Rant about the 2014 TONY NOMINATIONS here- Page 10

[alliez92092]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 12:20pm

Well Isherwood has a rant to contribute...

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/29/what-are-tonys-saying-by-ignoring-realistic-joneses/?smid=tw-share

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 12:22pm

I do feel badly for Radcliffe, who keeps coming back, god love him, and making lots of money for those producers. But I think the problem in this instance may be that it's largely considered to be an ensemble cast.

[beltingbaritone]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 12:26pm

My biggest disappoint is Margo Seibert not getting a nom. I thoroughly enjoyed Rocky. I also wholeheartedly thought she was the best part. Her two songs were the highlights of the night, and this is a show that has a boxing ring come into the audience. Sad face.

Updated On: 4/29/14 at 12:26 PM

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 12:27pm

Roscoe, I agree with you that Quinto's performance was all of those things. And many would similarly champion the work of McKellan, Stewart, Hall, O'Byrne, Fontana and Washington. I don't see that anyone got snubbed. People simply disagree when forced to judge performances.

I, and clearly others, however, happen to disagree with you that Barnett's performance was merely capable. You saw something ordinary. We didn't.

Newsflash: Acting. It's a subjective thing. Never better illustrated by a ranking of way too many acclaimed performances than can comfortably fit into a top five list. There's no way everyone will be happy with the results.

Similarly, it's great that Isherwood loved The Realistic Joneses.
But the fact that others don't share his enthusiasm doesn't mean the committee was sending a message that unconventional drama doesn't belong on Broadway; a simpler explanation for it not even taking up a potential fifth slot is that they just didn't like the play as much as Isherwood did.

People have disagreed about what's best on stage since Oedipus Rex won second prize at the Athens City Dionysia in 429 B.C.E. (losing to an unknown play by Philocles). Isherwood may be proved "right" (though there is no "right") - it's quite possible that The Realistic Joneses will be performed millennia from now, long after All the Way is forgotten. Who the hell knows?








Updated On: 4/29/14 at 12:27 PM

[loliveve]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 12:30pm

Broadway61004- thanks for answering my question!!! I'm now more amazed that it's happened so many times, and I just didn't realize it.

--
The "Bea Arthur Reacts to the Tony Awards' 15 Biggest Snubs" is funny. First it made me chuckle, but then I flat out laughed at the last one

[Miscel4given2]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 12:35pm

Paul Chahidi was nominated! And Samuel Barnett! It's a thrilled surprise!

[Steve721]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 12:37pm

"I, and clearly others, however, happen to disagree with you that Barnett's performance was merely capable. You saw something ordinary. We didn't."

I agree; Barnett was superb and completely convincing as Viola.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 12:40pm

Hardly a NEWSFLASH, Henrik. Difference of opinion is pretty standard round here, actually. They're all just opinions, after all. One person's extraordinary performance is another person's nothing even remotely special performance, yes of course, and frankly, no sh*t Sherlock.

Updated On: 4/29/14 at 12:40 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 12:43pm

Similarly, it's great that Isherwood loved The Realistic Joneses.
But the fact that others didn't share his enthusiasm doesn't mean the committee was sending a message that unconventional drama doesn't belong on Broadway; a simpler explanation for it not even taking up a potential fifth slot is that they just didn't like the play as much as Isherwood did.

But then again it may mean exactly that. Your theory is no more logical or illogical than anyone else's. Unless you're a mind reader in which case I defer.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 12:49pm

Bad 24 hours

First, I find out Craig Ferguson leaving The Late Late Show and now the big snubs in the nominations. What next?

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 12:52pm

I think Isherwood's points are well taken. Traditionally the committee does tend to reward mainstream over adventurous or avant-garde unless the adventurous or avant-garde manages to *become* mainstream (Nicholas Nickleby, Brooks' Midsummer Night's Dream). Well, it is showBUSINESS, after all.

Updated On: 4/29/14 at 12:52 PM

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 12:53pm

Tazber, I don't claim to be a mind reader. I don't even claim to know that there was no snubbery at play. I simply presume non-snubbery. Like the presumption of innocence, the presumption of non-snubbery doesn't claim to know the actual answer to the underlying question.


Sure one can point to a preference for tradition among Tony voters. But one can also point to the fact that among those critics who didn't love The Realistic Joneses are champions of the avant garde (as well as those who eschew it).

Someone can dislike, or not be all that impressed with, Phantom and not be predisposed against big musicals.

Someone can dislike, or not be all that impressed with, Machinal and not be predisposed against expressionist drama.

Updated On: 4/29/14 at 12:53 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 12:55pm

Still, it's just a presumption.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 12:56pm

This isn't making me "rant" it's making me a bit peeved. Williams snub for her (apparently) really good performance as Sally and where is Aladdin's nominations for Best Lighting, Costume, and Senic Design?? Really Tony's, really??

Updated On: 4/29/14 at 12:56 PM

[newintown]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 1:07pm

Yes,it definitely would be better to just give everyone on Broadway a Tony award (not just a paltry nomination!) for showing up, like we do with our kids' soccer teams these days.

We really should evolve past the outmoded concept of limited numbers of awards and nominations.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 1:13pm

My point exactly, Roscoe. "No **** Sherlock it's subjective" generally makes sense as a response to award nominations. The alternative response, "wtf - how could they snub (fill in the blank)?" makes for better copy, juicy gossip and vitriolic vitriol.

That's human nature. Let the games continue!




Updated On: 4/29/14 at 01:13 PM

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 1:19pm

Somebody made a comment about how both men from Gent's Guide is weird/unfair. The nominators do that consistently. Examples: last year (Kinky Boots: Porter and Sands), Book of Mormon: Gad and Rannells, Wicked: Menzel and Chenoweth.

It happens a lot. They like to recognize both leads.

Updated On: 4/29/14 at 01:19 PM

[NewSynchopation]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 1:20pm

Sad about no love for Michelle Williams or for Zachary Quinto, but at least they didn't nominate the colossal mess that was Rocky.

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 1:24pm

"I really thought that the love would be more widespread this year. I had high hopes for the Tony Awards this year – I thought that many more musicals would get a chance to shine (with not all of the focus on only one or two shows) and it really could be anyone’s game"

I think you have this backwards. Every musical already had its moment to shine, in that they put a show up on stage that got attention, audiences, reviews, etc.

So, the Tonys are specifically meant to reduce that list to what they feel represents the highest quality the season had to offer, not keep it a wider field so more can participate. They have a mechanism for allowing a fifth nominee for Best Musical, but the votes weren't close enough for that to happen.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 1:28pm

Much rather sit thru the colossal mess Rocky again than see If/Then once.

Williams apparently did not deserve a nod if you listen to many of the reviewers. I do agree with you on Quinto however.

[LYLS3637]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 1:31pm

"Much rather sit thru the colossal mess Rocky again than see If/Then once. "

Oh you're SO open-minded!!!!!!!!!!

[D2]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 1:34pm

You do know who you're responding to, don't you LYLS3637?

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 1:36pm

"Much rather sit thru the colossal mess Rocky again than see If/Then once."

Umm, you were a champion of Rocky when it came out... so, seeing something you like again hardly seems to be a punishment of any kind.

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 1:41pm

Glad to see Isherwood irked. That makes me happier than any of the nominations.

"I would love to know what of Shakespeare's works have you seen on broadway"

Many.

"and what made these productions not work for you?"

Rylance, primarily and overwhelmingly. Also, ordinary, humdrum acting by some others.

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 1:52pm

So, the Tonys are specifically meant to reduce that list to what they feel represents the highest quality the season had to offer, not keep it a wider field so more can participate. They have a mechanism for allowing a fifth nominee for Best Musical, but the votes weren't close enough for that to happen.

First, for the record, I never mentioned anything about having a fifth nominee for Best Musical. I understand how that works and was never bemoaning having only 4 nominees.

I am also not championing for a “everyone gets a star” mentality. As I said in my first post, I often feel that the favorites of the Tony season sometimes end up getting nominated/winning in categories they didn’t necessarily excel at and where I believe other shows were more deserving (but the favorites got the nomination or award based off of the momentum from some of the bigger awards). I often feel the technical design categories, specifically, get filled in with shows that were favorites overall instead of truly just looking at the categories on their own. So, when I say I thought it would be more widespread with more shows getting the chance to shine, I meant that I was hoping that more shows would get to shine in the categories they deserve to shine in (even if the rest of their show wasn’t recognized for anything), instead of shows getting “default nominations” in some of the smaller categories from being big hitters in the bigger categories (which is something I, personally, think is often the case).

This is, obviously, all just my observation, opinion, and theorizing. I never mean to assert anything as truth or fact on here when we are all discussing opinions, show reactions, etc. While this is what I personally think often happens, I understand and respect that others don’t.