Tony Musical Performances Annoumced - It's Official - No Blonde or Musik — Page 2

Rockabye, of course when I find someone who shares my taste AND would marry me she has to be a woman, lol. You're still fabulous though

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what songs are the noniees shows going to perfome the artce did not say what songs the shows are doing.

If you want to keep seeing the Tony's on TV, you have to let them attempt their ratings stunts. It is no great secret that the Tony's ratings are not as high as CBS would like and if the trend keeps up, why continue showing the awards ceremony. So in short, welcome it with open arms or kiss the show goodbye.

And Virgo, you said that Fantasia got some of the best Broadway debut reviews in history. While I don't disagree, I remember Reba McEntire getting some damn good reviews replacing Bernadette Peters in "Annie Get Your Gun". However, Reba, didn't perform on the Tonys. Why should an exception be allowed for Fantasia?"

Exactly. Reba didn't get a remade cast recording either. But clearly Fantasia is so much more special than anyone else in the history of Broadway! Have you seen her reviews!!

It's about mooching ratings out of American Idol fans. It has nothing to do with Fantasia's supposed talent or The Color Purple being deserving of the promotion.

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Updated On: 5/30/07 at 01:26 AM

ABOUT FANTASIA:
I frankly think it is better than Hugh Jackson and Aretha Franklin warbling "Somerwhere" as a celebration of Sondheim's 75th Birthday - not to mention he was only the lyricist of that song. A flimsy excuse.

Fantasia performing as a tribute to the Alliance seems a bit coincidental. Regional theatre recipients do not get performances on the telecast. The producers were pressured to add performances and couldn't have 'Blonde' or 'LoveMusik'. And Fantasia's performance in the show is getting quite a bit of publicity, even on a national level. Tony producers like anything with national familiarity or publicity.

ABOUT REBA:
Comparison's to Reba's appearance in 'Annie Get Your Gun' are both appropriate and not.

Reba's performance garnered great notices, like Fantasia's. Reba's were, in fact, better by comparison, though that is only marginally relevant - more on that in a minute.

Reba's reviews were so estatic there was a lot of talk of somehow giving Reba a Tony, though ultimately the committee decided that would establish a dangerously complicated precedent. Also, there was talk of somehow justifying a Reba performance on the Tony telecast. In the end, if you remember, she was given a dramatic entrance down center stage, gave a brief speech thanking the community for their acceptance, and presented an award.

(Side discussion: Reba's reviews being better is relevant when it comes to a possible new 'Purple' recording. Reba did not receive a recording - other than a two-track promo recording, which i have - because there were serious plans for a TV Movie of 'Gun' starring her. The cost of a recording wouldn't make sense if there was going to be a Soundtrack to the TV movie a couple years later. The TV Movie took too long to come together, she had to start her sitcom, with interest eventually waining enough to kill the project. How far it actually went in development, I'm not sure.)

"I think it's about time that the League lost its TV broadcast."

Well said, allofmylife. The way things are going the loss of the national network platform for the Tonys is inevitable, and this is truly unfortunate. There is a wealth of talent and creative energy thriving on Broadway, but you'd never know this from watching the Tonys.

I just can't wait to see those 80 year old ladies come out and explain the history of the Antionette Perry awards once again. I hope Fantasia's "unfair" appearance won't cut into their time.

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"Reba did not receive a recording - other than a two-track promo recording, which i have - because there were serious plans for a TV Movie of 'Gun' starring her."

Actually the main reason Reba's AGYG didn't get a recording was because Bernadette's contract specifically stated her's was the only full cast recording to come out of the production.