This Sunday is the 70th annual Tony Awards and we couldn’t be more excited. The Tonys are often described as the most entertaining awards show to watch. The Oscars have their pomp and prestige and it’s always fun seeing actors get drunk at the Golden Globes but there’s really nothing like watching trained theatrical performers who are on stage eight times a week perform in front of a live audience. The actors are so comfortable on stage that often even the acceptance speeches are better. We can’t wait!
- Despite all this, the ratings for the Tonys are consistently lower than its film, television, and music counterparts. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend creator and star Rachel Bloom understands just how difficult finding someone to watch the F*cking Tony Awards with you can be. “It’s like if basketball were interesting or the Olympics had Nathan Lane.”
- Assuming you did find someone to watch the Tonys with you, make sure to memorize these quick facts so you can bust them out during the telecast.
- Here’s a full list of the nominees. It’s worth noting just how well shows starring people of colour did this year. Take that #OscarsSoWhite.
- David Rooney and Scott Feinberg of The Hollywood Reporter shared their predictions of who they think should and will win. (Spoiler alert: Hamilton and Hamilton.)
- Variety also put out their award predictions. Unsurprisingly, their picks are quite similar to The Hollywood Reporter’s. Sure, the suspense of “who’s going to win?” might not be as rich this year but (as Lauren and I discussed in this week’s podcast) sometimes it’s thrilling just watching someone at the top of their game get recognized.
- The Hollywood Reporter has also been doing some of the most interesting roundtable discussions with people in the entertainment industry. This week they did one on Tony nominated actresses and brought together Michelle Williams, Cynthia Erivo, Jessica Lange, Jessie Mueller, Megan Hilty, Laura Benanti, and Lupita Nyong’o for a discussion on women in Broadway.
- This year James Corden will be hosting the Tonys. Corden did a few plays earlier in his career (one of which earned him his own Tony Award) and starred in Disney’s 2014 film adaptation of Into the Woods. Now he’s most famous for hosting The Late Late Show on CBS and his frequent Carpool Karaoke segments. This week he invited Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda, Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson, 30 Rock’s Jane Krakowski, and real life Broadway legend Audra McDonald into his vehicle to sing some Broadway classics. If Audra McDonald singing “One Day More” in the back of a car doesn’t give you chills, well perhaps the Tony Awards just aren’t for you.
- James Corden appeared on rival late night show Late Night with Seth Meyers this week. Just remember, when you’re doing a fridge run during the commercials on Sunday, James will be singing karaoke with some of the best singers in America.
- The best part of watching the Tonys has to be getting a taste of each new Broadway show. TimeOut New York ranked the 25 Best Tony Awards Performances of all time. And I am telling you, I would say which they think is the best but there’s just no, no, no way. Tear down the mountain, yeah scream and shout, you can say what you want, you’ll have to click the link.
- Personally, my favourite year for performances was 2011. Neil Patrick Harris hosted and did an opening number announcing that Broadway was not just for gays anymore. He also did a number from Company with Stephen Colbert, Patti LuPone, and Christina Hendricks. This year also included Daniel Radcliffe (and White Josh from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) succeeding in business, the cast of Sister Act raising their voice, Sutton Foster reminding us all why she’s considered a Broadway legend, and Andrew Rannells introducing a little show called The Book of Mormon to everyone.
