The Tony Awards continues to be the gayest show on television. Nice to see lots of on-screen kissing and partner-thanking.

A sad note in Edward Albee's (Lifetime Achievement) acceptance speech, "I am dedicating this to the memory of Jonathan Thomas, my lifetime partner who died only a month ago. He and I were together for 35 years. And he made me a happy playwright.

I enjoyed the performances from Spamalot and the Putnam County Spelling Bee (featuring Al Sharpton eek! ), but wished they still did scenes from the nominated plays like in the old days.

As for the winners, it was kind of a split decision, with the major categories going to several different shows.

Best Play - Doubt

Best Musical - Monty Python's Spamalot

Best Book of a Musical - Rachel Sheinkin for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre - Adam Guettel for The Light in the Piazza

Best Revival of a Play - Glengarry Glen Ross

Best Revival of a Musical - La Cage aux Folles

Best Special Theatrical Event - Billy Crystal 700 Sundays

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play - Bill Irwin for Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play - Cherry Jones for Doubt

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical - Norbert Leo Butz for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical - Victoria Clark for The Light in the Piazza

Best Direction of a Play - Doug Hughes for Doubt

Best Direction of a Musical - Mike Nichols for Monty Python's Spamalot

Best Choreography - Jerry Mitchell for La Cage aux Folles

I was sort of disappointed with the Aretha Franklin/Hugh Jackman performance of "Somewhere".

I wish they would focus as much on plays as they do musicals. I understand musicals are more entertaining for some and they are easier to showcase in just one number, but I love plays so much more.

Ethan Hawke looked like crap and came across as if he has a chip on his shoulder for corporate theatre...which with his indie off-off-Broadway theatre troupe, he probably does.

I also missed scenes from the nominated plays; those moments always elevated the tone of the Tony Awards. This one seemed like the least classy Tonys I can recall, with winners pulling speeches (and silly laundry list of names) out of their pockets--or cleavage. In years past, winners seemed able to deliver heartfelt (and sometimes pithy) thanks and elegant comments without resorting to reading from a folded-up piece of paper. Oh, and I miss Angela Lansbury as host!

~Adam

Miss Angela was the best! I still have video tapes of the Tonys from 1987-1994. I loved the year tht she wore a Mama Rose dress and sang Everything's Coming Up Roses. In those days they used to do it from a real Broadway theatre (Radio City Music Hall is far too big), and managed to work in scenes from the nominated plays, musicals and some of the revivals. Now the show is longer and they do less.

Ethan Hawke looked like he cut his own hair. Or maybe he goes to Steve Nash's barber.

Has Christina Applegate had work done? Her eyes looked a little unnatural.

It would have been nice to see the "special theatrical event" nominees (Dame Edna, Mario Cantone, Whoopie Goldberg and Billy Crystal) do the comedy bits rather than Hugh Jackman. Although there's nothing wrong with him, I think they should go for a new host next year. How about Harvey Fierstein?

I agree! Harvey would be awesome. I loved his speech about how he knew how it is to be a woman...before growing the beard. He is always hilarious!

*** Spoiler Alert ***

News video showing the "Defying Gravity" effect from "Wicked" and a snipet from "Popular."

http://cbs2chicago.com/insidechicago/local..._156222934.html

What did everybody think of Christina Applegate's performance? Seemed a bit forced to me as if she was trying to prove something- I haven't seen her live- how has she been live?

Also- I thought the scene from "25th...County Spelling Bee" was hilarious. Do they get a different guest or celeb each evening of the show? I loved the foot-spelling spazz. I need to see that show. That scene cracked me up.
How is the entire show?

How was Norman Leo Butz in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels? I thought the scene from "The Light in the Piazza" and the scene from Nathan Lane's show both reminded me of scenes from "Beauty and the Beast"

I give Christina credit, broken-foot and all. Really a trouper, and seems like a a sincerely sweet lady. She clearly doesn't take herself too seriously: the stunt double pratfall and schlepping out of the pit is proof of that...and in an evening gown on national television, too! Shades of Lucille Ball. Good for her.

I was not all that impressed with her performance, though. I think she should stick to comedic plays, like Barefoot in the Park.

Yeah- I thought the stunt was hilarious and was a good indication that she has a good sense of self and humor regarding herself. (Admittedly I loved her in "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead")

I also liked her more serious performance in "Susan's Diary for Nicholas"

I think that watching her last night- she would be better for a more comedic suporting role- like Bonnie in Anything Goes.

"Spelling Bee" is great, I'd highly recommend it. I've already seen it twice - once off-broadway and once on-broadway.

For each performance, they select 4 audience members to be up on stage as "guest spellers". Both times I've seen the show, my friend sitting next to me was selected to be on stage. The audience members are on the stage for a while. Both times my friend was on stage for almost the first hour of the show. It is really funny when they are trying to get the audience members off the stage, that's when they throw out really impossible words to spell.

SO amateurish- can't they think of SOMETHING else to say - besides a list of names? I guess if they DON'T rattle off names their friends & colleagues will feel cheated.

Am watching the Scripps National Spelling Bee on TSN (why is the spelling bee on the sports channel anyways?), taped from last week, and there was a kid who got the same word that Al Sharpton got on the Tony Awards: "dengue" (the kid also got it wrong).

And is it me, or is Dr. Jacques Bailly, the official pronoucer, kind of cute in a nerdy sort of way? Also that Dr. Brian Mark Sietsema, the associate pronoucer (who is a Greek Orthodox Priest)... very handsome.