Neil Patrick Harris to Host Tony Awards- Page 3

[StephenSondheimWHOO]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 5:16pm

Hurray! I think he is going to be awesome, he is so like able in everything he does

[legally_popular]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 6:04pm

I'm very excited about this!
I love the idea of him and Kristin Chenoweth hosting together, that would've been even better, but this is great news too.

I know a couple people who love NPH from "How I Met Your Mother," from just appearing on/co-hosting talk shows, and of course from Doogie Howser. So who knows, maybe new people will tune in.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 6:13pm

NPH is a Sweet dream come true for this.

Calvin -I now have an imaginary Maggie Smith doing play by play announcements in my head and its making me from crazy!

[ActingIsLovee]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 6:15pm

I'm excited!
And for those of you saying NHP wont attract enough viewers, I have to say that I doubt people who know nothing about Broadway would watch the Tonys regardless of the host. However NHP is well known, so it cant hurt!

This will be fun!

[Dre2387]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 6:27pm

all I got to say is that I hope he gets ready to SUIT UP!

[Plum]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 6:38pm

I think the choice of host matters marginally at best, ratings-wise. What matters is whether or not the shows of the year have enough buzz to get people moderately interested in theater (not the reliable hard core) to tune in.

But like most people on this board, I'm going to be watching no matter what, so there's no need for the Tonys to target me. It's just nice that they've given me something extra to look forward to.
Updated On: 5/14/09 at 06:38 PM

[suzycat]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 6:42pm

This was my best news of the day! Neil is adorable, and I can't wait to watch him.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 6:48pm

*faint*

[BlueforBroadway]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 7:36pm

When will they announce the presenters?

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 8:19pm

I think he will do great but i dont think he will bring in the viewers that the show is hoping for.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 9:11pm

He will appeal to theatre queens, like me, but he won't bring in any other viewers. ratings wise this will be a dud and probably knock the Tonys off CBS.

Hugh Jackman to NPH?

Good actor but not a mega star.

[Calvin]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 9:21pm

I think the choice of host matters marginally at best, ratings-wise. What matters is whether or not the shows of the year have enough buzz to get people moderately interested in theater (not the reliable hard core) to tune in.

Bingo. The host is on less than 10 percent of the actual broadcast. Even if Will Ferrell hosted and his fans across the country tuned in to see the opening (and they probably wouldn't) they'd be flipping the channel the second they couldn't figure out who the god of carnage is and why he wants to divide the estate.

If they wanted to make it a ratings bonanza, they would have to turn it into something very few of us on here would watch, i.e., very few awards actually aired and even fewer acceptance speeches.
Updated On: 5/14/09 at 09:21 PM

[CukorLover]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 9:25pm

He did a great job on the TVLAND awards. He'll be fine for this. Considering it was a really bland season for new musicals and revivals i don't think it matters WHO hosts.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 9:48pm

Whoopi Goldberg and Hugh Jackman didn't bring in viewers. I doubt Will Ferrell would have turned the Tonys into a ratings bonanza, either.

Regardless of who is hosting, the ratings just aren't going to be that high.

[tonight]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 10:17pm

YES. <3

[SharpCookies]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 10:24pm

If he doesn't sing during the whole show, I'll cry. I adore his singing; have been listening to his Tobias in the Sweeney Todd concert and a bunch of other stuff from him and he is good <333

[Plum]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 10:39pm

As long as the demographic of the viewers remains high-income people who might otherwise be hard to catch all in one place, the overall ratings don't need to be that high for the Tonys to be worthwhile to CBS. Simple ratings aren't all that matter.

I suspect the ratings this year will hover at about the same level they were last year - low, but not the lowest ever. That's just a completely instinctive guess on my part, though.

At this point, I'm just hoping they don't repeat what I consider the two dumbest moves of last year's otherwise okay broadcast:

1. Leaving the play revival category out of the broadcast. It was a strong category last year, and it's even moreso this time. Plays are flourishing this year - give them some respect.

2. Letting the non-nominated musicals have numbers during the broadcast. There just haven't been that many good musicals coming out these past couple of years - just enough to fill the new musical category, barely. No need to show off the mediocre and worse on national TV. Seriously, that bit last year was just embarrassing all around.

I'm sure Neil Patrick Harris will be amusing in his time onstage. And I'll give this to the Tonys - they move briskly and finish on time, thank Betsy. People won't be ignoring them because of Oscars-style bloat, but only if they're not interested in who's nominated.
Updated On: 5/14/09 at 10:39 PM

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 10:41pm

Isn't the CBS ceo a theatre fan?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 11:27pm

2. Letting the non-nominated musicals have numbers during the broadcast. There just haven't been that many good musicals coming out these past couple of years - just enough to fill the new musical category, barely. No need to show off the mediocre and worse on national TV. Seriously, that bit last year was just embarrassing all around.

Given that Dolly's show is a non-nominee for Best Musical, I'd bet your wish for #2 will not come true. I can't imagine them not giving 9 to 5 a couple of minutes, especially if Dolly agrees to be a presenter.

[Plum]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 12:00am

Well, at least 9 to 5 has a couple of good songs to use.

[fflagg]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 12:00am

Harris is in a mediocre CBS sitcom and is prob a cheap hire.

He may be good but he is not a star and will not do anything to spike the ratings. The host should have been Dolly Parton.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 12:26am

Dolly would have been a great choice... 25 years ago when she was a real somebody. This year she would not draw in anymore viewers than NPH. Furthermore his mediocre sitcom is one of the highest rated networks highest rated sitcoms following two and a half men and Rules of Engagement.
Aside from the mediocre 9 to 5 musical and a crappy cover of Stairway to Heaven, I really couldn't say what Dolly has done lately, and a whole lot of people just don't care about an aging country music star. I think a lot people would probably change the channel if the saw her hosting.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 12:33am

He will appeal to theatre queens, like me, but he won't bring in any other viewers. ratings wise this will be a dud and probably knock the Tonys off CBS.

Why do you say this?

For many years the Tony Awards telecasts have had low overall ratings, but CBS stayed with them. Why? Because the demographic the show delivers is one highly coveted by advertisers and CBS has no problem selling the ad time. I know people look at the declining ratings each year with alarm, failing to see the larger picture. Overall TV ratings are about 1/3 less now than they were 5 years ago.

As for Harris, a great choice. HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER is a big hit and part of CBS's growing Monday night comedy block with THE BIG BANG THEORY and TWO AND A HALF MEN. No, I don't expect fans of those shows to be suddenly interested in the Tonys, but really the awards are of a very limited appeal because most viewers do not have access to the shows unless they plan to go to New York soon.

And WHERE did the rumour that Chenoweth was going to host come from. Nothing on the TONY or CBS website ever mentioned her as possible host.

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 12:37am

NPH is a great choice for a host. He's on a CBS show so they'll be able to cross promote. He's involved with theatre so he won't drive away theatre fans like someone who isn't that involved with theatre might, he's funny and has good stage presence, he's got been in several projects that have garnered cult followings (Harold and Kumar movies, Dr. Horrible) and he's got pretty decent name recognition (better than say Kristin Chenoweth, or other more broadway centric candidates).

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 12:39am

I don't know that Chenoweth was ever actually rumored anywhere, i think it was just wishful thinking from a few posters here.