Entertainment

The Tonys Made A Good Call With This One

by Alanna Bennett

Awards shows are off to a good start with me this year: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler rocked the Golden Globes, Ellen DeGeneres is gearing up to do the same at the Oscars. But c'mon, we all know what the best awards show of the year is, and will always be: It's the Tonys. You can't put a Broadway baby in a corner, and when you stick a bunch of them in one room it's bound to get all kinds of magical. Which is why I'm psyched that Hugh Jackman's signed on to this year's Tonys, reprising his role as host — one he's rocked three times before.

Now, before you get up in arms that I haven't namedropped Neil Patrick Harris yet in this post, calm yourselves: Neil Patrick Harris is a BAMF. He was also seems almost suspiciously good at hosting awards shows. I want him to host all the things ever — he's already hosted the Emmys, and the Tonys multiple times; he's kind of addicted — but that's an unreasonable expectation to have of anybody.

In fact, Harris can't host this year's Tonys, and it's for a damn good reason: He's far too busy with actually being in a Broadway show right now. Specifically, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which is in rehearsals now. Personally, I'd rather see Harris in fishnets and heels eight nights a week strutting his stuff and singing "Wig in A Box" than risk the chance of an audience growing fatigued with his hosting schtick, much as I love the latter.

It should also be noted that my personal excitement about Jackman's hosting gig has a lot to do with another awards show: His hosting of the 2008 Oscars is still my favorite Oscars ceremony, and it was very transparently because of all the song-and-dance that occurred, which is literally guaranteed at the Tonys.

Plus, maybe we'll get another Jackman-Harris dueling hosts moment, like the one from the 2011 Tonys:

Honestly, I'd be content with Jackman and Harris trading off hosting duties into all eternity, as long as they also leave room for some ladies and/or people of color to get in on the fun, too. May I recommend an Audra McDonald for 2015?

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