The Wiz Live!

[carolinakid]

TV Guide is reporting that NBC is now leaning toward doing The Wiz as its live Christmas 2015 musical rather than the previously announced The Music Man. Says a spokesperson, "We thought The Wiz was [more] contemporary, multicultural and cool, and we could make a lot more noise with it." Noting Peter Pan's disappointing ratings he says, "Peter Pan is known as a fairy tale, but it's not as well known of a show and we didn't have stars. Stars will bring a bigger number."

Any thoughts, guys? Personally I prefer The Music Man's score but The Wiz could be good. Who would make a good Dorothy?

[Escapay]

Any thoughts, guys? Personally I prefer The Music Man's score but The Wiz could be good. Who would make a good Dorothy?

I really enjoyed Jennifer Hudson's rendition of "Soon As I Get Home" when she sang it on "Smash" a couple years ago. And she could count as star power...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZeDw1UgwG4[/youtube]

Albert

[UmbrellaFish]

Embarrassed to say I'm not familiar with The Wiz beyond its title. From what else I know, it does seem a better choice than The Music Man. Lots of potential for star casting (if any stars want to be cast in these things after the hate Carrie Underwood, and to a lesser extent, Ashley Williams got), "The Wizard of Oz" angle probably catches more eyes than Neverland, and it does seem... cooler than "The Music Man," and as matter of fact, the two previous productions, also.

So far, the broadcasts have let me down. TSOM deflated because of Carrie Underwood, but I had hoped with Peter Pan they'd be able to prove they could put on a really entertaining, quality, must-see production even without a huge star... But they didn't.

[Disney Duster]

I didn't want to make a whole new thread, but did anyone catch The Wiz Live!?

First of all, how I know of The Wiz is the film version, that was recommended to me in elementary school by a teacher because I loved The Wizard of Oz so much. I LOVE The Wiz movie. Sure, it's not as "feel-good" as The Wizard of Oz, and not as great, but I still find it to be a really great film even if it's not as great as the mighty and powerful 1939 film.

Then I saw some bits of the stage show in a Youtube video, and I was very interested in seeing the actual stage play. I had an opportunity when one local group put it on, but I missed that. I wish to see the actual stage show sometime. I'd love to see the original production somehow, illegally I guess, lol.

I found this production to be...nice. Not really that great, but ok. I didn't really think anyone was a good actor except Aunt Em (the original The Wiz Dorothy!) and Addaperle, and Glinda. Dorothy seemed like a mean kinda brat, actually, with little heart or emotion! Bad, bad acting... I mean, sometimes she was nice, but not most of the time. I at least liked everybody else to a fair degree, except Evilene. I was surprised Stephanie Mills didn't sound like a very good singer to me, and I forgot I liked her when trying to remember who I liked, lol. The Emerald City set was great. Evilene's set worked. The Lion's jungle set was good. And the Wiz's chamber was great, too. I think that was about it for the good sets. The other designs were similarly hit and miss. I loved the designs of the silver slippers, some of the Emerald City costumes, Addaperle's hair and hat, and all of Glinda's look. She really was beautiful. Though damn the makers of Beauty and the Beast for making almost all poofy gold gowns remind people of Belle's...

Altogether, an enjoyable night. And the new song "We Got It" was GREAT!

[UmbrellaFish]

As I said before, I'm not familiar with "The Wiz," although I did listen to the OBC shortly after this project was announced.

I enjoyed myself. I think it was by far the most enjoyable production that they've done, by far. I felt the script and Mary J. Blige were a little wonky, and Dorothy seemed a little bit out of element-- and the camera work was pretty horrendous-- but no where near the catastrophes that were their productions of The Sound of Music and Peter Pan. I really enjoyed the actors across the board-- I mean, even Blige and Shanice Williams weren't bad, they just needed some polishing. I buy these musicals on DVD every year for their curiosity value, but this is the only one that I imagine I can go back and watch from beginning to end. Such a great production?

Favorite elements: Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Addaperle, Glinda(!), the sets, the dancers, the Munchkins, "Everybody Rejoice," the new song whose name I've forgotten, etc. Just across the board a much, much more successful production. Although I fear this will be their last musical because I have a feeling ratings will have only declined since Peter Pan. Hope not, but if this is their last show, they've got one to be proud of!

[Disney Duster]

Yay you liked a lot of stuff I did! I also agree, if the ratings weren't good that may spell the end for this great holiday tradition. But I have read that so far it did better than Peter Pan! So that's good! I hope I don't sound racist, but I was afraid ratings would go way low just because it was all black and people are in love with The Wizard of Oz 1939 movie and don't want it "different."

[UmbrellaFish]

Yay you liked a lot of stuff I did! I also agree, if the ratings weren't good that may spell the end for this great holiday tradition. But I have read that so far it did better than Peter Pan! So that's good! I hope I don't sound racist, but I was afraid ratings would go way low just because it was all black and people are in love with The Wizard of Oz 1939 movie and don't want it "different."

I was so surprised and delighted to hear the ratings went up! Like you, I was afraid that the all black cast would turn away some viewers, and anecdotally, everyone I knew who had watched the musicals for the past two years didn't watch "The Wiz." But obviously, "The Wiz" captured the audience's attention. Hopefully, we can look forward to another production next year!

[TheSequelOfDisney]

I just finished watching it and I really enjoyed it! I've only seen the (disappointing) film, so I was anxious to see how this version would turn out. It was much better than Peter Pan Live!, so that's good; I didn't watch The Sound of Music Live! so I can't compare it to that, but I found The Wiz Live! to be pretty refreshing. The only two people I thought weren't right for their roles were Mary J. Blige and Common; they just seemed kind of stiff and awkward.

There were actually multiple idiots who complained/were outraged on social media of how this was an all-black cast and "what would happen if there was an all-white cast." They obviously forgot that, you know, 76 year old film called The Wizard of Oz, a film that has been seen by more people than any other film ever. People are so inept at thinking and being people.

Anyway, I enjoyed The Wiz Live! and I hope we get another one of these next December.

Is anyone planning on watching Grease on Fox next month?

[Disney Duster]

Yea, I had heard some people said "what if it was an all white cast?" Lots of people will be, well, ignorant. It not knowing and in being jerks.

I didn't see Peter Pan Live! I'm kind of glad I didn't from the sound of how bad it was, lol.

So it seems they will keep doing these live musicals for the holidays. Yay!

I forgot about Grease Live. Maybe if I remember, I'll watch it.