The Tony nominations are out…and what strikes me is that America may actually be interested in this year's telecast. Unlike some lists, this one has an awful lot of people on it that the vast television audience has heard of: Kelsey Grammer, Jude Law, Christopher Walken, Denzel Washington, Valerie Harper, Linda Lavin, Alfred Molina, David Alan Grier, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Scarlett Johansson, Sean Hayes, etc. Add in the annual Angela Lansbury nomination and the fact that though The Addams Family isn't up for much, there'll probably be a number on the show with Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth…and someone will probably think to pair Frasier and Lilith (Grammer and Neuwirth) as presenters, plus a performance with Kristin Chenoweth…
Well, it's an uncommon number of stars with TV and movie fame. Some years, the performer categories are filled with folks who, talented though they may be, just aren't known outside the Broadway community. Someone at CBS has to be thinking this'll help out the ratings when the broadcast airs June 13. As far as I know, they haven't announced yet who's hosting. Or is it just now kind of assumed that all televised award shows are hosted by Neil Patrick Harris?