Will Esparza win for the Homecoming.

Gah, I hope so. I can't take another Esparza loss, last year was heartbreaking.

---

No.

He was my least favorite part of The Homecoming.

I hope he doesnt win. Raul really deserved to win for Company, and I hope they dont 'give' him this award as a consolation prize. In a few years he will do something magical on Broadway, either on the level of Company or greater than that, and he will deserve to win for that. Not for a forgettable role in a play that has already closed.

I thought he was excellent in the Homecoming, but the play was certainly more of an ensemble production. He deserved to win for Company, and if he wins this year, I'll have to wonder if it's somehow an apology for last year. Nevertheless, his portrayal of Lenny isn't undeserving of the award.

Norton all the way!!

And yet that was last season, the Tony awards of 2008 should go to the performance of the actor THIS year and not cumulatively. I said the same thing last year with the whole John McMartin issue. It sucks when actors get overlooked, especially those like McMartin who have never won and have careers spanning half a century. But can the committee please try and be fair by sticking to the fact that it's what happened this year that we're celebrating?

I think he has more of a chance than he used to, for a few reasons:

1) Jim Norton's show closed at the end of March. Granted, THE HOMECOMING is also closed, but it did so in the middle of April, and sometimes, that time is all a show needs to get extra voters in to see it.

2) Norton was considered the best part of THE SEAFARER (and was certainly raved for enough), but he's had the award for so long that people might want to give the category some options by voting for Esparza.

3) Apparently Esparza's performance got better and better as the run went on. That could certainly have a positive effect.

4) Esparza is due. I REALLY hope they don't give it to him because of this.

I still think Jim Norton is the frontrunner, but Esparza could could COULD sneak in. I don't know how I'd feel if he did: we'll just have to wait.

---

Updated On: 6/7/08 at 02:46 PM

I would be very surprised if he beat out Norton.

VERY !

We'll see...I think they are really pulling for Norton (the rightful winner) to win because his show isn't open anymore. Neither is THE HOMECOMING but Raul is way overdue.

Both of the two frontrunner's shows are closed so I think they're going to just give it to Esparza as some kind of a consolation prize.

Smaxie speaks the truth!

And so he rightfully deserves a Tony for that?

no, sweetheart.

Esparza ain't some brilliant Broadway veteran who's been robbed every year. Smaxie said it the best. he is NOT "way overdue"

the voters will give it to the better performance nominated - and that's NOT Esparza.

Again, I do not think he deserves it. Im just saying what I think will happen. Doesn't mean I agree with it....