| | |  | Hugh Jackman News & Gossip
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| | ?Hot Ones' studio 'First We Feast' sold by Buzzfeed for $82.5 million | | Added 4 days ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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In an era in which society has moved away from legacy broadcast media and onto streaming platforms, there have been some great, independent, interview-style shows popping up via YouTube. One of the absolute best shows to come from YouTube is Hot Ones, which is produced by the studio First We Feast and now has more than 14 million subscribers and many more million views per episode. I?m sure you?ve all watched at least one episode. It?s a fantastic show with well-researched questions. Sean Evans is an amazing host.
Buzzfeed bought First We Feast back in 2021 as a part of a larger media acquisition of a company called Complex Networks. In February 2024, the company sold Complex Networks off but kept First We Feast. Well, Buzzfeed needed to reduce more of its debt, so it just sold First We Feast to a group of investors, including Evans, Chris Schonberger (FWF?s founder), Crooked Media (Pod Save America), Rhett & Link?s Mythical Entertainment (Good Mythical Morning), and George Soros? Soros Fund Management. The deal was for $82.5 million. Schonberger will serve as CEO while Evans will become the company?s first chief creative officer.
BuzzFeed announced a deal to sell First We Feast, the studio behind the popular YouTube chicken-wing-eating celebrity talk show ?Hot Ones,? for $82.5 million in cash to a group of investors. The consortium of buyers includes First We Feast founder Chris Schonberger and ?Hot Ones? host Sean Evans, alongside podcast media company Crooked Media, Rhett & Link?s Mythical Entertainment and Soros Fund Management, the investment firm founded by billionaire financier George Soros. First We Feast said additional investors will be announced at a later date.
?Hot Ones,? first launched in 2015, now has more than 14 million subscribers on YouTube and 4 billion views to date on the platforms. Hosted by Evans and ?known for its deeply researched questions,? the show has featured dozens of high-profile guests including Gordon Ramsay, Jennifer Lawrence, Shaquille O?Neal, Tom Holland, Jimmy Fallon, Kevin Hart, Post Malone, Millie Bobby Brown, Paul Rudd, Margot Robbie, David Beckham, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.
Earlier this year, First We Feast was engaged in talks with Netflix to produce live ?Hot Ones? shows for the streamer.
With BuzzFeed?s sale, First We Feast will become an independent company led by Schonberger, who will assume the role of CEO, and Evans, who is taking on the newly created position of chief creative officer in addition to his ongoing tenure as host of ?Hot Ones.? Sarah Honda, SVP of operations and brand strategy, will continue to oversee operations and serve as a co-executive producer of ?Hot Ones? and SVP of client partnerships Brendan Kelly will continue to head up brand partnerships and ads sales for the business.
Today?s announcement marks an exciting new chapter in First We Feast?s history,? Schonberger said in a statement. ?Being part of this incredible journey has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Our proven expertise in developing compelling formats, iconic IP, and best-in-class interviews makes us uniquely positioned to build on the brand?s momentum and supercharge our growth.?
The new investment in First We Feast will let it expand into new areas, Schonberger said, including new platforms, live events and talent acquisitions.
Evans, who noted that he hosted the very first episode of ?Hot Ones? in March 2015, said, ?As we approach the 10th anniversary of ?Hot Ones? next season, I?m constantly amazed by the passion and loyalty of our fans, who have made this journey so special. Not only is ?Hot Ones? a hit show, but it?s an experience ? a cultural touchpoint that audiences want to be a part of, whether they?re watching, tasting the sauces, or sharing in the challenge with friends.?
He added: ?The future is spicy, and I can?t wait to see what?s next.?
[From Variety]
That group of investors is interesting. Soros and Rhett & Link?s financial involvement didn?t surprise me at all. Crooked Media did a little bit, though, because Pod Save America?s interview with VP Kamala Harris? campaign team a few weeks ago broke the ?news? about why we never got that Harris/Walz Hot Ones appearance, which is that the show didn?t want to get political. I?d love to know what went on behind-the-scenes there because this deal had to have been in the works when it was recorded. (FWIW, I don?t think their involvement is anything other than another financial investment, so I don?t think we?re going to be seeing any sudden hard political turn from FWF.)
Anyway, good for Evans and Schonberger! They?re living the dream right now. The first content that will be produced post-sale is the Hot Ones annual holiday special on December 19. I hope First We Feast is super successful as its own independent entity. And while I don?t think they?re going to suddenly get political, I do wonder what new and creative shows they?ll produce now and whether or not any of the current shows will change now that they don?t answer to a parent company. It sounds like they?ve got some big plans to expand the brand and I?m looking forward to seeing what comes next.
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| | Deadpool and Wolverine breaks Fandango's first day sales records | | Added 74 days ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Over the summer, Deadpool & Wolverine, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, scored a massive, much-needed box office victory for Marvel. It broke records at the box office, too, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all-time, beating out The Passion of the Christ, and smashing Fifty Shades of Grey?s record for the most opening weekend ticket sales for an R-rated movie. On Tuesday, October 1, Deadpool & Wolverine came out digitally for streaming and it kept up that same energy from its theatrical release. In fact, it broke yet another record, this time becoming Fandango at Home?s ?best first-day seller? of 2024.
Just one day after the digital release of Deadpool & Wolverine on Tuesday, the Shawn Levy-directed film became the best first-day seller of 2024 for Fandangos streaming service Fandango at Home, the movie retail company announced in a press release.
It is no surprise that Deadpool & Wolverine continues to smash records across Fandango services well after its initial theatrical release in July, said Cameron Douglas, SVP of Home Entertainment at Fandango. We are thrilled to see so many fans rushing to relive the excitement that Deadpool & Wolverine gave us, in the comfort of their homes.
Upon its release in theaters, the film broke Fandangos record for most opening weekend ticket sales for an R-rated movie, surpassing 2015s Fifty Shades of Grey, as well as the record for the best opening weekend ticket sales of 2024.
Deadpool & Wolverine, which stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman as the title characters, earned $211 million at the domestic box office during its debut weekend, according to Disney, by far the largest opening ever for an R-rated movie. The record was previously held by the original Deadpool, which debuted at $132.4 million in 2016.
The big haul also represented the sixth-largest domestic opening weekend ever, putting the debut just ahead of Jurassic World and behind Star Wars: The Last Jedi, according to Box Office Mojo.
Worldwide, Deadpool & Wolverine grossed a whopping $1.3 billion during its theatrical run. The film earned a ??? rating from USA TODAY movie critic Brian Truitt, who called Deadpool & Wolverine a delightfully meta, proudly gonzo buddy-comedy team-up thats extremely violent, often hilarious, occasionally touching and always a good time.
[From USA Today]
I am not at all surprised at this news. Deadpool & Wolverine is a fun movie with so many cameos/characters that showed up, as well as what felt like four inside jokes per minute. That totally makes it a prime candidate for a rewatch or two or three. It also has a killer soundtrack. My husband and I wanted to see it in theaters for a second time but never got the chance to. It?s expensive on digital, though! It?s $30 to buy or $25 fo rent for 48-hours. We?ll probably wait a little while to see if prices come down or if it eventually streams on Disney+ for free. For those of you physical media fans, it will be available on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on October 22. I hope there are extras that come along with both the digital and physical releases, because I bet those bloopers and deleted scenes are hilarious.
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| | Hugh Jackman: the hardest part of preparing for Wolverine was eating a lot | | Added 196 days ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Co-stars and besties Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds appear on dual covers of the most recent edition of People to promote Deadpool & Wolverine, which hits theaters on July 26. They interviewed each other about working together, fatherhood, their longtime friendship (and faux feud), and getting in shape for their superhero roles. One of the most well-known things about Jackman playing Wolverine was his insane fitness and diet regimen. I still vividly remember reading about how he would get up every few hours at night to make sure he ate hard boiled eggs or whatever. Well, Hugh went back to his 8,000 calorie a day diet while training to get back into Wolverine shape. As it turns out, eating all day to bulk up muscle is really tough.
Hugh Jackman has opened up about the ?hardest? adjustment he made while gearing up to play Wolverine again this summer. The 55-year-old actor ? who stars alongside Ryan Reynolds in the upcoming superhero film ?Deadpool & Wolverine? ? told People magazine that he was pumped to prepare for his big screen return as the iconic mutant.
?My body was a little sore at the beginning, but I was thrilled that my body was still responding. And I realized how good it is for your brain. But the hardest bit?the food,? said Jackman, who initially decided that he?d retire from playing Wolverine after ?Logan? in 2017.
Jackman, who shared a snapshot of his apparent 8,000-calorie diet days on social media early last year, acknowledged that he had to ?eat a lot? for the role.
?For me, for my body type, I?m naturally skinny. To get the size on, that?s the hardest bit. That?s the bit that does my head in,? said Jackman, who previously told CNN?s Chris Wallace that he?d make it his ?job? to train for the part in ?Deadpool & Wolverine.?
Reynolds noted that five or six meals a day might sound ?great? to some people.
?But it?s not like the type of food that you would really necessarily enjoy,? he said. Reynolds, who is set to star in his third ?Deadpool? movie, told People that he ?couldn?t believe? Jackman?s change in physicality.
?Just the sheer relentlessness that you dedicated yourself towards stunts, choreography. It was the first time I?d ever seen how invaluable a background in song and dance is when you are doing an action movie,? he said.
He continued, ?You hit your marks in those fight scenes with speed and confidence, the likes of which I have never seen. I don?t care if you were 25, 35, 45 or 55. It was lightning.?
[From HuffPo]
My body was a little sore at the beginning, but I was thrilled that my body was still responding. No joke, Mr. Rosie and I climbed a mountain over Memorial Day Weekend and even though I walk/hike on hills several times a week, I was still having trouble walking down stairs for a full five days afterwards. It was one of those, ?Okay, well, #ThisIsActually40? moments for me. So, I have to give mad props to Hugh and his commitment and dedication. I would have a hard time eating that much, too, though. I have a healthy appetite, but really nowadays, pizza and brisket are the only two foods that get my dopamine inhibitors up, and I?m pretty sure neither of those were on Hugh?s list of approved non-cheat-day foods. I know, I know; he gets paid millions of dollars to eat chicken burgers and grass-fed sirloin, which is #goals, I guess. Kudos to him for sticking with it and not being like, ?It?s okay if I sneak this bag of chips or one-half of a Crumbl cookie,? because even getting paid millions of dollars, that?s the exact argument I would be having with myself.
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| | Hugh Jackman & estranged wife Deborra had dinner together on his birthday | | Added 428 days ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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| | Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds spotted out walking together in NYC | | Added 454 days ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds have an adorable Hollywood friendship. They met while filming X-Men Origins: Wolverine way back in 2009 and started a fake feud that?s provided some pretty fun moments for their fans. They?ve supported each other?s business ventures and are reportedly genuinely good friends IRL. This past summer, they also filmed Deadpool 3 together. As you all know, Jackman and his wife of 27 years, Deborra-lee Furness announced their separation last week. On Monday, Hugh and Ryan were seen taking a walk together in New York City.
Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds are spending some quality time with each other.
The actors and close friends were spotted on a walk together in New York City on Monday. The pairs outing comes a few days after the X-Men star and wife Deborra-lee Jackman announced their amicable split following 27 years of marriage.
Jackman, 54, and Reynolds, 46, are soon set to reprise their Marvel characters Wolverine and Deadpool, respectively, in the upcoming Deadpool 3 movie, which was in the midst of filming before Hollywood actors went on strike in July.
We have been blessed to share almost 3 decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage,? they said. ?Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.?
The statement continued, Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness. We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition in all of our lives.
A day after announcing the news, Hugh was spotted on a walk in New York City without his wedding ring on. Although it was a mutual decision for the Aussie pair to separate, a source close to Hugh and Deborra-lee recently told PEOPLE that they are devastated and that the split is very hard for them.
It was not a snap decision ? they took a lot of time and consideration of everything, and they made this decision together, the insider said. They are going on separate journeys, but they will always be a family. They?ll always be co-parents and best friends.
[From People]
I must admit that I always assumed their friendship was one of friendly coworkers who get along and joke around for free publicity, but it?s good to know that theyre friends on a deeper level. It?s always nice to see friends supporting one another during difficult personal times, especially when it?s two men who are breaking societal taboos by providing emotional support for each other and all. I?ve always liked Hugh and Deborra together and was one of those people who was shocked when they announced their split. I really hope that we don?t find out anything icky involving their divorce. I wish the Jackman family the best and hope Deborra and their children also have a good support structure around them.
Hugh Jackman Seen Out for Walk with Pal Ryan Reynolds After Announcing Split from Wife https://t.co/P3OswDb9Jp
People (@people) September 18, 2023
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| | Hugh Jackman & Deborra Lee Furness have separated after 27 years of marriage | | Added 457 days ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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This really shocked me, not because I thought Hugh Jackman and Deborra Lee Furness are some kind of magical, perfect couple, but because they?ve truly weathered every storm before now. Hugh and Deborra are separating after 27 years of marriage. They were both actors when they met in Australia in 1995, but as his career reached all kinds of crazy heights, Deborra phased out her acting career and raised their two children, Oscar and Ava. Predictably you can really set your watch to this Hugh and Deborra are separating soon after their youngest turned 18 years old.
Hugh Jackman and his wife Deborra-lee are amicably ending their marriage. The couple say in a statement exclusively shared with PEOPLE: We have been blessed to share almost 3 decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.
Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness. We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition in all of our lives.
The statement, signed ?Deb and Hugh Jackman, concludes: This is the sole statement either of us will make.
The Aussie pair, who share two kids, Oscar, 23, and Ava, 18, have been married for 27 years.
[From People]
As I said, they seemed like they were in it through thick and thin, come what may. They seemed like best friends, like they enjoyed each other?s company and they understood each other. But! Sources told Page Six that their split had been ?a long time coming? and that ?It happened a while ago. Friends and family knew about it.? For what its worth, they went to the Met Gala together this year, so I dont know about that. This might have been a slow-burn pandemic split too, because there?s some indication that they really started having problems in 2020-21, and Deborra was barely around when Hugh went back on Broadway for The Music Man in 2022. Plus, you know, so many couples are just limping along for those last few years before their kids leave for college. I feel for Ava!
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
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| | Hugh Jackman talks having to adjust to his children as they became teenagers | | Added 5 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Yesterday marked the 23rd wedding anniversary for Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness. They usually do some touching tribute and I generally cover it, but God knows who might have shown up to congratulate them so I felt it best to leave it alone. Instead, I thought we could talk about Jackman?s comments on adjusting to his kids becoming teenagers because that?s something I can relate to. Jackman has two kids, Oscar is 18 and Ava is 13. (I can?t believe Oscar is graduating from high school!)
On how parenting changed: My son is about to leave high school, and my daughter is about to go into high school. It?s amazing to just have conversations with them. But it took a bit of readjusting. It went from ?Hey, guys, these are the rules, we don?t do that,? to having to give them reasons why.
On watching movies: It?s nice to go to the movies and see something you both want to see. It?s no longer ?Oh good, let?s watch Shrek for the 120th time.? I mean, I love Shrek but not 120 times.
On what being a dad has taught him: When your focus is innately, deeply, one hundred percent become these kids in your life and their well being it just seems to put everything into perspective. Being a father has taught me so much.
[From People]
My kids are a little younger (14 and 12) but I get his comments here. I guess I?ve adjusted too, but it?s such a welcome adjustment that I see it almost as a reward for surviving their childhood. Yes, there is moodiness and the drah-mah! but in total, I like having teenagers so much better than little kids. I absolutely adore the conversations, even if it is them negotiating a rule or defending something they did. They?re fascinating and I love when they give me a thoughtful response (even if the answer?s still no).
The movie thing is a mixed bag. I do get to see a better variety but I?ve also missed a couple I wanted to see in theaters because my kids asked me to wait for them and we couldn?t coordinate our schedules. Jackman?s animated film, Missing Link, opens today so I?ll bet he?s praying some poor schlub out there will be forced to the theater to see it 120 times, though. But yeah, I can still recite Finding Nemo by heart. We all have limits, no matter how much we enjoyed the film.
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| | Hugh Jackman credits Jerry Seinfeld with his decision to quit Wolverine | | Added 7 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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As the ramp up for the Oscar campaigns, Variety is releasing its annual roundtables. As a part of the Actors on Actors series, Hugh Jackman and Willem Dafoe sat in a stylish room, looking lovely in all black ensembles while discussing their current Oscar offerings (The Florida Project for Willem and Logan for Hugh). During their chat, Willem asked Hugh why he decided to hang up his claws after 17 years. Apparently, it was all Jerry Seinfeld?s fault.
When Jackman asked the famous comic how he decided to end his hit series ?Seinfeld,? ?He said, ?I?ve always believed, you should never spend everything creatively because it?s almost herculean to start up again. You should always have something in the tank,’? Jackman recalled. ?Leave the party before it gets too late kind of theory.?
Jackman decided on the way home from that dinner that his upcoming film, ?Logan,? would be his final in that role. He then came up with the idea of treating the character as a human being (instead of a superhero) who?s lived a life of violence.
[From Variety]
Technically, Hugh is currently promoting The Greatest Showman but I think his shot for any award this year is going to be Logan. I would love for Showman to be a fun film and successful but as I?ve said, I have some doubts. As for Seinfeld?s advice, I agree completely about walking away while people still want more. There?s no need to drag out a franchise well past its sell-by date. Personally, not only would I like to see roles/films go out on top, I?d prefer they don?t come back. I?ve been disappointed in many of the ?returns? of late.
Hugh also said in the discussion that on the very first X-Men film, which was released two years before Willem?s Spiderman film, Kevin Fiege was the assistant to the producer. 17 years seems like a while ago when it comes to a film opening but in terms of Fiege?s career, it seems like a blink. You can watch Hugh and Willem?s chat here ? there a many nice moments and they are so down to earth, which is refreshing for two very talented and very accomplished men.
In the current revelations about how far-reaching sexual harassment goes, many of us have made up a list of people we desperately hope to never read about in that context and I know Hugh is on many of your (our) lists. So far, both Hugh and Willem remain the good guys we hope they are. At another Envelope Roundtable, Hugh addressed the sexual harassment that?s comes to light.
I just have unbelievable empathy and am so inspired by all the people coming out. I think the amount of shame and guilt that is attached to this entire subject, and the courage it takes to step forward is humbling to me. I don?t think it matters if you?re a man or a woman, it?s a human issue. On some level, it?s really a great opportunity, beyond just our industry, really among society.
[From LA Times]
I really do think Hugh is who he purports to be. I think he has a marvelous partner in Deb who seems to have helped him find a balance between his personal and professional life.
Last note ? at one point, Willem and Hugh agree on dancing and decide to make a musical together. They shook hands on it. Let?s hold them to it, folks, a Willem Dafoe Hugh Jackman musical might just save the world.
Here?s the clip of Hugh talking about walking away from Logan:
Photo credit: WENN Photos and YouTube
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| | Hugh Jackman gushes about his wife of 20 years: 'we?ve always done it together' | | Added 8 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Hugh Jackman and Deborra Lee Furness are one of those couples who love to talk about how they met and will tell you how much they mean to each other. A lot of people throw shade at Hugh for marrying an older woman who isn’t Hollywood perfect, and he’s been the subject of gay rumors, but to me that just means that he’s dedicated to his wife and isn’t a superficial bastard. Plus he’s such a natural, accomplished entertainer and he can sing and dance with the best of them. That doesn’t make him gay, that just makes him excellent at his job.
Anyway, in a new appearance on Ellen, Hugh talked about meeting his wife, a story which he’s told many times and which you can tell he still loves telling. He was gushing about her this time because their 20th anniversary is coming up, but he usually doesn’t need an excuse.
“She and I met before [I got famous]. It was my fist job and it was…obviously, she’s the greatest thing that ever happened to me, and it gets better and better,” Hugh, 47, said of Deborra, 60. “I’m kind of really grateful that I met before anything kind of happened, because everything that’s happened in my career and on-screen, off-screen, we’ve always done it together.” He then told the story of how they first got together on the set of the Australian TV series Correlli. “She was the star I had this major crush on her. Everyone did! The whole crew had a crush on her, and I was so embarrassed by that I didn’t talk to her for about a week. When I realized, I didn’t talk to her. About a week later, I go, ‘This I silly.’ I had a dinner party and I invited her over and about 20 other people, and she said, ‘What’s the matter? Have I annoyed you? You’re not talking to me anymore. What have I done wrong?’ All the sudden I was?I’d had a couple ??and I said, ‘Look, I got a crush on you. I’ll get over it.’ And she went, ‘Oh, really?’ I was like, ‘Oh, this is bad.’ She goes, ‘Yeah, I got one on you, too.’ And I’m like, ‘Oh, great.’ So, that was it.”
Here they are today, “21 years and two kids later.”
[From E! Online]
I watched that episode as I’ve been taping Ellen and I have to say that Hugh adores his wife. To all you cynical bitches – I get it, most of the time I’m with you, but this is an exception. I’ve seen both Hugh and Deborra Lee interviewed many times and they’re the real deal. Yes it makes me jealous but at least the woman who bagged Hugh isn’t some Victoria’s Secret model (not that there’s anything wrong with that, but you know what I’m saying, she has other attributes).
Hugh was promoting his upcoming film, Eddie the Eagle, which tells the true story of the first British Olympic ski jumper, played by Taron Egerton (not
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| | Hugh Jackman hopped, sang and rapped through the Tonys: how did he do? | | Added 10 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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A bearded Hugh Jackman was the host of the 2014 Tonys last night, and like his predecessor Neil Patrick Harris he was a highly entertaining natural. (Hugh previously hosted in 2003, 2004 and 2005.) He opened by hopping energetically through the venue, encountering various casts on his backstage journey. There were celebrity cameos, by Sting and Clint Eastwood, and he met up with NPH in an elevator, a nod to Neil’s gig hosting the last three years. When Jackman finally reached the stage to sing a quick intro he was only mildly out of breath, leading me to wonder if some of his opening segment was pre-taped and just how incredibly in shape he must be. (Hugh’s hopping bit was a tribute to old Broadway, particularly Bobby Van in the 1953 musical film Small Town Girl, a video of which was playing on a monitor backstage as he hopped by.)
#450309374 / gettyimages.com
The ceremony featured excellent musical performances from so many different shows that I yearned to travel to NY and see them live, which was surely the point. My favorites were Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight and Fantasia singing “Sunny Side of the Street,” from “After Midnight” (they opened after Hugh), James Monroe Iglehart from “Aladdin” doing “Never Had a Friend Like Me,” Alan Cumming’s sexy performance of “Willkommen,” from “Cabaret,” and Neil Patrick Harris in full drag doing “Sugar Daddy” from “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” NPH danced on a car and even sat on Kevin Bacon’s lap in the audience.
#450310838 / gettyimages.com
One of the most talked about moments of the night was Jackman’s rap of the “Music Man” opening, along with LL Cool J and T.I. Jackman isn’t much of a rapper but he brought it for that number, which left many audience members bemused. (Unfortunately I can’t find some of the performances online, but I did find Hugh’s opening act, and The Tony website has the acceptance speeches.)
Some of the performers won Tonys, including NPH for Best Leading Actor in a musical, James Monroe Inglehart for Best Featured Actor in a musical and Jessie Mueller (of the Carole King Musical), for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. (She did “I Feel The Earth Move” in a duet with King.) A full list of winners is here. Other winners included Bryan Cranston, for Best Leading Actor in a Play in “All the Way,” and Audra McDonald, for Best Leading Actress in a Play, “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill.”
Bryan Cranston’s play, “All The Way,” won for Best Play while “A Gentleman’s Guide to Murder” won best musical. “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” was awarded Best Revival of a Musical while “A Raisin in The Sun” was Best Revival of a Play. There was controversy over the fact that Denzel Washington wasn’t even nominated for best actor, something that director Kenny Leon alluded to in his speech for Best Director when he said “Denzel, Denzel, Denzel.”
Clint Eastwood announced the Best Director and Best Producer Tonys, and he stumbled over his lines and had visible trouble reading the teleprompter. An earlier bit, featuring Jackman and Idina Menzel steering Eastwood away from talking to a chair backstage, seemed to hit a little too close to home.
At the end of the night, Jackman directed all the Tony winners in the audience to come up on stage with him as he did a medley of hits including “On Broadway,” and “Lullaby of Broadway.” He of course started hopping and everyone joined him. It was an excellent bookend to an evening celebrating the best of live entertainment. I came away wishing that Jackman could host the Oscars again soon. The Academy Awards were never better than when Jackman hosted in 2009.
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Photo credit: WENN and Getty Images
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