Tony Awards should be renamed Popularity Awards

[AngusN]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 1:15pm

It seems that the Tony Awards are increasingly awarding the biggest star in each category, rather than the most worthy (talented) performers.
Do you think they are doing this to keep the theatre alive and well?

[tazber]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 1:18pm

I think that both Kelsey and Sean are bigger stars than Hodge and then didn't win.

And Angela is a bigger star that Katie.

[Piper3500]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 1:19pm

oh please.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 1:20pm

Not in every single category. But I agree with the OP, CZJ, Scarlett and Denzel were not the best in their categories, I think the Tonys did become a popularity contest this season.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 1:21pm

Exactly, Tazber.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 1:24pm

Well, according to a number of delusional posters on here, Montego Glover is a "star" and she didn't win, either!!
Updated On: 6/14/10 at 01:24 PM

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 1:27pm

Well, anyone nominated for a Tony is a "Broadway star" I'd say. And I knew all along CZJ would win. I think that Kate Baldwin and Montego Glover were more deserving of the award.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 1:27pm

SHUT UP.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 1:28pm

Quick, muscle, without looking it up, name the nominees for Best Featured Actress in a Play in 2002.

You should know their names, since by virtue of their nominations, they're all "stars."

[Piper3500]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 2:03pm

"I think that both Kelsey and Sean are bigger stars than Hodge and then didn't win.

And Angela is a bigger star that Katie. "

jsyk, my "oh please" was for the OP and not you. I agree with you. I am sick of hearing this popularity/hollywood winners nonsense. people are not always going to agree, but at the end of the day, no matter whether their mainstay is in NY or Hollywood, London, they are all actors.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 4:08pm

Denzel was incredible, and deserved to win. It was a close race for a reason. Liev or Alfred were equally deserving, but there can only be one winner at the end of the day. I actually think Denzel's work is slightly undervalued, because he is such a massive, super-duper movie star. If he was a nobody, there'd be less muttering about him beating out close competition. But facts is, he's also one of the best actors on the planet, despite being Mr Movie Star.

Besides, he'll probably win another Oscar when they do the movie version of Fences, and The Tonys will end up looking like soothsayers. It'll be seen as one of the canniest wins, if the movie version sweeps the Oscars. I'm sure Viola Davis will win an Oscar as well.

Johansson was the heavy favorite in a weak-ish category. Blame the Broadway stalwarts for not giving an undeniable enough performance to prevent some novice movie starlet from stealing their thunder. Johansson may not have been undeniably brilliant, but clearly nobody else stood out enough to kill her momentum.

Zeta-Jones is a musical theater pro. In hindsight, it's not a big suprise that she managed to deliver on stage.
Updated On: 6/14/10 at 04:08 PM

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 4:12pm

In ANY awards show popularity is going to play a part in the proceedings. If popularity was not a part then the "For Your Consideration" ads would not exist, whether it be for the Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, Grammys, or any other award that people lobby to get.

I also find it amusing the reversal we see with the Oscars and Tonys. You often see people complaining that the Academy is out of touch and constantly awards the movies that "the people" never see and have little to no interest in, but with the Tonys you see people get outraged and incensed over the fact that the "popular" show or actor that audiences want to see won and not the more "artistic" choice.

(BTW, I am neither defending nor detracting from Memphis's win, as I have not seen the show, this is just a generalization to awards in general)

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 4:36pm

So...how do we explain all the Hollywood stars who don't win Tonys every year? Last I checked, there were more than three Hollywood actors on Broadway this last season and there were eight acting awards. The same eight acting awards every season which generally do not go to Hollywood actors. And why should Hollywood actors automatically be disqualified from Tony contention or even public opinion? Seems like anyone who performs on Broadway should be given the same consideration that people may simply enjoy their performances and vote for them.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 4:38pm

The Poppys has a nice ring to it!

[Marinacat]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 4:44pm

Sometimes the big stars are... that good.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 4:45pm

WHY ARE PEOPLE BITCHING ABOUT THIS.

Zeta-Jones, Johansson, Washington and Davis were all MORE than deserving of their awards. You might not think that they were the best in the category, but you cannot say that they did not deserve what they won.

And for every 'Hollywood' type that was nominated/won, there are plenty more weren't even nominated:

Sienna Miller
John Stamos
Gina Gershon
Daniel Craig
Hugh Jackman
Bebe Neuwirth
Nathan Lane
Kristin Chenoweth

So please, get over yourselves.

[defygravity24]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 4:45pm

And most of people nominated are popular. Unless the part is your big break, most of the nominees have had large parts before in some part of the industry, regardless if it was stage, movies, or tv. So basically everyone nominated is somewhat popular.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 4:46pm

Johansson was the heavy favorite in a weak-ish category. Blame the Broadway stalwarts for not giving an undeniable enough performance to prevent some novice movie starlet from stealing their thunder. Johansson may not have been undeniably brilliant, but clearly nobody else stood out enough to kill her momentum.

Actually most critics and pundits (save for the NY Times) predicted Jan Maxwell to win. So no, Johansson was not the "heavy favorite."

[jrnelson90]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 4:53pm

If it was all about popularity I don't think Memphis would have won, it would have been Fela! or Idiot

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 6:47pm

"And for every 'Hollywood' type that was nominated/won, there are plenty more weren't even nominated:

Sienna Miller
John Stamos
Gina Gershon
Daniel Craig
Hugh Jackman
Bebe Neuwirth
Nathan Lane
Kristin Chenoweth

So please, get over yourselves"

The only A-lister on that list is Jackman, who already has a Tony. Hugh, Denzel, CZJ and Scarlett are A-listers, the artists you just mentioned aren't.

[Elke]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 6:58pm

Since when is Daniel Craig not an A-lister?

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 6:59pm

Was he ever above the title of any movies? He wasn't in 007, I think.

[Elke]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 7:13pm

Yes, he was... Check some posters of 'Defiance', 'Quantum Of Solace' and I think even 'Flashbacks Of A Fool'.

And I think a celebrity can be an A-lister without having been above the title on a movie poster. But that's just my opinion, I guess

[wolfwolf]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 8:37pm

But CZJ is good in that role but I think the biggest joke is Memphis

[chellie]

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

It's not as if it was a year where there were powerhouse performances by new names to choose from...most of the performances were kind of lackluster that were nominated this year. I thought Jan Maxwell was a better choice than Scarlett Johansson in their category, but I often think a similar thought ("x was more deserving than y") whether it's Hollywood names or not.