There's only room for one man on TV who can star in a show and crow about winning a Tony Award. At least that's what Neil Patrick Harris thinks, which is why the A Series of Unfortunate Events star interrupted James Corden's The Late Late Show monologue on Monday night (Jan. 9) to challenge the host to a Broadway riff-off to prove ultimate Great White Way supremacy.
"Your silly jokes can wait Corden, we have a score to settle and it's about... Broadway," Harris said with a serious look. "What are you talking about Neil?" Corden wondered. "I see you going around, hosting the Tonys, acting like you're the only TV star who can sing Broadway show tunes," Harris explained. "Some of us, dude, have actually won a Tony."
When Corden reminded his rival that he, too, had won a Tony, Harris scoffed, "yeah, for a non-singing role... burn!" At which point it was on. Joined by the a cappella group The Filharmonic, the two squared off for a fierce battle that started with Corden throwing out the Guys & Dolls classic "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat."
Harris was unimpressed, blasting back with Gypsy's "Everything's Coming Up Roses." Then it was on to a "heartbreaking" ballad battle with tunes from Company ("Being Alive") and Les Miserables ("On My Own") and the ultimate test: being sexy. Let's just say Corden gave it a shot and Harris reminded us why he won his Tony (for a singing role, remember?). They settled the matter the only way you can on Broadway: by hooking up for a triumphant duet on a Hamilton classic, duh.
Check it out.