Worst Tony Opening.......

Despite the fact that my favorite performer of all was featured in the opening number of the Tonys. The number was extreemely corny and uninspired. Neil Patrick Harris is an awful host and they need to stop asking him back every year. He's totally overrated. I actually miss when Rosie hosted the Tonys. She really loved Broadway and it showed and she was much funnier than N.P.H.

Updated On: 6/12/12 at 01:19 AM

I actually enjoyed the opening number and thought he was funny.

I thought NPH was funny....once. That was years ago, but his smug, tongue-permanently-in-cheek shtick has completely worn out its welcome. And now that he's become so enamored with himself that he thinks everything he does is "so funny"....he's tiresome. That opening number was trying to hit a home run but I found it trying TOO HARD and didn't even snicker at the goings on. Not good. And can we please get NPH to stop the shtick about how gay the Tonys are....yeah, we got it the first time, Neil.

I think NPH is pretty funny. He does need some more, per say, "dazzle", but he does it pretty nicely. Last year's Tony opening, "Broadway's not just for gays anymore", made me crack up, especially the line, "Al Pichino! You're way to famous to participate in this bit!" This year I especially loved it when he said "Mary Poppins! We can hardly see the strings!". Also, I loved his "Spider-Man" appearance, hanging down on the string.

I've always enjoyed him immensely every time he's hosted. I always feel like I've missed something when I see all the BWW complaints. . .

I really cant understand why they would start off with Book of Mormon a show that is from LAST YEAR and is making tons of cash also the Hairspray cruise performance with a Tracy who looked way to old ...she had a good voice but come on. also how could Spiderman loose best costume or best scenice design the voters are so anti-Spiderman they didnt want it to be able to have 1 Tony to boast about... Once for scenic design...a bar room come on

I too thought the opening number this year was great, probably my favorite in memory. It was obvious NPH and the dancers were having a great time. I've enjoyed having him come back to host, I think he does a great job every year.

But does anyone believe a sitcom audience would follow Neil Patrick Harris to the Tonys? I understand the logic, that his TVQ and recognition factor are pluses. But pluses are very different than tune-ins, i.e. putting eyeballs on screens. I don't think the Tony audience cares who's there, and his fans like to see him act in comedy. The sliver of people who'd tune in just to see Harris do anything must be small. Jackman, perhaps, is another matter. But the hosts are only so important when it comes to ratings. This is not about the quality of his hosting (which I think is exemplary, even when forced to carry limp stuff like the opening).

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In reply to the frustration that Book of Mormon opened the show, in 2008, The Lion King opened the show. Ten years after it won Best Musical. I don't mind the previous winner doing something (didn't Memphis?), nor do I mind a ten year anniversary performance.

From that, it would have been good to see Sutton re-do some Millie magic as it won in 2002.

First of all, I had wanted last year's show to start with "Hello" from BOM, as it was such an obvious choice, but I understood then why they couldn't really use that particular opening in the year in which the show was a nominee. So, I loved that intro this year, with the NPH pop ins to various dressing rooms.

Last year's opening (Broadway Isn't Just for Gays Anymore) and this year's (Why Can't Life be More Like the Theater?) were both written by David Javerbaum, one of the most brilliantly clever writers around today (former Executive Producer and Head Writer of The Daily Show). To those who didn't like the opening, I would ask: compared to what? As others have pointed out, these have been two of the best Tony opening numbers in memory.

Finally, I think NPH is the perfect host for the show. Maybe Hugh Jackman might be better, but other than Hugh, I can't think of anyone else offhand that I'd rather see do it (well, Ricky Gervais maybe?)

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As the Oscars have demonstrated the past few years, not everyone can host an awards show. Even Billy Crystal, once the go-to for that stuff, is now stale.

NPH is actually a rarity amongst the big-name crowd... Jackman, too. They're naturally charismatic and personable, ironic, and genuinely talented showmen.


And this opening had Patti LuPone pushing a ****ing lawnmower. What more do you want?!

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I believe I remember A Chorus opening and closing that years Tony Telecast. This years show was very entertaining. I happened to be very pleased with the Tonys two years in a row. Love Neil Patrick Harris, as well as Hugh Jackman and Angela Landsbury hosting the most. This year was chock full of surprises, winner-wise, and since I had no ultimate favorite shows this year, I was thoroughlly entertained.

I thought the 2009 Tony Awards were the best opening in a long time. It was huge and long (in a good way) and it was a good representation of what was on Broadway at the time. Especially for non-theatre people it was a good draw. It did have it's bad moments (Liza Minnelli sounded terrible), but it was exactly what an opening should have been.

The 2010opening tried to do the same but was no where near as successful. I thought last year's opening was dumb. Instead of relating theatre to a larger audience (not just the gays) it made theatre seem specifically for gays. And this year was just trying too hard to relate theatre to non-theatre-goers again. They should stick to big production numbers. "Hello" form BoM is a great song and works well for the BoM, but it's not a good opening for the Tonys. It was too cheesy and not exciting enough.