Viola Davis Becomes an EGOT With Grammy Win

[BETTY22]

Posted: 2/5/23 at 5:31pm

Davis is now the 18th person to achieve winning an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award. Richard Rodgers became the first EGOT winner in 1962. 

Won for her audio recording of memoir Finding Me. 

She previously won a Primetime Emmy for outstanding lead actress in How To Get Away With Murder, an Oscar for best supporting actress for Fences and two Tonys. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/5/23 at 5:37pm

We should really view Viola Davis as the first and only Black artist to win an EGOT!

Whoopi Goldberg, John Legend, and Jennifer Hudson all won their Tonys for being co-producers of Broadway shows. (Millie, Jitney, and A Strange Loop, respectively.) They were passive investors with no creative or business role on those shows. They (and other Broadway co-producers) are undeserving of the Tony. It's unlikely the League will crack down on this, since it does help some shows get financed, but it really does need to be addressed. It greatly dilutes the honor of winning a Tony on merit.

Updated On: 2/5/23 at 05:37 PM

[1stGent]

Posted: 2/5/23 at 7:53pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "We should really view Viola Davis as the first and only Black artist to win an EGOT!

Whoopi Goldberg, John Legend, and Jennifer Hudson all won their Tonys for being co-producers of Broadway shows. (Millie, Jitney, and A Strange Loop, respectively.) They were passive investors with no creative or business role on those shows. They (and other Broadway co-producers) are undeserving of the Tony. It's unlikely the League will crack down on this, since it does help some shows get financed, but it really does need to be addressed. It greatly dilutes the honor of winning a Tony on merit."

Way to discredit and diminish the work of legendary black artists for your…opinion.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/5/23 at 8:16pm

1stGent said: "Way to discredit and diminish the work of legendary black artists for your…opinion."

You're misunderstanding. I'm trying to discredit ALL co-producers, not merely the aforementioned Black individuals. I'm sure there are far more white folks than Black who have won Tonys for co-producing.

And of course, one can still be talented and a legend without being an EGOT, which is the primary point.

[1stGent]

Posted: 2/5/23 at 10:50pm

Again…resist rhetoric meant to diminish the legacy of black artists. This place is a cesspool.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/6/23 at 12:53am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "1stGent said: "Way to discredit and diminish the work of legendary black artists for your…opinion."

You're misunderstanding. I'm trying to discredit ALL co-producers, not merely the aforementioned Black individuals.I'm sure there are far more white folks than Black who have won Tonys for co-producing.

And of course, one can still be talented and a legend without being an EGOT, which is the primary point."

Not the look you think it is. 

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 2/6/23 at 2:20am

Eek.

Let’s just say she’s the first to win all four awards for performance since Audrey Hepburn in 1994. I believe Helen Hayes, Rita Moreno, and John Gielgud are the only others to have this distinction. It is quite an achievement.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 2/6/23 at 8:00am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "We should really view Viola Davis as the first and only Black artist to win an EGOT!

Whoopi Goldberg, John Legend, and Jennifer Hudson all won their Tonys for being co-producers of Broadway shows. (Millie, Jitney, and A Strange Loop, respectively.) They were passive investors with no creative or business role on those shows. They (and other Broadway co-producers) are undeserving of the Tony. It's unlikely the League will crack down on this, since it does help some shows get financed, but it really does need to be addressed. It greatly dilutes the honor of winning a Tony on merit."

First, that's in really poor taste. Second, why diminish the work done by producers? Is their work of lesser value because it is not the most obvious thing on stage? There would be nothing on stage for you to see without them. They find the investors, they develop the show, they help secure the cast. They make sure the director gets everything that is needed to get the show running, and reins them in when things might get out of control. Don't diminish someone else's work because you aren't sure what they did on the project; it's not a great look, and the look is even worse when you are singling out POC to make your ill-conceived point.

 

[JanMaxwellsBag]

Posted: 2/6/23 at 9:43am

Whoopi joined the Millie producing team early in it’s development, years before it even had any fully staged production. 

But also, who cares? They put up some money! Let them get a Tony it’s not that deep. 

I love award shows. I love red carpets. I love crazy speeches. I also acknowledge that winning a major award can open doors for people to get projects made and themselves cast in things. But, to quote Ms. Heidi N Closet, “At the end of the day it doesn’t fvcking matter!”

Updated On: 2/6/23 at 09:43 AM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/6/23 at 9:59am

jimmycurry01 said: "First, that's in really poor taste. Second, why diminish the work done by producers? Is their work of lesser value because it is not the most obvious thing on stage? There would be nothing on stage for you to see without them. They find the investors, they develop the show, they help secure the cast. They make sure the director gets everything that is needed to get the show running, and reins them in when things might get out of control. Don't diminish someone else's work because you aren't sure what they did on the project; it's not a great look, and the look is even worse when you are singling out POC to make your ill-conceived point.

"

You are talking about the work of producers — real producers, which is award-worthy. I am talking about the work of co-producers, who for making a passive investment get some perks including name above title, but they have no role in the advertising or creative development or reining in director or making the tough choices that face a real producer every day. I am aware of the extent to which each of the 3 individuals were (not) involved with each show, hence making the distinction and educating others here. There’s nothing controversial or in bad taste about it.

I would love someone to sit down with Legend, Goldberg, and Hudson — and the lead producer who brought them on — to interview the EGOTs on the intricacies of Broadway producing and the specific functions that they performed each day of their respective show’s run, to educate the public about the role of a producer.

Updated On: 2/6/23 at 09:59 AM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/6/23 at 10:07am

It’s how you said it. Not what you said. 
 

But truly, who cares? It doesn’t matter. Awards are awards and truly don’t mean much. 

[JP2]

Posted: 2/6/23 at 11:09am

JanMaxwellsBag said: "Whoopi joined the Millie producing teamearly in it’s development,years before it even had any fully staged production.

But also, who cares? They put up some money! Let them get a Tony it’s not that deep.

I love award shows. I love red carpets. I love crazy speeches. I also acknowledge that winning a major award can open doors for people to get projects made and themselves cast in things. But, to quote Ms. Heidi N Closet, “At the end of the day it doesn’t fvcking matter!”"

Right? It's just a statue, and a few days in the press that most people will forget in a week.

Congrats to Viola Davis. What a career (so far)!

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 2/6/23 at 12:03pm

Way to discredit and diminish the work of legendary black artists for your…opinion."

Exactly. And when they say "I'm trying to discredit ALL co-producers" yet only insulting black artists? Gross. You would think someone who is here literally 24/7/365 would know better. Weird. 

Congratulations to Viola Davis for her constant brilliance and all her achievements! 

 

[BETTY22]

Posted: 2/6/23 at 12:06pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "1stGent said: "Way to discredit and diminish the work of legendary black artists for your…opinion."

Thank you for saying this.

It is amazing and sad to me how some people always find a way to tear other people down - especially people of color or people of different faiths. 

My original post was to celebrate Viola and her incredible success. 

[nealb1]

Posted: 2/6/23 at 12:21pm

Fantastic news, and what a wonderful achievement.  

Betty22, it's just so unfortunate that many love to complain and tear others down.  As if to suggest, that they are better than those they bash.  It's just so self-serving.  

[smidge2]

Posted: 2/6/23 at 12:38pm

I would like to know when we can get her back on stage!!

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 2/6/23 at 2:38pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "We should really view Viola Davis as the first and only Black artist to win an EGOT!

Whoopi Goldberg, John Legend, and Jennifer Hudson all won their Tonys for being co-producers of Broadway shows. (Millie, Jitney, and A Strange Loop, respectively.) They were passive investors with no creative or business role on those shows. They (and other Broadway co-producers) are undeserving of the Tony. It's unlikely the League will crack down on this, since it does help some shows get financed, but it really does need to be addressed. It greatly dilutes the honor of winning a Tony on merit."

O.M,G.     You've allowed a thread celebrating the achievement of Viola Davis to become an outlet for your personal vendetta.  And BWW allows this?   O.M.G.

Updated On: 2/6/23 at 02:38 PM

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 2/6/23 at 2:38pm

HeyMrMusic said: "Eek.

Let’s just say she’s the first to win all four awards for performance since Audrey Hepburn in 1994. I believe Helen Hayes, Rita Moreno, and John Gielgud are the only others to have this distinction. It is quite an achievement."

According to the Tony Awards website, Gielgud’s first Tony was a Special Award in 1959. His only competitive win was for directing Big Fish, Little Fish in 1961.

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 2/6/23 at 3:26pm

Correct. That's why Gielgud has the EGOT but not the Triple Crown of Acting. Hays, Moreno, and Davis are the only EGOT winners who also have the latter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_Crown_of_Acting

(And yes, all of this is both impressive...and not really a thing.)

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 2/6/23 at 3:46pm

Thanks for the clarification. I admit I was confused by his first Tony win, but categories and doling out of the awards have drastically changed since he won.

And agreed, it’s both impressive and meaningless. How people win awards is somewhat arbitrary, but we love when it happens to truly gifted people like Viola. 

[buffalospeedway]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 11:10pm

Congrats to Viola, and shame on folks who are using her achievement to diminish Whoopi, John, and especially Jennifer. The idea that there can only be one Black artist who is "deserving" of the EGOT is the definition of white supremacy. Donors are incredibly important in theater. That's why producing houses have development departments. Jennifer didn't "buy" a producing credit, she invested in a show that needed every little bit of $$$ it could get. Her contribution aided the show's success.

Michael R. Jackson has spoken extensively about his respect for Jennifer Hudson and the influence she's had on him as an artist. I'm sure he was incredibly grateful and honored for her support.

Updated On: 2/9/23 at 11:10 PM

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 8:29am

There’s been some discussions on Reddit as well that are dismissing the work for producers. Just so frustrating and disappointing.