Lunch Break Video: Elizabeth Taylor was a hilarious presenter at the 1981 Tonys and 2001 Golden Globes
By Greg Hernandez on
Mar 30, 2011 7:40 am |
Comments (4) |
The late Elizabeth Taylor was best known for her movie career but she also triumphed on Broadway.
The two-time Oscar winner was nominated for a Tony Award for best lead actress in a play in 1981 for her performance in The Little Foxes which she also performed in productions in London and Los Angeles. Two years later, she returned to Broadway with ex-husband Richard Burton in Private Lives.
I’m sad I never got to see her on stage but I did see her hilarious appearance at The Tony Awards where she presented Best Musical to 42nd Street.
She cracks herself up – and everyone else – by making what seems to be an acceptance speech then has a lot of trouble reading an endless list of producer credits. The comic highlight comes when she refers to famed producer James Nederlander as “James Nedleheimer.”
Fast-forward 20 years and Miss Taylor was a presenter at the 2001 Golden Globe Awards – the first awards show I ever covered in person. She was the best dramatic picture presenter and made producer Dick Clark awfully nervous when he thought she was about to open the envelope and announce the winner without reading off the nominees.
More reasons to LOVE Elizabeth. What a riot!
I will not forget that night in 1981 watching the Tony’s. She really had me on he floor laughing. Elizabeth was a rare and free spirit! No one these days would ever have that much fun presenting awards….
I am afraid that her humour at the Golden Globes was the result of being quite inebriated. I don’t think it casts a flattering light upon her memory at all.
Elizabeth is wonderful in this BUT my favorite part is seeing the “trophy dates” at Rid Scott’s table jump up and down as if they’ve won, fully unaware that by the following summer they would be back serving drinks at the Peninsula bar.
Tim says:
Nice memory, class Lady all the way!
Max F Grump says:
More reasons to LOVE Elizabeth. What a riot!
I will not forget that night in 1981 watching the Tony’s. She really had me on he floor laughing. Elizabeth was a rare and free spirit! No one these days would ever have that much fun presenting awards….
2201 East says:
I am afraid that her humour at the Golden Globes was the result of being quite inebriated. I don’t think it casts a flattering light upon her memory at all.
ron says:
Elizabeth is wonderful in this BUT my favorite part is seeing the “trophy dates” at Rid Scott’s table jump up and down as if they’ve won, fully unaware that by the following summer they would be back serving drinks at the Peninsula bar.