Chosen One of the Day: Jake Gyllenhaal and Sean Hayes dueting ‘A Whole New World’

Waayyy back in 2016 (apparently was there a time before now?) Jake Gyllenhaal and Sean Hayes attended the Tony Awards — Broadway’s Biggest Night!!! *jazz hands, etc.* And sure, we probably remember that night as a Hamilton extravaganza, but if Gyllenhaal’s Instagram is to be interpreted (and it will be interpreted) he has other recollections of the eve.

Let me set the scene, as they say.

PICTURE IT: THE 70TH ANNUAL TONY AWARDS.

Three men stand in frame of a video shot on a cellphone: Sean Hayes, Jake Gyllenhaal, and James Corden. Hayes is holding an open binder, Gyllenhaal has a mic in front of his face, and Corden is standing next to them (there’s a taste of authentic awkwardness to the whole affair). But then then Jake opens his mouth and sings.

JAKE:

I can show you the world, shining, shimmering splendid.
Tell me princess—

SEAN:

[laughs]

JAKE:

Now when did you last let your heart decide.  

Jake is looking into Sean’s eyes. He breaks down in laughter and cheers for handsome men singing to one another rip out from the audience.

I won’t shame anyone for the fact that they, uh, seemed to need a book to remember the lines to one of the most prolific songs of our lifetime, but I’ll say that Gyllenhaal sharing this minute and a half of joy with us to celebrate a Aladdin is a gift we didn’t deserve. Bless you, sirs. I’ll text you the deets for next weekend’s karaoke.