tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post6690140724992646334..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: The 2014 Tony Awards: My reviewBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32864768514192647572014-07-18T06:01:47.782-07:002014-07-18T06:01:47.782-07:00This was the first Tonys I ever saw, so I wasn'...This was the first Tonys I ever saw, so I wasn't really disappointed. A lot of it was skippable, though Neil Patrick Harris was great. I love Idina Menzel's voice, and obviously so do a lot of people (she's got one of the only non-adaptations on Broadway right now), but she gets a lot of flack here- nobody's a fan of belting here, I suppose.<br /><br />There isn't a lot of NEW stuff on Broadway that I really want to see. I saw If/Then just for Idina, and it was decent (and funny in parts), but you could tell it was just a starring vehicle with some minor extra characters added in (the love interests were a bit bland; I found myself liking the tertiary loves of the side characters, because of the talents of their performers). The non-Idina songs were filler, and most of Idina's were basically used as a showcase for her powerhouse voice (I have no idea how she does that eight shows a week).Jabronivillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07318218102203693195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-86575513428597649822014-06-17T10:46:44.146-07:002014-06-17T10:46:44.146-07:00"it's "Kind Hearts and Coronets"..."it's "Kind Hearts and Coronets" without Alec Guinness, so what's the point?"<br /><br />To quote Louis Armstrong, "If I have to explain it to you, you'll never understand."cadavranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-49495448884682777452014-06-13T19:49:45.729-07:002014-06-13T19:49:45.729-07:00Thank you for posting the In Memoriam link.
I d...Thank you for posting the In Memoriam link.<br /> <br />I don't know much about "Gentleman's Guide" but basically it's "Kind Hearts and Coronets" without Alec Guinness, so what's the point?<br /><br />Hugh Jasshole can hop all the home to Australia for all I care.Buttermilk Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07430011403223875192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81646060242045270382014-06-11T07:53:26.928-07:002014-06-11T07:53:26.928-07:00Your review is spot-on! Really disappointed with t...Your review is spot-on! Really disappointed with the show this year. The only performance that made me smile (a small one, at that) was from Aladdin. But even that was lackluster. Made me wish that they sang A Whole New World instead. I also wished that If/Then featured Here I Go instead of Idina doing it solo. Again. I love her but she needs to make room for other people already. Ha ha! I am BEYOND upset that Bridges didn't perform!!!Ea Gabothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00265703493635863418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78334004161105303482014-06-10T11:41:03.308-07:002014-06-10T11:41:03.308-07:00Broadway theater -- the one form of entertainment ...Broadway theater -- the one form of entertainment that's still largely the province of upper middle class white people.Kerrinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46133148425578903002014-06-10T03:01:28.330-07:002014-06-10T03:01:28.330-07:00"Alan Cumming’s suit was ridiculous. It looke..."Alan Cumming’s suit was ridiculous. It looked like a Rorschach test."<br /><br /> To me it looks like he left a black marking pen in the wash. <br />I am afraid that Idina Menzel voice does not do much for me.Barry Traylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14134880916215990198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-86026053233958437872014-06-09T23:09:25.339-07:002014-06-09T23:09:25.339-07:00A lot of silly errors, Levine.
Harris was not a ...A lot of silly errors, Levine. <br /><br />Harris was not a lock. He and Jefferson Mays split all the awards this year. <br /><br />Wicked has performed twice on the Tonys ever. The year it debuted and yesterday to honor its tenth anniversary.<br /><br />Kevin Bacon is heavily involved in NY theater having made his Broadway debut over 30 years ago and continuing to remain involved since then. He's a real champion of theater.<br /><br />Four nominees in each category is pretty standard. It's not an anomaly.<br /><br />Rosie presented the big prize because she was honored this year for her work in promoting theater. <br /><br />You spelled Lin-Manuel Miranda's name wrong. Big fan, I see.<br /><br />I doubt you even saw Jesse Mueller, the nominee with the most lukewarm reviews, who benefitted from the small fish in big pond effect. <br /><br />The Broadway community knows Denzel all too well. He's the guy who won an undeserved Tony a few years ago and then indirectly insulted the voters. He was miscast in Raisin and far too old for the role.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-28068860586844462722014-06-09T20:19:07.048-07:002014-06-09T20:19:07.048-07:00As a gay man who has watched football on occasion,...As a gay man who has watched football on occasion, I too saw the Tonys last night and immediately recognized the Bobby Van reference. Had a good laugh with your review, Ken, though I thought last night's telecast was more energized than musty. There were some great numbers (Aladdin, A Gentleman's Guide) and not so impressive numbers (Cabaret, Hedwig, Sting). I also dislike generic power ballads that sound alike and for me the musical highlight was "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" and seeing Carole King. They definitely should have included the In Memoriam segment. As effortlessly talented as he is, Hugh's late segment charming the nominees in their seats felt like filler, yet the show ran over by around 7 minutes.RCPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04251247613686669877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34566470422368546062014-06-09T17:18:46.811-07:002014-06-09T17:18:46.811-07:00Friday Query: Back in the day when TV series used...Friday Query: Back in the day when TV series used to have elaborate opening titles, who decided how these would look (i.e. clips of actors shown with names superimposed, vs. establishing scenes as was the case on M*A*S*H)? The director, producer, or was it outsourced?<br /><br />Same question for the closing credits. Who decided if there would be just a static image (Cheers), vs. clips or stills from the episode just shown (M*A*S*H)? If the latter, who selected the images? Was there a great deal of effort put into making the selections, or was it just an afterthought?Desperadonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-77461747299020335712014-06-09T16:08:08.730-07:002014-06-09T16:08:08.730-07:00Ken, you old pal Kristin Chenoweth probably will b...Ken, you old pal Kristin Chenoweth probably will be up for a Tony next year, since she's set to portray Lily Garland in a revival of "On The Twentieth Century": http://carole-and-co.livejournal.com/698303.html VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-69158357082936453212014-06-09T15:22:38.851-07:002014-06-09T15:22:38.851-07:00OK, after seeing that In Memoriam segment I get wh...OK, after seeing that In Memoriam segment I get why it wasn't broadcast. I'm the 13th or 14th of the 5 in here, but even so I reckon I knew 10% or so of the dearly departed. Which on a positive note makes it, I guess, a good year for not snuffing it if you're a Broadway name. <br /><br />Although why dancer Marc Platt, the brother in the purple shirt of Seven Brothers fame but who was also in the original production of Oklahoma way back in 1943, didn't get a mention is a total mystery. Was his yellow shirted brother Matt Maddox name checked last year?Jimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37947285668864289142014-06-09T15:07:03.880-07:002014-06-09T15:07:03.880-07:00I thought that Human Pogo Stick routine was one of...I thought that Human Pogo Stick routine was one of the sillier things M-G-M had ever dreamed up when Bobby Van did it sixty years ago, and I certainly don't think it rated a reprise by Hugh Jackman, of all people.Macnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61252179073642525812014-06-09T15:00:31.131-07:002014-06-09T15:00:31.131-07:00CRL said...
And do you know who Elaine Joyce's...<i>CRL said...<br />And do you know who Elaine Joyce's current husband is?</i><br /><br />No. Nor do I know who her non-currant husband or husbands was or were. And I'll bet she can't name any lovers of mine either. I saw her star in <i>Sugar</i> opposite Bobby Morse and Larry Kert 40 years ago, but I didn't feel it obligated me to keep track of her love life.D. McEwannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-49809928165580019822014-06-09T14:59:10.097-07:002014-06-09T14:59:10.097-07:00To clarify my earlier comment, I am not saying I t...To clarify my earlier comment, I am not saying I think that ageism is justified, just that I am not surprised it exists in show biz.Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-51534872890638363662014-06-09T14:51:26.111-07:002014-06-09T14:51:26.111-07:00Well, I did realize that Hugh was doing the Bobby ...Well, I did realize that Hugh was doing the Bobby Van jumping bit immediately, well before he hopped past a clip from the movie, to give the 95% of the audience that had no idea what that was about at least a clue.<br /><br />Nice of Clint Eastwood to do the talking-to-a-chair bit backstage, just to remind any who might have forgotten about what a titanic ass he made of himself at the Republican National Convention. And his connection to Broadway is what again? I mean beyond supporting political candidates who live to cut funding for the arts?D. McEwannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-24037811801271532292014-06-09T14:41:03.966-07:002014-06-09T14:41:03.966-07:00Thank God, I thought it was just me. BTW, I was in...Thank God, I thought it was just me. BTW, I was in a room with two straight guys who look forward to the Tonys and love musical theater so I'm thinking we're close to a dozen now. I actually recognized the number from "Small Town Girl" immediately and had to explain it to them, but I'm 60. My DIL recognized it from "That's Entertainment", so I guess that's okay. <br /><br />"Les Miserables," "Wicked," and "Bullets Over Broadway" which wasn't even freaking NOMINATED for Best Musical. Who put this piece of garbage together? Thank heavens we had pizza and beer. <br /><br />Audra McDonald is amazing, but next year they're going to start giving her Tony Awards for turning down parts...Imajazzbabyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12056590915711067514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72832616860100654422014-06-09T14:04:17.268-07:002014-06-09T14:04:17.268-07:00For those who weren't actually at Radio City M...For those who weren't actually at Radio City Music Hall, here's Jason Robert Brown's award:<br /><br />http://youtu.be/8H1tgvT4xgE<br /><br />And here's the In Memoriam package:<br /><br />http://youtu.be/NIXpMuDbUe4Bob Clasterhttp://www.bobclaster.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33238497210959541332014-06-09T13:35:32.370-07:002014-06-09T13:35:32.370-07:00Ken, Any reaction to this article:
http://www.dead...Ken, Any reaction to this article:<br />http://www.deadline.com/2014/06/produced-by-norman-lear-on-tv-ageism/<br /><br />I am less surprised by the ageism than by the comments of some of the other panelists such as “Getting content prepared,” was how Eric Opeka, Cinedigm’s EVP, Digital Networks, described the writing process. “Is this a property we can use to drive consumers to our paid services?” <br /><br />Are writers less valued than ever?Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83860428252238410522014-06-09T13:33:53.395-07:002014-06-09T13:33:53.395-07:00Kent,
Keeping that news under wraps for the momen...Kent,<br /><br />Keeping that news under wraps for the moment. Full announcement very soon. But thanks much. By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32482165732796621552014-06-09T13:00:13.141-07:002014-06-09T13:00:13.141-07:00Fans of 1980's music video also get the SMALL ...Fans of 1980's music video also get the SMALL TOWN GIRL reference...<br /><br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gkxRNmnC1YPaul Ducanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-19775629123518168942014-06-09T12:30:34.710-07:002014-06-09T12:30:34.710-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.kenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09216705763011665828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-57765963707985036312014-06-09T12:11:00.340-07:002014-06-09T12:11:00.340-07:00Ok ....straight guys who like broadway musicals.ge...Ok ....straight guys who like broadway musicals.get over yourselves!, there are more of you than you think!! I know plenty,my husband,son and many friends!!<br />It is all about what you are exposed to,,,they like ballet too!! Anyhoo we enjoyed the show (not the best) despite the lack of quality musical numbers. Did not get the hopping but I knew it HAD some relevance !! LOVE whatever Hugh does! Loved the Alladin and Music Man , thought Cabernet was very lame and Jennifer Hudson(who I think is terrific) in that ridicules piece and uninspired song was a poor choice, so who the heck is going to see THAT show when it opens? I did enjoy your blog snd agreed with most!! All and all...what is better than Hugh JACKMAN at Radio City??? NOTHING in my book!!! Standing O!!!Hoppy viewernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88104320048370188802014-06-09T12:06:12.583-07:002014-06-09T12:06:12.583-07:00And before Elaine Joyce married her current husban...<br />And before Elaine Joyce married her current husband, she dated another noted American writer. <br /><br />I enjoyed the "Music Man" rap knowing that one of Meredith Wilson's goals was to present American music without the "mongrel" influence of jazz. It was lovely, if much delayed, irony to see his material in new hands. Phillip Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08498595633633248863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40750476195827687512014-06-09T12:04:37.651-07:002014-06-09T12:04:37.651-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Phillip Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08498595633633248863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-73737420035081775422014-06-09T11:06:43.836-07:002014-06-09T11:06:43.836-07:00@CRL I do now, a may I say what an odd couple.@CRL I do now, a may I say what an odd couple.Rich Shealerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06349316644704593604noreply@blogger.com