Rosie O’Donnell to Appear on Smash’s Fictional Tony Awards

Smash's fake Tony Awards are shaping up, and there will be at least one big Broadway fan in attendance. Rosie O'Donnell, whose cameo on the NBC musical drama was announced back in December, will appear at the show's fictional version of Broadway's biggest night.

O’Donnell broke the news when she posted a photo on Instagram teasing her involvement at the “pretend TONY awards.” She also tweeted her enthusiasm: “On my way to film SMASH [sic] – love that show so much … I am playing me – luckily I have done a lot of research.” O'Donnell is obviously no stranger to the Tony Awards, having hosted the telecast three times, most recently in 2000.

O’Donnell will pop up on Smash’s version of the Tony Awards, which will ostensibly feature a heated competition between the show’s fictional musicals Bombshell (the traditional Mariliyn Monroe tuner), Hit List (the angsty Spring Awakening-like musical) and Liaisons (the operatic Sean Hayes star vehicle). The road to Smash’s Tonys will also include a reading of the nominations by Broadway stars Christine Ebersole and Cheyenne Jackson.

Flashback to 1998 when Rosie opened the Tony Awards with the help of Patti LuPone, Jennifer Holliday and Betty Buckley!