NEW YORK — CBS’s broadcast of the Tony Awards on Sunday managed to draw in an impressive 4.85 million viewers, marking its largest audience in six years. According to Nielsen’s data, this year’s telecast, with “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo at the helm as host, achieved a 38% increase from last year’s viewership of 3.53 million.
This boost in numbers represents the most substantial audience for the Tonys since 2019 when the broadcast captivated 5.4 million viewers while “Hadestown” celebrated its win as best new musical. This year, the show had the added challenge of airing alongside the second game of the NBA Finals between the Thunder and the Pacers.
The awards show also achieved a milestone with its streaming services, as CBS reported its largest streaming audience ever on Paramount+. The network noted a 208% increase from the previous year, although specific streaming viewer numbers were not released.
“Maybe Happy Ending,” an enchanting romantic comedy featuring androids with profound human-like emotions, took home the accolade for the best new musical. Meanwhile, Kara Young made her mark on history by becoming the first Black individual to win two Tonys consecutively for “Purpose,” which was also awarded best new play.
The heightened interest in the Tonys this year may be attributed to the fierce contest in the best lead actress in a musical category. Audra McDonald aimed to clinch her record-breaking seventh Tony, while Nicole Scherzinger of “Sunset Blvd.” sought to solidify her status as a bona fide Broadway diva after her rise to fame with the Pussycat Dolls and as a television talent show judge.
The telecast also featured notable Hollywood figures, including George Clooney, who made his Broadway debut, and Sarah Snook of “Succession” fame, who was honored as the best leading actress in a play for her performance in “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” a captivating one-woman show.