logo
Like it or not, the Like button has changed the world

Like it or not, the Like button has changed the world

CTV News19-05-2025

A sketch shows a crude concept of what would become the Like button on May 18, 2005. (BCG via AP)
SAN FRANCISCO — The internet wouldn't be the same without the Like button, the thumbs-up icon that Facebook and other online services turned into digital catnip.
Like it or not, the button has served as a creative catalyst, a dopamine delivery system and an emotional battering ram. It also became an international tourist attraction after Facebook plastered the symbol on a giant sign that stood outside its Silicon Valley headquarters until the company rebranded itself as Meta Platforms in 2021.
A new book, 'Like: The Button That Changed The World,' delves into the convoluted story behind a symbol that's become both the manna and bane of a digitally driven society.
It's a tale that traces back to gladiator battles for survival during the Roman Empire before fast-forwarding to the early 21st century when technology trailblazers such as Yelp co-founder Russ Simmons, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, PayPal co-founder Max Levchin, YouTube co-founder Steve Chen, and Gmail inventor Paul Buchheit were experimenting with different ways of using the currency of recognition to prod people to post compelling content online for free.
As part of that noodling, a Yelp employee named Bob Goodson sat down on May 18, 2005, and drew a crude sketch of thumbs up and thumbs down gestures as a way for people to express their opinions about restaurant reviews posted on the site. Yelp passed on adopting Goodson's suggested symbol and, instead, adopted the 'useful,' 'funny' and 'cool' buttons conceived by Simmons. But the discovery of that old sketch inspired Goodson to team up with Martin Reeves to explore how the Like button came to be in their new book.
'It's something simple and also elegant because the Like button says, 'I like you, I like your content. And I am like you. I like you because I am like you, I am part of your tribe,' ' Reeves said during an interview with The Associated Press. 'But it's very hard to answer the simple question, 'Well, who invented the Like button?' '
The social wellspring behind a social symbol
Although Facebook is the main reason the Like button became so ubiquitous, the company didn't invent it and almost discarded it as drivel. It took Facebook nearly two years to overcome the staunch resistance by CEO Mark Zuckerberg before finally introducing the symbol on its service on February 9, 2009 — five years after the social network's creation in a Harvard University dorm room.
As happens with many innovations, the Like button was born out of necessity but it wasn't the brainchild of a single person. The concept percolated for more than a decade in Silicon Valley before Facebook finally embraced it.
'Innovation is often social and Silicon Valley was the right place for all this to happen because it has a culture of meetups, although it's less so now,' Reeves said. 'Everyone was getting together to talk about what they were working on at that time and it turned out a lot of them were working on the same stuff.'
The effort to create a simple mechanism to digitally express approval or dismay sprouted from a wellspring of online services such as Yelp and YouTube whose success would hinge on their ability to post commentary or video that would help make their sites even more popular without forcing them to spend a lot of money for content. That effort required a feedback loop that wouldn't require a lot of hoops to navigate.
Hollywood's role in the Like button's saga
And when Goodson was noodling around with his thumbs-up and thumbs-down gesture, it didn't come out of a vacuum. Those techniques of signaling approval and disapproval had been ushered into the 21st century zeitgeist by the Academy Award-winning movie, 'Gladiator,' where Emperor Commodus — portrayed by actor Joaquin Phoenix — used the gestures to either spare or slay combatants in the arena.
But the positive feelings conjured by a thumbs up date even further back in popular culture, thanks to the 1950s-era character Fonzie played by Henry Winkler in the top-rated 1970s TV series, 'Happy Days.' The gesture later became a way of expressing delight with a program via a remote control button for the digital video recorders made by TiVO during the early 2000s. Around the same time, Hot or Not — a site that solicited feedback on the looks of people who shared photos of themselves — began playing around with ideas that helped inspire the Like button, based on the book's research.
Others that contributed to the pool of helpful ideas included the pioneering news service Digg, the blogging platform Xanga, YouTube and another early video site, Vimeo.
The button's big breakthrough
But Facebook unquestionably turned the Like button into a universally understood symbol, while also profiting the most from its entrance into the mainstream. And it almost didn't happen.
By 2007, Facebook engineers had been tinkering with a Like button, but Zuckerberg opposed it because he feared the social network was already getting too cluttered and, Reeves said, 'he didn't actually want to do something that would be seen as trivial, that would cheapen the service.'
But FriendFeed, a rival social network created by Buchheit and now OpenAI Chairman Bret Taylor, had no such qualms, and unveiled its own Like button in October 2007.
But the button wasn't successful enough to keep the lights on at FriendFeed, and the service ended up being acquired by Facebook. By the time that deal was completed, Facebook had already introduced a Like button — only after Zuckerberg rebuffed the original idea of calling it an Awesome button 'because nothing is more awesome than awesome,' according to the book's research.
Once Zuckerberg relented, Facebook quickly saw that the Like button not only helped keep its audience engaged on its social network but also made it easier to divine people's individual interests and gather the insights required to sell the targeted advertising that accounted for most of Meta Platform's US$165 billion in revenue last year. The button's success encouraged Facebook to take things even further by allowing other digital services to ingrain it into their feedback loops and then, in 2016, added six more types of emotions — 'love,' 'care,' 'haha,' 'wow,' 'sad,' and 'angry.'
Facebook hasn't publicly disclosed how many responses it has accumulated from the Like button and its other related options, but Levchin told the book's authors that he believes the company has probably logged trillions of them. 'What content is liked by humans...is probably one of the singularly most valuable things on the internet,' Levchin said in the book.
The Like button also has created an epidemic of emotional problems, especially among adolescents, who feel forlorn if their posts are ignored and narcissists whose egos feast on the positive feedback. Reeves views those issues as part of the unintentional consequences that inevitably happen because 'if you can't even predict the beneficial effects of a technological innovation how could you possibly forecast the side effects and the interventions?'
Even so, Reeves believes the Like button and the forces that coalesced to create it tapped into something uniquely human.
'We thought serendipity of the innovation was part of the point,' Reeves said. 'And I don't think we can get bored with liking or having our capacity to compliment taken away so easily because it's the product of 100,000 years of evolution.'
Article written by Michael Liedtke, The Associated Press

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Purpose' makes Tony Awards history for Kara Young and wins best play
Purpose' makes Tony Awards history for Kara Young and wins best play

CTV News

time5 hours ago

  • CTV News

Purpose' makes Tony Awards history for Kara Young and wins best play

Sarah Snook poses in the press room with the award for best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play for "The Picture of Dorian Gray" during the 78th Tony Awards on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) NEW YORK — The best new play trophy at Sunday's Tony Awards went to 'Purpose,' Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' drawing-room drama about an accomplished Black family exposing hypocrisy and pressures during a snowed-in gathering. It caps a remarkable year for Jacobs-Jenkins, who in addition to winning back-to-back Tonys -- his 'Appropriate' won best play revival in 2024 -- earned the Pulitzer Prize for 'Purpose.' (That win came the day of the Met Gala, where he served on the host committee.) Jacobs-Jenkins becomes the first Black playwright to win for best new play since August Wilson took home the trophy in 1987 for 'Fences.' He urged Tony viewers to support regional theaters. Kara Young -- the first Black female actor to be nominated for a Tony Award in four consecutive years -- became the first Black person to win two Tonys consecutively with the featured actress in a play trophy for her work in 'Purpose.' Young thanked her parents, Jacobs-Jenkins, her cast and director Phylicia Rashad. 'Theater is a sacred space that we have to honor and treasure, and it makes us united,' she said. 'Succession' star Sarah Snook took home the trophy for leading actress in a play for her tireless work in 'The Picture of Dorian Gray,' where she plays all 26 roles. 'I don't feel alone any night that I do this show,' Snook said, dismissing the idea of her play as a one-woman show. 'There are so many people onstage making it work and behind the stage making it work.' Francis Jue won best actor in a featured role in a play for his work in a revival of 'Yellow Face.' He said he was gifted the tuxedo he was wearing from another Asian actor who wanted him to wear it to the Tonys. 'I'm only here because of the encouragement and inspiration of generations of wonderful deserving Asian artists who came before me,' he said. 'To those who don't feel seen,' he added. 'I see you.' Jak Malone won best actor in a featured role in a musical for the British import 'Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical,' playing a woman every performance. He hoped his win could be a powerful advocacy for trans rights. The host with the most First-time host Cynthia Erivo kicked off the show from her dressing room in Radio City Music Hall, urged by the stage manager to get to the stage. He asked if she had an opening number and she replied she hadn't figured it out yet. As she made her way through the backstage warren, she ran into various people offering advice until she reached Oprah Winfrey, who advised, 'The only thing you need to do is just be yourself.' Erivo then appeared at the stage in a red, spangly gown with white accents, hip cocked, as she launched into the slow-burning original song 'Sometimes All You Need Is a Song,' written by Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Initially alone with just a pianist, Erivo's soaring voice was soon joined by dozens of members of the Broadway Inspirational Voices choir, all dressed in white, making her look like a powerful strawberry in a bowl of whipped cream. She went into the audience and got front-row guests to sing along, including Adam Lambert. In her opening comments, she singled out first-time nominees Louis McCartney, Sadie Sink, Cole Escola and 'an up-and-comer that I think you're going to really be hearing quite a bit about -- George Clooney.' She noted that the 2024-2025 season took in $1.9 billion, making it the highest-grossing season ever and signaling that Broadway has finally emerged from the COVID-19 blues. 'Broadway is officially back,' Erivo said. 'Provided we don't run out of cast members from `Succession,'' a nod to appearances this season by former co-stars Snook and Kieran Culkin and last season by Jeremy Strong. Pre-show results 'Buena Vista Social Club' and 'Maybe Happy Ending' built up early heads of steam at the pre-show, well before the main event had even started. The best book and best score awards went to 'Maybe Happy Ending,' with lyrics written by Hue Park and music composed by Will Aronson. The show was one of the favorites to win the best new musical crown, also picking up best scenic design of a musical. Justin Peck and Patricia Delgado won for choreographing 'Buena Vista Social Club' and Peck noted a song from the renowned album was played at their wedding. The musical takes its inspiration from Wim Wenders' 1999 Oscar-nominated documentary on the making of the Cuban album. Marco Paguia, winning best orchestrations for 'Buena Vista Social Club,' thanked Broadway for welcoming Cuban music. Best costumes in a play went to Marg Hornwell for 'The Picture of Dorian Gray,' while 'Death Becomes Her' won the musical counterpart, a win for Paul Tazewell in a year where he also became the first Black man to win an Oscar for designing costumes, for 'Wicked.' 'I have dressed so many of you out there,' he said from the podium. This season on Broadway Broadway buzz is usually reserved for musicals but this year the plays -- powered by A-list talent like Snook and Clooney -- have driven the conversation. There were two Pulitzer winners -- 2024 awardee 'English' and 'Purpose' from 2025 -- but perhaps one of the season's biggest surprises was 'Oh, Mary!,' Escola's irreverent, raunchy, gleefully deranged revisionist history centered on Mary Todd Lincoln. It was empty-handed as the Tonys reached the midpoint. On the musical side, three options seem to be in the mix for the top prize: 'Maybe Happy Ending,' the rom-com about a pair of androids; 'Dead Outlaw,' about an alcoholic drifter whose embalmed body becomes a prized possession for half a century; and 'Death Becomes Her,' the musical satire about longtime frenemies who drink a magic potion for eternal youth and beauty. 'Maybe Happy Ending,' 'Death Becomes Her' and fellow musical nominee, 'Buena Vista Social Club,' led nominations going into the night with 10 apiece. History on the line Audra McDonald, the most recognized performer in the theater awards' history, could possibly extend her Tony lead. Already the record holder for most acting wins with six Tonys, McDonald could add to that thanks to her leading turn in an acclaimed revival of 'Gypsy.' She has to get past Nicole Scherzinger, who has been wowing audiences in 'Sunset Blvd.' Other possible firsts include Daniel Dae Kim, who could become the first Asian winner in the category of best leading actor in a play for his work in a revival of 'Yellow Face.' Broadway this season saw a burst in alt-rock and the emergence of stories of young people for young people, including 'John Proctor is the Villain' and a 'Romeo + Juliet' pitched to Generation Z and millennials. Sunday's telecast, as usual, has a musical number for each of the shows vying for the best new musical crown, as well as some that didn't make the cut, like 'Just in Time,' a musical about Bobby Darin, and 'Real Women Have Curves.' This year, there's also room for 'Hamilton,' celebrating its 10th year on Broadway. But the musicals 'BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical' and 'SMASH' didn't get slots. Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press

Sarah Snook wins best actress in a play Tony Award while Kara Young makes history
Sarah Snook wins best actress in a play Tony Award while Kara Young makes history

CTV News

time6 hours ago

  • CTV News

Sarah Snook wins best actress in a play Tony Award while Kara Young makes history

Sarah Snook poses in the press room with the award for best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play for "The Picture of Dorian Gray" during the 78th Tony Awards on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) NEW YORK — 'Succession' star Sarah Snook took home the Tony Award trophy for leading actress in a play Sunday for her tireless work in 'The Picture of Dorian Gray,' while Kara Young became became the first Black person to win two Tonys consecutively. 'This means so much for a little Australian girl,' Snook, who plays all 26 roles in her play, said. Young -- already the first Black female actor to be nominated for a Tony in four consecutive years -- made history after nabbing the featured actress in a play trophy for her work in 'Purpose.' She also won last year for 'Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch.' Young thanked her parents, playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, her cast and director Phylicia Rashad. She called the theater 'a sacred space and it makes us united.' Francis Jue won best actor in a featured role in a play for his work in a revival of 'Yellow Face.' He said he was gifted the tux he was wearing from another Asian actor who wanted him to wear it to the Tonys. 'I'm only here because of the encouragement and inspiration of generations of wonderful deserving Asian artists who came before me,' he said. 'To those who don't feel seen,' he added. 'I see you.' Jak Malone won best actor in a featured role in a musical for the British import 'Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical,' playing a woman every performance. He hoped his win could be a powerful advocacy for trans rights. The host with the most First-time host Cynthia Erivo kicked off the show from her dressing room in Radio City Music Hall, urged by the stage manager to get to the stage. He asked if she had an opening number and she replied she hadn't figured it out yet. As she made her way through the backstage warren, she ran into various people offering advice until she reached Oprah Winfrey, who advised, 'The only thing you need to do is just be yourself.' Erivo then appeared at the Radio City stage in a red, spangly gown with white accents, hip cocked, as she launched into the slow-burning original song 'Sometimes All You Need Is a Song,' written by Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Alone onstage with just a pianist, Erivo's soaring voice was soon joined by dozens of members of the Broadway Inspirational Voices choir, all dressed in white, making her look like a powerful strawberry in a bowl of whipped cream. She went into the audience and got front-row guests to sing along, including Adam Lambert. 'So I took in all the voices that told me what to do/And I looked through all the choices and I found one thing is true/It's really very simple/It's the thing that makes you sing, that makes you soar/Sometimes, sometimes all you need is a song.' In her opening comments, she singled out first-time nominees Louis McCartney, Sadie Sink, Cole Escola and 'an up-and-comer that I think you're going to really be hearing quite a bit about -- George Clooney.' She noted that the 2024-2025 season took in $1.9 billion, making it the highest-grossing season ever and signaling that Broadway has finally emerged from the COVID-19 blues. 'Broadway is officially back,' Erivo said. 'Provided we don't run out of cast members from `Succession,'' a nod to appearances this season by former co-stars Snook and Kieran Culkin and last season by Jeremy Strong. Pre-show results 'Buena Vista Social Club' and 'Maybe Happy Ending' built up early heads of steam at the pre-show, well before the main event had even started. The best book and best score awards went to 'Maybe Happy Ending,' with lyrics written by Hue Park and music composed by Will Aronson. The show was one of the favorites to win the best new musical crown, also picking up best scenic design of a musical. Justin Peck and Patricia Delgado won for choreographing 'Buena Vista Social Club' and Peck noted a song from the renowned album was played at their wedding. The musical takes its inspiration from Wim Wenders' 1999 Oscar-nominated documentary on the making of the Cuban album. Marco Paguia, winning best orchestrations for 'Buena Vista Social Club,' thanked Broadway for welcoming Cuban music. Best costumes in a play went to Marg Hornwell for 'The Picture of Dorian Gray,' while 'Death Becomes Her' won the musical counterpart, a win for Paul Tazewell in a year where he also became the first Black man to win an Oscar for designing costumes, for 'Wicked.' 'I have dressed so many of you out there,' he said from the podium. This season on Broadway Broadway buzz is usually reserved for musicals but this year the plays -- powered by A-list talent like Snook and Clooney -- have driven the conversation. There were two Pulitzer winners -- 2024 awardee 'English' and 'Purpose' from 2025 -- but perhaps one of the season's biggest surprises was 'Oh, Mary!,' Escola's irreverent, raunchy, gleefully deranged revisionist history centered on Mary Todd Lincoln. All three are nominated for best play, along with 'John Proctor is the Villain' and 'The Hills of California.' On the musical side, three options seem to be in the mix for the top prize: 'Maybe Happy Ending,' the rom-com about a pair of androids; 'Dead Outlaw,' about an alcoholic drifter whose embalmed body becomes a prized possession for half a century; and 'Death Becomes Her,' the musical satire about longtime frenemies who drink a magic potion for eternal youth and beauty. 'Maybe Happy Ending,' 'Death Becomes Her' and fellow musical nominee, 'Buena Vista Social Club,' led nominations going into the night with 10 apiece. History on the line Audra McDonald, the most recognized performer in the theater awards' history, could possibly extend her Tony lead. Already the record holder for most acting wins with six Tonys, McDonald could add to that thanks to her leading turn in an acclaimed revival of 'Gypsy.' She has to get past Nicole Scherzinger, who has been wowing audiences in 'Sunset Blvd.' Other possible back-to-back winners include director Danya Taymor, hoping to follow up her 2024 win with 'The Outsiders' with another for 'John Proctor Is the Villain,' and Jacobs-Jenkins, who won last year with 'Appropriate.' Other possible firsts include Daniel Dae Kim, who could become the first Asian winner in the category of best leading actor in a play for his work in a revival of 'Yellow Face.' Playwright Sanaz Toossi could be the first Iranian-born play winner, for 'English.' Broadway this season saw a burst in alt-rock and the emergence of stories of young people for young people, including 'John Proctor is the Villain' and a 'Romeo + Juliet' pitched to Generation Z and millennials. Sunday's telecast, as usual, has a musical number for each of the shows vying for the best new musical crown, as well as some that didn't make the cut, like 'Just in Time,' a musical about Bobby Darin, and 'Real Women Have Curves.' This year, there's also room for 'Hamilton,' celebrating its 10th year on Broadway. But the musicals 'BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical' and 'SMASH' didn't get slots. Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press

Cynthia Erivo kicks off the Tony Awards with some advice from Oprah Winfrey and Sarah Snook wins
Cynthia Erivo kicks off the Tony Awards with some advice from Oprah Winfrey and Sarah Snook wins

CTV News

time7 hours ago

  • CTV News

Cynthia Erivo kicks off the Tony Awards with some advice from Oprah Winfrey and Sarah Snook wins

Justin Peck, left, and Patricia Delgado arrive at the 78th Tony Awards on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) NEW YORK — 'Succession' star Sarah Snook took home the first acting Tony Award on Sunday, winning the trophy for leading actress in a play for 'The Picture of Dorian Gray,' in which she plays all 26 roles, reprising a performance that won her an Olivier Award. 'This means so much for a little Australian girl,' she said. She thanked her husband, Dave Lawson, for 'holding down the fort and keeping our family together.' The host with the most First-time host Cynthia Erivo kicked off the show from her dressing room in Radio City Music Hall, urged by the stage manager to get to the stage. He asked if she had an opening number and she replied she hadn't figured it out yet. As she made her way through the backstage warren, she ran into various people offering advice until she reached Oprah Winfrey, who advised, 'The only thing you need to do is just be yourself.' Erivo then appeared at the Radio City stage in a red, spangly gown with white accents, hip cocked, as she launched into the slow-burning original song 'Sometimes All You Need Is a Song,' written by Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Alone onstage with just a pianist, Erivo's soaring voice was soon joined by dozens of members of the Broadway Inspirational Voices choir, all dressed in white, making her look like a powerful strawberry in a bowl of whipped cream. She went into the audience and got front-row guests to sing along, including Adam Lambert. 'So I took in all the voices that told me what to do/And I looked through all the choices and I found one thing is true/It's really very simple/It's the thing that makes you sing, that makes you soar/Sometimes, sometimes all you need is a song.' In her opening comments, she singled out first-time nominees Louis McCartney, Sadie Sink, Cole Escola and 'an up-and-comer that I think you're going to really be hearing quite a bit about -- George Clooney.' She noted that the 2024-2025 season took in $1.9 billion, making it the highest-grossing season ever and signaling that Broadway has finally emerged from the COVID-19 blues. 'Broadway is officially back,' Erivo said. 'Provided we don't run out of cast members from `Succession,'' a nod to appearances this season by former co-stars Snook and Kieran Culkin and last season by Jeremy Strong. Pre-show results 'Buena Vista Social Club,' 'Maybe Happy Ending' and 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow' built up early heads of steam at the Tony Awards -- well before the main event had even started. Each had a leading three trophies from the pre-show. The best book and best score awards went to 'Maybe Happy Ending,' with lyrics written by Hue Park and music composed by Will Aronson. The show was one of the favorites to win the best new musical crown, also picking up best scenic design of a musical. Justin Peck and Patricia Delgado won for choreographing 'Buena Vista Social Club' and Peck noted a song from the renowned album was played at their wedding. The musical takes its inspiration from Wim Wenders' 1999 Oscar-nominated documentary on the making of the Cuban album. 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow,' an effects-driven prequel to the Netflix hit show 'Stranger Things,' won best sound design of a play, best scenic design and best lighting design for a play. 'Sunset Blvd.' won best lighting design for a musical. Marco Paguia won best orchestrations for 'Buena Vista Social Club' and thanked Broadway for welcoming Cuban music. 'Buena Vista Social Club' also won best sound design for a musical. Best costumes in a play went to Marg Hornwell for 'The Picture of Dorian Gray,' while 'Death Becomes Her' won the musical counterpart, a win for Paul Tazewell in a year where he also became the first Black man to win an Oscar for designing costumes, for 'Wicked.' 'I have dressed so many of you out there,' he said from the podium. This season on Broadway Broadway buzz is usually reserved for musicals but this year the plays -- powered by A-list talent -- have driven the conversation. There's Snook, nominee Clooney in 'Good Night, and Good Luck,' Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal in 'Othello' and Culkin and nominee Bob Odenkirk in 'Glengarry Glen Ross.' There were two Pulitzer winners -- 2024 awardee 'English' and 'Purpose' from 2025 -- but perhaps one of the season's biggest surprises was 'Oh, Mary!,' Escola's irreverent, raunchy, gleefully deranged revisionist history centered on Mary Todd Lincoln. All three are nominated for best play, along with 'John Proctor is the Villain' and 'The Hills of California.' On the musical side, three options seem to be in the mix for the top prize: 'Maybe Happy Ending,' a rom-com about a pair of androids; 'Dead Outlaw,' about an alcoholic drifter whose embalmed body becomes a prized possession for half a century; and 'Death Becomes Her,' the musical satire about longtime frenemies who drink a magic potion for eternal youth and beauty. 'Maybe Happy Ending,' 'Death Becomes Her' and fellow musical nominee, 'Buena Vista Social Club,' led nominations with 10 apiece. History on the line Audra McDonald, the most recognized performer in the theater awards' history, could possibly extend her Tony lead. Already the record holder for most acting wins with six Tonys, McDonald could add to that thanks to her leading turn in an acclaimed revival of 'Gypsy.' She has to get past Nicole Scherzinger, who has been wowing audiences in 'Sunset Blvd.' And Kara Young -- the first Black female actor to be nominated for a Tony Award in four consecutive years -- could become the first Black person to win two Tonys consecutively, should she win for her role in the play 'Purpose.' Other possible back-to-back winners include director Danya Taymor, hoping to follow up her 2024 win with 'The Outsiders' with another for 'John Proctor Is the Villain,' and 'Purpose' playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, who won last year with 'Appropriate.' Other possible firsts include Daniel Dae Kim, who could become the first Asian winner in the category of best leading actor in a play for his work in a revival of 'Yellow Face.' And Marjan Neshat and her 'English' co-star Tala Ashe could become the first female actors of Iranian descent to win a Tony, while their playwright, Sanaz Toossi, could be the first Iranian-born play winner. Broadway this season saw a burst in alt-rock and the emergence of stories of young people for young people, including 'John Proctor is the Villain' and a 'Romeo + Juliet' pitched to Generation Z and millennials. Sunday's telecast, as usual, has a musical number for each of the shows vying for the best new musical crown, as well as some that didn't make the cut, like 'Just in Time,' a musical about Bobby Darin, and 'Real Women Have Curves.' This year, there's also room for 'Hamilton,' celebrating its 10th year on Broadway. But the musicals 'BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical' and 'SMASH' didn't get slots. Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store