New York (AP) – Tony will receive an award this Sunday. According to Nielsen data, the event captivated 4.85 million viewers on CBS, marking the largest broadcast audience in six years.
CBS announced on Monday that “Evil” star Cynthia Erivo hosted the event, which saw a 38% increase from last year’s 3.53 million viewers.
This year’s Tonys attracted its largest audience since television broadcasts drew 5.4 million viewers in the past. Hadestown emerged as the best new musical. The latest broadcast also had to compete with the second game of the NBA Finals featuring the Thunder and the Pacers.
CBS indicated that the awards show achieved the highest streaming audience ever on Paramount+, though they did not reveal the specific number of streaming viewers, which represents a 208% increase compared to last year.
“Maybe a Happy Ending”, a rom-com centered on humanity and malfunctioning androids, won the award for best new musical. Additionally, Kara Young made history by becoming the first Black man to win two Tonys consecutively for his role in “Purpose.”
The heightened interest in the Tonys may also have been influenced by the fierce competition among the best lead actresses in the musical category. Nicole Scherzinger, aiming to transition from her career with the Pussycat Dolls in “Sunset Blvd,” endeavors to be crowned a genuine Broadway diva while serving as a judge on a TV talent show.
The broadcast also featured noteworthy Hollywood names, including George Clooney, making his Broadway debut, and Sarah Snook, who was awarded best lead actress for her performance in “Photos of Dorian Gray,” a one-woman show.
Source: apnews.com