Riedel: Tonys are a drag (La Cage)

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 2:19am

Why did he devote an entire column to this? I rather have found out the cast to Women on The Verge or something juicy.


http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/theater/tonys_are_drag_guIQOLEfRBCFwYt81a4zgI

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 2:24am

Wow, he clearly had no real material. I also hoped for something juicy. Oh well, there's always Friday.

[BrianS]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 2:45am

"But Barry didn’t take up anyone’s stage time. He spoke quickly and lucidly (unlike other producers I could mention) and graciously introduced Friedman."

Actually dips#!t, if you're going to snark about theater for a living, know your s#!t.

Regardless of the politics, it was agreed upon before the show that Sonia Friedman would speak on behalf of the production. Hence her name in the subtitle upon their win. Barry broke their agreement. It's their business, but if you're gonna report it, report it right.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 2:46am

Is ANYONE really surprised Barry Weissler had to steal the spotlight?

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 3:08am

Honestly, I think David Babani had a right to be pissed. I was pissed for him. It was so rude how they did that to him. Anyone remember when they tried to do that to Elaine Stritch several years back? She told them!

But really, I thought it was so rude, especially when Scarlett Johansen was allowed to babble on and on. I kept waiting for them to cut her off, but they never did. The Menier Chocolate Factory HAS contributed to Broadway in the past couple of years (I'm so curious to see what's gonna happen with their production of Aspects of Love). Anyways, I felt it was horribly disrespectful.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 4:25am

I'm really looking forward to Rupert from Survivor and "That guy from the WB/CW/UPN" taking over for Grammer and Hodge.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 7:25am

>Regardless of the politics, it was agreed upon before the show that Sonia Friedman would speak on behalf of the production.<

The truth is that Barry Weissler, Sonia Friedman and David Babani had agreed beforehand that they were each going to speak quickly and within their allotted minute and a half. They alerted the Tony Awards about their intentions, but were cut off anyway, 30 seconds early. Barry Weissler didn't take time away from anyone.

Updated On: 6/16/10 at 07:25 AM

[TreyKenyon]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 8:00am

First of all, "and this was to be Babani’s moment in the Tony spotlight — or, to be more accurate given the telecast’s pathetic ratings, the Tony lantern." LOVE that quote hahah

Secondly, if the Brits should be pissed it should be at Tony producers for having a clear bias towards Hollywood. Some alluded to Scarlett's speech, which had to be nearing the 1:30 mark if not longer. Even a casual viewer like my mom noted "where's the damn orchestra?" lol. Not to devalue an award in favor or another, but that precious speech time should have been reserved for awards that entailed multiple speakers.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 8:27am

"But just as Babani stepped up to the microphone, the orchestra, now a modern-day version of the old vaudeville hook, swelled up and CBS cut to yet another commercial for antidepressants, which would come in handy an hour later when “Memphis” won Best Musical."

lol

[bjh2114]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 9:13am

Scarlett was also the first of the night... and the orchestra never has it together by then. The first speech always runs long (or at least often does). It has nothing to do with her Hollywood status. It has to do with the mess that is the Tonys yet again.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 10:36am

And I'm sorry, this is a telecast that's supposed to be entertaining since ratings are involved, ad time is involved, etc. Audiences at home (myself included) would much rather see Scarlett Johansson give a heartfelt speech that runs a bit too long than see a bunch of suits talk.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 10:40am

So does this mean BrianS is also a dips#!t who doesn't know his s#!t?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 10:58am

My favorite line:

Let’s stop all this sniping, guys.

Did he say this while targeting the Weisslers from the roof of Sardi's through the scope on his rifle?

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 10:58am

Scarlett was also the first of the night... and the orchestra never has it together by then. The first speech always runs long (or at least often does). It has nothing to do with her Hollywood status.

I'm sure if Jessica Hecht or Jan Maxwell had won, they'd have been cut off after about one minute.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 11:01am

^I'm not. They always start out slow and then manage to go "oh crap, we are behind" by the end of the telecast.

[wcoyote]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 11:44am

Maybe if they allotted 5 minutes of airtime to Green Day and A.I. like all the other shows instead of 10 minutes the winners would have had time for their speeches. And I'm not just picking on A.I.. They could have cut Chenoweths song too. Maybe just do Turkey Lurkey time which would have featured the dancing and the nominated actor from P.P.

[BrianS]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 12:31pm

"So does this mean BrianS is also a dips#!t who doesn't know his s#!t?"

Very possibly, but based on how it played out and by his own account of the after-party, I don't think so.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 12:48pm

I'm sure if Jessica Hecht or Jan Maxwell had won, they'd have been cut off after about one minute.

I doubt it. Scarlett wasn't the only one with a lengthy speech at the beginning. They all started that way due to poor time management from the production team. Scarlett is just taking all the hits for it because she's Scarlett.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 12:52pm

What the hell is with all the Scarlett hate lately? Not necessarily in this thread but in general? Girl gave one of the best debut performances I've ever seen on the stage and rightfully won a Tony for it, now everyone's acting like she stole it like Menzel did to Pinkins!

[BrianS]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 12:54pm

I just re-watched it and they got cut off at 40 seconds while most everyone else got a minute and a half. Looks like smaxie was right.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 1:12pm

Cheno and Hayes should have just double hosted.

And it is weird that they cut them off, but like someone said, it's not as entertaining to have some suits talking about their show and thanking people we don't know.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 1:14pm

They essentially did.... since she was on the stage so much. :-P

[broadwayfreak2]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 7:06pm

RentBoy86 - They SHOULD have double hosted!! It would've been even MORE hysterical!!

[TreyKenyon]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 8:28pm

I have no hate towards Scarlett, it's just that that speech seemed long by any awards show standard. I don't pay that close attention to most speeches, but normally you zone out/check email and they're done lol but she kept talking.