Sir Elton Has No Class
Sir Elton Has No Class
A Director
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/18/07
#1Sir Elton Has No Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:35am
I thought Sir Elton's shout out to Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt showed he has no class. It was obvious he was upset he didn't win Best Score. At least, Yorkey and Kitt had class when they mention him as one of their heroes.
Sir Elton's score is so-so.
#2re: Sir Elton Has No Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:38amI understand what you're saying, but I have to say that I know a great deal about Elton and he is very, very sensitive and insecure. He is no egomaniac whatsoever. When considering that it makes his behavior a little more understandable. I find his insecurity, as a performer, rather endearing.
Feb. 28 - Looped, Feb. 28 - Next to Normal, March 4 - Hair, March 11 - A Little Night Music, March 24 - Time Stands Still, April 6 - La Cage Aux Folles, April 10 - Anyone Can Whistle (City Center), April 10 - Looped, May 9 - Enron, May 15 - A Little Night Music, May 15 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Little Night Music, June 20 - A Little Night Music, June 23 - Red, June 23 - Sondheim on Sondheim, July 13 - A Little Night Music, July 18 - The Grand Manner (Lincoln Center)
#2re: Sir Elton Has No Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:39amum, I actually think he was showing that there is more talent than just him out there. and it was a great speech. he was a good sport about it.
~Dirty Rotten Scoundrels~
~Curtains~
~A Tale of Two Cities ~
#3re: Sir Elton Has No Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:43amI have watched his speech twice now and there is no malice there at all. A genuine congratulations from oen composer to another. How could you read any animosity into what he said or how he said it.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
#4re: Sir Elton Has No Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:44amI thought it was extremely classy of him. I, too, felt it was a sincere and genuine compliment to Kitt and Yorkey.
#5re: Sir Elton Has No Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:49amI felt it came across legitamitely. I don't think he intended for it to sound catty. Frank Langella on the other hand... Updated On: 6/8/09 at 02:49 AM
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#6re: Sir Elton Has No Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:51am
Oh give me a break.
It was totally sincere and legitimate.
People need to calm themselves about BILLY's wins. It's a phenomenal show that deserved to win a truckload of Tonys tonight. Is N2N good? Of course. I enjoyed it just a smidge more than BILLY. But still it's not like ROCK OF AGES won Best Musical. BILLY deserved its ten awards. N2N deserved more recognition than it got but what can you do? It is what it is and that's all folks. They're not going to take away BILLY's award and give it to N2N so get over it. Period. Goodnight. 
Updated On: 6/8/09 at 02:51 AM
#7re: Sir Elton Has No Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:57am
"Frank Langella on the other hand... "
Catty or no, I thought he was extremely entertaining.
#8re: Sir Elton Has No Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:00amYeah, Frank was just hamming it up and reminding us that he is still a theatre presence, not heading out to Hollywood. He also reminded the voting committee that shows from earlier in the season are, indeed, still part of the season.
Feb. 28 - Looped, Feb. 28 - Next to Normal, March 4 - Hair, March 11 - A Little Night Music, March 24 - Time Stands Still, April 6 - La Cage Aux Folles, April 10 - Anyone Can Whistle (City Center), April 10 - Looped, May 9 - Enron, May 15 - A Little Night Music, May 15 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Little Night Music, June 20 - A Little Night Music, June 23 - Red, June 23 - Sondheim on Sondheim, July 13 - A Little Night Music, July 18 - The Grand Manner (Lincoln Center)
#9re: Sir Elton Has No Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:03am
Thank you, WiCkEDrOcKS. Even if you didn't think Billy deserved to win Best Musical, this is far from the worst winner the Tony Awards has crowned. It's a wonderful show and a crowd pleaser. The only people I've heard not to like it reside on this board.
~Steven
miss pennywise
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/7/04
#10re: Sir Elton Has No Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:06am
Elton John was being gracious and supportive of Kitt and Yorkey.
Frank Langella was just being playful. He had the audience in stitches!
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#11re: Sir Elton Has No Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:10am
Eh, so what if Sir Elton was disappointed that he lost? I thought he seemed very gracious considering he was a huge loss for Team Billy. Heck, if I were one of the only people not to win a Tony from my show, I'd feel a little left out. He seemed very supportive and genuine.
~Steven
#12re: Sir Elton Has No Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:14amPeople who saw BILLY at the opening predicted back then that it seemed to be set to win Best Musical. I am glad NEXT TO NORMAL got best score (I hoped it would take Best Book as well) - but otherwise the awards went pretty much as expected. Overall, a fast moving show. But far to many technical glitches. The people who did tech should not be hired again. Ever.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
#13re: Sir Elton Has No Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:17am
It's because the technical categories were not awarded live. The Tony-nominated designers must have put a curse on the telecast. I'm sure those newly awarded Sound Design Tony winners could have figured something out.
~Steven
crushgroove
Featured Actor Joined: 6/27/07
#14re: Sir Elton Has No Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:26amThat's a sketch that was written for Langella...someone else wrote the bit for him to do...
#15re: Sir Elton Has No Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:31am
How do you know? I hardly think Frank Langella would be incapable of coming up with it himself.
Either way, it was still a highlight of the evening.
#16re: Sir Elton Has No Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:56amIt wasn't what was written on the teleprompters or what he said at the dress rehearsal, and the people running things really freaked out. He took twice as long as he was supposed to, he only ever approached near-funniness, and the whole thing was basically a three-time Tony winner throwing a tantrum over the fact that he didn't get a shot at a fourth.
~Lina Lamont
My name wasn't, isn't, and will never be Scott.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#17re: Sir Elton Has No Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 5:26am
1. I don't think EJ was being catty at all. Any "lack of sincerity" might actually be his nervousness...he's (believe it or not) a socially awkward man.
2. I LOVED Langella -- I don't care WHO scripted it. (Most of the stuff we see is indeed totally scripted) A temper tantrum? Hardly. A bit of a smack that the Tonys need to do their job and see MORE shows rather than waiting until the nominations are announced? A well-deserved one at that.
#18re: Sir Elton Has No Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 7:15am
"He also reminded the voting committee that shows from earlier in the season are, indeed, still part of the season."
"A temper tantrum? Hardly. A bit of a smack that the Tonys need to do their job and see MORE shows rather than waiting until the nominations are announced? A well-deserved one at that. "
I agree. Although he talked mostly about his play that ran last fall, I saw it as him speaking for all the shows that ran in the autumn and closed long before the nominations were announced.
Back on topic, I thought Sir Elton was very classy with his comments.
Updated On: 6/8/09 at 07:15 AM
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#19re: Sir Elton Has No Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 7:17amAs someone who felt that Langella was snubbed this year, I very much enjoyed his routine.
DirectorGP
Stand-by Joined: 8/24/04
#20re: Sir Elton Has No Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 7:38amWithout Elton John there never would have been Billy Elliot... I thought he was gracious
#21re: Sir Elton Has Pure Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 7:53amYou're wrong about Elton John. I thought what he said was lovely.
#22re: Sir Elton Has Pure Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 8:06am
I agree with those who say it was classy - in fact, it was one of the first comments we made when the show ended. It felt completely genuine to us.
I'm not so sure, however, about Frank Langella. Even if it was a bit, it came off as bitter.
#23re: Sir Elton Has Pure Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 8:30am
I didn't understand it either, but I thought he was just congratulating them.
Still it was weird that he chose to do it at that time.
#24re: Sir Elton Has Pure Class
Posted: 6/8/09 at 8:32amI totally disagree. I thought he was congratulating them and I thought he was just saying how much he liked them!
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