Tony Awards' Host Is Up For Grabs

[musiclover]

Posted: 3/29/06 at 7:05pm

Oprah Winfrey Won't Host Tony Awards

NEW YORK, Mar. 29, 2006

(AP) Oprah Winfrey will not be the new Hugh Jackman at the 2006 Tony Awards.

But the talk show queen, one of the producers of the stage version of "The Color Purple," says she will attend the annual celebration of the best of the Broadway season.

Winfrey, however, will not host the show, Carol Fineman, a spokeswoman for the musical, said Wednesday. Jackman, who wowed Broadway in "The Boy From Oz," has had the job for the last three years.

The Tonys, produced by the American Theatre Wing and the League of American Theatres and Producers, will be held June 11 at Radio City Music Hall and telecast by CBS. Nominations will be announced May 16.

Speculation had swirled Wednesday on the Gold Derby Web site that Winfrey would take over for Jackman this year.

As for who would get the coveted job, no one was saying.

"We don't discuss potential hosts until we make our announcement," Alan Eichhorn, a spokesman for Tony Awards, said. That announcement is expected within the next several weeks.







CBS News

[jo]

Posted: 3/29/06 at 7:15pm

http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2006/03/my_boldest_tony.html

But that was before Oprah announced she is not hosting the show.

Also --

"Hugh Jackman has done such a socko job hosting the Tony Awards that he's held onto the job for three years in a row. Last year he even won an Emmy for it. And now that Broadway's abuzz with the possibility that the former Tony champ ("The Boy from Oz") may return to the Great White Way soon in "Stop the World — I Want to Get Off" or "Pal Joey," Broadway insiders expect an announcement any day that he'll once again preside as Tony emcee when CBS telecasts the ceremony on June 11..."



It is the TONYs 60th anniversary and I hope that Hugh gets to host again. I was at the show last year and it beats the feeling of just watching it on TV. Everyone was cheering for every show and nominee - a great feeling of community where everyone joined in saying thanks for an excellent season. And Hugh was very much a part of that community of theatre lovers and performers!




Updated On: 3/29/06 at 07:15 PM

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 3/29/06 at 7:16pm

dissappointing news to me, but oh well,i hope "the color purple" still wins best musical!!! *crosses fingers*

hmm... maybe billy crystal will do it

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/29/06 at 7:17pm

I say Billy Crystal should host. I never liked the idea of the host also being one of the nominees. Billy has successfully host the Oscars and Grammys, and won Emmys for them both, many times. He proved to all of us last year that he has a home here on Broadway. I vote Billy!

Updated On: 3/29/06 at 07:17 PM

[willact4food]

Posted: 3/29/06 at 7:17pm

I really hope Hugh does it.

Since I am young, I haven't watched too many years of the Tony Awards, so it will be weird not seeing Hugh up there hosting. I really enjoy his hosting and think he really makes the night special.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/29/06 at 7:18pm

Hugh blew last year. A major disappointment. It's time to switch gears.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 3/29/06 at 7:25pm

right with you there, foster

maybe it was just watching it on tv, but i thought he wasnt funny or audience-attracting at all. he might be a great actor, and i have nothing against him, but i think the tonys would be better with a new host. also, the ratings were horrible last year in my opinion- hugh just doesnt attract a large audience other than broadway fans

btw, how can you get tickets to the tonys?

[jo]

Posted: 3/29/06 at 7:36pm

Tickets are very hard to come by

You try, together with a few thousand like-minded theatre fans, to get a ticket online ( Ticketmaster)on the morning that nominations are announced. Orchestra tickets are usually for theatre community members only, unless you get a special VISA SIGNATURE package deal. You may also want to use a ticket broker if you want slightly better seats in the mezzanines.

It's even worse than the pre-sale for THREE DAYS OF RAIN and THE ODD COUPLE, as there is only one event up for grabs. Unless you don't mind being seated in telescope territory ...There are big screens at RCMH, though.

Good luck!

If Hugh hosts, I will probably be in panic mode again on May 16 - LOL!
Updated On: 3/29/06 at 07:36 PM

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 3/29/06 at 7:40pm

yeah, im considering tickets more for next year- I'm going to be in Paris and Amsterdam this summer, and I'M MISSING THE TONY AWARDS!!!!!

do they broadcast them online? I think I will have a stroke if they dont :) jk

but i WILL be very upset...

[greencup]

Posted: 3/29/06 at 7:44pm

Hugh does a fair job, but I think it's time for a change. Just NOT Billy Crystal! Please. What about Will Farrel?

[jo]

Posted: 3/29/06 at 7:46pm

The official Tony Awards site has a streaming video coverage of the pre-show activities ( actually the part of the actual show not covered by a telecast). I don't think they cover the 3 hour-part that is telecast on CBS.

If I don't get tickets for this year, at least I will be in NYC for that time (and get to see the live coverage on TV), as I time my trip to NYC ( I live in Asia) right before and around TONY time. That is also the best time to see the shows - no absences and scintillating performances guaranteed
Updated On: 3/29/06 at 07:46 PM

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 3/29/06 at 7:51pm

thanks for the info bout the online footage- i will just be checking my computer throughout Tony night to see if any news on the winners is up...will anyone be posting who the winners are as the show is going on?

ill also try and record this on my dvd player...

wow, cant wait for the tonys!

[jo]

Posted: 3/29/06 at 7:57pm

You may want to check the official site for what they plan for the TONYs coverage --

http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/index.html

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 3/29/06 at 8:15pm

Bring back rosie.

[Kicks8567]

Posted: 3/29/06 at 8:17pm

Does anyone know if tickets are sold on May 16th at Radio City's box office as well? Or is it only through ticketmaster b/c my aunt works right across the street and that would make things soooo much easier. Thanks for your help.

[Scottie310]

Posted: 3/29/06 at 8:22pm

I think Megan Mullally should host. Shes funny and I'm sure can do some great little song and dance moments throughout the show

[CapnHook]

Posted: 3/29/06 at 10:22pm

I hated Hugh three years ago. I LOVED him two years ago (THIS is the one he won the Emmy for, NOT last year's!), and last year he was so-so.

I am ready for a change. Billy Crystal, anyone? He did 700 Sundays and will be Wilbur in the HAIRSPRAY film.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/29/06 at 11:47pm

"Hugh does a fair job, but I think it's time for a change. Just NOT Billy Crystal! Please. What about Will Farrel?"

Pardon?

Billy all the way. I think he would be fantastic!

[Corine2]

Posted: 3/29/06 at 11:59pm

Well,
Harvey is the host of the Drama Desk awards this year.
He is the hostess with the mostest.
I would love to see Harvey and Vilanch host the Tonys as a tag team. Could you imagine the one liners.

Or even better:
Harvey, Bruce and Charles.
Three brilliant writers and performers.
Charles would have to bring Julie. Updated On: 3/30/06 at 11:59 PM

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 12:05am

I think Megan Mullaly would be great.... or Crystal


SONDHIEM!

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 12:16am

Please don't ever misspell Sondheim's name on this board again. Thank you.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 12:18am

wow get your panties in a twist about a simple typing error.

SONDHIEM

[ShuQ]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 1:27am

Too bad...I was hoping Oprah would host. I know some of these people don't like her...but she would definitely bring in ratings...which the Tonys need as of late.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 2:56am

I was really hoping for Oprah, too. Oh, well.

We have to remember that what's most important to them (as far as the host goes) is who will get people to watch the Tony's that otherwise would not. Who has a large fan-base, aside from musical theatre? They know that the people that watch the Tony's faithfully and constantly attend Broadway shows will watch the ceremony (or attend the ceremony) regardless of who hosts.

Harvey Fierstein and Bruce Vilanch, despite how funny and talented (atleast the former) is/are, they will not bring in viewers. And as far as Charles Busch is concerned, funny man, great performer, but who outside of the theatre community even knows who he is?

Megan Mullaly is funny to an extent (when she's pretending to be Karen), but she doesn't have a large enough fan base - let's face it - the majority of WILL AND GRACE fans already have the Tony's on their to-do list on their Tivo's anyway.

Of course, it's possible that the producers might not be able to score ANY sort of celebrity that they want, which in that case, they might go for Hugh Jackmann, or someone like that.

Personally, although she has little to do with theatre, I think Ellen Degeneres would be a fantastic host. She would bring people in. If they kind find the person they're looking for, I also think Sarah Jessica Parker would be atleast an equal compromise.

[jasobres]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 6:34am

I STILL say there should be no host this year.