What was the most shocking Tony Win/loss ever?- Page 6

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 3/18/13 at 3:53pm

Matt, I couldn't disagree more about York or Choi, but that's what makes the world go 'round. I thought only Andrews and Jbara were worthwhile in V/V. I hated that fondant version of a fave film. I especially disliked York and Roberts.

God, enuf with the pink!

And I dislike "career" awards, and didnt mean to infer that that is the main reason why everyone might've voted for or were expecting Andrews to win. Everyone I knew at the time was sure Andrews would keep the award even after her sourpuss speech. the Tony audience seemed surprised.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/18/13 at 4:39pm

I saw Faith Prince in The King & I. I like Faith Prince, but someone forgot to tell her that she wasn't playing a comedy. You could almost hear after every line she uttered a drum going "bud da dum!"

The problem with Liza in V/V was that she was a vacation replacement. I think she wasn't given enough rehearsal time because she seemed to be lost in a role that she should have been able to master.

There is a theater legend that she had a line that went something like "There go the hoofers" and she said "There go the hookers".

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/18/13 at 4:50pm

While I didn't see Minnelli in VICTOR/VICTORIA, the clip of her performing "Le Jazz Hot" on that site is pretty electric. Minnelli's manic performance style is certainly a divisive one, and I would imagine that she had a very different take on the role than Andrews, both performances which I sorely regret not seeing. I know people who did though, and just as many people say she was a horrendous mess as those who say she was fantastically entertaining.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/18/13 at 4:53pm

Knowing Liza, it all probably depended on which night you saw her.

[Emma White]

Posted: 3/18/13 at 5:42pm

"Andrews might have been tossed a bone as a "career achievement" award of sorts (though she was only ever in 4 Broadway shows and the first 3 were within 6 years)"

But they were all leading roles, most earned Tony nominations, and one of them was as the original freaking Eliza Dolittle. Not to mention she started on Broadway - she literally was plucked out of some pantomime in London and carried off to do The Boyfriend without an audition, like June in "Dainty June and her Farmboys."

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 3/18/13 at 5:47pm

"Knowing Liza, it all probably depended on which night you saw her."

I'd also say it depends on how you feel about Liza going in. With her people can see the exact same performance and some will call it a train wreck and hate it, and the others will see it as a train wreck but still love it because that's the whole reason they love Liza.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/18/13 at 5:59pm

I thought the most shocking Tony loss was in West Side Story. When Tony lay there cradled in Maria's arms, I thought "Darn, didn't they learn anything from Romeo & Juliet?"

[chewy5000]

Posted: 3/18/13 at 10:41pm

What about last year, where Newsies lost all those Tonys to Spider-Man?

[chinto1984]

Posted: 3/19/13 at 12:57pm

Someone brought up CZJ winning in ALNM. One of my co-workers says the only real contenders that year were her and Montego Glover. I didn't see CZJ (I saw Bernadette instead), but I did see Montego. She sang well but not the strongest actress. With that information, it wasn't a suprise.

What was surprising was Denzel not giving a $%^& about winning a Tony. I remember him making a remark like where are we again, what award is this. I felt he disrespected everyone in the bway community.

Updated On: 3/19/13 at 12:57 PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/19/13 at 2:30pm

The NIGHT MUSIC/MEMPHIS season was one of the worst seasons (for musicals) in recent memory. CZJ winning was hardly a surprise or a shock...it was certainly perceived to be between her and Glover. A shock would have been someone like Kate Baldwin winning.

I'm still not quite sure how Sherie Rene Scott managed to only get middling Tony buzz that season. She would have easily gotten my vote.

[chinto1984]

Posted: 3/19/13 at 3:33pm

Everyday Rapture was fantastic and she deserved a Tony for that but there was little buzz or fanfare. And one could argue that since it was semi-autobiographical, she was playing herself.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/19/13 at 4:40pm

At the time I remember there were a few posts where people mentioned how Tony voters didn't particularly care for EVERYDAY RAPTURE or Scott in it, it wasn't particularly surprising that the show didn't get much traction at the Tonys. That year's lead actress category was embarrassing in many ways, I still cannot believe Beth Leaver got in for that awful thing called BABY IT'S YOU.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 3/19/13 at 4:46pm

I was in the theatre when all of these were announced. The audience reaction was palpable in all three cases.

1. The aforementioned Michael Moriarty over Jason Robards; 1973; possibly the biggest upset I remember.

2. George Rose for My Fair Lady (playing Doolittle, definitely a featured role but billed over the title) over either Jerry Orbach in Chicago or Mako in Pacific Overtures; 1976.

3. The two South African actors winning for joint performances in two plays over a tough field including Henry Fonda and Jim Dale; 1975.

And a bonus; In a 1979 tie, Carole Shelley in The Elephant Man (taking a featured role and turning it into a leading one by sheer force of talent) and Constance Cummings in Wings (a tour de force). Who says there is no God?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/19/13 at 4:53pm

Speaking of ties, Kiss of the Spider Woman and Tommy sharing the award for Score definitely raised a lot of eyebrows.

[Copperfield2]

Posted: 3/19/13 at 7:32pm

I don't see how Once's win was shocking since the competition was weak that year. I don't think anything else in the category deserved to win over it.

[Copperfield2]

Posted: 3/19/13 at 7:36pm

"I remember it was pretty weak season but Titanic won best musical over The Life"

The Life has some great performances but it wasn't a very good musical. The book was pretty bad. I liked some of the songs.

[Emma White]

Posted: 3/19/13 at 9:58pm

"Someone brought up CZJ winning in ALNM. One of my co-workers says the only real contenders that year were her and Montego Glover. I didn't see CZJ (I saw Bernadette instead), but I did see Montego. She sang well but not the strongest actress. With that information, it wasn't a suprise. "

No, I was actually commenting on Ms. Zeta-Jones' reaction to winning the award, which was... weird. And unnatural, and awkward, and embarrassing...

[Leadingplayer]

Posted: 3/20/13 at 3:52am

Any memories of Hinton Battle's win in Sophisticated Ladies?

I'd of thought Lee Roy Reams or Tony Azito would have won.

[Outoftowner2]

Posted: 3/20/13 at 6:42am

Ragtime

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/20/13 at 9:47am

I'd of thought Lee Roy Reams or Tony Azito would have won.

I'd have