Just An Opinion Of Legally Blonde/LoveMusik @ Tony's

[RentHead2]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 11:26am

I was just looking over an article on playbill.com regarding Legally Blonde and LoveMusik and how they are not allowed to perform at the Tony's this year. Does anyone else but me find this a shame. I have watched the Tony's the past couple of years and I am honestly disapointed because there is not enough performances and too much talking. And the performances that are given, are shortened significantly - which I know is because of the timeframe of the Tony's. But half the time I watch the Tony's I am just awaiting the performances. It’s a shame that Legally Blonde and LoveMusik are put behind the 8 ball, especially when they were nominated for significant other categories. Its absolutly how the Tony Committee withdrew their offer for these 2 shows to perform at the Tony's. Not saying that I loved either, but in all fairness they should be given a fair shake.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 11:28am

I would personally rather see performances by these two shows than Fantasia.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 11:32am

It wouldn't be fair to other new, non-nominated productions that are still open, such as Les Miserables and The Pirate Queen.

What I would offer instead is for the opening number of the telecast to be a montage of all new productions (that are still open) of the season. This would allow all new shows a "commercial" spot and would be fair. Therefore, the eleven shows this year would receive about 20 seconds each for a 3 1/2 minute opening segment. Doesn't seem like much, but is enough to get the marketing job done.

Plus, what a way to celebrate the season! A showcase of all new shows performing at the Tonys. It solves both problems: celebrating Broadway and being a commercial.

Updated On: 5/24/07 at 11:32 AM

[AC126748]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 11:33am

If they let LOVEMUSIK and LEGALLY BLONDE perform, they would've had to let every musical that's running on Broadway and wasn't nominated perform.

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 11:36am

Plus:

"The New York daily says that producers of the musicals that have been nominated in the Best Musical category — including Curtains, Grey Gardens, Mary Poppins and Spring Awakening — were upset that the Tony producers were changing the rules and felt that allowing other musicals to perform might deprive their shows of airtime."

That makes perfect sense to me.

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 11:44am

I don't for a second grasp the argument that it would be unfair to the other nominated shows to allow Legally Blonde and LoveMusik to perform. (Seth Rudetsky, my fingers are getting tired of typing out full show names!)

There's not one thing fair about the Tonys. (Just ask the costume department at the Pirate Queen>) It's all arbitrary, and if the people involved in the show had any common sense they would make it their priority to produce the most exciting, entertaining broadcast possible. Others have suggested that CBS should put on a yearly two hour spectacular featuring performances from all over Broadway while the awards themselves are given out at a nice little dinner party for the 500 or so people who actually care about anything other than best musical and best actor awards.

I know some here have a lot of disdain for American Idol, but that Finale they put on last night was one hell of a lot more entertaining than any Tony Broadcast I've ever seen.

[Virgo]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 11:58am

I was just reading that article and did kind of feel bad for them but then I got to this part:

"They believe that allowing musicals not nominated for a Tony to perform would open the doors for every show, nominated or not, to demand some sort of airtime."

This is true, everyone would want to perform. Now, regarding Fantasia possibly performing, hers is an entirely different situation. She is the biggest new talent to hit Broadway in YEARS (according to the critics) and has received reviews that some of the most trained actors could only dream of, so, if she performs I understand completely. Furthermore, it doesn't hurt that her life story, which was told on a small cable channel received 19 million viewers of which it appears almost all on this board watched. LOL.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 12:08pm

They should put a number from THE PIRATE QUEEN on so when the TV viewrs see the costumes and choreography, they would realise what idiots the nominators are that they overlooked the best costumes on Broadway right now.

My head is still reeling from that snub.

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 12:11pm

So what if everyone wants to perform? Everyone also wants to get nominated, and that doesn't happen. The precedent that should be set is that the best, most entertaining possible broadcast is put on, and if the producers of nominated shows don't like it, tough s**t. They still get to crow about all their nominations in their advertising.

At the rate things are going there soon won't be a national television platform for Broadway to promote itself just before the summer season every year, and that will be a real shame.

Of course Fantasia should perform. It's nice to hear about this year's show getting at least one thing right.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 12:12pm

I just think if they are applying the "if you are not nominated, you don't perform rule" the same should apply to Fantasia, regardless of reviews.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 12:14pm

They want ratings.

Fantasia can bring in viewers who are fans of her R&B music, etc.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 12:20pm

Hook - I don't know if you remember, but they did just that a few years ago (I believe it was 03-04 or 04-05? Whenever Brooklyn played). They had video clips of each show which opened that season at the top of the show. A very nice tribute, which Legally Blonde, LoveMusik, Pirate Queen, etc., can benefit from.

But those shows aren't nominated for best musical, so therefore, they don't get the live performance. That's life, those are the rules.

[unckristen]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 12:23pm

If it's a matter of ratings, then Legally Blonde would be something they could promote to non-theater-goers. I somewhat understand the complaint of the nominated shows, but from a viewers perspective, what about lead performer nominees that we can't see? Yes, I know that argument would still apply to nominated shows that choose to feature other performers, but allowing Legally Blonde and LoveMusik to perform would help make the show more complete for anyone watching it who wasn't familiar with all the shows (and let's face it, if the Tony's are lucky enough to draw in those viewers, then those are the viewers that producers of both the Broadway productions and the touring productions want to draw in)

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 12:42pm

I know some here have a lot of disdain for American Idol, but that Finale they put on last night was one hell of a lot more entertaining than any Tony Broadcast I've ever seen.

Then watch American Idol. Enjoy it. And don't watch the Tonys if you don't find them entertaining. That's your choice.

[RentHead2]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 1:35pm

Here's the thing about the Tony's: the reason why it's unexciting is because more than 90% of the awards that are given people do not care about. Or let me rephrase that to not get myself in trouble here, I don't care about it. I want to know: Best Actor/Actress in a Musical, Best Actor/Actress in a Play, Best Play, Best Musical, Best Score. Thats it.

They could make the Tony's a presentation of what Broadway had to offer this year despite whether it is nominated or not. Like I said previously, Legally Blonde and Love Musik should have their chance to shine. And it's a shame that other shows are complaining that they would take away from the spotlight. There's not much spotlight, last time I checked the amount of viewers for the Tony's is dwindling.

And I saw that many of you commented on Les Mis and Chorus Line not being able to perform - honestly is this in the same realm as Legally Blonde. These shows have graced the Tony's at some point and have had their time to shine. Just an opinion but I think it's a shame!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 2:48pm

RentHead, A CHORUS LINE is performing at the Tonys this year, as they are nominated for Best Revival of a Musical.

And it's a shame that other shows are complaining that they would take away from the spotlight.

They're not complaining that the other performances would take away from the spotlight. They complained that the addition of the performances of non-nominated shows would cut down the already limited amount of time that they are alotted for their performances.

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 3:25pm

"And don't watch the Tonys if you don't find them entertaining. That's your choice."

Finally, an argument that's more ridiculous than that old BWW standby "If you can't write or perform a better show don't say anything.".

I want the damn Tony Broadcast to be entertaining! Is that reallly too much to ask? Of course I'm going to watch the thing, but I wish a few million of my countrymen would want to join me. There's nothing wrong with trying to get better ratings for the Tonys, and in fact this is the only way these broadcasts will continue on national television.

If I was in charge of CBS my response to the "Legally Blonde" flap would have been to threaten to replace this year's show with a night of "Gilligan's Island" reruns. This would most likely draw more viewers.

People tuning into watch a performance from Legally Blonde might also see something that interests them from "Grey Gardens" or "Company" and decide to check those shows out next time they were in town. Recent Tony broadcasts have been little more than info-mercials designed to convince anyone who might tune in that live theater is boring and not worth bothering with. I do take great solace in knowing that at least the rules have been followed.

[Dawg]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 3:26pm

I'd love to see the very smart producers of LEGALLY BLONDE Buy a one-minute commercial during the Tony's where they have a full-on live performance to make it look as though it's part of the telecast and announce or have it printed on screen 2007 BEST MUSICAL NOMINEE - with "drama desk" in very small print.

As it is, this year's Tony's are going to be an utter snoozefest. Not to say the shows nominated aren't swell, but they're all (with the exception of Poppins) dark, creepy-looking or standard musical theatre fare that most of America isn't interested in.

Look at last year's Tony presentation. Quite clearly-the only musical that came across as fun and exciting on the Tony telecast was the longshot, Wedding Singer. Of my non-musical theatre friends that watched the Tony's, Wedding Singer was the only thing that they were interested in after watching the telecast. You know full-well the same would happen with Blonde - THAT's why the other producers are terrified of them performing. They're not threatened by LoveMusik and they're not afraid of having 7 seconds cut from their own performance time.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 4:15pm

Quite clearly-the only musical that came across as fun and exciting on the Tony telecast was the longshot, Wedding Singer. Of my non-musical theatre friends that watched the Tony's, Wedding Singer was the only thing that they were interested in after watching the telecast.

Well obviously it didn't interest them enough to go out and buy tickets, because the show closed at a loss by the end of the year. Quite clearly, ticket sales is what it comes down to for the producers. The TV network are the ones who get paid for the ratings. You guys are cheering to make the show more pocket-friendly to the TV network. They're not going to stop airing the Tonys.

Updated On: 5/24/07 at 04:15 PM

[tomemiller]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 4:28pm

I believe that Fantasia should not perform because she would be presenting a show which is not nominated this year. Maybe its Oprah pulling strings, but if Fantasia gets to perform then I believe that "LoveMusik" and "Legally Blonde" should.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 4:31pm

Only nominated musicals perform at the Tony's. Why does it seem to be a big deal this year that the musicals aren't nominated aren't performing?

[gettinhep]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 4:43pm

Because this year, the invitation was actually made to those shows.

I think the real confusion is that they don't know what sort of Award show they want. Do they want an award show of sophistication? Do they want a commercial for Broadway? Do they want to be all things to all people?

[americanboy99]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 4:55pm

AIDA wasn't allowed to perform.

They won BEST ORIGINAL SCORE and BEST ACTRESS, among others.

Why is this even worth discussing now?

[Unmasked05]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 5:01pm

I think they should let all shows that opened and that are still running up till the TONY Nominations are announced should be allowed to perform. I can tell you right now that as a avid broadway theatregoer that I'm not really impressed with the TONY's this year nor was I impressed last year with an exception with a few performances. The TONY's should salute Broadway in general whether a show is nominated or not. There are tons of working actors who are in not so great shows who are busting there @$$es eight times a week to put on a good show ever night and for all of them this is there ONE NIGHT to let you see what there doing ....HELL let me see what there bringing to the table every night. I can't get to New York all the time and there are MILLION and MILLIONS of Kids and adults who may never hear of that show because it wasn't nominated for a Tony.
If producers from these other show that were Nominated for Best Musical are upset cause they think there shows are going to lose money because of ONE NIGHT...then they need to tell there actors to BUCK UP and get on there A-Game..if they are that scared that there shows won't get there spotlight.

I HATE when people are promised something and then they have it taken away from them...that humiliating. I think the TONY's really should look into letting every show that opened that season and that hasn't closed after the Nominations have been announced to be allowed to perform....to me that just fair and equal at least if there not going to get nominated and they have managed to stay open that long without a nomination let them do their thing.

I'm really ranting and nobody may understand what I'm getting at or trying to say....but I thinks its sad that the underlying probably is people are to concerned about the money and not the art and the people who work damn hard whether there in a good show or not.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 5:05pm

maybe they should change the rule to all the new musicals will perform-thats one of the big reasons ppl watch the tonys-for the performances.