I know that we’re post-post-post award show by now, but I’m finding myself unusually excited about the 77th Tony Awards. Maybe it’s because the Tonys represent the rare chance for the Broadway community that fed so many of us gay adults as weird kids (sorry, am I projecting?) to bask in the glow of mainstream media coverage, but I think it also has something to do with Ariana DeBose, who’s returned to host the ceremony for the third year in a row.
DeBose, an Oscar-winning actor and dancer, is a theater kid through and through, in the best way possible. She’s always brought energy and excitement to the somewhat staid job of hosting the Tonys, and even her most meme-worthy moment—shouting out Angela Bassett in a goofy rap at the 2023 BAFTA Awards that quickly went viral—speaks to her unmatched ability to entertain under pressure. (Admit it, “Angela Bassett did the thing” played on a loop in your head for weeks afterward.) After many years’ worth of underwhelming celebrity-host performances, DeBose’s willingness to look a little silly in order to put on a memorable show has felt like a breath of fresh air. That said, maybe we’ll know we’ve achieved some sort of genuine entertainment-industry parity when DeBose is able to show up at the Tonys, do the absolute bare minimum, and still keep getting the job.