Is JERSEY BOYS still the dark horse this year?

As each new musical opens and I read the reviews (and see them for myself, of course) I can't help but think JERSEY BOYS has a better and better chance at taking home the Best Musical TONY this year.

WIW has no chance.

THE WEDDING SINGER might be nominated, but won't win.

THE COLOR PURPLE got allright reviews, but Oprah's been pushing it to no end.

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE was a very cute and enjoyable show, and may have a chance at the award. We'll have to wait for the reviews.

TARZAN doesn't have much of a chance, as far as the reviews I read. Although I'll wait to make up my own mind.

LESTAT...yea right.

Personally, of all the new musicals of this season, I think JERSEY BOYS is superior. I absolutely loved every minute. The story, the music and the performances are all outstanding. I for one hope it wins.

---

It has yet to open. So we'll see what the critics have to say.

Having seen both, I think JB is superior. Although, I still had a quite enjoyable time at DROWSY.

---

RentBoy86, remember Spamalot from last year?

I don't think Jersey Boys can be nominated for Best Score, because the music wasn't written for the show.

JERSEY BOYS should and will win, and the only possible chance of an upset is from THE COLOR PURPLE. If PURPLE wins, it is because of money and Oprah - not because the show is any good.

---

There's no way GREY GARDENS can move that quickly. They have 14 days until the TONY cutoff date.

And, to Munk, I say HELL, YES!

That is a shame about Grey Gardens.
I just hope it extends. It is magnificent.
Additionally Ebersole gives the performance of a lifetime.
But so does Felicia P.Fields.
And that is a definite "HELL YES"

But you have to remember, the Tony committee ignored jukebox musicals last season. All Shook Up was certainly worthy of a nom or two, but it was completely shut out (Best Orchestrations, Best Scenic Design, Best Actor?, etc).

All Shook up was a cute little show but does not compare to the performances in Jersey Boys.
JLY and Reichard are in another league. Same for Hoff and Spencer.
Cheyenne was talented, but the material in "All Shook Up" was a disaster. I found it entertaining, but it is not in the same hemisphere as Jersey Boys.
Hell, NO.
Gosh- I love that song. ()

Updated On: 4/26/06 at 12:40 AM

Nor did the music in FOSSE, and look what happened with that.

The fact that ALL SHOOK UP was totally snubbed last year was surprising to some, especially in the best orchestrations and best choreography categories, but it's not as if a show was nominated in it's place that wasn't worthy of the nomination. ALL SHOOK UP was cute and fun - I enjoyed it - but JERSEY BOYS is on an entirely different level, as Corine said above.

Saying ALL SHOOK UP didn't get nominated, so the Tony's don't like jukebox musicals is just stupid. It would be different if all the other jukebox's were wonderful - but only one is wonderful - and that's JERSEY BOYS. And let's not forget MAMMA MIA's slew of nominations.

---

The difference is that last season was ridiculously strong, with (at least) 4 very successful shows dominating the awards landscape. All Shook Up may have been snubbed, or it just may have been brushed aside by ardent admirers of the other shows. The nominations ultimately come about by a voting process, not an endless discussion of the best field of candidates (from the Tony's website: "Nominators serve for overlapping three-year terms. They are asked to see every new Broadway production and then meet on the Sunday evening following the Tony eligibility deadline. They determine the nominations based on secret ballots supervised by an accounting firm."). While rare, it's not improbable for it to occasionally end up like American Idol, where some nominators may assume the automatic viability of a show or property (Tamyra Gray or Ann Harada) and focus their energies on another (Nikki McKibbin or Isabel Keating). Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's my understanding of the nomination process.

This season there aren't 4 runaway hits. In fact, I'd be hard-pressed to call anything other than Jersey Boys or The Color Purple all that well-received at all. Jukebox bias or not, Jersey Boys was probably the best-received show of the year to date, and for that reason is as viable a candidate as anything.