Tony Awards' Host Is Up For Grabs- Page 3

[Horton]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 4:21pm

Who holds the record for hosting the most Tony Awards?

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 4:22pm

Anyone but Jackman. Boooooooooring.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 4:32pm

Well if she's announcing ahead of time she'll go, and the only reason she'd have to go is to support her show, there's no chance in hell the show will not get nominated now. The Tonys can't afford to lose that star power it would bring to have that camera on her the whole night.

Oprah is so damn smart.

[alphieboy]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 4:33pm

Darn, Oprah would have been a fine choice.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 4:46pm

I thought Jackman was great in 2004 but wow he was barely even a host in 2005 it felt, he was so dull.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 4:59pm

I'd rather hear Connick croon showtunes than Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, or Mary J. Blige. Other than Tonny Bennett in concert at a Broadway house (which doesn't count), can anyone name single a Broadway credit for any of them? Neither can I. So they can just keep their grubby hands off my Leonard Bernstein!


Updated On: 3/30/06 at 04:59 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 5:21pm

While Blige's performance was not good, I think it's great that they try to get non-Broadway people involved with the show. It not only opens up the audience, but gets atleast a FEW more viewers, I'm sure.

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 5:32pm

I was really hoping Oprah would host, but I think Jackman has done a fine job and hope he gets the gig again this year.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 5:37pm

In principle it's not a terrible idea, but they should get performers who have some interest or investment in live theatre. The Tony Awards are the year's biggest holiday in my home, and I don't want them spoiled by poorly performed publicity stunts. The incentive for the three above-mentioned performers to take part in the telecast had nothing to do with celebrating beloved showtunes and artists, it had everything to do with ratings. And the simple fact is that it did NOTHING for ratings. True, given that so few of us even tune in, any viewership they can gain is relatively important, but I really doubt very many Mary J. Blige fans tuned in to see her. Further, I doubt the ones that did "discovered Broadway" and became lifelong fans.

This is a divide that just doesn't need to be bridged! When was the last time Barbara Cook was invited to present at the Oscars? Never! Because Hollywood cares about her about as much as I care about Tonny Bennett.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 6:12pm

Can any of the Hugh bashers think of another Tonys host who won an Emmy for his or her brilliant hosting? I certainly can't. If the impression he made last year didn't quite live up to that of 2004's ceremony, that was the fault of producers Kirschner & Weiss, who didn't let the host be the host. He simply was not given enough hosting chores. Still, his "I Won't Dance" medley stopped the show and for me was the highlight of the evening. And besides, he so obviously loves Broadway and the theater community, and that enthusiasm is contagious. He's got half a dozen big movies in the release pipeline, so you know he's not doing the Tonys just to get a gig. Besdies, he's affable, charming, gorgeous and multi-talented. Isn't that good enough for you naysayers?

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 6:16pm

It was good enough the first THREE times.

But you can't blame people for wanting some variety.

He's not the "be all end all" of Broadway performers.

He's done one show.

Congrats to him.

Now, let's give someone else a turn.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 1:19pm

I'm with FOAnatic. Enough with Hugh for now.

Quite frankly, I don't there's any way he would do the Tonys this year, not with X3 coming up. Let's face it, Hugh did not win over his main movie audience hamming it up with the Rockettes when Van Helsing came out. (OK, the reviews didn't help, but still...)

But to high kick weeks before his next big movie comes out? 20th Century Fox would chop his legs off before that happens.

I say we try Martin Short this time, since he has a new show coming up. Maybe co-host with Julia, who is actually on Broadway currently.

[cserannie]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 1:46pm

why don't they ask some Real Broadway Legend like Angela Lansbury or Julie Andrews for God sake and not a one-musical-actor?

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 2:17pm

For network tv, I think Legend = Old = no suprises = the desired demographic tuning out. Which is exactly what they don't want.

[brad3]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 2:24pm

I was there for both times he hosted and he was great.

[tabbynyc]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 5:05pm

It felt like there was no host last year with the amount of time Hugh Jackman was on stage. His opening number & that terrible duet with Aretha Franklin are all I remember. Although, he is nice to look at when is in on stage!!!!

[ahimsa]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 6:15pm

We all have our favorites on stage, but hosting is about bringing in the viewers, and then hopefully, turn those viewers into paying customers. But first things first. John Travolta has a role he has to sell quite a few people on being able to pull off. On the Oscars, however, he only presents the top awards, so I'm not sure he'd do it.. but he should. I'd love to see Kristin Chenowith, but her only attempt at TV work did not carry through. I love any moment with Kristin. Mario Cantone would be a night full of fun and who knows what else, but perhaps too irreverent for the old school. Kelly Clarkson would grab the American Idol viewers, who are the demographic they are looking for, and someday, she'll want to tackle Broadway. Could she carry off hosting without anything close to practical experience? It's an interesting thought. Alan Cumming is quite the gentleman, but not sure if he has the pull, but he does with me! Ann Rienking and Bebe Neuwirth would be fun to reunite. Likewise for the trio from Spamalot. There are quite a few interesting AND NEW ways to take this, then to stick with what worked in the past. No disrespect to Hugh or Rosie intended.