Tony Awards' Host Is Up For Grabs- Page 2

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 6:47am

jasobres, that is a really good point. Do you know how much more time we would have for performances from nominated shows and for acceptance speeches if they eliminated all the bullsh;t they have the host and extra performers do? Hugh Jackman must have used 45 minutes of the 3 hour time period performing all of his crap last year, in addition to all of the non-Broadway pop stars they bring in to perform numbers completely unrelated to the prior season on Broadway. Eliminate the garbage and give us more of what the awards are about: the awards. No host is a fantastic idea.

Updated On: 3/30/06 at 06:47 AM

[OverTheBoone]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 6:59am

"Hugh does a fair job, but I think it's time for a change. Just NOT Billy Crystal! Please. What about Will Farrel?"

Oh dear god, not Will Farrel!

[Mamie]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 7:12am

I agree completely with jasobres. I think having a stand up comedian making wise cracks for 10 minutes has absolutely no place in the show. I also love plays and it always bothers me that the plays get the short end at the Tony awards show.

The ATW always says that they hope TV coverage of the Tony awards will help bring in business to the theatre community. I think they can do this better by doing away with the awards ceremony as it's currently done and instead give us a show that presents the best of each nominated show and performance on Broadway. Then announce the winner and give them an extra showing. All the awards can be announced and presented prior to the actual show itself.

I really think they blow it in trying to mimic the Academy Awards and Emmys. People in Toledo watch TV and go to movies - they DON'T know about shows on Broadway. Why should they be sitting there nervously waiting to hear who won the Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role award when they've never seen the show and probably have never seen any of the actresses? Instead show them what those actresses are actually doing that got them that nomination and just announce who the winner is. Seeing all that good theatre just might bring them to NY for their next vacation!

[jo]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 7:31am

I think, perhaps, that we may be missing the point of the TONY event. It is the time when the theatre community celebrates the season, thanking each member of the community for celebrating the mystery and the magic of the theatre, and congratulating those whose performances and creative talents have been outstanding. If all that the theatre community wants to do is simply to advertise what's playing on Broadway, there are many other ways of doing that - appearances on national media, perhaps a special yearly documentary on what plays and musicals have opened during the season, special show videos on theatre sites, or just plain media advertising.

Theatre fans are given a chance to take part in this season-end celebration by being there at the event and cheering for each and every nominee. I have never felt more a part of the Broadway community than by witnessing this happen at Radio City Music Hall last year. Even if you cannot be there, just watching the celebration of those outstanding shows and performances makes you glad that you are a fan of the theatre!






Updated On: 3/30/06 at 07:31 AM

[Mamie]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 9:33am

That's all fine and dandy, jo - but that's not what they're aiming for when they present a large awards show on national TV. The Tony awards really are a very local award for a very local entertainment commodity. If that's what is being celebrated, then the TV show will never do any more than entertain and satisfy people in that locality.

What I'm saying is separate the TV show from the actual awards night. Go ahead and have the awards and celebrate Broadway theatre. But film it and then put together a special show, possibly broadcast on PBS, that shows who won all the Tony awards that year and WHY they won those awards.

Remember the first hour of the Tony awards on PBS a couple of years ago? It was fantastic. Do that for all the awards and you have a real winner.

[jsrocks]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 9:45am

I really like Hugh, but I'm getting tired of seeing him host year after year. I think it's time to get someone new.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 9:46am

Would love to see either Carol Channing or Liza.

[hughfan2]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 10:03am

Have the Tony officials heard of the phrase "If it aint broke don't fix it"?

There is no better host than Hugh Jackman! He has the talent and the charm and the humor and the looks etc. etc. etc.
And, he even won a Emmy for his hosting skills.

Without question, he should be this year's host. I'm ready to pluck down another $400 for my ticket if he is.

[Pippin]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 11:11am

I think they could get away with having the spamalot boys split up the responsibiltiy- Hank, Tim, and David. People would tune in for them, including all the straight husbands who saw them with their wives.



or- since it's the 60th anniversary, why not have some of the broadway legends each host a small portion of the show. Liza, Chita, Bernadette, Elaine, Barbara (cook), and so on. now I know that the divas would never agree to split billing, but we can always dream.

[greencup]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 11:34am

Haha, Pippin, that would be awesome!

[Flash-In-The-Pan]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 11:37am

The trick is always how to make it legitimately theater AND enticing to a TV audience. The chasm seems to get wider every year, and the ratings go down down down. Broadway, sadly, is just not relevant to a mainstream TV audience any more. It's sad but true.

Here's an idea though. What about the Sex and the City gals hosting? Sarah Jessica Parker has been on Broadway a lot. Cynthia Nixon in currently starring in Rabbit Hole. Kim Catrall just finished a well-reviewed revival of Whose Life is it Anyway on the West End, and Kristin Davis is about to do Exonerated, also on the West End. Sure, their show has been canceled, but a reunion of those gals would still be sexy and exciting, and they all have current or very recent theater connections to Broadway and West End theater. VERY TV- friendly. It'd attract WAY more young people than it normally would. Sure, it's selling out a little, but not entirely. Get Bruce Vilanch to write a few jokes. Toss in a Matthew Broderick cameo. Maybe Mr. Big could pop by. Advertise like crazy that there'll be special appearances by Oprah, Julia Roberts, Juliana Margulies, David Schwimmer, Tyne Daly, Tim Daly, Paul Rudd, maybe Julian Moore can start peddling her David Hare play for next season, Cyndi Lauper could sing a song. I don't know, sounds like a good show to me.

Tonya

[mortgageguy79]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 11:42am

I loved when Rosie hosted! She was on Broadway this season, I think she would be GREAT! She rally does have such a great feeling for Broadway (Taboo excluded!)

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 1:00pm

Yes, Rosie was the best host in recent memory (especially in 1997), but people don't feel the same way about her now that they did back then. I do, but many do not.

[hughfan2]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 1:26pm

I agree that Rosie was great. She did alot for Broadway when she had her talk show. But. . . . she is a distant second to Hugh Jackman. He single-handedly turned The Boy From Oz into a profitable show and high profile producers are fighting over him as we speak for a return to Broadway

Hugh Jackman is the best choice for host this year and every year!!!!!!!!!!!

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 1:28pm

Take a chill pill.

There's a slight chance he'll host this year.

But, every year?

GOD NO!

[NBC]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 1:30pm

I vote for Harry Connick, Jr.

[Sleeper2]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 1:59pm

I vote for Wanna Be A Foster's avatar as the Tony host -- wearing exactly that outfit, or less.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 2:36pm

Am I the only one tired of Billy Crystal's shtick? I want to see someone host the Tonys that I don't see everyday. Someone with some connection to Broadway other than the fact that they sank some money into a show (Oprah). Hugh was nice, but let's get someone new.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 3:41pm

Billy Crystal was the funniest thing about last year's tonys.

Liza should host

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 3:44pm

Why must we continue to think that movie-goers are going to tune in because Hugh Jackman hosts? Or that Harry Connick, Jr. is going to bring in more viewers? Oprah has serious clout, and for that reason I thought she was a viable choice, but the rest of these are just ridiculous, petty attempts to attract an audience that could not care less (and that won't tune in now matter how hunky these guys are).

It's time to showcase Broadway as the art form it is. Let Hollywood have its glamor; let Broadway have its own. Give me a stage full of complete musical numbers and scenes from nominated shows, performances by our legends, behind-the-scenes footage of artists and their crafts. And get a theater god to host the event.

Go ahead and eat me alive for this. I want to see Angela Lansbury again.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 3:45pm

Barring that, my vote goes to Deal or No Deal Girl #17.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 3:52pm

They should ask Harry Connick Jr. And of course, he could croon some of the old Broadway hits of Porter, Gershwin, etc.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 3:55pm

So we can hear Connick slaughter some more great musical theatre, i think not.

I would love to se Angela or someone along those lines.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 4:01pm

They should go with Suzanne Somers.

[wowobball2000]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 4:10pm

I agree with everyone who said that we need a new host. Hugh is good, but I think that 3 years in a row is enough already! Let's give someone else a chance. Who that someone else should be, I don't know. The Sex and the City gals idea was a good one, although not probable.