I know I'm late to the party - but why did David Hyde Pierce beat Raul? — Page 2

Could it be that more voters were impressed with David's performance? Is that too difficult a concept for the Raul fanatics to accept? Why must there always be a conspiracy theory, when the simple truth is self explanatory?

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Esparza played Bobby like a totally unlikable sarcastic drunk.
Which the character is not.

BERNADETTE PETERS WAS ROBBED!!!!!!!!!!

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At least Raul's performance will be preserved. Imagine in 100 years time people could still be watching it while DHP's will be long, long, long, long forgotten.

Raul has the last laugh.

(Not that DHP should be blamed for winning, lol.)

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In other words, people 100 years from now can be as bemused and border-line horrified at the self-indulgent, indefensible artistic slaughter that defined that 'performance'?

"In other words, people 100 years from now can be as bemused and border-line horrified at the self-indulgent, indefensible artistic slaughter that defined that 'performance'?"

LOL! Geez Q - I was going to say I thought Raul's re-invention of Bobby was a horror, but okay, I'll go with your description instead.

As to why voters picked DHP over Raul. I don't know. Nobody but the voters really know. I can only speak for myself. I saw both - I liked DHP much better. He was completely charming, adorable and for me at least, elevated a rather mediocre musical into an absolutely wonderful couple of hours of theatre. By the end of Curtains I wanted to give Cioffi a big ole hug. By the end of Company - I wanted to beat Bobby with a stick. But that's just me.

At least Raul's performance will be preserved. Imagine in 100 years time people could still be watching it while DHP's will be long, long, long, long forgotten.

DHP's performance is also preserved, thanks to the Lincoln Center taping and several very good fruitkegs. It's available.

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To back up Tulitapepsi - I enjoyed DHP's performance in CURTAINS just last week!

Perhaps it was the size of the role itself which also had something to do with it. I saw both and liked both but "Company" is perhaps the definitive ensemble musical, whereas Pierce's role was much more a lead star turn. Put a gun to my head, I'd have voted for Esparza, but I didn't feel outraged or even surprised when DHP won.

"Imagine in 100 years time people could still be watching it while DHP's will be long, long, long, long forgotten."

Anyone with 5 minutes and the ability to use the search function on the internet will be able to find his performance in full.

He played Niles (AKA himself)

dramarama2 - you obviously haven't seen DHP being interviewed as 'himself' - he is NOTHING like Niles (apart from a slight physical resemblance ). Which kind of invalidates your opinion of his performance in Curtains (IMHO).

Fine if you didn't enjoy his performance yourself, but don't try to pretend it had no merit for that reason. He wouldn't have won other awards (including several Emmys) if the voters didn't see any merit in his acting.

I loved Raul Esparza's performance when I saw him in Speed The Plow and his time will surely come. But it REALLY pisses me off when his fans/supporters choose to disparage other fine actors in order to show their support.

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"Why did Marissa Jaret Winokur beat Bernadette Peters?"

Probably because Gypsy opened very late in the season with a relatively short window of time for voters to see her and during that time Peters was performing while suffering from a respiratory infection.

Again, that was the director's choice, not Raul's. With Sondheim's approval. Just because he's never been played a certain way doesn't mean he CAN'T be.

But it doesn't mean he SHOULD be played that way, either. Personally, I thought it was a HUGE mistake. And with a personality like that, I couldn't figure out why so many women were attracted to him. His personality came off more repellent than magnetic. While the likability of a character shouldn't be a factor in determining the Tony, I do think the actor's suitability towards a role should. Pearce simply sparkled in a role he was fortunate enough to create, but I've no doubt Esparza will get his Tony one day for something for more suited to his persona and abilities. I just don't think his Bobby was anything close to Tony-worthy whether it is was his own choices or the director's.

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