Donald Trump Wanted a ‘Showbiz’ Convention. Hillary Clinton Got One.

3 minute read
By Tessa Berenson Rogers

Donald Trump promised a star-studded Republican convention, but the Democratic convention has been shining much brighter.

The Republican nominee initially claimed that his convention in Cleveland would be more exciting and celebrity-filled than past ones.

“It’s very important to put some showbiz into a convention, otherwise people are going to fall asleep,” Trump told the Washington Post in April. Ivanka Trump, the Republican nominee’s daughter and closest confidante, echoed her father’s bravado in June, telling a Virginia radio host, “It will be a convention unlike any we’ve ever seen. It will be substantive. It will be interesting. It will be different… It’s not gonna be a ho-hum lineup of the typical politicians.” Trump’s celebrity friends such as Tom Brady and Mike Tyson were rumored to appear.

But when delegates, fans and members of the media arrived in the Quicken Loans Arena in July, they were not met with quite the A-list cast that the former reality show host nominee had promised. The first night included speeches by Willie Roberston (Duck Dynasty), Scott Baio (Happy Days) and Antonio Sabato Jr. (General Hospital). Academy Award-winner Jon Voight, who appears in the upcoming Harry Potter “Fantastic Beasts” movie, narrated a biographical video. American Idol alum Ayla Brown, daughter of former Sen. Scott Brown, sang the national anthem. Basketball coach Bobby Knight, Ultimate Fighting Championship head Dana White and pro golfer Natalie Gulbis spoke.

And even that star power wasn’t always deployed well. Sabato managed to snag some time in the spotlight after his speech when he told ABC he “absolutely” believes President Obama is a Muslim.

Hillary Clinton made no promises about her convention being different, but it has been packed with as many celebrity appearances as some awards shows.

Hometown heroes Boyz II Men, who were popular in the 1990s, kicked off the first night. Singers Demi Lovato, Andra Day and Alicia Keys, all popular with millennials, performed, while Boomer-favorite Paul Simon sang Bridge Over Troubled Water to soothe a divided party. Comedian Sarah Silverman; actresses Eva Longoria, America Ferrera and Lena Dunham spoke, as did Scandal‘s Tony Goldwyn. Hunger Games actress Elizabeth Banks appeared onstage in the cloud of a fog machine on the second night, mocking Trump’s reality show-like entrance at his own convention, then appeared in an a cappella video with other celebrities singing Clinton’s campaign theme “Fight Song” alongside songwriter Rachel Platten.

Celebrities at the Democratic National Convention

Alicia Keys performs on the second night of the the DNC in Wells Fargo center Philadelphia on July 26, 2016
Alicia Keys performs on the second night of the the DNC in Wells Fargo center Philadelphia on July 26, 2016Ben Lowy for TIME
Actress Meryl Streep delivers remarks on the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on July 26, 2016.
Actress Meryl Streep delivers remarks on the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on July 26, 2016.Ben Lowy for TIME
Singer Demi Lovato performs on stage during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on July 25, 2016.
Singer Demi Lovato performs on stage during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on July 25, 2016.Alex Wong—Getty Images
Singer Demi Lovato performs on stage during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on July 25, 2016.
Singer Demi Lovato performs on stage during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on July 25, 2016. Ben Lowy for TIME
Boyz II Men perform during the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 25, 2016.
Boyz II Men perform during the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 25, 2016.Ben Lowy for TIME
Actress Elizabeth Banks stand on stage during the 2016 Democratic National Convention at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia on July 26, 2016.
Actress Elizabeth Banks stand on stage during the 2016 Democratic National Convention at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia on July 26, 2016.Robert Deutsch—USA Today Network/Sipa USA
Recording artist Paul Simon performs at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 25, 2016.
Recording artist Paul Simon performs at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 25, 2016.Mark Kauzlarich—Reuters
US Senator Al Franken (L) and comedian Sarah Silverman share a moment during Day 1 of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on July 25, 2016.
US Senator Al Franken (L) and comedian Sarah Silverman share a moment during Day 1 of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on July 25, 2016.Saul Loeb—AFP/Getty Images
Actress Ashley Judd, a member of The Creative Coalition, greets people at a DC statehood and voting rights luncheon at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel during the second day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 26, 2016.
Actress Ashley Judd, a member of The Creative Coalition, greets people at a DC statehood and voting rights luncheon at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel during the second day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 26, 2016. Jabin Botsford—The Washington/Getty Images
U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and two of her grandsons greet comedian Stephen Colbert (R) on the floor ahead of the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 24, 2016.
U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and two of her grandsons greet comedian Stephen Colbert (R) on the floor ahead of the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 24, 2016.Mark Kauzlarich—Reuters
Actress Susan Sarandon walks on the convention floor during the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 25, 2016.
Actress Susan Sarandon walks on the convention floor during the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 25, 2016.Paul Sancya—AP
Actress Eva Longoria arrives onstage to speak at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 25, 2016.
Actress Eva Longoria arrives onstage to speak at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 25, 2016.Jim Young—Reuters
Democratic National Convention: Day Two
Actresses America Fererra (R) and Lena Dunham (L) arrive on stage to deliver remarks on the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center, July 26, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Alex Wong—Getty Images
Rosie Perez joins the Stars of Broadway to perform 'What the World Needs Now' honoring those killed in the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando on the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 27, 2016.
Rosie Perez joins the Stars of Broadway to perform 'What the World Needs Now' honoring those killed in the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando on the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 27, 2016.Paul Morigi—WireImage/Getty Images
Singer Idina Menzel (L) joins the Stars of Broadway to perform 'What the World Needs Now' honoring those killed in the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando on the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 27, 2016.
Singer Idina Menzel (L) joins the Stars of Broadway to perform 'What the World Needs Now' honoring those killed in the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando on the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 27, 2016.Paul Morigi—WireImage/Getty Images
Lenny Kravitz performs during the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on July 26, 2016.
Lenny Kravitz performs during the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on July 26, 2016.Tannen Maury—EPA
Angela Bassett walks to the stage prior to speaking on the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on July 27, 2016.
Angela Bassett walks to the stage prior to speaking on the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on July 27, 2016.Tannen Maury—EPA
Sigourney Weaver speaks on the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on July 27, 2016.
Sigourney Weaver speaks on the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on July 27, 2016. Tannen Maury—EPA
Chloe Grace Moretz speaks on day four of the Democratic National Convention at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on July 28, 2016.
Chloe Grace Moretz speaks on day four of the Democratic National Convention at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on July 28, 2016.Van Tine Dennis—Sipa USA/Van Tine Dennis
Actress Debra Messing waves while arriving on stage during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 26, 2016.
Actress Debra Messing waves while arriving on stage during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 26, 2016. Daniel Acker—Bloomberg/Getty Images
Former NBA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar towers above the crowd as he poses for photos on the floor before the start of day two of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 26, 2016.
Former NBA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar towers above the crowd as he poses for photos on the floor before the start of day two of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 26, 2016. Bill Clark—CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images
Katy Perry performs at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 28, 2016.
Katy Perry performs at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 28, 2016.Ben Lowy for TIME

TV ratings, one of Trump’s favorite metrics of success, show viewers were more drawn to the Democratic convention: 10.6 million Americans tuned in for the Democrats’ first night, compared to 10.1 for the Republicans’.

To be fair, it always tends to be easier for Democratic events to whip up celebrity guests, who tend to lean liberal. But Trump was a television star himself, and his convention fell short of the expectations he set. Now he claims that’s never what he wanted in the first place.

“I think we had, if you include my children and the great success that they had, I would say we had tremendous star power,” Trump told the Hollywood Reporter after the convention. “But I wasn’t looking for star power, I was looking for policy.”

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Write to Tessa Berenson Rogers at tessa.Rogers@time.com