# Who watches the Tony Awards, and why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 6, 2007, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-watches-the-tony-awards-and-why/407051 "2007-06-06T22:30:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-watches-the-tony-awards-and-why/407051/1 "2007-06-06T22:30:42Z")
They’re going to be carried on prime time TV, on a major network, on a Sunday night. I know that a network wouldn’t keep televising something if it wasn’t making money on it, but for the life of me I can’t understand it. I’ll usually have seen half or more of the Best Picture nominees for the Oscars, and I know a lot of the music nominated for Grammys, but how many people have seen the plays that are up for Tonys? Even if you’re into the drama scene, how often do you get to New York to see the plays? It seems to me that the group of people who are really knowledgeable about the plays up for honors is incredibly small compared to something like the Oscars, and yet millions of people tune in every year. If you watch the show, can you tell us what grabs you about it? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-watches-the-tony-awards-and-why/407051/2 "2007-06-06T22:34:02Z")
I watch at least parts of it to get script ideas for my Speech team. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-watches-the-tony-awards-and-why/407051/3 "2007-06-06T22:37:37Z")
I watch every year because I like seeing the musical numbers of shows I’ve read about but haven’t seen (and in all likelihood, never will). I also usually recognize at least half of the nominees (because of film or TV crossover), so it’s still very exciting to see someone you might like win something. Unlike the Oscars or Emmys, I am in absolutely no position to judge who might be “deserving” or not, but just because I don’t go to much live theater as I’d like to doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like to be a little more informed in case that musical or play hits town. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-watches-the-tony-awards-and-why/407051/4 "2007-06-07T00:56:18Z")
For the first time I’ve actually seen a majority of the shows nominated this year so I’m very much looking forward to it! I did like how one year they had the first hour or two televised on PBS and then just the rest on CBS, that way we could actually see all of the categories. I want to know who wins Best Lighting & Choreography, etc., not just the actors & Best Musical! ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-watches-the-tony-awards-and-why/407051/5 "2007-06-07T01:06:02Z")
I usually record them, this year I’ll Tivo them. Most of the awards I couldn’t care less about, but I like the musical numbers and occasionally in fast forwarding between them you’ll see something that looks interesting or an actor you’d forgotten existed getting an award. ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-watches-the-tony-awards-and-why/407051/6 "2007-06-07T01:45:22Z")
My guess even FEWER people than usual, since the Tonys will be up against that other Tony on the final episode of “The Sopranos”. VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-watches-the-tony-awards-and-why/407051/7 "2007-06-07T01:57:16Z")
My mother used to\* _love_ the Tonys. It was like being able to see the best snippets of all the best plays and musicals for free. My husband and I watched them last year because a musical we’d seen at a theater in Los Angeles, _[The Drowsy Chaperone](http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=412775)_, was nominated for 13 awards including Best Musical. It lost that award to Jersey Boys (which we’re seeing next weekend – YAY!), but it won 3; Best Book of a Play, Best Original Score and Best Featured Actress in a Musical. It was really fun to watch and root for it because we loved it so much (so much that we’re seeing it again next season when it returns for a limited engagement). So actually, some Broadway productions do manage to tour so that more than Just New Yorkers have seen them before the Tonys air. \*(She didn’t stop loving the Tonys, she’s just deceased now so isn’t able to enjoy them anymore.) ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-watches-the-tony-awards-and-why/407051/8 "2007-06-07T15:17:15Z")
I watched them the year that I vacationed in NYC and saw “Hairspray” because it was nominated for everything and I was rooting for it. I’ve watched snippets every once in a while besides that but don’t recall ever sitting down to watch it otherwise. PBS did a series a while back consisting of production numbers staged for the Tonys, noting that in many cases it was the only visual record of any portion of the performances. That was quite interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-watches-the-tony-awards-and-why/407051/9 "2007-06-07T15:28:23Z")
Me. Theatre is my avocation. I like to see people singing and dancing live, not caught on tape. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-watches-the-tony-awards-and-why/407051/10 "2007-06-07T16:00:46Z")
I watch because it’s the only way I’ll see even snippets of the shows, and I love the production numbers. (Some of the productions do make it to Des Moines, but I’ve only managed to see one of them (Fiddler).) Plus, I don’t know if this is true, but it’s always seemed to me that the Tonys are based on real talent and achievement rather than popularity or politics. With the Oscars and Emmys, the winners are of course big talents but sometimes an award is given because someone is “due”, like Martin Scorsese last year. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-watches-the-tony-awards-and-why/407051/11 "2007-06-07T19:43:28Z")
Slight hijack, but once again I have to lament and moan that they don’t release shows on DVD once their run is through. It would seem a good way to make money and keep interest alive, there are tons of people who would buy them, and several (mostly older AL-W productions like _Cats_, _Joseph & the A.T.D.C._, and _Jesus Christ Superstar_ [the stage production, not the so-so movie], etc.) have sold very well and Tyler Perry’s (extremely hit and miss) M’dea videos have made millions. I’d love to see Fierstein in _Fiddler_ and _Hairspray_ (I haven’t been impressed at all by the Travolta clips I’ve seen- it’s basically Travolta in a dress, and nowhere near fat enough for Edna [she wasn’t chubby like Travolta’s makeup- she was HUGE]) and if you look at most of the B’way clips on YouTube they’ve got tens of thousands of views sometimes (the Neil Patrick Harris in _Cabaret_ clips had thousands the first day it was added). It’s a virgin market I don’t understand the virginiity of. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-watches-the-tony-awards-and-why/407051/12 "2007-06-07T19:47:01Z")
Their run where? After Broadway there are the touring companies, regional productions, etc., etc. All of those would be negetively impacted by immedieate DVD sales, IMO. To me, live theater is live theater, but for many others, they’d rather watch the DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-watches-the-tony-awards-and-why/407051/13 "2007-06-08T00:14:43Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Their run where? After Broadway there are the touring companies, regional productions, etc., etc. All of those would be negetively impacted by immedieate DVD sales, IMO. To me, live theater is live theater, but for many others, they’d rather watch the DVD. [/QUOTE] I don’t think there’s a lot of folks who’d watch the DVD instead of the show, though. _Riverdance_ and _Les Mis: the Concert_ were both huge sellers on video and the show still sold out (especially on the road). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-watches-the-tony-awards-and-why/407051/14 "2007-06-08T00:32:10Z")
Then we’re stuck with “inertia” as an answer. 😃 I’ll admit, I both bought the _Riverdance_ DVD **and** saw them live whenever possible, at least while Jean and Colin were the leads. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-watches-the-tony-awards-and-why/407051/15 "2007-06-08T02:12:02Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] I’d love to see Fierstein in _Fiddler_ and _Hairspray_ [/QUOTE] I saw the original cast of _Hairspray_, including Fierstein, in its pre-Broadway tryout run here in Seattle. Neener neener. Oh, and _Young Frankenstein_ will be playing here in a couple of months, prior to opening in New York. 🆒 Speaking of which, I was in New York in December, checking out the prominent new productions (and a couple of holdovers, including _Drowsy Chaperone_), so I’ll definitely pay attention to the awards. Don’t think I’ll watch the ceremony; it coincides with the Seattle film festival, which is a higher priority for me. Still, I’ll be paying attention to the results. (Go _Grey Gardens_!) ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-watches-the-tony-awards-and-why/407051/16 "2007-06-08T03:30:33Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] It’s a virgin market I don’t understand the virginiity of. [/QUOTE] You are preaching to the choir, sister. I have never understood why Broadway shows don’t record the performances both for possible home video release and for posterity. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-watches-the-tony-awards-and-why/407051/17 "2007-06-08T05:12:48Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] You are preaching to the choir, sister. I have never understood why Broadway shows don’t record the performances both for possible home video release and for posterity. [/QUOTE] Well, shows are recorded for the archives at the Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, however they’re usually not available to the general public. (You have to set up a viewing time in advance and give them a legitimate reason for viewing the recording, i.e. writing a paper, directing a new production, etc.) That said, I would love if they recorded shows for the public and released them on DVD. If they are afraid of cutting into the potential audience for the show on Broadway then they should just wait until after the run is over and release it then. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-watches-the-tony-awards-and-why/407051/18 "2007-06-08T07:27:00Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] You are preaching to the choir, sister. I have never understood why Broadway shows don’t record the performances both for possible home video release and for posterity. [/QUOTE] Don’t call me sister… It’s _Ida Marie_ (unless it’s my drag day, when it’s either _Miss Precious deLuxe_\* or _Auntie Depressance_). \*Speaking of showtunes, _Precious de Luxe_ is the name my friends’ 5 year old son gave to his pet turtle; good thing his parents are jiggy with the gay thing, cuz even they see it. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-watches-the-tony-awards-and-why/407051/19 "2007-06-08T16:32:34Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] You are preaching to the choir, sister. I have never understood why Broadway shows don’t record the performances both for possible home video release and for posterity. [/QUOTE] I believe this would require a major re-negioation of the union contracts. All of them. ---
**Author:** ![Camelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f17d59/32.png) [@Camelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Camelot)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-watches-the-tony-awards-and-why/407051/20 "2007-06-08T17:00:43Z")
I watch it. Then again, I’m a lyricist, working in NYC, and I’ve seen almost everything nominated this year. Oh, and Go Grey Gardens.