Tony Awards

OK, I wasn't going to do this but here goes. Live blogging the Tony's.

Whoppi is the Host and as usual I love her.

(She is one of only thirteen people who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award, including Daytime Emmy Awards. She is the second African American female performer after Hattie McDaniel to win an Academy Award for acting. She has won two Golden Globe Awards and two Saturn Awards for her performances in Star Trek Generations and Ghost.)

Music & Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda won for In the Heights
His acceptance speech was a Rap. Now I don't like Rap but I loved what he did. Just really cool and then he took a Puerto Rican flag out of his pocket and waved it. These emotional monents really get me. Some of them are just a bit much, however. Come on lady an actress should have better control.

I also love the musical numbers they show. So far there has been one from Cry Baby and South Pacific. and the best one of all from Gypsy. Patti LuPone has a wonderful set of lungs and a great stage presence. Usually the only way I get to see these numbers is at the movies.

Now Whoopie comes flying in as Mary Poppins. G__ she is just funny.

Barry Bostwick just introduced Grease. I love the music from this show. Almost as good as Bye Bye Birdie. I really think of this as "my" music. Actually I think of most music as "mine" except for RAP.

Harry Connick, Jr. (one of my favorites) just came out to make a presentation. He has a new hairdo. Looks a little like The Zohan. I like it.

You can see a complete list of the winners here.

I am not to impressed with the song from the Disney show The Littlest Mermaid. Disney just doesn't grab me the way they used to. To be fair they have another song going right now that I am also not fond of.

Commercials are stupid. Mr. Bill EEECH! Actually the Cadillac Commercial is OK. But the rest of them - Madison avenue is so out of touch with the real world. What ever happened to the old commercials that were actually fun to watch. "Where's the Beef!" comes to mind.

August: Osage County must be some kind of show. It has won a couple of times and both times to outstanding applause. The director just won and gave a good speech. Funny they don't play the music to speed them up for more major awards.

Another commercial - Consumer Credit of Des Moines. - I really hate this one.

Mark Rylance gave an outstanding acceptance speech. He just told everyone what to wear on various occasions. He did say thank-you at the very end but it was funny watching him dead pan his remarks and the reactions of people in the audience.
The genius speech from this season’s Tony Awards in full from Mark Rylance:

“When you’re in town wearing some kind of a uniform is helpful. Policeman, priest, etc. Driving a tank is very impressive or a car with official lettering on the side. If that isn’t to your taste, you could join the revolution, wear an armband, carry a home-made flag tied to a broom handle or placard bearing an incendiary slogan. At the very least, you should wear a suit and carry a briefcase and a cellphone. Or a team jacket, a baseball cap, and a cell phone. If you’re in the woods, the back country, some place far from any human habitation, it is a good idea to wear orange…and carry a gun and, or depending on the season, a fishing pole or a camera with a big lens. Otherwise…I will wrap it up now very quickly…otherwise it might appear that you don’t know what you’re doing and you’re just wandering the earth, no particular reason for being here, no particular place to go. Thanks very much for this.”

–Broadway Magazine, Broadway.tv

Deanna Dunagan just won another for August: Osage County.

In The Heights. Looks like an exciting vibrant musical.

They are showing commercials for Mamma Mia the movie which will be in theaters July 18, Jay plans to be there also. May see it twice. So there. Of course I will have to go see it in the afternoon as that is the night of our Table Lodge here at Arcadia. Tickets are $25.00 - E-mail me if you want one.

South Pacific just won the award for Best Musical (revival) . I think that the thing I remember the most about this musical was the song. You've Got to be Carefully Taught

Cable:
You've got to be taught
To hate and fear,
You've got to be taught
From year to year,
It's got to be drummed
In your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade,
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught before it's too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You've got to be carefully taught!

It was all about prejudice folks and that message came through loud and clear to me. I think it is appropriate in the political climate of today when many are being taught to carefully hate. The hypocrites don't always see that. I carry that message in my heart and try not to hate.

Someone just sent the link to the Rylance acceptance speech in the comments if you want to read it.

Now Rent is on. I went to that once and was not really as enamored of it as other people. I thought it would be better but I was expecting La Boheme.

Liza Minneli has become a Matron. She is till as manic as ever.

Well it is 10:00 and Patti LuPone just gave her acceptance speech for Gypsy. I figured she would win.

In The Heights just won Best Musical. Everybody and their pet monkey just came up on stage. Excitement.

I LOVE WHOPPI! She just said "Good Night!" so I will also. ARTYAL, Hugs, Enjoy yourself. jcs

Oscars

OK, I am going to try something new. I am going to watch the Oscars with my laptop open and make (maybe nasty) comments on what I am watching. Perhaps it will keep me awake.

My God, Mickey Rooney is still alive.

Helen Mirren is incredible. I am in love with her. She is wearing a "rather dramatic" dress because she is "playing a madam in a whorehouse." Sounds like fun. The Queen plays a madam.

Amy Adams - Enchanted and Charlie Wilson's War. I saw both of them.

I didn't watch Barbar Walters' special but I did catch the interview with Harrison Ford. Lucky guy to shack up with Calista Flockhart. He has 6 airplanes and once in awhile he flies into Ames to eat at Hickory Park. He doesn't know that Battle's Barbecue is really better.

Regis is backstage making the dancers nervous.

They have begun. 80th year. Jon Stewart. "Writer's strike is over - Welcome to the make-up sex." He just slammed Vanity Fair. justifiable. Just him out there talking making them all laugh. He is the connsumate comedian.

Jack Nicholson just has fun. A lawyer joke.

Diablo Cody - Iowa Connection on State 29.

Costume Design - Elizabeth the Golden Age. Alexandra Byrne

I love the flashback.s Barbara (See I do know how to spell it - I was just being a smart ass with Ms Walters) Striesand when she tied to get her Oscar. She was the most talented person that Hollywood ignored and she should have gotten many more Oscars for her work. She is incredible. (Plus she is a Democrat)

George Clooney (so good) just introduced the retrospect. I love those with the clips of every thing they can squeeze in and I marvel at how much I can remember.

Best Animated Feature - Ratatoule
Make up - La Vie En Rose. I went to Des Moines to see that one. It was a great film

Amy Adams is just now singing the first nominated song from Enchanted. Happy Working Song. It was a cute song but she didn't really do all that great a job singing it.

Jon wants to be dating someone like Michael Douglas' wife when he is Michael's age. He was just here to change the Kitty litter. I suppose I will have to do that when he goes to College. Next week-end he goes to the University of Iowa for interviews.

Achievement in Art Direction - The Golden Compass. I really enjoyed this film when it came out. I had enjoyed the books when I read them and the movie was great.

Sweeney Todd - Art Direction - I messed up somehow on this and they both just both won an Oscar. I loved Sweeney Todd and since both movies were visually satisfying I am glad for both of them.

Actor in a Supporting Role -Javier Bardem
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN - He is one happy guy - grinning from ear to ear. I may have to go see that movie or put it on my Netflix list when it comes out. First Oscar "moment" according to Jon Stewart and I have to agree.

2nd nominated song - From August Rush - Raise it Up
I was going to see this movie and then heard a couple of negative reviews so skipped it. I am not impressed with thi song although there are some great people performing it.

Owen Wilson is presenting the Live Actions short film. He looks good.
LE MOZART DES PICKPOCKETS (THE MOZART OF PICKPOCKETS)
Philippe Pollet-Villard - Frech is such a beautiful language.

Short Film - Animated - PETER & THE WOLF
Suzie Templeton and Hugh Welchman - This story is timeless and I am glad to see it is still providing fodder for film

Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Tilda Swinton
MICHAEL CLAYTON She was really good in this part. She really played the part well. I really disliked her character and that means something as she is not that way.

I was kind of hoping Ruby Dee would have gotten the award as I saw the clip from American Gangster. That is another movie going on my queue for Netflix

Adapted Screenplay
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
Written for the Screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen

Third song - "That's How You Know" Also from Enchanted Performed by Kristin Chenoweth
who is just incredible. Big production number and I love them. Always the highlight for me. She is just a doll.

So Jay, Where are your nasty comments? You know I don't really know I always watch these darn things and usually I have something to crab about but these are moving right along and I am enjoying them . Go figure!

Oh here we go. Oprah Big Give is being advertised. I really don't like Oprah. Don't know why. Just not my favorite person.

Jon Stewart's jokes about pregnant actresses was just a flop. Not funny, Jon.

Best Sound Editing -
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg - I went to this movie and enjoyed it a lot. I remember talking to Jon about it and telling him that the next Bourne move would probably be entitled. Bourne Again

Best Sound Mixing -
Scott Millan, David Parker and Kirk Francis

Best Actress
I am hoping that Marion Cotillard gets it. She was marvelous in La Vie En Rose
AND SHE WON! - I have tears in my eyes. I have loved Edith Piaf forever and this was an incredible movie and Marion was superb (marked to the highest degree by grandeur, excellence, brilliance, or competence) - Her acceptance was the second Oscar "moment" of the evening.

Fourth Song - ONCE
"Falling Slowly"
For some reason I was not as taken with this film as others were. The music just did not do much for me. Pleasant song when preformed tonight. Perhaps it was the mood I was in when i went to see the film. Might have been when I was trying to get myself together, Hell I am still trying to get myself together. Maybe someday.
They just ran through the 80 pictures which had won Bes Picture. I was amazed to see how many of them I have seen and how many I had not seen.

Film Editing -
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
Christopher Rouse
Third one for this movie. It really was good.

Nichole Kidman is so beautiful She just presented an Honorary Oscar to Robert Boyle - 98 years old and he looks better than me - Well anyway he has more hair.

Well this is probably the dumbest thing I have eve done on my blog. I probably should not have done it but if you aren't enjoying it you don't have to read it and it is keeping me awake. I love the Cadillac commercial "The real question is - when you turn your car on does it return the favor."


Foreign Lnguage Film
THE COUNTERFEITERS
Austria Penelope Cruz presented the award,
Directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky


Fourth song ENCHANTED
"So Close"
Music by Alan Menken; Lyric by Stephen Schwartz
Beautiful production number but not performed well.


John Travolta presented the song award. (I really don't like him) It went to
ONCE
"Falling Slowly"
Music and Lyric by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

I wonder how many of these guys are Masons. I knoe that Ernie Borgnine is a Mason. 33rd Degree and member of the Red Cross of Constantine. I also remember Orson Wells paying tribute to John Huston (or maybe it was the other way around) who said "We have both heard the chimes at Midnight." So I knew that they were both Masons.

Jon Stewart brought out Marketa Irglova to say her thank you as she wasn't allowed to do it. I don't think that has ever been done before. Really neat. She is sweet. I think it was the best song.

Cinematography -THERE WILL BE BLOOD
Robert Elswit -

Memorial Tribute - This is always a hard thing to watch. But we do need to be reminded of those who have gone. Suzanne Plechette and Debora Kerr were among those who passed this past year and of course, Heath Ledger. I really did like him. I have seen him in several movies and it is tragic that he died so young. I think it was very brave of him to take on the role he played in Brokeback Mountain (which should have won Best Picture)

Music Score -
ATONEMENT
Dario Marianelli

Tom Hanks introduced soldiers in Baghdad - who announced the Best Documentary Short Film. FREEHELD
Cynthia Wade and Vanessa Roth

Documentary Feature - TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE
Alex Gibney and Eva Orner

They are advertising A Raisin in the Sun which is on tomorrow night. I was working backstage when Martin Luther King was assisinated and I don't remember much about the play. I think I will watch it tomorrow just to see if I do remember any of it.

Original Screenplay - JUNO
Written by Diablo Cody
As I said she has an Iowa connection. I am really glad to see her win. Plus she has a really nice tatoo.





Best Actor Helen Mirren presented the award and she did the best job introducing the award. She is so tremendous. Just the way she read off the list of attributes brought chills to me. I really hope Johnny Depp wins the award. Sweeney Todd was an incredible movie.
Daniel Day-Lewis
THERE WILL BE BLOOD I remember the first time I saw him was in The Last of the Mohicans I didn't see There Will Be Blood. It may go on my Netflix list. Speaking of Netflix. I ordered it because I wanted to watch the British SciFi show Torchwood. I have them on my list and they are not sending them to me. So I am not putting any more on the list until I get them.

Best Director is next NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Again I have not seen this movie.

Best Picture NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
They won three Oscars for this film tonight.

It is now 10:45. I started this at 7:30. Jon Stewart was a good host. On his show he does a lot of yelling but tonight he was very good. Now I must go and do my Black History Post for tomorrow. ARTYAL Hugs, j