Rembember When Raul Esparza Lost the Tony to David Hyde Pierce... — Page 2

Please. I am begging you. Don't get me started on Stew.

If we're talking travesties, what about Idina Menzel over Tonya Pinkins in 2004?

I absolutely adored Curtains!

That said, Raul should have won.

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there should be a thread entitled
"Biggest Upset at the Tony's"

or

" Who do you think was robbed?" something like that...there have been many over the years....

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Does anyone have the clip of Raul losing? The look on his face was kinda priceless. Sorry, Em.

Also, last night was a great night for tv. You mofos should be watching Chuck!

Updated On: 5/25/10 at 10:07 AM

I loved Curtains and thought DHP absolutely deserved the Tony. While I agree that Debra Monk and Karan Ziemba gave wonderful performances; I think that it was DHP's name that initially got people in the theatre. Once you were in the seats however, you could help but be charmed by the rest of that talented ensemble. I also thought the part was very demanding and he did a wonderful job of making it look effortless. I'm not taking anything away from Raul's performance, but the only thing I remember about it is his singing Being Alive, whereas I remember most of DHP's performance.

Allll that said, if there's any justice at all, this year's Tony should go to Sahr Nguajah for Fela!. I didn't enjoy the show as a whole, but he was incredible, making a very demanding performance look effortless.

Just as a footnote; my opinion is skewed toward DHP. I've been a big fan of his since the fourth season of Frasier. So you'll have to excuse me as I am indeed blinded by the light.

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To be fair, Doyle didn't paint Robert's friends in the best light, either.

I was/ am on team DHP as well.

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I definitely thought Raul deserved it. That loss is the one that most upsets me.

But - as for this year - It seems I am absolutely the only one to think so, but this is how I would feel if CZJ won this year. I saw ALNM Friday night, and I felt like she wasn't even IN the show! That (absolutely annoying) character Anne seemed to be the real star, and CZJ was in so few scenes. I mean, she had one real song, and it was only good bc it was CZJ, not bc it was sung well. I guess all hope of Sherie Renee Scott winning is gone now, but I think she really deserves it. I enjoyed Montego's performance so much (such a great voice) but it wasn't really anything new or inspired, just a solid vocal performance of same-old material.

Seriously - CZJ was barely in the show !ughhh

I still haven't gotten over this.

I understand why people get a little riled about Contact being nominated as a musical, but there aren't enough ballets produced on Broadway to warrant it as a category. Swan Lake, Movin' Out, The Times They Are-A-Changin' and Come Fly With Me are the only other others in the last 20 years or so, all categorized as musicals for the purposes of the Tony awards. I do think the omission of Swan Lake for Musical Revival was rather odd as it was considered a musical by any other category (winning 3 Tonys) and it garnered much stronger praise than Little Me, Peter Pan or Charlie Brown.

The critical role the music (pre-recorded or not) played in the production coupled with book's use of narrative, character, and structure placed it into the musical category rather than as a play or special event. This wasn't a touring "feature" show like Blast or Riverdance, nor was it a concert event, stand-up or memoir performance. Nor was it a "play with music", which would have been slightly more appropriate for The Dead, though like Contact, the use of music was far more critical to the production than a "play with music" where the music plays a featured role, mostly in setting.

That being said, I do think Contact was a better show than the other musical nominees and its award was well-deserved. Had it not been nominated for Best Musical, Marie Christine or Aida would have taken the slot and Aida might have won simply for its commercialism, though personally, I would give it to Wild Party or The Dead.

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Updated On: 5/25/10 at 01:24 PM

For you Phyllis, my love :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw6yqCHyy-g

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