Televisions Suuuuucks! BROADWAY FOREVER!

June 10, 2013 5:50 AM

Broadway stars Andrew Rannells (of the now-cancelled TV show The New Normal), Megan Hilty (of the now-cancelled TV show Smash), and Laura Benanti (of the now-cancelled Go On AND The Playboy Club) join host Neil Patrick Harris at the 2013 Tony Awards to sing the joys and heartaches of Broadway-actors hiting the small screen.

You might also enjoy the show's Opening Number, featuring pretty much every working actor on Broadway, and the Closing Number, featuring NPH, Audra McDonald (Alicia who?), and composer Lin-Manual Miranda at the piano.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero (60 comments total)

Also, Cyndi Lauper became the first solo woman to win a Tony for best score.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:50 AM on June 10, 2013 [7 favorites]

We were there and ended up sitting with the Pippin friends and family contingency, which was great fun, as the night went pretty well for them.

Judith Light was just stunning, and very clearly the hero for the evening due to her classy speech.

I got to talk to Larry Kramer at the party, and was just so thrilled and honored.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:02 AM on June 10, 2013 [2 favorites]

I give a big THUMBS DOWN who decided not to air Larry Kramer's award! Boooooo! He deserves a little screen time!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:03 AM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

I adore Judith Light- fell in love with her gorging on Ugly Betty; she is beautiful and talented and I never tire of watching her.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:04 AM on June 10, 2013

TPS, yeah, that and BEST BOOK. Jesus.

The other funny thing of the evening (I'm not sure if this was aired or not) was Hugh Vanstone winning for lighting design of Matilda against Kenneth Posner for Kinky Boots; Kenneth Posner for Pippin; Kenneth Posner for Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella. There was an audible gasp in the theatre.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:06 AM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

Can't believe all the children on Broadway this season. Liked Isherwood's comment, "There are more kids on this telecast than there are in public schools in Manhattan."
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:11 AM on June 10, 2013

Thanks for posting, I was wanting to see NPH's opening but missed it due to chronic ennui. Whoa, and on preview we had a mifian in attendance, why weren't you live posting rm317, eh?
posted by sammyo at 6:16 AM on June 10, 2013

This year, as every year, the best awards show around, for the simple reason that these people know how to run a show.
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:17 AM on June 10, 2013 [6 favorites]

No shit it's a hard knock life, kids. Half of the tweens in NYC are doing eight shows a week.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 6:17 AM on June 10, 2013

Can't we just have Neil host all the things?
posted by kmz at 6:19 AM on June 10, 2013 [4 favorites]

Capt. Renault, because my iPhone stayed in my purse for the entire broadcast. :-) I did live Facebook the party, including the part where Jerry Mitchell hugged my husband (I had no idea they knew each other, but apparently, they do.)
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:20 AM on June 10, 2013

You want to see some incredible stage magic- check out the Cinderella costumes. Don't blink or you'll miss the quick changes!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:23 AM on June 10, 2013 [2 favorites]

Can't we just have Neil host all the things? = they announced recently he's hosting the Emmys this year. At first I saw the article and thought, isn't this old news, him hosting the Tonys? World domination in progress!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:24 AM on June 10, 2013

I wish I remembered the name of the Broadway collection CDs the library had when I was a kid. They really provide a good base for getting the references on the parody songs from the Tonys.
posted by smackfu at 6:24 AM on June 10, 2013

I gotta say if I ever did a show again I'd want this stage manager to run it. The performers are pros but moving that crowd through the wings... must have been amazing backstage!
posted by sammyo at 6:29 AM on June 10, 2013

Thanks for this - we were out last night and didn't see the broadcast, but my fb was full of things like "NPH killing it!!!"

Hope it's a slow day at work...
posted by rtha at 6:29 AM on June 10, 2013

Hurray, Larry Kramer's acceptance speech is up on YouTube! He mentions that "The Normal Heart" began shooting in NYC yesterday.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:37 AM on June 10, 2013

Yeah, he's hosted the Emmys before. They really need him on the Oscars though.
posted by kmz at 6:38 AM on June 10, 2013

If he hosts the Grammy Awards, too, can he get an EGOT for hosting?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:39 AM on June 10, 2013 [4 favorites]

Broadway.com rates all the year's performances
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:42 AM on June 10, 2013

Grumble not available in my country grumble.

I really loved Megan Hilty on Smash -- she was one of the few things that made that show worth watching.
posted by jeather at 6:47 AM on June 10, 2013

Speaking of multiple awards, can I just give a 'fuck yeah' to Chicago theater and Tracy Letts in particular? By total coincidence, I saw both his writing and acting that won Tonys here in Chicago, and he's extraordinary.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 6:51 AM on June 10, 2013 [2 favorites]

(Well, it's not a total coincidence -- I'd probably go see any production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? given the opportunity,)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 6:51 AM on June 10, 2013 [2 favorites]

Speilberg reportedly wanted to re-cast Megan Hilty's role on Smash, which I find almost unbelievable (her and not Kat McPhee, really?)
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:56 AM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

Yeah, the problem with Smash was in large part that the producers loved Kat McPhee/Karen and didn't realise that (a) the character was boring and (b) the actor wasn't particularly good. I am so glad it was cancelled in season 2, because the plan for season 3 was to sideline Megan Hilty/Ivy and have McPhee be a movie star.
posted by jeather at 7:00 AM on June 10, 2013 [3 favorites]

Hilty was THE reason to watch the first season of Smash; until she became the reason I couldn't hate-watch it without guilt because she was so wasted. (This is actually only based on viewing the first half of the first season.)

roomthreeseventeen, perhaps you can settle a debate we were having at home since you were there. Was The Mystery of Edwin Drood the only nominated musical that didn't get a live performance on the broadcast because it wasn't performed at all or because it was cut for time somehow?
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:01 AM on June 10, 2013

No performance; it was a limited-run by a non-profit and I'm guessing the producers didn't want to shell out the $ for a performance (citation)
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:03 AM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

I would have totally believed you without a citation, but thanks for it because now I can be right with proof!
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:05 AM on June 10, 2013

MCMikeNamara, nope, wasn't performed live. I assume they couldn't assemble enough of the cast or they didn't want to shell out the money.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:06 AM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

That is a hell of an opening number. NPH has skillz.

Also, for a number like that, I assume they have NASCAR-pit-stop level crews of dressers backstage. In my mind, the outfit changes are accompanied by the sound of pneumatic impact drivers. Just because.
posted by rmd1023 at 7:19 AM on June 10, 2013

I am pretty pissed that CBS only broadcast the last minute of that excerpt from Once. That was something I was looking forward to seeing it because of Arthur "Rory Williams" Darvill joining the cast and I wanted to see how he was doing. But they tune in for only like the tail end of the number, despite a couple of commercial stingers that "coming up next, a performance from Once!"

CBS, either show it or don't, don't tease me like that!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:23 AM on June 10, 2013 [2 favorites]

EmpressCallipygos, they announced in the theatre right before it that they had been having some technical problems. There were numerous delays because of whatever was going on. I assume the Once performance was just a victim of whatever was going on.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:25 AM on June 10, 2013

I probably watched the thirty seconds they did show about 15 times before I went to bed last night.

Despite what my multiple comments in this thread may have implied, I am not a regular Tony viewer. (I'm sort of notoriously 'theater, especially musical theater, ignorant' compared to my partner and friends.) But I was blown away how much I loved the entire broadcast. And then they ended with one of my favorite actors from my all-time favorite television show singing one of my favorite songs from my all-time favorite musical, so I was like "Jeez, Tonys, okay, I will always watch you forever and ever. You've made your point."
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:29 AM on June 10, 2013

Also, Cyndi Lauper on mountain dulcimer!

If Julie Andrews weren't already occupying that spot (for life), Cyndi Lauper would be my new spirit animal.

(What do you want to bet those are those flameless candles from QVC that they're always making fun of on The Soup?)
posted by Madamina at 7:33 AM on June 10, 2013

NASCAR-pit-stop level crews of dressers backstage</em

Dressers are just amazing calm and efficient (with a needle and thread (by your crotch) seconds before queue)
posted by sammyo at 7:33 AM on June 10, 2013

"On Broadway, we don't need extreme close-ups to show we're singing live." LOL
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:42 AM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

Hilty was THE reason to watch the first season of Smash; until she became the reason I couldn't hate-watch it without guilt because she was so wasted.

She was slightly less wasted on the second season, but she still deserved better. I kept watching because it was worth it for her moments (and a few others).

I love NPH as much as anyone, but I would love to see awards shows branch out and hire someone else. Cohosts, even.
posted by jeather at 7:42 AM on June 10, 2013

My favorite part was when Neil Patrick Harris made out with the dog. I thought I was the only one who did that.
posted by TedW at 7:48 AM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

The staged bit where Oliver Platt and Liam Neeson were "the spirits of comedy and tragedy" felt pretty awkward (Oliver Platt needs to learn how to handle working with a teleprompter seriously).

However - I admit that I cackled when Liam snarked, "I'm the spirit of tragedy. Screw you."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:56 AM on June 10, 2013

I thought the Platt/Neeson bit was hilarious in that "they're making me do this so I'll do my best Jack McBrayer voice" way.
posted by Madamina at 8:20 AM on June 10, 2013

Kind of annoyed that the videos are being taken down, but the site still makes me sit through a commercial before they mention that part...
posted by blurker at 8:31 AM on June 10, 2013

Tony Dish from Michael Musto
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:37 AM on June 10, 2013

I hate theater and musicals. Something about live people on stage. Ick.

But NPH almost made me a believer.

Almost.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 8:50 AM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

Oh, even though it apparently is a controversial thing, I loved the staged bit with David Hyde Pierce stomping on Neil's cell phone because he was "texting".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:56 AM on June 10, 2013

The night's faux-controversy: some outlets reporting that it sounded like NPH dropped the n-word during the opening number bit with Mike Tyson. NPH denies it; I think it's clear to anyone with ears he was saying "bigger" and just flubbed the lyric a bit, probably due to being out of breath.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:33 AM on June 10, 2013

Multiple friends of mine were excited on Facebook last night about Billy Porter winning. Local boy made the big time in the big city and all that. He's one of three CMU grads to win last night with Patina Miller and Judith Light winning too. So Yay Tartans!
posted by octothorpe at 9:42 AM on June 10, 2013

Someone on ATC confirmed my suspicion that the "Cinderella" white dress seen on the Tonys was designed specifically for the TV broadcast; the one used on stage is slightly different. Magnificent!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:07 AM on June 10, 2013

TPS, yeah, it seemed that way, especially because I "caught" the trick on stage at Radio City and didn't catch it on Broadway.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:18 AM on June 10, 2013

I don't understand the trick, but I knew it looked slightly different from when I saw the show. Still just as cool! In fact, that is what I said, outloud, to my friend, during the wild applause right after it happened: "That was SO cool!"
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:20 AM on June 10, 2013

NPH is a boss.
posted by Justinian at 10:20 AM on June 10, 2013

for me the most amazing part was when he disappeared from the box and reappeared in the middle of the audience with enough breath left to lead a kickline of newsies down the aisle. My husband was like "surely he didn't run through the wings. Do you think they have a rocket-boosted Segway back there, or did they just throw him from stagehand to stagehand like a black-clad bucket brigade?"
posted by KathrynT at 11:05 AM on June 10, 2013 [3 favorites]

Maybe there are actually two Neil Patrick Harris's.

Which is kind of a pleasant thought, I guess.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:12 AM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

I wondered the same thing, KathrynT! Radio City is HUGE!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 11:25 AM on June 10, 2013

Nikolai Tesla invented a duplication device. The NPH from the box was destroyed; the NPH in the crowd was an exact copy.
posted by Justinian at 11:52 AM on June 10, 2013 [2 favorites]

Oh, I figured out how he got out of the box, that was easy. it was the sheer distance vs time thing that has me croggled.
posted by KathrynT at 12:03 PM on June 10, 2013

I was sitting right in front of where the Newsies were lined up. He had a few seconds to catch his breath, but not much time. And with all the lights going on stage, I almost didn't notice him going up the aisle that was just 8 seats away from me.

But he didn't have a Segway, he ran. (And not even standing up; he was crouched over to try and avoid being seen.)

I do like the two Neil Patrick Harris theory, though.
posted by grae at 12:17 PM on June 10, 2013 [4 favorites]

Oh did he run up the aisle from the stage, instead of going through the wings? Awesome, sir, well done.
posted by KathrynT at 12:23 PM on June 10, 2013

Yeah, he ran up the aisle. I didn't actually see him leave the stage, so I don't know if he took the stairs or if he jumped off the side far stage left (I think both would be options). I was actually watching the video screens they had posted high up to allow the audience to see close ups of some of the action on screen, so I wasn't really watching how it was done until my fiancé who was sitting next to me tapped my shoulder and pointed out the Newsies kids lining up. And then out of the corner of my eye I saw the motion of Neil Patrick Harris running down the aisle.
posted by grae at 12:29 PM on June 10, 2013

Though I think the most impressive thing about him is that he apparently memorized the ending number just before going out and performing it. My fiancé's first job after college was as his assistant, and was telling stories about how NPH practices memorization every morning right when he gets up. So he's capable of picking things up amazingly fast, so he can do a rap at the end of an awards show that actually references what happened during the previous couple of hours. (I'm totally in awe of NPH's talent.)

That has been my favorite part of the Tony Awards for the last couple of years. I'm disappointed that I didn't get to see it live, though being backstage was more than worth it.
posted by grae at 12:35 PM on June 10, 2013 [4 favorites]

Here's the Cinderella dress effect discussed above. I must have looked away from the screen for a minute, I don't remember seeing it happen at all. Kind of amazing.
posted by donnagirl at 7:46 PM on June 10, 2013