2023 Tony Awards: Here's What Made The Show Memorable, Most Watched Since 2019

The 2023 Tony Awards was in limbo weeks ago, but ever since it struck a compromise with the Writers Guild of America to hold a televised ceremony, the show has been full speed ahead as theatre's biggest night fast approaches.

There were no bumps on the road aside from the occasional unhinged moments at the 2023 Tony Awards, which resulted in a huge streaming and broadcasting bump compared to last year!

2023 Tony Awards Ratings

According to Variety, the CBS telecast of the 2023 Tony Awards was watched by 4.3 million people on Sunday, Jun. 11, 2023. Apparently, the show had a 2% increase in viewership last year, where only 3.9 million people saw it live.

Aside from CBS, the show was also streamed via Paramount+. Per data gathered, the show was also the most live-streamed show ever compared to the previous iterations of the ceremony since it started in 2021.

The pre-show on Pluto TV, hosted by Skylar Astin and Julianne Hough, also became the most-watched live event since the streaming platform launched in 2013, the publication reports.

READ ALSO: 2023 Tony Awards Opening Performance: Ariana DeBose Opened First 'Unscripted' Ceremony Ever

2023 Tony Awards Highlights

Obviously, the success of the show can be attributed to the best moments and surprises from the ceremony. Here are a few of the best moments at the 2023 Tony Awards:

Wordless Because of The Strike

The show was televised thanks to the compromise that the WGA and the Tony Producers had. However, that meant that the show would be unscripted. Despite this, host Ariana DeBose managed to pull it off. From a wordless opening performance to the absence of a teleprompter and filler voice-overs, the impact of writers not being in the room can be really felt throughout the evening.

However, these absences prompted artists, the host, and the presenters to quip out their wit on their own, making it a ceremony to remember.

Michael Arden Speech

Michael Arden finally took home his first Tony Award after directing three Best Musicals. His first one was in 2007 for "Spring Awakening," which took home the Best Musical; in 2018 "Once On This Island" won Best Revival; and this year, "Parade" won Best Revival too.

In his impassioned speech, Arden bared it all very raw and very explicitly. "And to our beautiful trans, non-binary, queer youth, know that your queerness is what makes you beautiful and powerful. Everyone in this room sees you and needs you and will fight alongside you and we will win," he said. "Growing up I was called the F-word more times than I can remember. And all I can say is that now I'm a f***** with a Tony."

Non-Binary History

Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee made history as the first Non-Binary Actors to win a Tony Award. Newell and Ghee earned their first Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor and a Leading Actor in a Musical, respectively.

READ ALSO: 2023 Tony Awards Snubs: '& Juliet', 'Into The Woods', Josh Groban & Sara Bareilles