Awards Shows
How will the writers’ strike impact the 2023 Tony Awards?
Due to the writers’ strike leading to the cancellation of the MTV TV & Movie Awards, is it possible that the Tony Awards might also be affected?
The ongoing writers’ strike has halted production on various shows, including “Stranger Things” season five and “Cobra Kai” season six.
It also resulted in the cancellation of the MTV TV & Movie Awards, with a pre-recorded show airing in its place, which has left many to wonder what will become of the upcoming Tony Awards.
There was a possibility of canceling the awards ceremony. However, on May 15, the guild provided a waiver, which permitted Broadway’s grand event to take place. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the WGA has reportedly advised its Tony-nominated members not to attend the Tony Awards ceremony. Instead, the guild has suggested that these members can pre-record their acceptance speeches or have a non-WGA member accept the award on their behalf, as per an email sent to them.
While no announcements have been made, the award show is expected to commence as scheduled on June 11, airing live on CBS and streaming live on Paramount+ at 8 pm ET. However, host Ariana DeBose and presenters might be left to exercise their improv skills without writers.
If the Tonys proceed as planned, picket lines may appear outside the venue – United Palace in New York City’s Washington Heights.
What are the Tony Awards?
The Tony Award, or The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, is an annual event to celebrate Broadway productions and performances.
Twenty-six awards are presented throughout the night in performance, show, technical categories, and four special awards.
The Tonys are a prestigious award ceremony for theater and is the equivalent to the Oscars for film, the Emmy Awards for television, and the Grammy Awards for music. Anyone who has won all four is honored with the EGOT.
Past EGOT winners include Viola Davis, Jennifer Hudson, Alan Menken, John Legend, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Whoopi Goldberg.
What happened with the MTV TV & Movie Awards
The MTV TV & Movie Awards was supposed to air live on Sunday, May 7, but was canceled when host Drew Barrymore dropped out in solidarity with the striking writers.
“I have listened to the writers, and in order to truly respect them, I will pivot from hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards live in solidarity with the strike,” Barrymore said in a statement.
Despite the cancellation, the WGA still picket the show.
During a non-live broadcast, all recipients had prepared pre-recorded acceptance speeches. However, this is not an ideal solution and something that the 2023 Tony Award organization aims to avoid.