Tony Telecast:Trashy; Tony Awards: Tremendous!

Sunday night's Tony Awards telecast will stand as probably the trashiest Tony show in the history -- and that's a very long time.

The raunchiest parts revolved around the segments dedicated to The Rocky Horror Picture show and The Jellicle Ball. When you throw in the barely-clothed performer known as "Pink" as the host, well -- salacious can only begin  describe it all. In fact, even some of the commercials were questionable and loaded with double entendres. 

But, having said that, the awards themselves were conveyed upon the most traditional, wide audience nominees. The grand and glorious American saga musical Ragtime defeated the smutty Jellicle Ball and The Rocky Horror Picture Show for best revival of a musical -- an upset that most experts weren't expecting. The classic Death of a Salesman won best revival of a play. Let's face it: you can't find a more certified,  blue-chip American drama than Salesman. Best musical honors were bestowed upon Schmigadoon,  a unabashed, tongue-in-cheek homage to the big old-fashioned American musical. And while the best drama winner Liberation delves into the socio-political aspects of the women's movement, it uses the traditional format of a memory play and even incorporates an Our Town style narrator. 

So, as much as Broadway attempted to shock last night, the evening's real winners played to Broadway's well-known strengths: serious, thought-provoking drama; sweeping, epic themes and sheer entertainment with talented casts, amazing vocalists and dazzling choreography. 

Ragtime provides us with the best example of Broadway's return to what Broadway does best. The show succeeds because it's blessed with a very strong storyline -- one that everyone in the audience can grasp, incorporating characters that people can identify with. What's more, the music and lyrics are soaring and melodic. It's clearly the most robust, full-throated show on Broadway right now. And, to top it all off, Ragtime is a genuine heart-tugger. It's right up there with Carousel and Show Boat for its emotional impact.

We saw the original production of Ragtime in 1996. It's sheer grandeur blew us away then and, if anything, age has only made the show more meaningful and seemingly more magnificent. 

Yes, the Tony Awards telecast left a lot to be desired. But the awards themselves gave us new hope for a Broadway that is journeying back to its roots and doing so with pride and penache!

Avanti!