The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Musicaldudepeter
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/18/10
#1The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/7/11 at 8:46pm
How about Barbara Cook's 2010 Tony nomination for 'Sondheim on Sondheim' - random or what?
Also, George Rose winning the Tony for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his performance as Alfred Doolittle in the 1976 Broadway revival of 'My Fair Lady' for what is / was clearly a Featured role, no question about it.
I also find it hilarious that Yul Brynner was nominated in the featured category for his original KING AND I performance, because he was not given above-the-title-star-billing.
What are some other weird Tony nominations, or what are some other RANDOM, undeserving Tony nominations of the past??
#2The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/7/11 at 8:49pmRory O'Malley
PiraguaGuy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/08
#2The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/7/11 at 8:55pmDavid Bologna for Billy Elliot?
Formerly SirNotAppearing - Joined 3/08
Musicaldudepeter
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/18/10
#3The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/7/11 at 8:59pmGood one! I mean I think they were just trying to fill that category. I'm not trying to be mean but seriously, they might as well have nominated Mr Braithwaite the ****ing pianist
#4The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/7/11 at 9:09pm
Million Dollar Quartet for best musical in 2010. I know there were slim pickings, but really????
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
#5The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/7/11 at 9:30pm
I also find it hilarious that Yul Brynner was nominated in the featured category for his original KING AND I performance, because he was not given above-the-title-star-billing.
Tom Bosley also won in the featured category for the title role in Fiorello!
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
#6The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/7/11 at 9:37pmRory O'Malley definitely. I've seen the show four times and still can't place him.
KirbyCat
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/23/08
#7The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/7/11 at 9:45pmThe Billy Elliot boys...?
kidbroadway2
Leading Actor Joined: 3/26/10
#8The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/7/11 at 9:51pmhaving the billy boys nominated as "1" makes it seem like their performances are all the same. but i understand the dilemma otherwise.
#9The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/7/11 at 9:53pmKarine Plantadit for Come Fly Away, really?
http://backstagebarbie.blogspot.com
#10The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/7/11 at 9:56pmAww. I'm so sad to see Rory O'Malley named here. His is a tiny part, but I find him incredible and magnetic. My favorite musical performance on Broadway this season. I admit, I'm a sucker for a slapstick performance. I also adored Jeff Hiller in Bloody, Bloody and was rooting for him to get a nomination.
egghumor
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/9/11
#11The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/7/11 at 10:17pm
I think the most horrifying moments for me in Tony nominations history (or at least the first ones to come to mind) were ALL the nominations given to the dreadful, pitiful and amateurish STARMITES [1989] and the single most laughable nomination was Lisa Mordente in MARLOWE (were they f***ing kidding???) -- against Jennifer Holliday no less!
#12The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/7/11 at 10:22pmCONTACT, anyone?
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#13The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/7/11 at 10:32pm
I have to agree with the Rory O'Malley opinions.... I honestly cannot place him --- the boys did a great job as an ensemble, but I don't remember just one of them standing out in a Tony-worthy turn. It is bizarre to me.
Otherwise, I would say --- ANYONE ever nominated for either of those two Twyla Tharp danceathons as "Best Actor/Actress" -- Yes, you can act through dance, but there was none of it in MOVIN OUT or COME FLY AWAY.
And --- I also remember when I saw MILLIE, I (embarrassingly) didn't know who Harriet Harris was at the time, and I kept thinking "who is this awful woman who keeps showing up and singing songs with this horrible strident voice, and ruining the show?!" .... Then she gets nominated, and WINS. It has always puzzled me.
jonartdesigns
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/04
#14The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/7/11 at 10:58pmKaren Ziemba for Never Gonna Dance.
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
#15The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/7/11 at 11:18pmAbsolutely! I love Harriet Harris ...especially her work on FRASIER...but nothing she did in MILLIE was good in my opinion. She never even made me smile, much less laugh. That season, my choice for Best Featured Actress in a Musical was Spencer Kayden as 'Little Sally' in URINETOWN.
#16The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/8/11 at 12:17amI don't know how American Idiot got nominated for, and won, best set design. That's just me though.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#17The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/8/11 at 12:40am
The stupid rule about needing to have above-the-title billing to receive a nomination in the lead acting categories has caused several puzzling nominations. One example is Tammy Grimes in "The Unsinkable Molly Brown"-- she was the title character and was almost always on stage, yet because she was a newcomer she received a nomination (and later won) in the featured actress category. LaChanze also received a nomination in the featured actress category for what was clearly a lead role in "Once on this Island." In 1985 Mary Beth Peil was nominated for Best Featured Actress for playing Anna Leonowens, again clearly a lead role (that was the infamous season where no lead acting nominations for musicals were given).
Updated On: 6/8/11 at 12:40 AM
#18The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/8/11 at 12:45amThought up another weird Tony nomination. I believe that the Liesl from the original broadway cast was nominated for Best Featured Actress along with her six stage siblings, even though two of the von Trapp children were (of course) boys. Would have been a more than a little odd had they won!
#19The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/8/11 at 12:53am
LaChanze also received a nomination in the featured actress category for what was clearly a lead role in "Once on this Island." In 1985 Mary Beth Peil was nominated for Best Featured Actress for playing Anna Leonowens, again clearly a lead role (that was the infamous season where no lead acting nominations for musicals were given).
I believe both of those were the producers' doing, Matt, as opposed to a rule still being in place. I'm sure there are more examples, but both Donna McKechnie and Patti LuPone had won Leading Actress Tonys without being billed above the title of their shows.
I swear I've asked this before, but when was the rule about above the title billing changed? I know William Daniels turned down a nomination for Featured Actor because he believed John Adams was a leading role (it kind of is). Was it changed because of that?
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
Updated On: 6/8/11 at 12:53 AM
#20The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/8/11 at 1:06am
I also am puzzled about the rules regarding eligibility for a lead acting Tony nomination. So many reasons why actors are placed in certain roles are so arbitrary. Like how stars who play roles considered featured are sometimes nominated as a lead actor (ex. George Rose in My Fair Lady and Frances McDormand in A Streetcar Named Desire). Viola Davis' role in the revival of Fences was previously considered featured, yet she was nominated and won a lead actress tony when she played the part. What changed between the two productions? How much say does the committee have in choosing whether a part is lead or featured?
Updated On: 6/8/11 at 01:06 AM
chewy5000
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/1/09
#21The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/8/11 at 1:19amThough far from undeserving, there is the strange matter of Donna McKechnie winning Leading Actress for A Chorus Line...
AlfieByrne
Stand-by Joined: 8/12/09
#22The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/8/11 at 1:26amTammy Blanchard in How to Succeed...
rougeduck
Broadway Star Joined: 6/5/07
#23The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/8/11 at 1:59amIn the first 2 productions of West Side Story, Maria was featured. And I totally agree with Jeff Hiller being majorly deserving of a nod this year.
#24The most random or undeserving Tony nominations of the past
Posted: 6/8/11 at 2:01amBill T. Jones for his choreography in Spring Awakening! And WINNING! That just confused me.
"Somethin's comin', I don't know what it is but it is gonna be great!"
