Breaking news, Kevin Spacey will not be returning to host the Tony Awards this June. Yes, that’s not exactly shocking considering his current standing following allegations made in the wake of the #MeToo movement especially with one particular stunning charge from noted Broadway star Anthony Rapp. That being said, considering it was the worst rated Tonys since 2012 he probably wasn’t returning under any scenario. Today, CBS announced the Tonys were going in a new direction and that Sara Bareilles And Josh Groban will team up to host instead. The duo announced their hosting gig on social media earlier today.
??????????????CRAZY AMAZING NEWS ALERT!!!! I literally don’t have words so I’ll do this with emojis…???❤️??➕??????!!!!!! #TonyAwards2018 pic.twitter.com/PREncTnSQV
— Sara Bareilles (@SaraBareilles) April 18, 2018
The two pop stars have had success on the Great White Way recently with Bareilles making a celebrated debut in the theatrical adaptation of “Waitress” and Groban starring in “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812.” Groban earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical and ended his run in July of last year. Bareilles earned a Tony nod for Best Original Score and has returned for limited runs twice, most recently in January.
Groban and Bareilles are also both four-time Grammy nominees with the “Brave” singer earning a prestigious Album of the Year nod in 2014. Bareilles also contributed a song to “Spongebob Squarepants” and played Mary Magdalene in NBC’s live concert of “Jesus Christ Superstar” earlier this month.
The Tony Awards have always been ratings challenged compared to its peers the Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, Golden Globes and Oscars, but there have been some bright moments over the past decade with Neil Patrick Harris (who has hosted four times), Hugh Jackman and James Cordon prompting 7.2, 7 and 8.7 million viewers respectively (the later likely thanks to a “Hamilton” sweep that year). Spacey’s telecast brought in just 6 million viewers.
Some of the major contenders this year in the musical categories are Tina Fey’s “Mean Girls,” Disney’s “Frozen” and expected winner, “The Band’s Visit.” On the drama and revival side “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” “Farinelli and the King,” “Angels in America,” “My Fair Lady” and “Three Tall Women” should dominate the nominated field.
The 72nd Annual Tony Awards will take place on June 10 and air live on CBS beginning at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT.