Following an excellent, three-year stint by Neil Patrick Harris, Hugh Jackman is back as host of this Sunday’s Tony Awards. With Harris busy on Broadway with “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” (for which he is up for Lead Actor in a Musical), bringing back Jackman, who hosted from 2003-2005, was the smart move. But can Jackman live-up to the high expectations?
Here’s my wish-list of highlights I’m hoping we’re all talking about following the show:
1) The Valjeans – Jackman was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar for his incredible performance in “Les Miserables”. Since he played Jean Valjean, and Ramin Karimloo is up for Lead Actor in a Musical as Jean Valjean in the new production of “Les Miz”, a duet is practically inevitable.
2) Duel with Neil – Even though Harris won’t open with a spectacular production number like he pulled-off last year, he and Jackman did duet (in “Who’s a better host?” fashion) in 2011. Another one of those would be pretty great.
3) Incorporate the Stars – While Denzel Washington, Daniel Radcliffe and some other A-listers were surprisingly left-off the ballot, a few bits with the other big celebs who are nominated could be fantastic, including with the always entertaining Bryan Cranston and “Frozen” phenomenon Idina Menzel. Think he’ll try to pronounce her name?
It’ll be difficult for Jackman to top last year’s show, as well as his own work hosting the Oscars in 2009, but there’s no doubt he will do a tremendous job (as long as his claws don’t get in the way).