Tony Awards: A Few Quick Thoughts
As usual, the people I wanted to win didn’t win. (List of winners here.) Although I did predict the eventual four big winners: “Red,” “Fences,” “La Cage,” “Memphis, pictured.” Even worse: Broadway, which didn’t used to automatically hurl Tonys at movie stars just for showing up, now does so — in hopes of attracting more. Further observations:
1) Did you believe the sheer chutzpah of Lea Michele, turning her solo, “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” into the most brazen audition for a part (for the just-announced revival of “Funny Girl”) in Tony history?
2) Did you believe the utter vulgarity of Catherine Zeta-Jones‘s wrenched-neck performance of “Send In The Clowns”? Having seen the utter vulgarity of the performance she won for, in “A Little Night Music,” the answer is: YES!
3) Weren’t you thrilled that the Radio City audience got to its feet to applaud Angela Lansbury for being named an Honorary Whatever? In spite of the fact that the voters in the audience didn’t give her a Tony for “A Little Night Music,” even though she was the only classy thing in it.
4) Weren’t you moved that the person who beat Angela for the Tony, Katie Finneran for “Promises, Promises,” at least gave the evening’s most heartfelt acceptance speech?
5) Did you find the broadcast even longer-seeming than usual? It felt as if every nommed musical was performed four times each. Each time I switched to the Lakers/Celtics game at a commercial I ended up staying there for longer and longer periods.
6) Is there any doubt that the show getting the biggest bump in ticket sales from the broadcast will be the Best Musical winner, “Memphis”?
7) I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jay-Z and Beyonce show up at a major awards show and not present or perform.
