Broadway or bust?

Cutie power couple Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick go head to head tonight on competing shows: Tonys vs. 'Sex and the City.'

Observations

Sarah: My one and HBOnly

By Tamara Ikenberg

SPECIAL TO THE SUN

I have about the same chance of getting tickets for "The Producers" as I do of stealing Matthew Broderick from Sarah Jessica Parker.

And that's just one of the reasons why I'm tuning in and turning on to HBO's "Sex and the City" tonight instead of the Tonys on CBS.

Call it "Producers" envy. Call it lack of culture. Call it a preference for watching four female carnivores carnally conquering New York instead of a bunch of sissies breaking into song.

I call it common sense. "Sex and the City" is cool. Awards shows are dumb.

But there is a real dilemma: Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker are both personal idols. Choosing between them is one of the most difficult decisions a twentysomething innocently reared on John Hughes but divinely deflowered by "Sex and the City" may ever have to make.

Yet, I must side with Sarah.

Broderick may have saved the world in "War Games," and lord knows I've spent many a night fantasizing about "Ferris Bueller." And I'm pleased as punch at his awesome, underdog rise to revered-actor status.

But Broderick's sassy spouse made it safe for mature women to frolic just as freely as men across America's TV screens. SJP is the ultimate it-chick, even when she wears those big dumb flowers and dresses like a hooker.

And "Sex and the City" is only her most current liberating entertainment achievement. On the short-lived yet brilliant '80s sitcom "Square Pegs," she gave hope to frizzy-haired, insecure Jewish high school girls everywhere.

Plus, the suspense surrounding this evening's premiere is exponentially more stimulating than what Tony-watching twits are likely to get: Will Trey and Charlotte reconcile? Is Mr. Big really gone? Who will Sam seduce?

As for the Tonys, everyone already knows who and what's going to win, and it ain't "Jane Eyre," the musical. I saw "Jane Eyre," and it was not very good. I saw it with a guy I sorta liked who ended up asking out my best friend. I hate musicals.

But I love trampy, stylish clothes. And tonight's "Sex and the City" will be a cutting-edge fashion forecast for the year to come. What awe-inspiring outfits can we expect at the Tonys? Nathan Lane in a tube top? Linda Lavin in leather?

OK. I've gone too far. I did not intend to offend.

Hey, Sarah, since I've said such great things about you, do you think you might score me two tickets to "The Producers"?

One for me. One for your husband.

Matthew: A real 'Producer'

By Victor Wishna

SPECIAL TO THE SUN

I have a choice: I can watch four whiny women who may or may not take off their shirts on "Sex and the City," or I can watch one truly deserving man take center stage at the Tonys.

Matthew Broderick, like live theater, is an enduring inspiration. "Sex" is a passing sensation. Four seasons on HBO? Broadway plays four seasons every year.

And Broderick, who got his start on Broadway, has been a force for good throughout his career. In his big-screen debut, he single-handedly averted global thermonuclear war. Later, he taught a monkey to talk and rescued that Komodo dragon from Marlon Brando. He almost won the Civil War. He saved the world from Godzilla. He even survived "The Cable Guy."

And on the seventh day -- "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" -- he rested. Of course, he could have stopped there, could have easily slipped into '80s obscurity, reduced to a faded, nostalgia-inspiring image on a video cover at Blockbuster. Instead, with more time on stage and mature turns in films like "Election" and "You Can Count on Me," he's proved he's the real thing.

Now, he's the star of the hottest show on Broadway. Or anywhere. His wife may be the star of the hottest show on cable, but anybody with a TV and a couple extra bucks can get HBO. Unless you know the producers, you're never going to get tickets to "The Producers."

It's culture vs. pop culture, and I don't expect the Tonys to out-Nielsen anything with the word "sex" in the title. But if you must have your "Sex," just tape it, or catch it one of the 864 times HBO will rerun it this week.

That's what I'll do. Don't get me wrong -- even though I (straight, male) am outside the target demographic, I happen to love "Sex and the City," and, according to at least one Internet quiz, Carrie Bradshaw (Parker) is the "City" chick I most identify with.

But she can be annoying. She's an attractive, young, financially independent woman who spends most of her time going out with friends and having lots of sex, and all she can do is complain.

Broderick, meanwhile, quietly endured the early growing pains of his dramatic rise with no complaints. After "Max Dugan Returns," he could have given up. But no. He persevered and even helped launch Ben Stein's career. How many game-show idols has Parker discovered? Anyone? Anyone?

On this night, I'm giving the nod to the traditions of Broderick and Broadway. Even Sarah Jessica Parker herself will be at the Tonys, cheering her husband on.

If she can miss her season premiere, so can you.