Official 2013 - 2014 Tony Awards Thread- Page 20

[Eris0303]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 8:48am

Ashley Madison is an online dating service and social networking service marketed to people who are already in a relationship with the slogan "Life is short. Have an affair."
Ashley Madison

[Tigger]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 8:53am

There were no "wow" moments in the show as compared to last year. At its best, this year's show was competent and mediocre at its worst. The opening was very disappointing and though I adore Hugh Jackman, I don't feel he shone here as he did in the past. Truncating the major musical numbers from the nominated shows (Aladdin,Bullets..Les Miz..etc) didn't help sell the shows except to the already converted and I found Hedwig a turn off (this belongs off-Broadway), Sting a disaster and The Neverland number out of place. The Tonys in themselves reflected the mediocre Broadway musical season without bringing any elevating panache to the proceedings. Not a vintage year.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 9:00am

AHLiebross, you complained about the use of the terms actor and actress being sexist. You seem to say that both are actors. So your suggestion is that we have "Best actor in a musical" and Best actor in a musical" without giving regard to sex and getting everyone totally confused? Or are you suggesting they say "best Male actor" and "best Female actor"? If you prefer the latter, why do you feel that is any less sexist than simply calling them actor and actress?

The only fair way to not be sexist is to due away with the gender-defining categories and just nominate both male and females for Best Lead Performance in a Play/Musical and Best Featured Performance in a Play/Musical.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 9:00am

AHLiebross, you complained about the use of the terms actor and actress being sexist. You seem to say that both are actors. So your suggestion is that we have "Best actor in a musical" and Best actor in a musical" without giving regard to sex and getting everyone totally confused? Or are you suggesting they say "best Male actor" and "best Female actor"? If you prefer the latter, why do you feel that is any less sexist than simply calling them actor and actress?

The only fair way to not be sexist is to due away with the gender-defining categories and just nominate both male and females for Best Lead Performance in a Play/Musical and Best Featured Performance in a Play/Musical.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 9:17am

Hugh's opening: D - What the HOP? Now that I've read he was recreating a routine...I'm even too bored to continue this criticism. It was disappointing.

After Midnight: B+. Wow...I didn't have an interest prior to seeing this but it slightly raised my curiosity to go but I most likely will not.

Les Miserables: D. Nikki WOW that was horrific! I would NOT want to go see this but my dislike could be because I saw the original several times. This came off as a cheap high school production to me.

Aladdin: B. This was THE song that brought the house DOWN in the theater. It was slightly diminished for the Tony's. I was glad to see that it was as much as it was.

If/Then: C. Didn't peak my interest.

Rocky: C. Glad they showed what they did because this was the final few minutes everyone was saying was the only reason to see the show. I'm still not going.

Cabaret: C. Nothing special. Wasn't as good as I remembered years back. Not going this time around.

A Gentleman's Guide: B. "Fun, but probably better in context." agree with prior comment. Didn't interest me to go see it.

Hedwig: B+. Why this song?? Wish a different song would have been selected.

Violet: C. Not going to see this. The Tony Awards this year seems to have saved me a bunch of money because most of the songs featured made me realize I am not missing much.

The Last Ship: F. Thank you - will skip seeing this one next season. This sounded like it belonged with the Pirate Queen. I suffered though that ship wreck.

Wicked: C. "Not necessary" WHY. I love Wicked but when award shows are cramped for time...why the need for this?

Beautiful: A. This actually raised some interest for me. Loved seeing Carole King on stage too!

Bullets Over Broadway: C. eeehhh

Finding Neverland: C Has the awards show gone to a previews showcase?

Hugh Jackman...think he looks better minus the beard. The rap song was mildly amusing to see how it could be adapted but that was fleeting.

Ramin - loved seeing his son sleeping on his lap. Was that the epitome of: "I'm not going to win so I'll let my son sleep on my lap so that everyone knows I am not trying to pretend that I might win"

James Monroe Inglehart - WOOHOO Was SO happy for him. I was not a cheerleader for the musical Aladdin but he is clearly THE reason to see the show.

Audra - I am not a giant fan of Audra. I enjoy her but she doesn't make me run out to a show. Prior to the Tony Awards I was watching her interviews on the talk shows. Very interesting upbringing. Was great to hear how she approached this role. I actually think I might be more interested in seeing "Lady Day..."

Shame for not showing the In Memoriam!

Overall...the Tony's weren't all that they have been in prior years for me.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 9:33am

Go one step further. Give everyone a Tony so no one feels bad afterward. No more contests just give everyone an award.

While we are at it, why did someone not go onstage and beat the producer of Gentlemen's Guide with a sledgehammer. He went on and on and would not stop. The 90 second rule was very lax at times and at others it was non existent. Cranston was rushed while the Gentlemen went on and on forever.

[JayG 2]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 9:43am

BEAUTIFUL was like some bad scene from a 1940s movie musical." Wow! You wrote this!? Gee, Honey, it's great. Let me play it. We have to give it to the Shirelles!" If that's not high camp, I don't know what is.
And that cliched tripe was nominated for best musical - let alone best BOOK. It has the depth of Judy and Mickey's "Let's put on a show!" I cannot believe that level of adolescent writing was honored with a nomination. What a joke the Tony Awards have become.

Rocky did itself no favor with the jumbled scenes.

Idina's screeching is so annoying, but I liked the song (Anyone know when she takes her vacation? I would like to see the show.)

I really enjoyed Gentleman's Guide, but not sure that scene will send tourists rushing to the box office. The show is a bit twee, as that proved.

Violet reminded me of Leap of Faith (which has a better score, by far.)

Les Mis came off well - Ramin sings the hell out of that score Poor Nikki James out of her league with this one. Does Swenson have to scowl so much. All he needed was a moustache.

NPH is ACTING his little tush off. Meh. Andy Karl in Rocky and the guys from Gentleman's Guide were stronger in their respective parts.

The hopping host was a silly, WTF moment. Not even a pay-off. Who the hell thought of that nonsense

Song from NEVERLAND sucked. If we had to get a number from a show that was unavailable - why not Bridges which actually was honored with two awards.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 9:44am

Oh, good grief. He didn't go on forever. Its the biggest award of the night. His dream just came true, get over it.

[wonkit]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 9:50am

My general impression of the evening as a whole was it seemed like the "Hugh Jackman Variety Hour, with special guests..." Including material from future shows is a waste of time because it is not only out of context but out of an unknown context. Scenes from long running shows feel like a commercial break. Limit the number of people on stage to three, no matter how much money they invested. And people who thank God are not saying that he intervened to give them the Tony but that human life produces rewards for work and dedication and they are grateful for that. For me, no great surprises but also no great excitement either. Next time, broadcast the memorial and leave Sting home.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 10:14am

They could have also not had Wicked perform. I get that 10 years on Broadway is a huge deal, but remembering some of the great people who worked in the theater is more important to me.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 10:14am

Ramin - loved seeing his son sleeping on his lap. Was that the epitome of: "I'm not going to win so I'll let my son sleep on my lap so that everyone knows I am not trying to pretend that I might win"

Or he thought he had a chance and wanted his family there in case he won. That's actually one of my pet-peeves, when parents bring their small children to unsuitable places. I wondered how his son could sleep through all that racket, especially when a moment later the audience erupted into cheers when Audra read off NPH's name. Leave your single-digit-aged children home!

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 10:26am

^I'm 87% sure that they weren't actually sleeping and it was a joke. No need to call Child Protective Services.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 10:38am

AV Club gave it a B.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 12:22pm

The show got beat by Miss USA last night in the 18-49 rating last night.

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/06/09/tv-ratings-sunday-nba-finals-dominate-miss-usa-up-tony-awards-steady-cosmos-finale-down/271357/

I think that show got a little bit of a boost because Florida Georgia Line was performing. This ratings news kind of bothers me a little bit because the Miss Universe Organization's pageants really "jumped the great white" on and off from 2006 to 2012. I finally had enough in April 2012.

http://www.tmz.com/2012/04/03/donald-trump-no-apology-transgender-miss-universe/#.T3yDko7YdO1

I've always preferred Miss America since 2012.

Updated On: 6/9/14 at 12:22 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 12:40pm

"Steady" is good for the Tonys.

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 12:52pm

"Hugh Jackman...think he looks better minus the beard"

It's for a movie that he starts filming soon

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 12:56pm

"Hugh Jackman...think he looks better minus the beard"

Jackman is playing Blackbeard in a film based on 'Peter Pan'.

[jemjeb2]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 1:00pm

Dramamama: re: "Raisin" 's director's comment on his actors' listening - I understand your point (and his) but it still seemed like a narrow aspect to throw such weight behind in an explanation of why his revival was Tony worthy. And when he bragged about that point, I wondered how HE knew they were LISTENING (his emphasis) to each other. They are apparently good actors - maybe they were just acting like they were listening.
Frankly, I thought he seemed somewhat ineloquent both times he was at the mike.

Updated On: 6/9/14 at 01:00 PM

[Alix]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 1:22pm

http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/pictures/the-10-best-and-worst-moments-from-the-2014-tonys-20140609

Interesting list. I mostly agree with RS's assessments, though I wasn't quite as enthusiastic about Sting's performance (but I didn't hate it, either).

Updated On: 6/9/14 at 01:22 PM

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 1:41pm

I must be missing something, because I’m surprised at all of the love for the “Beautiful” performance. I found it sloppy, boring, and (most disappointingly) did not show me why Mueller deserves her Tony. Obviously, there is much more to her performance than we can see from a few minutes on the Tony’s, but she was so lackluster to me last night.

I also found the rap very fun and creative. I’m not sure what the backlash of having rappers at the Tony’s is all about: I loved the melding of the two musical forms.

Idina was wonderful. I felt like she took the audience on a journey throughout the song and she sounded great. That should certainly create some buzz around the show (and the newly released cast album).

The Sting performance wasn’t particularly exciting, but it DID make me excited to hear how it will be when sung by musical theatre performances and in context of the show.

None of the performances swayed me one way or the other regarding what I want to see. The shows that I already have tickets to see were the performances I found the best and most interesting. The shows I was on the fence about showed me that they are essentially what I thought those shows had to offer and solidified my disinterest. I wish something unexpected had blown me away. I have an open slot for my trip at the end of the month and was hoping to come off of the Tony’s sure of what I wanted to fill it with. Unfortunately, I’m still up in the air.

[actormcfamous]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 1:57pm

Anyone know where I can find the entire broadcast online? Help a poor American actor currently visiting Europe out! :)

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 1:59pm

The SD version is already on newsgroups/torrent sites, but no 720 or 1080 yet, assuming you know how to do any of that.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 1:59pm

To those who like to compare the hostings of Harris and Jackman: They have completely different styles and personas. Harris is the naughty man-child who projects that "aren't I outrageous" vibe complete with lots of snark and ironic humor--not that there's anything wrong with that, at least in moderation. It certainly appeals to his base. Jackman is the smooth, debonair showman who can dance with the nominated ladies and make them swoon, yet can be unselfconsciously dorky and remain likable because he is projecting his sincere self with no irony. Both play to their strengths. For those who clamor for one or the other to return, here's what it seems to boil down to: Harris was fortunate to have better writers last year than Hugh had this year. That's all.

Updated On: 6/9/14 at 01:59 PM

[SidebySidebyLogan]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 2:01pm

Was Denzel there? I didn't see him. It seems odd he for him not to be there nomination or not.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 6/9/14 at 2:10pm

Denzel was not there. Perhaps he was hurt about being the only main actor to not have been nominated.

"I’m not sure what the backlash of having rappers at the Tony’s is all about: I loved the melding of the two musical forms."

I loved it, but a lot of people hate change, and having ANY kind of music that's not a traditional Broadway tune offends and freaks them out. A lot of people also think rap and hip hop aren't real music. (eyeroll)

I look forward to hearing Jeremy Jordan sing the song from Neverland, I guess that's his big number.