Today was the annual Meet the Tony Nominees Day where we videotaped lots of chats with top contenders, which we'll feature here at Gold Derby over the week or so. Let's start with the most glam: Jane Fonda, who is nominated for best lead drama actress. We not only gabbed about her Broadway show, "33 Variations" (also nominated for best play), but her dad's history with the Tonys, her old Oscar bout with Katharine Hepburn and the Emmy she won for her favorite role ("The Dollmaker").

I hope Jane doesn't mind, but I don't end this video when our formal chat concludes — I let the tape keep rolling — because I want you to see the very touching scene that followed. Early on during this yap, I mentioned how her father, Henry Fonda, was the second person to win best lead actor at the Tonys ("Mr. Roberts"). She confessed she didn't know that, then, as soon as the interview ended, asked for more info. Rushing to her rescue was Paul Sheehan, frequent contributor to The Envelope, who ran camera for us today. He's not close to the microphone as they talk, but you can still hear him tell her the funny details of what her dad actually won, trophy-wise, in 1948. Back then, the Tonys didn't give out silver medallions. Male winners received engraved cigarette lighters, women got makeup compacts. Jane was floored to hear all that and when I asked her if she knows where her dad's old Tonys cigarette lighter is today, she responded with a big smile, shaking her head, "No …"

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