Do the Producers of the Tony Awards telecast know who's going to win?

[Alex Kulak2]

I've been thinking about the most recent Tony awards, how many people complain that David Yazbek's win for The Band's Visit got put on the end of the commercial break. Then I remembered that they showed Itamar Mose's win for Best Book live on the show. However, the year previously, it was the other way around, with Best Score being live and Best Book being done during the Pre-Show. When the producers and director of the telecast are arranging the show, do they know who won the categories? If not, it's possible they showed Best Book live this year on the chance that Tina Fey would win for Mean Girls.

[IdinaBellFoster]

I do not believe they know, but they like us are using their best judgement and predicting who they believe might win. That's why you saw Best Book on the telecast this year - they wanted Tina Fey up there. It's usually only Book and Score that fluctuate between on and off telecast recently.  

[haterobics]

They don't know, but obviously they moved that category to the live show for Tina. I mean, they do know the celebrity status of the nominees in advance

[PJPan]

It's like when Cyndi Lauper won. It was assumed that she would, and the category was moved to air in case that happened. But no, the producers are not sure who wins.

[After Eight]

IdinaBellFoster wrote: "I do not believe they know, but they like us are using their best judgement and predicting who they believe might win. That's why you saw Best Book on the telecast this year - they wanted Tina Fey up there."

 

If that's the case, then I'd say their best judgment isn't very good. Any observer of the Broadway scene knows that you never bet against the critics' darling, especially when said darling could use a boost in business.

[rjnyyz]

Can't speak for the Tony awards, but i worked at the accounting firm that tabulated and kept the results of another televised awards show.   There were definitely questions between the producers and the partner of the firm, such as, 'We were thinking of having performer X appear during this part of the broadcast, would that be a good idea?"   The partner would answer.  It may be a technicality, but never was the winner of a particular award the question nor the answer.   

[haterobics]

After Eight said: "If that's the case, then I'd say their best judgment isn't very good."

Their judgment was to get the categories in which celebrities were nominated on the broadcast. Not assume said celebrities would win.

[HogansHero]

After Eight said: "If that's the case, then I'd say their best judgment isn't very good. Any observer ofthe Broadway scene knowsthat you never bet against the critics' darling, especially when said darling could use a boost in business."

And any person with a brain cell knows that if you follow the advice above, you would soon be too poor to ever go to another Broadway show.

[HogansHero]

rjnyyz said: "Can't speak for the Tony awards, but i worked at the accounting firm that tabulated and kept the results of another televised awards show. There were definitely questions between the producers and the partner of the firm, such as, 'We were thinking of having performer X appear during this part of the broadcast, would that be a good idea?" The partner would answer.It may be a technicality, but never was the winner of a particular award the question nor the answer."

Well I have nothing to say about any other show, but the conversation in question would not be feasible for the Tonys since by the time the results are tabulated the show is already mapped and basically frozen.