Tony Thoughts

It's just as well Conan O'Brien can't host the Tony Awards due to a contractual obligation as part of his severance package with NBC. Most Tony viewers hear the name Coco and they think of the 1970 musical about Coco Chanel starring Katharine Hepburn. (I'm so old I actually saw the touring version with Ginger Rogers.) But perhaps it would have brought in new audiences, although I doubt it. How many of O'Brien's fans would have flipped on the Tonys just to see Broadway musical numbers? Well, maybe a few if they promoted the hell out of American Idiot and promised an appearance by Green Day. Neil Patrick Harris nailed the hosting gig last year and has gone on to dominate the host position with his emcee chores of the Emmys and opening the Oscars. But will they go for somebody else since Harris has been making the hosting rounds so much? 

Speaking of awards, we will soon be hit with a tsunami of theatre accolades. Here's a rundown:

April 1--Lortel Award nominees announced

April 13--Bistro Awards for cabaret

April 12--Pulitzer Prize for drama announced (prediction: Horton Foote's The Orphan's Home Cycle will win)

April 26--Outer Critics Circle nominees announced

April 30--New York Drama Critics Circle votes for its award (we're back in as Tony voters, but not till next season)

May 2--Lortel Awards

May 3--Drama Desk nominees announced

May 4--Tony Award nominees announced

May 4--MAC Awards for cabaret

May 17--Outer Critics Circle winners announced

May 21--Drama League Awards

May 23--Drama Desk Awards at the LaGuardia High School for Performing Arts; Patti LuPone hosts

May 24--Obie Awards

June 13--Tony Awards on CBS

(Photo of Conan O'Brien: Getty Images)

--David Sheward