Posted: 6/12/23 at 2:39pm
I mean, to give EDSOSLO858 a bit of credit, they were reposting what was reported by BWW and the trades; the revised number is out now.
Glad to see a slight bump!
Posted: 6/12/23 at 3:04pm
JSquared2 said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Tony-Awards-Draw-342-Million-Viewers-11-Decrease-From-Last-Year-20230612
3.42 million viewers this year (3.86 million last year)."
That's actually incorrect -- ratings were up from last year. but we would expect nothing less from Mr. "The Sky Is Falling/Gloom and Doom/People will NEVER return to Broadway!!"
https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/tony-awards-ratings-viewers-1235641114/
4.3 million, highest since 2019
At least you're consistent."
You're blaming him for quoting an article from this very site? The article has since been updated, but the URL remains the same, saying it was a decrease.
"It was originally announced that the ceremony had been watched by 3.42 million people; updated ratings, including Paramount+ streams, show the improved number."
Posted: 6/12/23 at 4:59pm
Not for nothing, but Kimberly Akimbo is currently the #3 trending on Twitter right now.
Posted: 6/12/23 at 6:46pm
MemorableUserName said: "JSquared2 said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Tony-Awards-Draw-342-Million-Viewers-11-Decrease-From-Last-Year-20230612
3.42 million viewers this year (3.86 million last year)."
That's actually incorrect -- ratings were up from last year. but we would expect nothing less from Mr. "The Sky Is Falling/Gloom and Doom/People will NEVER return to Broadway!!"
https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/tony-awards-ratings-viewers-1235641114/
4.3 million, highest since 2019
At least you're consistent."
You're blaming him for quoting an article from this very site? The article has since been updated, but the URL remains the same, saying it was a decrease.
"It was originally announced that the ceremony had been watched by 3.42 million people; updated ratings, including Paramount+ streams, show the improved number.""
It also broke a record on PLUTO for the most watched Live event.
Posted: 6/12/23 at 6:48pm
I watched with friends, so I liked the ceremony even tho we didn't have a script.
Some very good performances, a lot of queer artists getting recognized, two of my favorite shows won their top categories and that opening number was killer - DeBose is so great!
Yes, some situations are odd, but seeing acting clips (for musicals, no less!) was such a good thing that the strike impact felt very minimal.
Posted: 6/12/23 at 8:24pm
uncageg said: "[...] The optics factor is silly in that so, so many people of color were front-and-center throughout the show, from the hostess and presenters to nominees and winners and then performers from the various shows.
I don't see how anyone could really say it "looked bad" for Sean to win because he's white. Your breakdown, Jonathan, further illustrates why he may have emerged the winner.
I do agree the men who lost the award looked quite peeved, however."
Ok, so I was not the only person who noticed the looks on their faces."
What looks on their faces? Are you referring to their smiles and applause?
I DVR'ed the Tonys this year, so I was able to make screen captures of the moment right after Sean's win was announced, as well as the shots of Stephen McKinley and Wendell Pierce during Sean's acceptance speech. (I'm hesitant to post them because I'm unsure of copywrite law).
ALL of the men were smiling immediately after the announcement, and Wendel Pierce could also be seen applauding. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II had the broadest smile of all the men, and when the camera cut back to Stephen McKinley during Sean's speech, he was still smiling.
I don't know what you think you saw, but I feel like you're doing a huge disservice to the integrity of these men by implying that they were "peeved" about Sean's Tony win.
To say that the moment of Sean's win was "cringey" also does them a disservice. The "optics" are of a white person trying too hard to prove that they are not prejudiced; going unnecessarily overboard to project an "I'm a GOOD white person" image. Reminds me of this scene from The Color Purple: I've always been good to you people - We know that, ma'am!
Updated On: 6/12/23 at 08:24 PM
Posted: 6/12/23 at 9:15pm
John Adams said: "
I don't know what you think you saw, but I feel like you're doing a huge disservice to the integrity of these men by implying that they were "peeved" about Sean's Tony win.
To say that the moment of Sean's win was "cringey" also does them a disservice.
"
AMEN. I would have given the award to Hawkins or McKinley Henderson, and I thought Wendell Pierce was as good if not better than Hayes, too. But this is a category where 80% of the nominees were Black men. Which is PHENOMENAL and speaks to leaps and bounds made in terms of representation of what we are seeing on a Bway stage. To now suggest that ALL the winners/nominees have to be of this race, of this persuasion... My god. I just can't fathom the world this viewpoint wants to see.
The only Black nominee won in the musical category. The only White nominee won in the play category. These are the sorts of random outcomes that signal representation and equity.
Posted: 6/12/23 at 11:12pm
Ok, here's brief rundown/recap on my thoughts from last night.
First off, this year's Tonys hit different for me on a personal note because I was actually at the United Palace a few weeks ago (seeing the Young People's Chorus of NYC - amazing group, check them out!) so like the whole time I kept being like "hmmm I wonder if there's some famous Broadway person sitting in the seat where I sat and who is it??"
PAY THE WGA but I did not miss a scripted ceremony at all. Ariana DeBose was nailing it out of the park. I did however miss the whole "this is their X tony award nomination and X win" part.
Jordan Donica's voice can cure all my life's problems. (Bonus points if YPC is singing with him but that's another topic)
Michael Arden's acceptance peech is now tied with Rachel Chavkin as my favorite from production people
Most of my predictions/hopes at least for acting awards/best shows came true: Brandon Uranowitz, Bonnie Milligan, Alex Newell, and Victoria Clark in their respective roles (I was a dead split between Victoria and Micaela for lead actress though), and Leopoldstadt, Parade, and Kimberly Akimbo in their categories. (Disclaimer however, those are the only shows from this season that I actually saw - and loved them all). I'll be honest, I was rooting for Ben as lead actor but don't get me wrong, I was absolutely thrilled for J. Harrison Ghee and especially having not one but TWO openly non-binary winners. That said, it's 2023 and they need to figure out a way to divvy up the awards that isn't based on gender.
Performance wise, Shucked was my favorite performance hands down and probably now my top show to see from the 2022 - 2023 season. Kimberly Akimbo I think should have done a different number, maybe Better or This Time. Anagram is good, but I don't think it's the best advertising. I love Parade, and This Is Not Over Yet but I think that song is getting to be overdone for marketing/promo purposes. I would have loved it if they'd done All The Wasted Time instead.
Give Milky White a Tony. Enough said.
All in all, I loved this year's ceremony and was (mostly) quite happy with the outcomes!
Posted: 6/12/23 at 11:26pm
PipingHotPiccolo said: "John Adams said: "
I don't know what you think you saw, but I feel like you're doing a huge disservice to the integrity of these men by implying that they were "peeved" about Sean's Tony win.
To say that the moment of Sean's win was "cringey" also does them a disservice.
"
AMEN. I would have given the award to Hawkins or McKinley Henderson, and I thought Wendell Pierce was as good if not better than Hayes, too. But this is a category where 80% of the nominees were Black men. Which is PHENOMENAL and speaks to leaps and bounds made in terms of representation of what we are seeing on a Bway stage. To now suggest that ALL the winners/nominees have to be of this race, of this persuasion... My god. I just can't fathom the world this viewpoint wants to see.
The only Black nominee won in the musical category. The only White nominee won in the play category. These are the sorts of random outcomes that signal representation and equity."
That last paragraph says it all. Well put.
Posted: 6/12/23 at 11:38pm
I feel as though Ariana could relax a bit more when speaking; allowing more for her genuine qualities to dominate. But other than that she is super talented and she moves extraordinarily well.
I think I still prefer Radio City Music Hall. The program looks more expensive and majestic.
Updated On: 6/12/23 at 11:38 PM
Posted: 6/12/23 at 11:38pm
Okay but just watching the first half… what is Colton Ryan doing? Why did anyone allow that? That’s awful.
Didn’t think &Juliet sounded bad. She prob sounds like that daily but in their own theater they can cover stuff. But it wasn’t bad.
Posted: 6/13/23 at 7:47am
I FINALLY GOT THE ANSWER as to why Aaron Rodgers was at the Tonys.
His teammate CJ Uzomah was a producer on Aint No Mo, who invited him.
Poor Aaron - he hasn’t looked so out of place since he guest hosted “Jeopardy”.
Posted: 6/13/23 at 6:09pm
Wonderful ceremony!
Still kinda unsure WHY Funny Girl performed, especially since they're closing soon, (an industry person I know said that it may have been a Lea demand, but that's just a rumor). BUT... she crushed it so I can't complain too much.
Posted: 6/13/23 at 6:20pm
DJD4 said: "Wonderful ceremony!
Still kinda unsure WHY Funny Girl performed, especially since they're closing soon, (an industry person I know said that it may have been a Lea demand, but that's just a rumor). BUT... she crushed it so I can't complain too much."
That number was the best part of the show and the only reason I watched. Had I known it would be at the end, I wouldn't have watched any of it. Not sure how much she can demand anything from the Tony people...or did you mean her producers paying for the slot? If it was the Tony's idea, I kind of like the fact that they believe as many of us do, had she opened the show, she would have been nominated, if not won the prize last year. They still have 3 months worth of tickets to sell - which is kind of what the show is all about - advertising.
Posted: 6/13/23 at 6:21pm
DJD4 said: "Wonderful ceremony!
Still kinda unsure WHY Funny Girl performed, especially since they're closing soon, (an industry person I know said that it may have been a Lea demand, but that's just a rumor). BUT... she crushed it so I can't complain too much."
Reasons that they performed:
1) They paid for it.
2) The show had time to fill.
3) The have a National Tour to sell.
Posted: 6/13/23 at 6:53pm
PipingHotPiccolo said: "To now suggest that ALL the winners/nominees have to be of this race, of this persuasion... My god. I just can't fathom the world this viewpoint wants to see."
Who here has suggested that? Maybe someone has, but I missed it.
As a socially progressive White person, I admit the moment when Sean Hayes won gave me a bit of discomfort. That does not in any way mean that he didn't deserve it; it means that the historical statistics have trained me to do a gut check when four Black people lose to a White person. The subsequent discussion on this thread, and in other venues, has rightly overruled my gut.
Posted: 6/13/23 at 11:01pm
I liked what Michael Arden said about stamping out intolerance of any kind but isn't it also intolerant to make fun of a religion like they did with Book of Mormon?
Posted: 6/13/23 at 11:36pm
JSquared2 said: "DJD4 said: "Wonderful ceremony!
Still kinda unsure WHY Funny Girl performed, especially since they're closing soon, (an industry person I know said that it may have been a Lea demand, but that's just a rumor). BUT... she crushed it so I can't complain too much."
Reasons that they performed:
1) They paid for it.
2) The show had time to fill.
3) The have a National Tour to sell.
"
And it was one of the biggest stories of the Broadway season and I think the Tonys like to honor things from the season in general (same reason Phantom was used for In Memoriam). No surprise at all plus they didn't perform last year.
Posted: 6/14/23 at 3:58am
MBFan said: "I liked what Michael Arden said about stamping out intolerance of any kind but isn't it also intolerant to make fun of a religion like they did with Book of Mormon?"
Tons of discussion occurred around this when the show originally came out and if interested, a Google search will bring up the relevant articles and other threads. Here's one of the first hits that explores the question you raise:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-book-of-mormon-why_b_886419
Posted: 6/14/23 at 7:04am
Its been a few days and I've finally caught up on most of the TONY press coverage.
Overall, the response was great. Lots of raves about this years show.
Plus, isn't it wonderful to see ratings go up tooooo?
Posted: 6/14/23 at 9:39pm
Whoever produced the 'In Memoriam' segment on the show deserves an Award of some kind. Finally, a memoriam which actually respected our dearly departed with an appropriate song sung by a spectacular singer (she sent shivers down my spine more than once). It was first class all the way.
Now, if only the Grammys, Oscars and Emmy producers can take note and improve the messes they have been giving us the past 25 years or so...
Posted: 6/14/23 at 11:49pm
MBFan said: "I liked what Michael Arden said about stamping out intolerance of any kind but isn't it also intolerant to make fun of a religion like they did with Book of Mormon?"
While I give the Mormon community a TON of credit to the way they reacted to BOM---other religious groups' reactions would have been.... different-- id hardly suggest mockery/criticism is the sort of intolerance--mob antisemitism, modern day targeting of LGBT people-- that Arden was referring to.
Posted: 6/15/23 at 2:34am
JSquared2 said: "DJD4 said: "Wonderful ceremony!
Still kinda unsure WHY Funny Girl performed, especially since they're closing soon, (an industry person I know said that it may have been a Lea demand, but that's just a rumor). BUT... she crushed it so I can't complain too much."
Reasons that they performed:
1) They paid for it.
2) The show had time to fill.
3) The have a National Tour to sell.
4) Lea is giving what is by far the most critically-acclaimed performance currently on Broadway.
5) Lea gave the greatest individual vocal performance on the broadcast.
6) By announcing she would perform, it got more people to watch the show.
7) By putting her on at the end, it got more people to watch more of the show.
8) If FG’s producers actually did have to pay, they would have been fools not to ask the producers of her next show (Chess?) to chip in.
Wendla’s back in town. You don’t have to like it, but you’d best learn to live with it.
"
Posted: 6/15/23 at 12:22pm
The Sweeney number is drawing universal raves in comments posted to the CBS YouTube video, even the choreography. They really filmed it well to capture the haunting nature of the staging and the thrilling nature of Groban's entrance.
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