Fan Fare
Entertainment behind the scenes
From Tony to Oscar and back?
Has Tony really turned into Oscar? True, last night’s Tony Awards didn’t feel that far from the Oscars. There were the hoards of screaming fans outside, the red carpet filled with stars like Scarlett Johansson and Will Smith. And the backstage media room where winners are wheeled in breathless and smiling for an impromptu press conference.
But for all the talk that the Tony’s are going all Hollywood, perhaps they are not. For starters, some of Hollywood’s A-List don’t take America’s highest theater honors as seriously as the Oscars. Some, like best actor nominated Jude Law who was a long shot to win, was nowhere to be seen. Others, like first-time Tony Award winners Scarlett Johansson and Catherine Zeta-Jones, did not bother going backstage to speak to the press afterwards.
And if any Tony organizers thought the presence of more stars than ever at the awards would guarantee better ratings, it wasn’t to be. The Tony’s broke a streak of award shows improving on their ratings this year by dropping 8 per cent in viewership from last year. The show’s roughly 7 million viewers fell far short of the number of basketball fans watching the Los Angeles Lakers lose to the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association’s championship series.
And, as yet there are no confirmed, big-name Hollywood actors announced for Broadway shows for the rest if this year (Unless you count T.R. Knight, we don’t. ‘Harry Potter’ star Daniel Radcliffe is confirmed to return to the Great White Way — next year.)
Tonys turn up rosy for ScarJo after red carpet rain
(Writing and Reporting by Ellen Wulfhorst)
Pouring rain dampened the glitz, glamor and gab on the Tony Awards’ red carpet Sunday in New York. No tents or tarps were set up over the street where stars of Broadway and Hollywood arrived for U.S. theatre’s biggest night in their formal gowns and tuxes, dripping in diamonds and, well, H2O.
Celebrities and their media counterparts huddled under umbrellas. There was more than a little grumbling. But as they say on Broadway, on with the show! And for one, Scarlett Johansson was all smiles. “All of us knew there was going to be rain. For some reason nobody else did,” she said. “You just bring a giant umbrella and have a gorgeous man carry it.”
Valentine’s Day, a bloody affair for movie fans
Valentine’s Day is here, inspiring feelings of warmth and fondness for loved ones. Or, could it be good day to see a psycho killer in a hockey mask decimate cowering victims.
On a day when many couples mark the year’s big romantic occasion with dinner and a movie, industry watchers expect the horror film “Friday the 13th” to cut down the competition and rule the box office on the picture’s opening weekend.
Scarlett Johansson’s snot for sale
(Writing and Reporting Syantani Chatterjee)
Evidently, snot is the new black. Or perhaps that is what Scarlett
Johansson thinks. So hurry everyone, get yourself the young actress’ snot on eBay – with free shipping – while the offer lasts until Dec. 22.
And Johansson’s nasal mucus is snot cheap (sorry, we couldn’t resist working in at least one pun). The top bid was up at $2,151 early Thursday.
