The 79th Annual Tony Awards Telecast! — Page 15

LIKES: Schmigadoon: Very lively, very colorful. Max Clayton looked good. Chicago: They presented very well, especially with Pink as Velma Kelly. Idk if Pink would be interested doing a few weeks of Velma, but she'd be great.

DISLIKES: Some of the speeches ran loooong. John Lithgow and Lesley Manville come to mind. The In Memorium segment: It irritates me that the camera sometimes focuses on the performer in parts. That wastes valuable screen time that could have included a few additional honorees.

djoko84 said: "gibsons2 said: "BentleyB said: "gibsons2 said: "djoko84 said: "gibsons2 said: "ACL2006 said: "Lorne Michaelsclearly bought his Tonys to try and get a 3rd season of this over-the-top musical."

I'm disgusted. Honestly, if the big check is all that it takes for Tony voters to fold and pick the mediocre ****e like Schmigadoon, then maybe Broadway deserves to collapse. I suppose people will keep paying when A list celebs are cast in acclaimed play revivals, but the new Broadway musical is dead. What a damn shame."

Actually, next year will have Paddington,Benjamin Button, and maybe Mexodus so the Broadway musical isn't dead. You're just having a tween tantrum because you have no taste."

I'm in my 40s and have a very good taste. When votes are clearly bought, it should make any Broadway fan angry. Enjoy your AI slop musical."

I am guessing by your many posts that you hate “Schmigadoon!”? Please explain to me like an adult how exactly you buy votes for a Tony Award? How much does it cost? I am really looking forward to getting one for a friend’s birthday."

You should be asking Lorne Michaels and that MAGA Blackstone woman these questions. They know"

You think the producers of the other shows don't have deep pockets?Stop with your tween tantrum. If you're in your 40s, act like it."

Obviously he can answer the question and just deflects. I am still wanting to pay for that Tony Award, but statements with no evidence is just a lie, so I guess you really can’t buy a Tony.

TigerBait88 said: "Congrats Tony voters…your big winners are a show closing in a month in Ragtime and a musicalthat people can just go watch on freaking Apple TV in Schmigadoon. That’s not even getting into the message that rewarding Death of a Salesman up and down the board sends.Good job!


Last year left me too happy. Feeling deeply annoyed on post-Tony Monday is a return to normal haha"

You mean the message that they actually voted for the best revival of a play rather than the revival with the least amount of controversy? Do you want this to be about politics, or merit? Based on your comments here, I'm willing to bet you didn't step foot into the Winter Garden to see Death of a Salesman. I am quite happy they actually chose the deserving winner rather than making a decision based upon who the lead producer is.

This was a very important Tony for me because for the first time ever I was able to see every nominee in the musical categories, and what a fun show!

P!nk had me in that amazing opening number, one of the best that this ceremony ever produced, she had some hiccups but overall great energy.

Most of the new musicals gave very little interested performances, but all 3 revivals were amazing.

With that being said, CHICAGO was just magical.

I was not a fan of RAGTIME winning but I loved the production so in a little space in my heart I'm happy but it's nowhere near close to the level of perfection that CATS is.

I saw 7 of the 8 acting winners (Lesley, you hate me!) and was very happy that most were veteran people, especially in the musical side with Joshua, Caissie and Shoshana!

I got 22 out of the 26 categories correct, my best this decade. As I said, loved the show.

A few thoughts:

- Pink was a fine host and would do great in a musical. Assume that’s in her future.

- Why did so many winners read from prepared notes? Put down the paper and speak from the heart.

- On a related note, I expected Lithgow and Metcalf to deliver amazing acceptance speeches. Both were so flat and underwhelming. Think Lithgow might still be speaking.

- On the flip side, Adrien Brody kept it tight to say the least

- I thought Mindelle was singing that poorly on purpose. Like it was somehow part of the act and a spoof. No way a Broadway performer could be that off track..guess they can.

- Looking forward to Paddington

Broadway61004 said: "jimmycurry01 said: "You mean the message that they actually voted for the best revival of a play rather than the revival with the least amount of controversy? Do you want this to be about politics, or merit? Based on your comments here, I'm willing to bet you didn't step foot into the Winter Garden to see Death of a Salesman. I am quite happy they actually chose the deserving winner rather than making a decision based upon who the lead producer is."

This exactly. I'm in no way condoning Rudin's behavior, but people acting like this is the first time a less than great person was given a Tony. If we were judging shows based on behavior of those involved, then Oscar Hammerstein and Bob Fosse would have a combined zero Tony awards."

I guess my point regarding Salesman was less about it being not deserving of a win and more about me not wanting to hear the wailing and gnashing about said producer’s conduct anymore if the industry clearly doesn’t give a crap in the end.

Went to the viewing party last evening at Green Room 42, and had a decently entertaining time. The host played games with the audience during commercial breaks and what have you, but some of the participants struggled with Broadway trivia, which was odd considering the event. They would play a clip from a song and you had to guess the Tony winner. Tell me why no one recognized Len Cariou’s “Epiphany” or George Hearn in La Cage? There was also a younger couple sat at the next table with an older, very kind and excited to be there couple. The younger woman, short, brown bob with a flip, wearing a white dress with multi-colored flowers could not have been nastier to them when she realized they had to all sit together. If you are reading this, miss, I hope you are having a rotten day.


The telecast itself was better than most in recent past, even if the musical line up was a dearth in quality. Very happy Salesman cleaned up, only wish Abbott and Lane had won as well. Saw yesterday’s matinee for the second time, and that cast — my god.

In my latest piece for Gold Derby, I dive into 26 records, milestones and fun facts about this year’s Tony winners (and losers).
https://www.goldderby.com/theater/2026/2026-tony-awards-fun-facts-records-trivia-egot/?fbclid=IwdGRleASUIuhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeFer8NwOrPGyFaTkd7mC8EBKPQPInvBZeFUyNGAiVyWRr3kJ85YN5VtSJAYU_aem_uU7oLDrEFBaMsbNO61HbRQ

Georgeanddot2 said: "Why is Titanique on Broadway? Does no one have any standards anymore? Has everyone eviscerated their frontal lobes with legal weed? Musical theatre has always been stupid (for the most part), but at least there used to be craft and creativity.

I thought Cats looked contemporary and thrilling. Tacky, sure, but Cats has always been tacky. It looked like true queer creativity.

The musical theatre community has always been deeply anti-intellectual ("just have fun!",so this full slip into braindead nonsense is not shocking. It's probably a CIA psyop to make gay people look bad.

Also, Rachel Zegler has always reminded me of someone and I realized last nightit was Ann Margret (complementary)."

Unless you have seen Titanique on Broadway, take a seat. It is an extremely entertaining evening. I’ve been multiple times and will be seeing it again. The audience roars with laughter from start to finish.

To Jeffrey Karasarides, you along with many others have credited Queen Jean's win for Best Musical Costume Design as the first time a Tony award has gone to an out trans artist. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Alex Newell win for SHUCKED in 2023?

PipingHotPiccolo said: "Chicago and BOM were there to sell tickets, but its 1050pm why am I listening to Rachel Zegler scream through A Chorus Line? To what end? (they didnt even mention that she will be back on that stage next year thanks to Evita...)"

They did mention EVITA, when she and Ben Platt came out to present.

Matt Rogers said: "Georgeanddot2 said: "Why is Titanique on Broadway? Does no one have any standards anymore? Has everyone eviscerated their frontal lobes with legal weed? Musical theatre has always been stupid (for the most part), but at least there used to be craft and creativity.

I thought Cats looked contemporary and thrilling. Tacky, sure, but Cats has always been tacky. It looked like true queer creativity.

The musical theatre community has always been deeply anti-intellectual ("just have fun!",so this full slip into braindead nonsense is not shocking. It's probably a CIA psyop to make gay people look bad.

Also, Rachel Zegler has always reminded me of someone and I realized last nightit was Ann Margret (complementary)."

Unless you have seen Titanique on Broadway, take a seat. It is an extremely entertaining evening. I’ve been multiple times and will be seeing it again. The audience roars with laughter from start to finish."

Just sink down into that warm bath of SLOP and DROWN.