20 Best, Worst and WTF Moments at 2016 Tony Awards
On a night that was marked by tragedy — and occurring mere hours after news broke of the deadly mass shooting in Orlando, Florida — the Tonys provided a much-needed bit of levity. The performers and honorees didn’t shy away from speaking about the shocking events of the day, but the overall mood was one of celebration. Part of the credit goes to the master of ceremonies James Corden, best known as the goofy host CBS’s Late Late Show, yet still a dorky theater kid at heart; his charming, cheerful persona brought an upbeat mood to the proceedings. And the Hamilton effect — and the fact that it was just a strong year for Broadway in general, with plenty of wonderful productions to celebrate — surely had something to do with it as well.
But it wouldn’t be an awards show without some bits that left us scratching our heads in utter WTF confusion. Here, take a look at the good, the bad, and the somewhat ugly moments from the 2016 Tony Awards.
Best: The graceful opening that acknowledged the tragedy in Orlando
The unspeakable tragedy currently playing out in Orlando, Florida was undeniably on the minds of everyone at the awards. Prior to the event, the producers stated that the show would be dedicated to the victims of the shooting. And the broadcast began with a simple, eloquent message delivered by host James Corden: “All we can say is you are not on your own right now. Your tragedy is our tragedy … Theater is a place where every race, creed, sexuality and gender is equal, is embraced and is loved. Hate will never win. Together, we have to make sure of that.” Others, including Best Lead Actor in a Play winner Frank Langella and presenter Barbra Streisand, offered their own condolences as well, in similarly subdued and heartfelt ways. AP
Worst: CBS’s corporate synergizing
Though the Tiffany Network’s self-promotion lessened as the evening wore on, there were some presenters who didn’t make a whole lot of sense last night. Unless, of course, you’re a corporate entity hoping to get people to tune into your mid-season show, BrainDead — in which case Mary Elizabeth Winstead was a perfect choice. No offense to the actors, but this isn’t the Emmys, and with the Tony awards challenging constraints that other mediums have so much trouble with, like age and race, this was an opportunity to celebrate many of Broadway’s best performers instead of television’s PYTs. Also, CBS is the only network that doesn’t air what’s supposed to be a live awards show for the whole country at the same time. The West Coast watched on delay as social media exploded with spoilers. Greed and self-interest prevailed at the Eye. PR
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