Tomorrow, if anyone asks you what happened at the Tonys, you can say this: Neil Patrick Harris said it all
June 13, 2011 6:08 AM Subscribe
If you missed the 2011 Tony Awards ceremonies, you can read a live blog or five (WSJ, Backstage.com, Broadway World (read from top to bottom, Twitter-style), Broadway Direct (also Twitter-style)), check out the Wikipedia Page, or just let the evening's presenter Neil Patrick Harris summarize the whole thing in 2 minutes 20 seconds in a spoken word/rap (transcript).
Also, there are tons of clips on YouTube, including a bunch from the same user who uploaded the NPH wrap-up: IdolXfactor's uploads.
Also, there are tons of clips on YouTube, including a bunch from the same user who uploaded the NPH wrap-up: IdolXfactor's uploads.
Holy shit NPH for President of Everything that rap is amazing and actually kind of a real rap!
posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:18 AM on June 13, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:18 AM on June 13, 2011 [6 favorites]
YAY TONYS
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:21 AM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:21 AM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
The Tonys are always the best awards show because these people know how to put on a show.
Neil Patrick Harris was superb, but my gobsmacked moment came when Mark Rylance recited Louis Jenkins' "Walking Through A Wall" as his acceptance speech. Incredible. There's not much new you can do with acceptance speeches, but by golly, he found it.
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:26 AM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
Neil Patrick Harris was superb, but my gobsmacked moment came when Mark Rylance recited Louis Jenkins' "Walking Through A Wall" as his acceptance speech. Incredible. There's not much new you can do with acceptance speeches, but by golly, he found it.
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:26 AM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
Capt. Renault, last time Rylance won, he recited Back Country.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:29 AM on June 13, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:29 AM on June 13, 2011 [4 favorites]
Are the IdolXfactor clips already gone? It looks like the CBS YouTube channel is uploading clips.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:29 AM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:29 AM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
Thanks, roomthreeseventeen. I had no idea -- all wonderfully new to me!
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:31 AM on June 13, 2011
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:31 AM on June 13, 2011
I hope the people who do the oscars were watching - that show was tight!
posted by shothotbot at 6:34 AM on June 13, 2011
posted by shothotbot at 6:34 AM on June 13, 2011
Usually I don't watch -- which is weird, because I've worked in theater -- but I knew one of the nominees this year. ...when I saw that John Larroquette was nominated in the same category, I realized Colman was not going to win.
I actually thought that Bono's introduction of the Spiderman segment was pretty gracious.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:52 AM on June 13, 2011
I actually thought that Bono's introduction of the Spiderman segment was pretty gracious.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:52 AM on June 13, 2011
“It’s not just for gays/
the gays and the Jews/
And cousins in from out of town you have to amuse/
And the sad, embittered malcontents who write the reviews.”
posted by CunningLinguist at 6:55 AM on June 13, 2011 [4 favorites]
the gays and the Jews/
And cousins in from out of town you have to amuse/
And the sad, embittered malcontents who write the reviews.”
posted by CunningLinguist at 6:55 AM on June 13, 2011 [4 favorites]
The TiVo I was watching on cut the end off so I'm only seeing that rap now. So brilliant! Everytime I think I couldn't possibly love NPH more....
posted by CunningLinguist at 6:57 AM on June 13, 2011
posted by CunningLinguist at 6:57 AM on June 13, 2011
How come the open to Doogie Howser, MD started with what appears to be Doogie's name as a category on Jeopardy?
posted by nathancaswell at 7:07 AM on June 13, 2011
posted by nathancaswell at 7:07 AM on June 13, 2011
Summer, 1987 ... right before or after (can't remember) Neil filmed Clara's Heart. Neil and I are working at a local sandwich shop in Ruidoso. Instead of just calling out the customer's name when a customer's order was ready, Neil and I began rhyming out stupid little things: "I don't want to tell you your feet smell rank, but your sandwich is up here at the counter Frank." Stupid stuff. Funny stuff. Everyone in the restaurant found it hilarious, except for our boss, who made us quit doing it after a couple of days. Probably because we were having to come up with some pretty elaborate (and racy) things to rhyme with some people's names.
At any rate, you can thank a boring summer job making sandwiches for leading NPH down the path to this end.
posted by PapaLobo at 7:20 AM on June 13, 2011 [25 favorites]
At any rate, you can thank a boring summer job making sandwiches for leading NPH down the path to this end.
posted by PapaLobo at 7:20 AM on June 13, 2011 [25 favorites]
So when Neil said he couldn't rap in the Dr. Horrible commentary, he was lying to us through song?
I hate when people do that.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 7:26 AM on June 13, 2011 [2 favorites]
I hate when people do that.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 7:26 AM on June 13, 2011 [2 favorites]
How come the open to Doogie Howser, MD started with what appears to be Doogie's name as a category on Jeopardy?
Well, there was an episode in one of the later seasons where he participated in a jeopardy-like quiz show. I can't seem to find any youtube clips, however. Or do you mean the opening shot? That's his computer. Almost every episode ended with him typing an entry in his journal.
posted by janepanic at 7:34 AM on June 13, 2011
Well, there was an episode in one of the later seasons where he participated in a jeopardy-like quiz show. I can't seem to find any youtube clips, however. Or do you mean the opening shot? That's his computer. Almost every episode ended with him typing an entry in his journal.
posted by janepanic at 7:34 AM on June 13, 2011
That opening number completely floored me.
And the good news is I'll get to see it again often, because I'm sure the local gay showtune-fan hangout, Sidetrack, will be playing it often!
posted by dnash at 7:36 AM on June 13, 2011
And the good news is I'll get to see it again often, because I'm sure the local gay showtune-fan hangout, Sidetrack, will be playing it often!
posted by dnash at 7:36 AM on June 13, 2011
I was won over by NPH as an all-around talent after watching Whedon's Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog. One of my all-time favorites.
posted by mondo dentro at 7:36 AM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by mondo dentro at 7:36 AM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
Mark Rylance's speech caught me off-guard. I was in another room, and I heard someone talk about astral projection, and I didn't know if my wife had changed the channel or it was a nonsensical commercial.
If you missed that video, here is text of the poem (and the text of his 2008 acceptance speech poem).
As for the why, Rylance discussed it in an interview last night. I like him.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:45 AM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you missed that video, here is text of the poem (and the text of his 2008 acceptance speech poem).
As for the why, Rylance discussed it in an interview last night. I like him.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:45 AM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
knile: What, no link to the opening number?
I actually missed the beginning of the televised ceremony, and other parts as I wandered around getting ready for bed. Thanks for the link!
posted by filthy light thief at 7:47 AM on June 13, 2011
I actually missed the beginning of the televised ceremony, and other parts as I wandered around getting ready for bed. Thanks for the link!
posted by filthy light thief at 7:47 AM on June 13, 2011
Holy shit NPH for President of Everything that rap is amazing and actually kind of a real rap!
You had me at NPH for President. That guy is legen... wait for it... dary.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 8:12 AM on June 13, 2011
You had me at NPH for President. That guy is legen... wait for it... dary.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 8:12 AM on June 13, 2011
The whole time I'm listening to NPH rap I'm going "drop the mic, drop the mic, drop the mic" and then - BOOM! - he goes for it. Awesome.
posted by alby at 8:19 AM on June 13, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by alby at 8:19 AM on June 13, 2011 [3 favorites]
Just looked up Jenkins' work, looks like he has some great readings of his poems on his website as well.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 8:39 AM on June 13, 2011
posted by Potomac Avenue at 8:39 AM on June 13, 2011
Ahh NPH. I friggin love that guy. Had I known the Tonys were on, and that he was hosting, I would have been all up in that biz-nass. Sadly, I didn't. Ahh well.
posted by antifuse at 9:43 AM on June 13, 2011
posted by antifuse at 9:43 AM on June 13, 2011
I mean, come on... He starts the night with "Good evening. I'm teen heart throb Neil Patrick Harris". I think my wife would be uncomfortable with the amount of man-crush I have on him.
posted by antifuse at 9:52 AM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by antifuse at 9:52 AM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
One thought on the intro number vs the endcap: the ending was scripted during the show, as it referenced acceptance speeches that most likely wouldn't have been known about until hearing them (like Nikki James' bumblebee speech).
And while the "bumblebees fly because nobody told them they couldn't" quote is cute, they also have physics on their side.)
posted by filthy light thief at 9:53 AM on June 13, 2011
And while the "bumblebees fly because nobody told them they couldn't" quote is cute, they also have physics on their side.)
posted by filthy light thief at 9:53 AM on June 13, 2011
I loved the show (one of the best Tony shows in recent years, for sure) and NPH was delightful, but he did have some help on the closing rap from Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote In the Heights. (Lin-Manuel confirms on twitter they were writing throughout the broadcast) What a fun night.
posted by Zephyrial at 2:00 PM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Zephyrial at 2:00 PM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
Lin-Manuel Miranda, of course, was the architect of this awesome wedding performance to his bride, Vanessa. He seems like a good and talented guy, too.
Also, "Al Pacino? You're too famous for this bit."
posted by Joey Michaels at 3:20 PM on June 13, 2011
Also, "Al Pacino? You're too famous for this bit."
posted by Joey Michaels at 3:20 PM on June 13, 2011
I went around all day singing to myself, "And IIIIII believe that in 1978 God changed his mind about blaaack peeeeopllllle!!!"
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:42 PM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:42 PM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
NPH closed the 2009 Tonys with an equally delightful song recapping the previous few hours. (More fun if you saw that show)
posted by CunningLinguist at 7:12 PM on June 13, 2011
posted by CunningLinguist at 7:12 PM on June 13, 2011
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Oh hush. This is Bobby Lopez's year. Again.
posted by evidenceofabsence at 7:24 PM on June 13, 2011
Oh hush. This is Bobby Lopez's year. Again.
posted by evidenceofabsence at 7:24 PM on June 13, 2011
They are friends with each other! Brick Prison, what what! Or, uh, What's What.
posted by evidenceofabsence at 7:42 PM on June 13, 2011
posted by evidenceofabsence at 7:42 PM on June 13, 2011
Some time ago, I was listening to Greg Fitzsimmon's podcast, and the guest was mentioning how his agent had recently died. They were talking about what an old school sort of fellow this agent was -- how he was about loyalty and relationships and such. As an example of how loyal the agent was they said, "He still has John Larroquette as a client." Implying that Larroquette was a losing proposition.
It reminded me of Larroquette's turn on Saturday Night Live a looong time ago, and a bit he did which was an ad for a greatest hits album of a country singer. The songs would alternate between really over-the-top happy and morbidly depressed. It's one of the funniest things I've seen.
Then, I started listening to another podcast called "Uhh Yeah Dude," which is co-hosted by Larroquette's son, John Larroquette Jr. and they've been talking about how his dad was up for a Tony.
Long story short: Congratulations, Papa John!
posted by Trochanter at 9:35 AM on June 14, 2011
It reminded me of Larroquette's turn on Saturday Night Live a looong time ago, and a bit he did which was an ad for a greatest hits album of a country singer. The songs would alternate between really over-the-top happy and morbidly depressed. It's one of the funniest things I've seen.
Then, I started listening to another podcast called "Uhh Yeah Dude," which is co-hosted by Larroquette's son, John Larroquette Jr. and they've been talking about how his dad was up for a Tony.
Long story short: Congratulations, Papa John!
posted by Trochanter at 9:35 AM on June 14, 2011
Whoa. NPH. Massive respect. That was awesome.
posted by The ____ of Justice at 11:26 AM on June 14, 2011
posted by The ____ of Justice at 11:26 AM on June 14, 2011
Capt. Renault, last time Rylance won, he recited Back Country.
It's almost like he's saying, "Go on, vote for me next time and be entertained for once. You seriously want to hear someone rattling off a list of names for 60 seconds?"
posted by Deathalicious at 2:42 PM on June 14, 2011
It's almost like he's saying, "Go on, vote for me next time and be entertained for once. You seriously want to hear someone rattling off a list of names for 60 seconds?"
posted by Deathalicious at 2:42 PM on June 14, 2011
ThePinkSuperhero: I went around all day singing to myself, "And IIIIII believe that in 1978 God changed his mind about blaaack peeeeopllllle!!!"
The whole soundtrack is fantastic, and some day, somehow, I will see the actual musical. Until then, I'll marvel at the actual history of Black people and LDS. Truth is stranger than fiction, indeed.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:08 PM on June 15, 2011
The whole soundtrack is fantastic, and some day, somehow, I will see the actual musical. Until then, I'll marvel at the actual history of Black people and LDS. Truth is stranger than fiction, indeed.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:08 PM on June 15, 2011
And maybe I'll sing about frogs and female circumcisions, but really quietly, and only in private
posted by filthy light thief at 12:10 PM on June 15, 2011
posted by filthy light thief at 12:10 PM on June 15, 2011
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posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:16 AM on June 13, 2011 [2 favorites]