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#26

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/11/07 at 8:39pm

I know Christine Ebersole didn't cry the way most people do. But, it doesn't mean the award meant nothing to her. I think it meant a great deal because she's worked so hard and for so long in two demanding roles. Her speech conveyed what it had to-how long a journey an incredible actress has taken. Kudos to her. May she continue her run with success.
"A birdcage I plan to hang. I'll get to that someday. A birdcage for a bird who flew away...Around the world." "Life is a cabaret old chum, only a cabaret old chum, and I love a cabaret!"-RIP Natasha Richardson-I was honored to have witnessed her performance as Sally Bowles.
#27

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/11/07 at 9:02pm

"Ben Vereen and Usher, egging each other on... and they weren't even up for awards. I wanted to punch both of them. And sorry, but Usher trying to say how "honored" he was to be there: he has no place on Broadway to me."

A-freakin-MEN to that. And he owns Audra a public apology.

The Spring Awakening camp definitely got their pretentious on last night.
#28

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/11/07 at 9:06pm

Why does he owe Audra a public apology?
"A birdcage I plan to hang. I'll get to that someday. A birdcage for a bird who flew away...Around the world." "Life is a cabaret old chum, only a cabaret old chum, and I love a cabaret!"-RIP Natasha Richardson-I was honored to have witnessed her performance as Sally Bowles.
#30

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/11/07 at 9:09pm

I liked Mary Louise's speech. It was entertaining. And it befit her. She finally won. (She'd been screwed over enough times, Lord knows.)
"A birdcage I plan to hang. I'll get to that someday. A birdcage for a bird who flew away...Around the world." "Life is a cabaret old chum, only a cabaret old chum, and I love a cabaret!"-RIP Natasha Richardson-I was honored to have witnessed her performance as Sally Bowles.
#31

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/11/07 at 9:12pm

Why did you think MLW's was the worst?
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
#33

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/11/07 at 9:43pm

I thought she was arrogant. As Raul found out, noone is gauranteed a Tony.
"Y'all have a GRAND day now"
#34

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/11/07 at 9:46pm

I agree, jv92. Wilson's speech was one of the most entertaining moments of the entire show.

I don't have a problem with Ebersole not crying-in fact, hardly anyone did cry, from what I could tell. I included her on my list of bad speeches (although she wasn't as bad as Sater and Ehle, I guess) because I've watched the broadcast twice now, and hers is the only speech of which I can't remember a single second. All the rest of them had something distinctive about them, even if it was just a facial expression or a phrase, and I didn't think that hers did. But whatever, when you can act as well as she can, who really cares if you can come up with a great speech :)
#35

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/11/07 at 9:46pm

Re: Mary Louise Wilson
She's in her 70s. She's been working for years. She's never won. She agknowledged her fellow nominees. She was glad she won. How is that arrogant?

Updated On: 6/11/07 at 09:46 PM

#36

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/11/07 at 9:48pm

It was a tone I picked up. I forget the line, but she also said something in the press room that made it clear that she expected to win and truly felt that she deserved it.
"Y'all have a GRAND day now"
#37

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/11/07 at 10:12pm

I was actually really irked by Sater's second speech in that he stepped to the microphone before Sheik even though he had just had the stage to himself. And then, he warbled awkwardly so I was forced to use my fast forward. He may be talented but he is also very scary.
#38

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/11/07 at 10:18pm

Yeah, I think Steven shouldve let Duncan talk a bit more, I mean, they gave each other kind of awkward looks.
But no big deal, I guess.

As I've said in other threads, I'm sure we BWWers are more bitter about this kind of stuff than people in the actual theatre community...
My 2007/2008 Season: Grey Gardens (7/5) 110 in the Shade (7/6) Mary Poppins (7/7) Xanadu (7/7) Deuce (7/8) Spamalot (7/8) Jersey Boys (8/25) The Year of Magical Thinking (8/25) Mauritius (11/2) Young Frankenstein (11/3) Rock 'N' Roll (11/3) Pygmalion (11/4) Mauritius (11/10) Mauritius (11/21) Mauritius (11/21) Sunday in the Park with George (3/6) South Pacific (3/7) Gypsy (3/8) Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (3/9)
#39

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/11/07 at 10:25pm

i'm not gonna lie. it would have been hillarious if ebersole had said, "i'm shocked" haha....being that she was the same woman who claimed she didn't know when the nominations came out...but i guess since it was engraved a year ago haha

yeah sater's wife has some news to hear
#41

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/11/07 at 11:34pm

Ebersole. It sounded like this was her 23092840923483490th time giving the speech, and she was so bored with it.
#42

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/11/07 at 11:37pm

I thought Bill T Jones was going to attack Bebe & David! Haha

Ebersole was very gracious, and I personally enjoyed hearing what she had to say. Her speech was nice, just not the most memorable of the evening.

Amen about Usher & Ben Vereen. Not only did I think Usher didn't deserve to be there but then they brought up a sports team
There wouldn't be lights bright enough!

Updated On: 6/11/07 at 11:37 PM

#43

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/11/07 at 11:41pm

ade it clear that she expected to win and truly felt that she deserved it.


- But she did TRULY deserve it. What's wrong with thinking so? Her performance will go down as one of the greatest featured performances in decades.

Now we just need to get John McMartin a Tony. He has been screwed over TOO MUCH.
#44

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/12/07 at 12:34am

For some reason it annoys the hell out of me when people give a quote. I don't care if it's Maya Angelou or a line from their show. That feels way too rehearsed to me.
Pretty pretty please don't you ever ever feel like you're less than f**ckin' perfect!

Updated On: 6/12/07 at 12:34 AM

#45

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/12/07 at 1:29am

What was wrong with Jennifer Ehle's? Nothing.

Sater had the worst speech (or two) of the evening. What an odd man.

I also didn't like Gallagher's speech.

I had no problem with Ebersole's. The woman has been giving acceptance speeches for over a year now...what's left to say?
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson
#46

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/12/07 at 1:44am

"Most Prepared & Rehearsed Speech ever. I would rate that a tie between Phylicia Rashad for Raisin in the Sun (I think she thought she was doing a one-woman Maya Angelou reading instead of accepting a Tony)"

I completely disagree. Phylicia Rashad is just a naturally eloquent speaker. Having seen her in Master Classes and Q&A sessions with other actors, she ALWAYS sounds polished. Even on the spot. Not to say she had NO idea what she was going to say that night, but in now way did I find her speech to be overprepared or over-rehearsed. It was one of the best and most graceful Tony acceptance speeches I have seen.

On that note, Steven Sater and Bill T. Jones take the cake for the worst speeches of the evening. They were definitely painful to watch and listen to.
"If you've got something to say, say it, and think well of yourself while you're learning to say it better." - David Mamet
#47

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/12/07 at 8:12am

I thought Mary Louise Wilson's speech was a highlight of the evening. Anyone who can make me belly laugh during an acceptance speech gets points in my book.

Usher? Who the hell is this guy? He was in Chicago for a while, right? Out of place, but if he's a mainstream star, bring him on if it means getting more people interested in theater. (Although after his piss-poor presentation skills, I doubt that'll do the trick.) And why did they give him such a major award to give? They should have relegated him to the dead people tribute or something less interesting.

And speaking of the dead people tribute ... someone please tell Tommy Tune to stick to directing.

Bill T. Jones was at least entertaining.

Crudup should have been cut off a lot earlier, but he was gracious, charming and appreciative. Just too long.

The fact that Jennifer Ehle seemed unprepared didn't bother me at all. I was unprepared for her to win, too, so I welcomed her honest, genuine demeanor. She's fab. At least it seemed impromptu and real rather than similar to a Rashad monolgue.

Itty Bitty Geisha? Toyland? Gypsy Pasadoble? Just a few popular favorites...
#48

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/12/07 at 8:27am

Sater, hands down....he sorta creeped me out.
Jack: For your information, most people who meet me do not know that I am gay. Will: Jack, blind and deaf people know you're gay. Dead people know you're gay. Jack: Grace, when you first met me, did you know I was gay? Grace: My dog knew.
#49

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/12/07 at 10:44am

I liked Mary Louise Wilson's rebel yell at the beginning of her speech.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#50

re: Worst Speech of the Tonys

Posted: 6/12/07 at 10:45am

I loved MLW, Julie White, and DHP's speeches. A lot of the producers and creatives were boring as sh*t, but they're not performers.

Ebersole, however - didn't she used to be fun and quirky? What happened to her?
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson

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