Was Michael Riedel banned from the program? I noticed that he was not invited to this years theatre critic roundup premiering this evening 6/3/19 on PBS. Did he leave for greener pastures?. Anyway, I look forward to what they all have to say.
The show felt very rushed. Wish they had included the guests in the second half hour and talked predictions for the full hour."
I agree with you. When I saw that it was to be an hour I thought that it was smart because a half hour never allowed much time for discussion. The second segment felt like an afterthought. I agree that the 2nd segment guests should have just been part of the first panel for an hour.
Jesse Green has a quick sense of humor and I find him to be very witty. I like the critics that they assemble. Musto was a little off his game but I think sometimes he has not seen all of the productions. I think they should have framed the program a little better by recognizing the specific location at the beginning of the program and then done a quick intro on the Performing Library and the wealth of resources.
GavestonPS said: "Somebody missed Michael Reidel?!"
Say what you want about Riedel, but despite all his catty, rude, and hurtful comments over the years, he could lead a conversation like nobody else on that show (especially when it involved multiple guests). Jesse Green is a smart guy and a good critic, but the show fell flat with him as host.
SomethingPeculiar said: "GavestonPS said: "Somebody missed Michael Reidel?!"
Say what you want about Riedel, but despite all his catty, rude, and hurtful comments over the years, he could lead aconversationlike nobody else on that show (especially when it involved multiple guests). Jesse Green is a smart guy and a good critic, but the show fell flat with him as host."
I agree, he's a pain but he made everyone around him on that show more interesting. It was like a common villain for all of them and they were funnier when he was around. So I don't agree with Riedel on much, but he was integral to Theater Talk working, like it or not.
SomethingPeculiar said: "GavestonPS said: "Somebody missed Michael Reidel?!"
Say what you want about Riedel, but despite all his catty, rude, and hurtful comments over the years, he could lead aconversationlike nobody else on that show (especially when it involved multiple guests). Jesse Green is a smart guy and a good critic, but the show fell flat with him as host."
Agreed. And I missed his knowledge of theatre. He was not always right when he referenced something but most times he was. He was great at making sure everything got covered. Without him tonght, it was a bit of a mess. There was less focus. JMO
It gets to be like a CNN panel when there are more than like 2 guests. It's tough to navigate between each, and usually one doesn't say much. Wolf Blitzer can't really handle that, and neither can Susan Haskins!
I love Susan Haskins but I agree that she is not strong when she is leading the panel. She is a bit like Aunt Clara on Bewitched. Michael was a very good host. Even though some people have never liked Riedel, I do think he loves the theatre and that came through when he was on the show.
It was interesting to watch this back last night, after being in the audience for the taping a few weeks ago.
The broadcast reversed the tape order of the event-The season recap was shot first, and then they shot the Tony predictions. It is clear that the recap went in a direction that they didn't anticipate, with quite a bit of time dedicated to off-Broadway, so they chose to run nearly the entirety of the Tony prediction that was filmed, save for a few more of Haskins' inability pronounce most of the names, and cut probably 10-15 minutes of material that was shot for the season recap.
And I agree that, like him or not, Riedel is quite the engaging personality on screen, and on the radio as I sit in traffic in the mornings.
Was glad to see this posting yesterday as it reminded me of the show airing on pbs. I watched it and agree with most comments above. Agree re Riedel- he was a very good TV host. Yes: kept the conversation on track, kept it moving, and with humor, charm and knowledge. He had an absolute talent for being a talking head/host, in a way that Susan Haskins and Jesse Green absolutely do not. (with all due respect to the their knowledge and charm and "likability" - they are not nearly as good at hosting an intv talk show.)
I like and respect Jesse Green but so much prefer Brantley's reviews / writing and thought the show was much better when he (Brantley) and Jan Simpson joined, and the Time Out guy left (I thought he talked way too much for what he said). Michael Musto is much needed comic relief with the group he was with....
Thought it was interesting that - if I understood them right and recall correctly - they seemed certain the Tony would go to Stephanie Block, Ali Stoker, and Andre De Shields. The others were more of a race - for example they all seemed to prefer Bryan Cranston's performance but thought it very possible that say Jeff Daniels wins...other races were to them more up in the air but am I getting the consensus right on those first 3 as pretty much shoo- ins?
Mediamaven2 said: "Thought it was interesting that - if I understood them right and recall correctly - they seemed certain the Tony wouldgo to Stephanie Block, Ali Stoker, and Andre De Shields. The others were more of a race - for example they all seemed topreferBryan Cranston'sperformancebut thought it very possible that say Jeff Daniels wins...other races were to them more up in the air but am I getting the consensusright on those first 3 as pretty much shoo- ins?"
I fully understand calling Elaine May a lock, but I’m surprised they would put Stephanie J. Block, Ali Stroker, and André De Shields on the same level of certainty. J. Block is most likely winning, but most people agree it’s more due to a combination of her career and not enough passion for her competitors rather than for her (admittedly well received) performance. And while De Shields and Stroker both have strong shots at winning, they both have tough competition from Patrick Page and Amber Gray respectively. If there were any other performers who I’d say are sure bets like May, it would be Santino Fontana and Celia Keenan-Bolger, who have both gotten an enormous amount of love for their work, and don’t seem to have any competitors with notices nearly as good as theirs.
I listened to the Broadway Radio Tony predictions podcast this morning. One of the guests said that he was talking to some of the voters, who are younger, and none of them knew who May was. He said that voters are becoming younger and that could change who we may think is a lock. Oddly enough, later he said that he felt De Shields was a lock because way back he was The Wiz.
I see NO WAY Amber Gray does not win. I actually fine this to be the weakest category .... and she’s the only one I would’ve even nominated .... As opposed to a season like the Fun Home/King and I season where any of them could have won and it would have been warranted (though I will never ever get over Judy Kuhn not winning, as I thought her performance was just stunning and having seen Fun Home twice at the public and 4 times on broadway, she was the best thing about it every time).
jdrye222 said: "I see NO WAY Amber Gray does not win. I actually fine this to be the weakest category .... and she’s the only one I would’ve even nominated .... As opposed to a season like the Fun Home/King and I season where any of them could have won and it would have been warranted (though I will never ever get over Judy Kuhn not winning, as I thought her performance was just stunning and having seen Fun Home twice at the public and 4 times on broadway, she was the best thing about it every time). "
I agree that Amber Gray should totally be the frontrunner here. Just a phenomenal performance. That being said, I really disagree with the thought that this is a weak category. In fact, I think it's the strongest of the year.
What I am finding exciting about this season is that there were really no breakout shows or performances that EVERYONE is talking about. But there were excellent shows and performances all around. There was a very diverse selection of shows and performances. (I personally would not mind seeing GARY win over FERRYMAN. I loved GARY). Sunday will be an exciting evening in that we won't tune in knowing one show is probably just going to win all of the major awards and that there are some nailbiters in store. I can't wait. JMO
uncageg said: "What I am finding exciting about this season is that there were really no breakout shows or performances that EVERYONE is talking about."
I still see Beth Leavel winning. I think it’s a tossup for sure, but only because none of them are really phenomenal roles to begin with, and in any other year these nominees would’ve been toward the bottom.
Valentina3 said: "uncageg said: "What I am finding exciting about this season is that there were really no breakout shows or performances that EVERYONE is talking about."
Wow. Stephanie J Block erasure."
Nope. Her performance got some recognition. But people are not running to see her in the show. And that is not to say that she isn't giving a good performance. I am comparing it to the likes of Broderick and Lane, Jennifer Holiday, Idina, Patti. People who got recognized outside of the community and drew lots of people in to see their performances.
I am a big fan of Block's but have no desire now to see the show after seeing performances from it. JMO
I'm the worst person to guess what's going to win the Tonys. And I agree that several of the play categories, including Best Play, seem a bit unpredictable or where upsets seem plausible. (When the biggest hit of the season, a play, isn't nominated as Best Play, it's an unusual situation.)
But the musicals, by and large, seem fairly predictable to me.
Best Musical - Hadestown
Best Score - Hadestown
Best Book - Tootsie
Best Actor - Santino Fontana (Tootsie)
Best Actress - Stephanie J. Block (The Cher Show)
Best Director - Rachel Chavkin (Hadestown)
Best Revival - Oklahoma!
Best Featured Actor - Andre De Shields (Hadestown)
Best Featured Actress - tossup between Amber Gray, Ali Stroker
I'm not saying these are the shows and performers that should win in my opinion, and anything is possible, but aren't these the clear favorites among the musicals?
Coffee, for me, it worked. The night I saw it he was wonderful. And it is his presence that lends to the part. I watched him when he was not in a scene or song and he was still being fabulous! With that said, for me, I could see Andy Grotelueschen upsetting this category. He is perfection in that role.
What was always kind of funny about Riedel was that he never let Susan Haskins talk. Every time she tried to open her mouth he would interrupt her. It always made me chuckle because the interruptions became predictable. But you would tell he adored her but he didn't feel she had that much to contribute.
I may be in the minority, but I like Green and Brantley and often share the same opinions before reading their reviews.
Onstage used to have a panel with predictions but I do not think they did it last year. Maybe it was due to the fact that the program changed so much and seemed like it had less money to work with. It does seem that more recent episodes have been working better and I think it is because they have gone back to a studio format. And Frank has gotten better at hosting.
joined:7/3/15
joined:
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Posted: 6/3/19 at 9:29pm