Caroline Siede

All in all, this was a mostly satisfying, if not completely exhilarating year for the Tonys.

Ramy is interested in the kinds of big political and cultural questions that TV comedies don’t often ask. ... Aesthetically and tonally, much of Ramy feels similar to other coming-of-age single-camera dramedies. In terms of the stories it chooses to tell, however, Ramy feels like nothing else on TV.

Rent: Live To Tape did what these live musicals are supposed to do—reimagine a beloved musical with a new aesthetic, new performers, and new staging choices.

This year’s ceremony leaned directly into the earnestness--and it was all the better for it. ... Bareilles and Groban were great anchors throughout the evening, popping up every so often to provide a sense of continuity without eating up too much screentime.

Although the second season tries to directly address some of the complaints against the series (it more explicitly links self-harm to mental illness and acknowledges the dangers of glamorizing suicide), it can’t help but return to the over-the-top drama it so clearly loves.

An exhilarating production that once again revolutionized the still-evolving live musical format. Yes, the sound mix wasn’t as clean as it should be and not all the lighting design read as well on TV as well as it should have. But the final sequence of Jesus’ crucifix rising into the air to be surrounded by a larger crucifix of light was a breathtaking bit of stagecraft that blended the theater and concert aspects of the show perfectly.

There’s just not much depth to the story of Ralpie’s childhood desire for a gun-filled Christmas, but maybe that’s the point. A Christmas Story isn’t meant to challenge, it’s meant to comfort. And as reheated holiday leftovers, A Christmas Story Live! just about hits the spot.

Class could have benefited from a slower approach to its world building. Despite those weaknesses, however, Class is a highly engaging, highly watchable addition to the Doctor Who universe.

In almost every way Grace And Frankie steps up its game for its second season. Though many of the changes are subtle, they result in a season far more worthy of Tomlin and Fonda’s considerable talents.