ALW and Chita dissed

[chernjam]

So glad I didn't watch the Tonys live... Just catching up on DVR.   My only real reason for recording it was hoping there would be a suitable tribute to ALW for his Lifetime Achievement Tony.  That ridiculous flip flop of tunes from his works with Chita's performances was insulting - for both of them.

[kofler22]

I thoruoghly agree! 

[BroadwayConcierge]

It was really bizarre, no? They each should've gotten their own tribute.

[kade.ivy]

I agree they deserved more. I understand the Springsteen ratings draw, but maybe it was unnecessary to present him with the award AND have him perform? And maybe not have the Summer performance? I don’t really see how anything else could’ve been cut, though.

[Tapping23]

It was disgusting and they should be ashamed. You have two of the most influential people of the theater who have a body of work that is globally recognized and that was the best idea? What the hell.

[chernjam]

kade.ivy said: "I agree they deserved more. I understand the Springsteen ratings draw, but maybe it was unnecessary to present him with the award AND have him perform? And maybe not have the Summer performance? I don’t really see how anything else could’ve been cut, though."

The Summer performance seems logical - how many years were non-nominated musicals snubbed from a performance slot?

[broadwaysfguy]

have to chime in and say the tribute mash up was offensive and small minded and alw and chita both deserve and have earned separate tributes

[haterobics]

chernjam said: "The Summer performance seems logical - how many years were non-nominated musicals snubbed from a performance slot?"

Never? How many years did non-nominated not pay an extra quarter million to perform on an awards show? A lot.

[broadwaysfguy]

have to chime in and say the tribute mash up was offensive and small minded and alw and chita both deserve and have earned separate tributes

[VintageSnarker]

What actually was that? If anyone was at the actual show, I would appreciate a report of what the performance and acceptance speeches were actually like. The editing was so strange. I hope it wasn't that strangely abbreviated in person.

[NYadgal]

The special awards were given out during the pre-show awards.  The performance during the show wasn’t the entirety of the tribute. 

[LightsOut90]

VintageSnarker said: "What actually was that? If anyone was at the actual show, I would appreciate a report of what the performance and acceptance speeches were actually like. The editing was so strange. I hope it wasn't that strangely abbreviated in person."

i was there, it was odd. 

[BrodyFosse123]

The special awards were given out during the pre-show awards.  The performance during the show wasn’t the entirety of the tribute. 

Yes, we all understand this.  We just want to know from those who attended the Tony Awards -- did the pre-show (prior to the live telecast) where they were actually presented their awards include a Kennedy Center Honors-type of tribute to ALW and Chita Rivera?   

[Babe_Williams]

kade.ivy said: "I agree they deserved more. I understand the Springsteen ratings draw, but maybe it was unnecessary to present him with the award AND have him perform? And maybe not have the Summer performance? I don’t really see how anything else could’ve been cut, though."

I felt like John Leguizamo talked for like an hour. 

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Hell, I was more worried that they'd accidentally omit Jan Maxwell from the Memoriam sequence after what happened with her house-light-dimming...

[bandit964]

My bf doesn't know much about theater and he's trying to learn more. This medley had him SO confused. I can't be mad that he now thinks ALW wrote Chicago & West Side Story and Chita Rivera played Eva Peron & Grizabella.

[Valentina3]

I'd watch Chita Rivera play Eva Peron. Hell, I'd watch her play Che.

[Wick3]

I think they should just award one person the lifetime achievement award each year rather than awarding multiple people one year and none the next, etc.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

I'll say this for the medley... it proved that a live (or even semi-live) orchestra performing themes from JCS without one of Webber's flunkies wielding total control can give it more passion and excitement.

[TheSassySam]

I was not really paying attention and at the end I thought they were celebrating Chita in Sunset Boulevard and I was VERY confused/disappointed that never happened. 

[chernjam]

bandit964 said: "My bf doesn't know much about theater and he's trying to learn more. This medley had him SO confused. I can't be mad that he now thinks ALW wrote Chicago & West Side Story and Chita Rivera played Eva Peron & Grizabella.

"

^ ^ ^ This times 10...

It was funny since when it was announced that Josh and Sarah were hosting and then ALW was getting the lifetime achievement, I expected they were going to do something since they've both recorded some of ALW's music in different forms.  What a friggin embarrassment.  I want to go back and see the tribute they did for Sondheim when he won that award.

 

[carnzee]

chernjam said: "I want to go back and see the tribute they did for Sondheim when he won that award.

I know these award shows have many different producers over the years. Whoever produced it when Sondheim won may have had better taste. 

This medley was the low point in a very good evening, I thought. I can't be the only one who assumed both of them received lifetime achievement Tonys years ago.

[fashionguru_23]

Just watched Chita's speech...she is queen! Also, she "still has salt in the shaker!"

[Wick3]

chernjam said: "
 I want to go back and see the tribute they did for Sondheim when he won that award.
"

I was curious too and found this (jump to 1:39:35). Sondheim was unable to attend the Tony's back in 2008 so Mandy Patinkin dictated Sondheim's acceptance speech that evening.

 

[AEA AGMA SM]

TheSassySam said: "I was not really paying attention and at the end I thought they were celebrating Chita in Sunset Boulevard and I was VERY confused/disappointed that never happened."

But Rita Moreno did do Sunset Boulevard, so you could kind of say that Chita did it