THE WIZ: 2015 NBC LIVE MUSICAL- Page 65

[hork]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 1:42pm

I only managed to make it to the second commercial break before turning it off. I felt like I was watching some ghastly Sid and Marty Krofft show, but without the puppets or the nostalgia. I wanted to stay with it at least long enough to see Uzo Aduba, but I couldn't do it.

 

And on top of it being a terrible production, it was poorly filmed. It was like some cameraman randomly wandered into a stage show and just started recording it, like it wasn't even made for television at all. I guess I just don't get these live musical specials. When I want to see a stage musical, I go to the theater. When I want to watch TV, I watch TV. Combining them seems to defeat the purpose. It's like live albums. "Let's combine these two things so we get the limitations of both and the benefits of neither!"

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 1:43pm

Do you not watch movies on tv, either?

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 1:48pm

That's right, bestie, and LaChanze played both parts at Encores.

I love that idea that Aunt Em is Glinda in the land of Oz.

[hork]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 1:51pm

Phyllis Rogers Stone said: "Do you not watch movies on tv, either?

 

I do, but that's not the same thing. A movie on TV is still a movie, it doesn't change. But theater and television are completely different forms of media. Theater on TV is no longer theater, it's just a poorly made video.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 1:53pm

¯\_(.^.)_/¯ 

Updated On: 12/4/15 at 01:53 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 1:56pm

 "When I want to see a stage musical, I go to the theater."

Well, then, keep doing what works for you!

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 1:57pm

hork said: "

I do, but that's not the same thing. A movie on TV is still a movie, it doesn't change. But theater and television are completely different forms of media. Theater on TV is no longer theater, it's just a poorly made video.

 

"

This is seriously one of the most clueless statements I think I've ever seen. * sigh *

[hork]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 2:01pm

DigificWriter said: "hork said: "

 

I do, but that's not the same thing. A movie on TV is still a movie, it doesn't change. But theater and television are completely different forms of media. Theater on TV is no longer theater, it's just a poorly made video.

 

 

 

"

 

This is seriously one of the most clueless statements I think I've ever seen. * sigh *

 

What clues am I missing? Please, inform me.

 

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 2:13pm

Television and theater - even recorded theater - are completely different mediums that require completely different approaches. Claiming that recorded theater is just "poorly filmed video" demonstrates complete cluelessness as to what those differences are.

 

Go look at the Meron/Zadan-produced Disney Channel production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella - which was a Television production rather than a Theatrical production filmed to be aired on television - and then look at The Wiz and see if you can't figure out what the differences are between them as far as how they were written, performed, choreographed, and presented.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 2:20pm

Just finished watching. Guess I will get the things I wasn't crazy about out of the way first...

 

Was not crazy about the "smoothing out" sound of the music/songs. Took the original punch out of them. As for the arrangements, they were not all bad but again the new ones took something away. An aside: When Quincy was recording his album Juke Joint I read a piece where Brandy was frustrated that she could not sing Rock With You because of the original vocal arrangement. The piece talked about how music changed and the singers who came along after the 70's and 80's sang a different way. It was quite interesting and I think that contributed to the change in some of the vocal arrangement.

 

Was not crazy about some of the slang and terms added. The worst for me was "What had happened was". Made me cringe a bit. Have seen a few comments about people thinking the show was racist. Maybe they felt this because of the use of some slang and things you hear used mostly by black people. That, however, does not make it a racist show!

 

The shortened tonado was sad. I missed those wonderful vocals in the original.  Also the iPad. It is a fantasy. No tecnology was needed. It was a bit lame. And lastly, Commom was just awful. I like him but he was just awful! And turning Emerald city into a club was just off for me. (Although it was cool to see the citizens vougeing!) Also the addition of "You Can't Win" and tzking out 3 songs from the show kind of infuriated me! Was so looking forward to seeing them do "Who do you think you are". One of my favorite songs from the show and it is not on the recording.

 

With that stuff said, I loved the sets and the look.  I think the choice to ol it as if it were a stage show was a good one. Didn't mind the many commercial breaks. ( There were actually some really good commercials and On Demand allowed you to fast forward!) The show was sung well and for the most part nice costumes. Neo's  "What Would I Do" was fantastic.  Since a lot of the people In the show are primarily singers and not actors, I overlooked some of the wooden acting. Blige seemed not to kow what to do with her hands but her expressions especially with her eyes made up for it.

 

All in all it was ok. Not the worst thing ever. I don't think that I would pay to see this version onstage unless they got someone else to do the book and got stage actors, which I suspect will happen, and not recording artists in the cast. Shanice was fine but she would not draw me to see her live on Broadway. Also, the ensemble sounded absolutely wonderful. Great voices and sounded great together. JMO

Updated On: 12/4/15 at 02:20 PM

[SweetLips]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 2:35pm

Wonder how the ratings would compare-live to recorded?

I prefer to buy these 'live musicals' when the DVD comes out-no commercials,no fear of 'car crash' incidents and I've read all your interesting comments so then I can make my own.

Nothing is ever 100% perfect for everyone but at least if it is recorded the technical problems should be sorted before broadcast.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 2:51pm

Also, the ensemble sounded absolutely wonderful. Great voices and sounded great together. JMO

 

Just to note for the record: I imagine it sounded that way because roughly 90% of the ensemble vocals were pre-recorded by the Broadway Inspirational Voices. The ensemble was singing with them but still... they clearly had a ton of help. 

[newintown]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 2:52pm

"Although it was cool to see the citizens vougeing [voguing]"

 

Has anyone stopped to consider that voguing is as old to us today as jitterbugging was to those in the 1970s? Jitterbugging made a semi-ironic nostalgic comeback briefly in the 70s, whereas voguing has been done continuously for about 30 years. Some cultural shifts seem to move more slowly than they used to...

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 3:06pm

doodlenyc said: "That's right, bestie, and LaChanze played both parts at Encores.

 

I love that idea that Aunt Em is Glinda in the land of Oz.

 

"

It's actually kind of a cool doubling (like the Wolf/Prince in Into the Woods), and it also serves as nice "bookends" to have the performer sing a number as each character at the beginning and the end of show.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 3:15pm

Liza's Headband said: "Also, the ensemble sounded absolutely wonderful. Great voices and sounded great together. JMO

 

 

 

Just to note for the record: I imagine it sounded that way because roughly 90% of the ensemble vocals were pre-recorded by the Broadway Inspirational Voices. The ensemble was singing with them but still... they clearly had a ton of help. 

Didn't know the Inspirational Voices were involved! They all still sounded good Recorded and live.

Newintown, wasn't really making a statement on the history of the dance but it was just nice to see them doing it as you don't see people doing it as much on the dancefloor these days. Some still do though. Just glad they didn't do the Nae Nae! And if they did, I missed it!

 

"

 

[evic]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 3:19pm

The rewritten book was awful...not that the original was any better

Cannot believe how unfunny David Alan Grier was.

Shanice has the same pained expression as Nick Jonas.

Those girls from Omaha sure know how to dress!

Could the Tin Man have been any more stereotypical with that "s" sound?

Stephanie Mills was the best thing in it.

Dorothy actually said "She is so beautiful" referring to Glinda?

Amber Riley was about 20 years too young for her role.

Voices were great.

Choreogrpaphy was meh.  Camera work was lacking.

Another clunker for NBC....but it received very good reviews! And large audience.

 

[Showface]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 3:24pm

@unaceg

The crows did the Nae Nae

The Scarecrow did the Stanky Leg

I'm pretty sure they whipped several times

Evilene Hit the Quan

Tin Man did the Dab 

:)

Updated On: 12/4/15 at 03:24 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 3:39pm

I caught a few of those. Quite honestly I turned away during "You Can't Win".  Will look again. I plan to watch it again tonight. I had so many reservations about it I want to see it again.

 

Here is the NY Times review:

 

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/12/05/arts/television/wiz-wizard-oz-nbc-review.html?_r=0

[hork]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 3:51pm

DigificWriter said: "Television and theater - even recorded theater - are completely different mediums that require completely different approaches.

 

I know. That's exactly what I just said.

 

Claiming that recorded theater is just "poorly filmed video" demonstrates complete cluelessness as to what those differences are.

 

How so? I think it demonstrates knowing precisely what those differences are.

 

Go look at the Meron/Zadan-produced Disney Channel production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella - which was a Television production rather than a Theatrical production filmed to be aired on television - and then look at The Wiz and see if you can't figure out what the differences are between them as far as how they were written, performed, choreographed, and presented.

 

I haven't seen it, but I'm guessing the differences are that Cinderella is cinematic where The Wiz is stagy, poorly shot video. I really don't understand what you're arguing here.

 

[Jane2]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 3:55pm

"Shanice has the same pained expression as Nick Jonas."

 

Really? i didn't notice. To me, Jonas looks like he's suffering from active constipation. I thought Shanice and her facial expressions should take her far in this business.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 4:06pm

I  thought Amber was one of the best things about the broadcast. She was fun and sang her butt off. 

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 4:44pm

I think it was enjoyable if not painful at some moments. I cringed pretty hard when Blige (who I enjoyed) said "Before you go cast shade" LOL. I thought Latifahs vocals were fine. She can't do much with that material in those keys. I loved Amber. Shanice has a gorgeous voice and I thought some moments acting wise were great and others not so much. 

[teddy1996]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 4:59pm

It was absolutely amazing! Big kudos to NBC for stepping up and giving 
this production the opportunity to be seen live. this was a massive improvement over the other live musicals. the whole cast did a fantastic job. Fatima did a great job with the choreography. especially with the poppies dance and the emerald city dance. the sets were amazing and the acting was great. i felt that common could have done better. i was sad that a rested body was cut from this. uzo aduba was amazing as glinda. i am extremely proud of shanice. she did a fantastic job as dorothy. she has a huge future ahead of her. NBC really outdid themselves with this one. this was their best live musical yet! i am going to buy the dvd and watch it over and over again!!!

[sabrelady]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 6:12pm

active constipation.

Jane, isn't that a reverse construct?

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/4/15 at 6:42pm

Xfinity has taken it and the making of off On Demand. Thank goodness I caught it this morning.