THE WIZ: 2015 NBC LIVE MUSICAL- Page 19

[Nefertiti]

Posted: 8/8/15 at 9:26pm

Phyllis Rogers Stone, its clear you are excited about this project and that is fine. I loved the Original Broadway production and Stephanie Mills was perfect as Dorothy but I just happen to be not sure about NBC doing it. First of all they are going to make changes to the script and not recreate the Original production. Like I always say if it ain t broke don't fix it. And why go cast a woman who could have been great as Evileene in a mans role? The Wizard is a man.

As much as I enjoyed The Wiz on Broadway over 30 years ago, it does not mean I would state its the best piece of theatre that its out there. They could have done a lot of other shows that would have attracted a bigger audience.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/8/15 at 9:34pm

I'm pretty ambivalent about it, actually.   All that talking in absolutes is coming from you. 

 

[Nefertiti]

Posted: 8/8/15 at 9:36pm

Gypsy read comments after the article I found on this site.

http://deadline.com/2015/07/queen-latifah-mary-j-blige-cast-nbc-the-wiz-live-1201486640/

 

Were they also posted by one person???

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/8/15 at 9:38pm

I have not been keeping up with the casting mews so just saw who is playing the Wiz. I had planned to take the night off to watch it. I will tape it now. No excited about the Wiz being a woman and although I like Queen Latifah, I am disappointed with their casting change and choice. JMO

[Showface]

Posted: 8/8/15 at 11:20pm

All these people underestimating The Wiz's popularity and judging the broadcast before they even started rehearsals!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/8/15 at 11:30pm

It most likely will be hot garbage like the last two NBC live musicals. 

Updated On: 8/8/15 at 11:30 PM

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 8/9/15 at 3:27am

The last to NBC musicals were not good. The Sound of Music want awful, but it was far from good. Miss Underwood's acting was laughable at best, she lacked charisma, and had zero chemistry with her captain. Her voice was pleasant, but she lowered the entire production with her pathetic acting. Fortunately, the show itself was the real star that year. The Sound of Music itself is what kept it from being awful. 

Peter Pan was nothing but a mess. There were zero redeeming factors here. It was entirely miscast. The acting was embarrassing on all fronts. Even Kelli O'HaraHara seemed like she wanted to be doing anything else. Eventhough the musical has had many revivals and touring productions over the years, the show is not strong enough to save itself from a bad production or terrible acting. 

I suspect that if The Wiz ends up not being great, it will follow The Sound of Music's lead, and not be awful. Like The Sound of Music, The Wiz has a built in audience. Actually, it has several different built in audiences. It has the black community who hold the show in high regard due to its cultural importance, it has the audience who will tune in for the talent that has been cast, and the huge fan base of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. I am not tslking abouth the 1939 film, but the novel, which has been loved by audiences since 1900. The Wiz is a closer adaptation than the 1939 film, and it is respected for that reason. There are also those who are fans of the original broadway production, and those who are excited to see a cult film be remade. While it is true that The Wiz has not been seen on Broadway since 1984, it has still had a very healthy life in regional, community, college, and high school the as theatres for the last several decades. The Wiz remains a popular show, the original film (which is really bad) is a cult classic, and this cast is largely great (I am a bit Curtis as to how I will feel about Queen Latifah come December). I would think twice before poo-pooing this until it airs.

Oh, and don't forget musicaljen, the 1939 film is not the  end all be all adaptation adaptation that you seem to think it is. I love the movie,  i really do, but it really is a terribly loose adaptation of one of the greatest children's novels ever written. I hold it in high regard as a great film, but it really isn't THE Wizard of Oz, it is just one adaptation of many.

 

Updated On: 8/9/15 at 03:27 AM

[Showface]

Posted: 8/9/15 at 9:41am

 Jimmycurry01, my thoughts exactly!

 

I'm holding out hope that this broadcast will be better than the last two (and I admit, I loved The Sound of Music). 

This boadcast has a new choreographer and director behind it. And the Cirque De Solei involvement will garuntee a spectacle!

The cast, so far, for the most part is filled with singer and actors with strong stage prescence, who won't look awkward when the broadcast comes. These people also are sure to bring in the ratings. Thia broadcast has more celebs than Peter Pan and The Sound of Music, and like I said, there's no question as to wether or not they can pull off the roles.

Becaus of the newcomer, a lot of marketing will revolve around her, and it will make the broadcast more exciting.

 

Like jimmycurry said, The Wiz has several followings. The show is definetely strong enough to bring in the ratings, it all depends kn advertising now.

 

And of course their will be people hate-watching it (I hope they dont hate it).

 

And then there is going to be a bunch of ignorant bigots watching just so they can go online and complain about the color of the cast, saying, "they always want to touch OUR classics!"

Updated On: 8/9/15 at 09:41 AM

[Showface]

Posted: 8/9/15 at 9:53am

"haha.. I am going to stop only until December 4th when ratings come out.How is this **** with a newcomer going to sell to 18 million viewers????? What they want are viewers and this piece is definitely not the answer. Before you reply I suggest we wait till dec 4th"

musicaljen, you did say you were going to leave this topic alone until December 4th. :)

You said this in the thread where you gave a full review of the stage verison of The Wiz after watching 15 minutes of the movie version, remember that? :)

Updated On: 8/9/15 at 09:53 AM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/9/15 at 3:00pm

"There is no way I am going away Silly goose and am ready to attack you very harshly on December 04th, Carlos. Personally, I found you pathetic from the first day you began posting comments and there is no way my idea will change. Just because you think the WIZ is timeless doesn't mean that it is, and it does not mean that 22 million viewers will log on NBC to see the show. That is my point"

And just because you think it isn't timeless doesn't mean it isn't. See how that works?

I found you pathetic from DAY ONE.

Oh and you HAVE NO POINT.

I'm rude and I'm a bully? DEAL WITH IT.

LMAO @ you ready to attack me on December 4th! BRING IT BIOTCH!

...and that goes for you too Nefertitties

 

 

 

Updated On: 8/9/15 at 03:00 PM

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 8/9/15 at 3:10pm

I'm watching THE WIZ movie and I am once again baffled by its badness. Even Lena Horne isn't any good!

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 8/9/15 at 3:41pm

"I'm watching THE WIZ movie and I am once again baffled by its badness. Even Lena Horne isn't any good!"

 I blame a lot of that on Joel Schmacher. His screenplay really bites. 

[ggersten]

Posted: 8/9/15 at 3:55pm

This is some kind of "wow" - a report on the first ever preview which apparently was ....not very good.  The Wiz First Preview - Baltimore

[Danster]

Posted: 8/9/15 at 4:43pm

Actually, it has several different built in audiences. It has the black community who hold the show in high regard due to its cultural importance,

 

So finally we are being realistic here. The show itself only appeals to African American community.

Showface who are these celebs you speak off??? Except for Queen Latifah and the other actress whose name I forgot, it has no names like Beyoncé...And that is where the problem really is. They should have gotten a really big name for Glinda, Aunt Em and some of the other roles. Having a Dorothy whose done nothing except for high school productions and community theatre is not something one can really boast off. They should have gone for someone who at least done a show or two on Broadway.

Last night I read that instead of following the Original Broadway show, they are more adapting the script used for the movie. The site was called Daily something....True or not I don't know but even on NBC s website Dorothy is going to be from New York instead of Kansas. I think that remains to be seen.

 

 

 

 

 

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/9/15 at 5:38pm

The site was called Daily something.... True or not I don't know. 

Maybe someday someone will invent something that would allow people to keep track of sites they visit. If I ever meet the Wizard of Oz I'm going to ask her to invent it!

I agree with you that TV is for white people first and foremost, though. 

Updated On: 8/9/15 at 05:38 PM

[jbroadway4]

Posted: 8/9/15 at 5:49pm

I really think they should get a live studio audience in there. It is always so awkward after they finish a song and its dead silence. 

[Showface]

Posted: 8/9/15 at 8:35pm

Updated On: 8/10/15 at 08:35 PM

[Showface]

Posted: 8/9/15 at 8:35pm

"Actually, it has several different built in audiences. It has the black community who hold the show in high regard due to its cultural importance,
 
So finally we are being realistic here. The show itself only appeals to African American community.
Showface who are these celebs you speak off??? Except for Queen Latifah and the other actress whose name I forgot, it has no names like Beyoncé...And that is where the problem really is. They should have gotten a really big name for Glinda, Aunt Em and some of the other roles. Having a Dorothy whose done nothing except for high school productions and community theatre is not something one can really boast off. They should have gone for someone who at least done a show or two on Broadway.
Last night I read that instead of following the Original Broadway show, they are more adapting the script used for the movie. The site was called Daily something....True or not I don't know but even on NBC s website Dorothy is going to be from New York instead of Kansas. I think that remains to be seen.
 
 
 
 
 "

 OK, WOW! I don't even know how to respond to the first line of that post. I really don't. Just...no.

Second of all, that "other actress" is 9-time Grammy Winner, Mary J. Blidge! She's a singer with a pretty big fan base! And, yes, she's just as big as Carrie Underwood. 

The names they got are big, and they haven't even announced the full cast.

 

Cirque De Solei is going to bring in some viewers too.

 

And, again, I say, they can really bank on this newcomer, and the fact that they are "introducing" her. Movie-musicals do it all the time when they cast a newcomer in a lead role. I know for a fact a lot of people I know went to see Dreamgirls, because they wanted to see the "bright newcomer" playing Effie White.

 

Also, I just checked the NBC website for the broadcast...it said nothing in reference of it taking place in New York.

 

 

 

Updated On: 8/9/15 at 08:35 PM

[Showface]

Posted: 8/9/15 at 8:51pm

I'll say this: if they had went with The Music Man, all of this "controversy" wouldn't even be taking place right now, even though The Music Man isn't nearly as exciting and probably wouldn't bring in Sound of Music-like ratings.

[musicaltheatreman2]

Posted: 8/9/15 at 9:11pm

In the stage production of the Wiz what song closes act one? Is it "Be a Lion" or "So you wanted to meet the Wizard" ?   Thanks :)

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 8/9/15 at 9:19pm

There have been variations throughout its licensing "life." From what I understand, the most recent version has Act One ending with So You Wanted To Meet The Wizard.

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 8/9/15 at 9:27pm

I'm starting to think it's not worth arguing with musicaljen, Danster, and the other "children in the room", no matter how many ridiculous things they post.

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/9/15 at 9:27pm

According to a song list I checked, it has been years since I saw the show, it is What Would I Do if I Could Feel. Didn't act one end with a dramatic scene or them getting captured by the monkeys?

Also, Danster, the cast members may not be celebs in your world but some of them are in other's. And as for the casting of Dorothy, Stephanie Mills was a newcomer when she played the role. I now own most of her music. I honestly think a lot of people would roll their eyes if Beyonce were to be cast. Outside of Queen as The Wiz, I am fine with the casting. So your comments really make no sense.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/9/15 at 9:54pm

THE WIZ is only controversial to those narrow minded, racist and bigoted posters on this board who have a problem watching an all black version of THE WIZARD OF OZ.

YES. I WENT THERE.

Maybe you can have your lily white version of THE MUCUS MAN next year.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/9/15 at 9:55pm

"I'm starting to think it's not worth arguing with musicaljen, Danster, and the other "children in the room", no matter how many ridiculous things they post."

 

^ THIS! Their blatant ignorance knows no bounds...

They need some sense slapped into them.

 

 

Updated On: 8/9/15 at 09:55 PM