Brad Garrett ineligible for Tony

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 3:27pm

Per Theatermania.com:

"Actor Brad Garret, best known for his Emmy Award-winning role of Robert Barone on the CBS-TV sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, is ineligible for a Tony Award nomination for his performance as Murray the Cop in the current Broadway revival of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple because he left the production before the the Tony voters were invited to see it.

The show opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on October 27. Garrett had only been signed to appear through January 1, whereas Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, and the rest of the cast are contracted through April 2. At one time, there had been talk that Garrett would extend his contract and would eventually replace Lane in the leading role of Oscar, but it was announced last week that he was leaving the production entirely. Garrett has been replaced by Mike Starr, who gave his first performance as Murray on January 3."
http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/7410

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 3:35pm

Like he cares.

[YankeeGal#24]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 3:40pm

I haven't seen the show, but it seems like a shame given that everyone I know who HAS seen it said he was wonderful in it.

[Madame X]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 3:58pm

I thought in order to be Tony eligible, you just had to be standing on stage opening night. How long does it usually take Tony voters to go see a show (or how long are they allowed to take before seeing it)?!? And how many voters are there exactly (I'm assuming they ALL have to see the performance)? Has this happened before?

[YankeeGal#24]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 4:02pm

<< I thought in order to be Tony eligible, you just had to be standing on stage opening night. How long does it usually take Tony voters to go see a show (or how long are they allowed to take before seeing it)?!? And how many voters are there exactly (I'm assuming they ALL have to see the performance)? Has this happened before? >>

I found that curious as well. The article says that he left "before the Tony voters were invited to see it". Hmmmm.

[YankeeGal#24]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 4:02pm

<< I thought in order to be Tony eligible, you just had to be standing on stage opening night. How long does it usually take Tony voters to go see a show (or how long are they allowed to take before seeing it)?!? And how many voters are there exactly (I'm assuming they ALL have to see the performance)? Has this happened before? >>

I found that curious as well. The article says that he left "before the Tony voters were invited to see it". Hmmmm.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 4:04pm

Has this happened before?

Dean Jones in COMPANY

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 4:04pm

Unless it's a limited run, producers don't usually invite the Tony voters until very close to voting time, in order to keep it fresh in the voters' minds. They have about a month - 2 months time in which to see the show (they have to see a lot of shows in that period).

Updated On: 1/4/06 at 04:04 PM

[YankeeGal#24]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 4:23pm

Interesting. Thanks Rath.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 4:27pm

I think the article is badly worded. He's not ineligible for a Tony as he did go on for opening night. But the fact he's left the show before the voters see it just means he's not going to be nominated.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 4:33pm

so I guess that's the same reason that usually when a show closes before the Tony's - it usually isn't nominated for anything because none of the voter's saw it during thier "time"?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 4:35pm

Quite often the case, yes, RentBoy. And the actors in those shows are lucky to be nominated, and will almost certainly not win.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 4:43pm

The producers are simply required, if they want their show to be receive any awards, to offer all Tony voters the opportunity to see their show. They usually do this by making tickets available for several weeks. Nominations are made by the nominating committee, however, not the voting body. In fact, not all Tony voters attend every show (far from it, I'd assume for those voters based out of town and for artsy little plays, for example), and only professional ethics keep them from voting for shows or performances they haven't seen.

The fact that the producers did not make invitations to any voters yet is the only thing holding him back. Had invitations been issued (whether or not many of the voters came), the committee could still nominate him if they felt he was worthy.

[jeremykushnier1fan]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 4:47pm

So did anyone see him in the part?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 4:55pm

Didn't the powers that be at Chicago forget to submit Joel Grey's name for Chicago?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 5:04pm

The powers that be forgot to request a category change for Grey. Performers billed above the title in the opening night Playbill are automatically considered in the lead catgories, unless a show's producers request, in writing within two weeks of opening night, that the Tony committee consider them Featured (same for those who billed below the title whom the producers want considered for Lead). It's then up to the Committee to decide whether or not to approve the category change, which they certainly would have in Grey's case.

Somebody in the Weissler's office forgot to send the letter, so Grey remained eligible only for the Lead category and given how small the role of Amos is and the amount of competition for Lead Actor that year, Grey simply wasn't chosen for one of the five Lead spots. Chuck Cooper can thank that forgetful Weissler flunky for his Featured Tony Award from that year.

[bluesoprano]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 5:21pm

I don't know if this has been answered, but what was the reason behind Brad Garrett's leaving the show so suddenly?

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 5:23pm

He has enough Emmys to make up for it...

Wasn't Melissa Errico was ineligible to be nominated when My Fair Lady closed before a certain date? Or something like that?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 7:32pm

Is his role a Tony-worthy role?

[timote316]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 7:39pm

If the producers of a show have to invite Tony voters to see a show, it appears Rosie did something right for Taboo afterall!

[mikem]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 8:28pm

Is there a precedent for such a short contract (2 months and 1 week) for the original cast in an open-ended run?

[jo]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 8:43pm

I saw THE ODD COUPLE in previews and thought Brad was excellent in the show. What a pity that he may not have stayed in the role long enough for his work to be recognized ( at least by a nomination).

[SamIAm]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 9:21pm

Yes, Garrett's contract expired in January. Originally, the word was that he would stay until April in hopes of taking over the role of Oscar if the show extended and Lane did not. But the original plan to have Garrett understudy Lane was not carried through to the present either. He decided not to stay...that's all...not big intrigue.

As for his eligibility, if he had stayed through January when the Tony committee is supposed to see the show, he would be eligible. If he wanted to go home to L.A. and the contract was up, my guess is that the Tony nomination just didn't mean all that much to him.

I did see him several times in the role. Thought he was quite weak the first time I saw him but he did grow into the role after awhile, though I never understood the audience reaction to him when the curtain came up...it was like seeing ROBERT from Everybody Loves Raymond in the theater and that's what the audience reacted to. I didn't think he was all that wonderful...though he was adequate.

I don't know that he would have gotten nominated anyway...there was nothing that was particularly a 'knock out' about his performance.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 1:37am

Well, Murray the cop isn't the kind of role that usually wins actors awards, lol, so I don't think Brad will be kicking himself too hard about this.