Hippity Hoppity, Wolverine's On His Way

[darquegk]

So, that opening number. I have very mixed feelings about it. I thought it was sort of gleefully absurd when I saw it, and it fit very much in the "Hugh Jackman will do just about anything" feel of the evening.

When I found out it was a complete reproduction of a musical number from "That's Entertainment," I had even more mixed feelings... It felt like a "Family Guy" bit where they reproduce an entire movie scene. Was it clever and fun, or just padding? Did knowing the number in question before the homage make it more enjoyable, or less?

(For those who haven't seen it, here's the video of the original scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtlHjso3LHA#t=54)

[brdway411]

LMAO

[Eris0303]

Small Town Girl. The name of the original movie was Small Town Girl.

[NoName3]

And the name of the song in the film is "Take Me to Broadway."

[PalJoey]

It was a good thing. Don;t lose sleep over it.

[Eris0303]

I will now be having a viewing of the movie at my house. You're all welcome to come over.

[Theatrefan2]

I found it totally lacking. I was looking forward to it and was disappointed. NPH last year was wonderful so I was expecting something like that. Not this silly hopping. Somehow they should have found a way to get him into the number. I found Hugh was just an all right host with the big hollywood name.

[humbugfoto]

I think the only reason for that random, ridiculous excuse for an opening number was so he could say "you won't see THAT at ComiCon!"

[Eris0303]

I can't believe I forgot Nat King Cole is in Small Town Girl. Just for a number but he's great :)

[haterobics]

His full name is National?!

[Eris0303]

Haha, stupid phone.

[sciencegirl]

I'm repeating myself from another post. But, bottom line -
I expected something that screamed "THIS IS BROADWAY 2014!, BITCHES" and made people excited about the shows this year - that's was NPH did wonderfully last year.

This bouncing homage just said "Hugh Jackman is in good shape." I already knew that, I've seen his butt (as he randomly pointed out).

If it was a part of the opening, it might have worked. But to build the whole thing around it? It went on too long and wasted the talent of the nominees who were regulated to background dressing to his bounce. A damn shame.

[Mr Roxy]

As Abe Lincoln once said "You cannot please all the people all the time". If they do not like what you say or do tell them to go **** themselves. He was later shot for his trouble.

[Brian07663NJ]

Funniest part of that entire bit was the comment he made about wishing he wore a dance belt.

[Gothampc]

The Tonys have lacked creativity for years. This is just one more example. How many people actually understood they were recreating a scene from a little known musical? This was really the best they could do?

[Mr Roxy]

The movie version was better especially the part with the dancing dog.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

As Abe Lincoln once said "You cannot please all the people all the time". If they do not like what you say or do tell them to go **** themselves. He was later shot for his trouble.

Says the person who can't get over an acceptance speech.

[carlodowd]

Have to say, i was a bit disappointed with the opening

[Mr Roxy]

It was Ok but a different opening would have been better.

[brdway411]

I was disappointed with the whole thing.

[evic]

Hugh's calves must be killing him today. Awful opening. Fail.

[theatregeek6]

Epic fail. Even playbill.com didn't get the reference calling his kangaroo hop a tribute to his native Australia

http://m.playbill.com/news/article/192100-Hop-Rap-and-Tap-10-Memorable-Hugh-Jackman-Moments-From-the-2014-Tony-Awards

[Tom5]

After seeing the video I think Jackman's tribute to Bobby Van will be enormously appreciated through history, if not the immediate present. (At the time I thought it was weird, but interesting). By the way, Bobby Van, who died at a very young age, was very much loved by everyone who knew him. He was also married to Elaine Joyce who is now Mrs. Neil Simon.

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Worst opening for the Tonys ever!!!...

[Eris0303]

I see that as more of a fail on Playbill's part than on Hugh's. He even hopped past a screen showing a scene from the movie. Even if you were unfamiliar with the movie that should have been a clue to a "journalist" that there might be more to it.

[jemjeb2]

I had no idea it came from that Bobby Van movie, so I was just confused. I thought maybe Australian star? kangaroo? hop hop hop? It was exhausting to watch and didn't really represent Broadway till he joined/ interfered with the "Midnight" cast. I give it a "No."