NPH gives Tonys '09 a perfect send-off

I first discovered that Neil Patrick Harris wasn’t just Doogie Howser back in 2004, when I went on a PG ShowPlane trip with Christopher Rawson’s group and he had an extra ticket to an unscheduled event: Stephen Sondheim’s “Assassins.” NPH had duel roles and had to hold his own with Michael Cerveris, Marc Kudisch, Denis O’Hare, James Barbour … amazing cast. And it’s Sondheim. He’s played the Emcee in “Cabaret,” too, so in case you thought he hosted the Tonys this year just because he’s in the CBS family (in the improbable role of the libidinous Barney on “How I Met Your Mother”), the man has plenty of Broadway cred.

And please, if you like offbeat musicals and thought Harris’ singing parody to end the awards show — the highlight of these Tonys, with Frank Langella’s hysterically egomaniacal speech when he was supposed to be a presenter — find yourself a copy of “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.” NPH and Joss Whedon are a match made in musical mayhem heaven.

I guess I'm repeating myself on that subject. Oh well. Some things are worth repeating.