Hunter Foster creates "Give the Tonys back to BROADWAY" campaign — Page 5

An absurd facebook page with an even more absurd idea.

I mean with all the things to spend energy on he chooses this?

What an absolute waste.

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He's talking about the awards show and its blatant pandering and growing obsession with pop culture. Not about the content of the musicals

But they're linked! You can't fault the Tonys for pandering to pop culture when the shows themselves are pandering to tourists in the same way. At least half the new shows opening on Broadway are either based on popular movies or use previously existing pop music. If Green Day's music is going to be on Broadway in the first place, you have to tolerate them performing at the Tonys. It's not as though CBS decided to let Green Day perform a 10 minute mini-concert when they have nothing to do with theatre- like it or not, they're a part of Broadway now and had just as much right to be a part of the Tonys this year as Stephen Sondheim would.

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Anika Noni Rose was, in fact, introduced as a Tony-winner when she performed on the Oscars. So...

And really...how is this year any worse than the year they had Mary J. Blige squat and sing WHAT I DID FOR LOVE (which was awesome tv, by the by). Green Day wrote AMERICAN IDIOT. Their inclusion was far less egregious than some other stunts pulled by the Tonys. And, can we just face the fact that Broadway and the Tonys are actually a part of pop culture. It doesn't exist outside it. Theatre as an artform does...but not Broadway.

I also don't understand how we can't admit that one of the big reasons for the lack of Tony viewers this year was the sh*tshow season we had to endure. People were interested last year because BILLY ELLIOTT was a great, big fat hit. This year was just abysmal. It's not CBS' fault. It's not the Wing's fault. It's not Catherine Zeta Jones' fault (who, despite an unfortunate Tony show performance, actually gives a marvelous performance in the show and deserved her award).

I don't think the Facebook page is a smart idea from any angle. Why would you further want to ghetto-ize Broadway by insulating it from the rest of the entertainment industry? It simply baffles me.

"It's not Catherine Zeta Jones' fault (who, despite an unfortunate Tony show performance, actually gives a marvelous performance in the show and deserved her award)."

I don't know what performance you saw, but it wasn't Tony worthy when I saw it. But no, it's not her fault.

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I completely disagree. And that's that.

Why would you further want to ghetto-ize Broadway by insulating it from the rest of the entertainment industry? It simply baffles me.

Because Broadway belongs up on a 110-story platinum pedestal under the protection and care of 999 divas, drag queens, gay men and Sondheim apostles. Any exposure to outside elements will cause the immediate collapse of theatre worldwide. so it is vital we all continue to perpetuate the idea that Broadway will always be something of much higher integrity than it actually is and has always been, which is a hub of commercial stage entertainment. Shhhh...Don't tell anyone! Apparently, it's a huge secret.

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The one positive is that there is a kumbaya, "we are one" synergy on display between Hollywood and Broadway. And it's about friggin' time.

I'm not sure I understand that, on its own or in the context of what it was like "before."

Matt, the funny thing is that a lot of people look at theatre that way. I have family and friends that do. However, they will go to see P-Diddy or Denzel in a show on Broadway. Hardly any of them even knows what "Wicked" is.

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To clarify my comment re Katie Holmes and Julia Roberts from the first page- What I meant to say is that the Tony committee doesn't just give awards to celebrities because they are celebrities, and I used the two of them as an example of people who weren't even nominated (because indeed they were so bad) even though they were celebrities. I didn't mean to say that they were "snubbed."
I completely agree with uncageg's comments.

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Sorry but you know me and I'll always come to defend Julia who gave a great performance.

Uh-oh. Somebody pissed that they lost to a star?

That's not even funny. Kate knew she wasn't going to win and was just excited to be there. Her facebook status on Sunday was "Kate Baldwin appreciates all your well wishes and intends to clap heartily from her seat when the winner is announced." Just because she thinks that the Tonys should be more Broadway-centered doesn't make her bitter. She is one of the most gracious people I have ever met.

Perusing that group's wall, you see a variety of agendas and opinions. Some are extreme and some make sense. It's almost like a gay tea party movement.

Again, I have no problem with CZJ winning or Green Day performing or even Mark Sanchez saying--hey, theatre is cool.

My gripe is the way the creative categories are treated. I tend to agree with those who feel the awards have sacrificed honoring the theatre with the desperate need to grab ratings that simply aren't going to happen.

It's like the Rent movie. They fooled around with it trying to grab the MTV audience and ended up alienating most everybody, especially its core audience. Why not make it good and grab people who want quality? I know that seems awfully risky, but if you build it, won't they come?

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