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NBC To "Ease On Down The Road"? — Page 6

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#126

NBC To

Posted: 1/18/15 at 11:25pm

I have a strong feeling that they're going to do The Wiz, mostly because Fox is doing Grease. I'm sure they want to keep if not at least share their live musical viewers with fox. If NBC keeps doing classics (Nothing wrong with classics, I'm speaking strictly from a marketing standpoint) while Fox does stuff like Grease, it won't work well in their favor. They need to do something more exciting to keep up. The Wiz like Grease has flavor, and will attract the audience that they haven't reached while maintaining the current audience. The Music Man will not do this for them no matter who they cast in it.
#127

NBC To

Posted: 1/18/15 at 11:27pm

Ease on Back to Broadway ~
"Anything you do, let it it come from you--then it will be new." Sunday in the Park with George
#128

NBC To

Posted: 1/18/15 at 11:37pm

They'll do whichever show they're able to attract bigger name talent for, which I'm sure they're already in the midst of exploring. Though I'd love to see THE WIZ, I'm actually rather shocked to hear they're considering it. It doesn't have anywhere near the brand appeal THE MUSIC MAN does and I figured they'd want to play it safe after the ratings disappointment of PETER PAN.

I was almost sad to hear this weekend that Keke Palmer just signed on to do Ryan Murphy's new series for FOX. She'd have been an incredible Dorothy, should THE WIZ be done.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#129

NBC To

Posted: 1/18/15 at 11:41pm

I'd rather The Wiz over The Music Man; The Wiz is just simply...more exciting.
#130

NBC To

Posted: 1/18/15 at 11:45pm

The WIZ is far more exciting than the Music Fan and just think of the talent from the music world that would be interested...ratings +++
"Anything you do, let it it come from you--then it will be new." Sunday in the Park with George
#131

NBC To

Posted: 1/19/15 at 12:00am

I still think if they're looking for bigger name talent that they're better off doing The Wiz. That show means so much to African-American performers that I think they'll be able to get real stars who might not even be concerned about the check just to be involved in something so historically important to their community.
#132

NBC To

Posted: 1/19/15 at 4:23am

Frankly, I don't think The Wiz is up there with Grease. If we were talking about
Footloose, Flashdance, Dirty Dancing or Saturday Night Fever, yes that would have
been a different matter. But The Wiz., I have my doubts. To score big ratings than they should have done the Wizard of OZ (original version). And I am sure there would have been the same amount of viewers The Sound of Music had.
#133

NBC To

Posted: 1/19/15 at 5:01am

I doubt the original Oz would even be an option. If for some reason it was, the reaction would be worse than both SOM and PP. There would be so much comparing to the performances everyone already knows and loves, too big of shoes to fill.

I believe this year marks the 40th anniversary of the original Broadway production of The Wiz. It would be great if they could bring together a couple cast members (from either Broadway or the film) to be a part of a broadcast if it happens. Stephanie Mills, Hinton Battle, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Andre De Shields, and Diana Ross and Phylicia Rashad are still around.
I am big. It’s the REVIVALS that got small.
#134

NBC To

Posted: 1/19/15 at 8:15am

I think many people doubt how big The Wiz is. Sure, there will be some viewers who won't tune in due to the fact that it's, well, The Wiz. But, think about all the people that did not want to tune in to the Sound of Music and Peter Pan for the same reason. Those were good shows for the family to huddle around a fire, sipping eggnog, singing along to jolly tunes, but The Wiz could bring in a new crowd...



The same crowd that will make Grease a hit.
#135

NBC To

Posted: 1/19/15 at 11:25am

If they did the ORIGINAL musical version of a The Wizard of Oz, no one would tune in, as very few people today are aware of the 1903 Broadway musical.
#136

NBC To

Posted: 2/5/15 at 1:14am

Gothampc wrote:

"You're crazy. The problem is that she's not a good dancer. If you look at any of her live performances, Dancing With The Stars or Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, she's always moved to the back when the dancing starts."


Ah... that's too bad, because the idea actually didn't sound all that crazy to me! I'd like to see her have another chance to prove herself as a musical performer outside of "Annie." We'll wait for a role a bit more... stationary...

Updated On: 2/5/15 at 01:14 AM

#137

NBC To

Posted: 2/5/15 at 9:38am

I think people are underestimated the Wiz too. The Wiz would definitely pull a different group of performers, and I think people forget - one of the reasons why the Sound of Music was so successful was no doubt because people wanted to see a "trainwreck" or see what Carrie Underwood (a risk-taking cast selection) would do. "The Music Man" would certainly call for boring casting like Peter Pan.
#138

NBC To

Posted: 2/5/15 at 8:30pm

No question ABSOLUTELY The Wiz. I think NBC would be hitting down from dire straights in numbers if they even consider in doing another dated musical like with last seasons Peter Pan.
#139

NBC To

Posted: 2/5/15 at 8:45pm

It'll be The Wiz and feature big names in the R&B music field.

The success of 'EMPIRE' only helps NBC to make the decision to be the WIZ.

I think they will be able to get a lot of big name singers to make this production be great.

Updated On: 2/5/15 at 08:45 PM

#140

NBC To

Posted: 2/5/15 at 8:50pm

No but seriously, Ariana Grande is perfect for this situation and show.
Countdown til Jordan comes on raging about how much loves me! 3..2..1...
#143

NBC To

Posted: 2/5/15 at 9:33pm

Starring Bill Cosby as the Wiz
#144

NBC To

Posted: 2/6/15 at 5:48pm

Hate to break it you, but she's not Black.

Unless NBC is ignoring that aspect - and looking at it from a colorblind stand point.

However, isn't that the point of the Wiz? That it's a spin on the wizard of oz featuring a primarily all black cast?
#145

NBC To

Posted: 2/6/15 at 8:39pm

She's ethnic and perfect for the role and NBC would get a butt load of ratings if they had her. If they do the Wiz I'm sure she is one of the top people on the NBC's list.
Countdown til Jordan comes on raging about how much loves me! 3..2..1...
#146

NBC To

Posted: 2/6/15 at 8:46pm

I highly doubt that. Ariana starts her tour this month and is working on her next studio album. Considering she usually releases in the Fall (which would be during rehearsals), she'll be too busy doing promo for anything else.

Plus, she's just not really that great for the role. I'd be shocked if they cast a white Dorothy. And if by "ethnic" you mean a spoiled, white, borderline brat from Boca Raton, then sure...?

Updated On: 2/6/15 at 08:46 PM

#147

NBC To

Posted: 2/6/15 at 8:52pm

The original Broadway version had an explicitly Afrocentric design and portrayal. Dorothy's journey took her to a stylized street-smart American black kid's imagined Mother Africa. She then returns to home, American home. The whole show was a response in a metaphorical way to black nationalism: negritude came from within, not from a mythic dream of an idealized Africa.

The film, and subsequent productions, have made Oz just a funky, sometimes ghetto, place. If that's the interpretation used, a multiracial cast can work. But if Oz returns to being a metaphor for Africa, pretty much everyone has to be black.
#148

NBC To

Posted: 2/6/15 at 9:00pm

I really don't think this will be an all black production. Just a feeling. Multiracial is probably it.
Countdown til Jordan comes on raging about how much loves me! 3..2..1...
#149

NBC To

Posted: 2/6/15 at 9:03pm

Doesn't NBC of Universal own the rights to wicked? Why can't they just do wicked??
My father (AIDS) My sister (AIDS) My uncle and my cousin and her best friend (AIDS, AIDS, AIDS) The gays and the straights And the white and the spades
#150

NBC To

Posted: 2/6/15 at 9:04pm

Considering there are plenty of dancers of color that are available, and the plethora of available A, B, C list actor/singers also available, I don't see why it couldn't be an all back production. But, I suppose we'll see in time.

Updated On: 2/6/15 at 09:04 PM

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