baby! And yet so obviously brilliant.

And Gregory Hines...gone too soon. Here is his brilliant "That's How You Jazz" in Jelly's Last Jam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vobqPaU4Uc

And here he is with Bernadette in the 1999 Tonys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu_Kiz74HSU

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/4/11 at 5:51pm

This was HILARIOUS!

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 4/4/11 at 5:52pm

I LOVED this when it first aired. THANK YOU, THANK YOU for bringing back this fun, fun, joyful memory!!!!

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/4/11 at 9:58pm

Really terrific, and there is a huge difference between the Tony shows of 20 years ago (and more) and the ones airing now.

Back then, a medley like this was conceived and presented as entertainment, and now what we get is packaged and strategized. It's all about marketing. And it's so obviously desperate.