I'd tune in to watch The Wiz, but it'd probably end up being really awkward and uncomfortable. But I'd love to see someone like Janelle Monáe or one of the Destiny's Children play Dorothy!!
In the interview published earlier today, it was noted that NBC optioned The Music Man, but it was not set in stone as being the choice for next year.
"You have to blame the producers & directors of Peter Pan for its failure tonight as it just did not work on TV. Poor casting choices direction and weirdly filmed camera angles missed the magic & fun."
If this didn't pick up the big ratings it needed to continue this new tradition, then that is exactly what I will blame.
The Music Man is for the summer, not the Christmas Broadcast.
Possible: Annie Get Your Gun Bye Bye Birdie Damn Yankees Fiddler on the Roof Guys and Dolls Hello, Dolly! Kiss Me, Kate My Fair Lady Oklahoma! Oliver! Singin' in the Rain State Fair
I'd also love to see: 42nd Street Mame Once Upon a Mattress The Pajama Game Wonderful Town
I think Beauty and the Beast, The Wizard of Oz or Cinderella are all really great options. They should actually put this on a stage next year though with a live audience. It would fix half of their problems.
Here is Aaron Sorkin's comment regarding The Music Man:
Regarding the recently announced live broadcast of Aaron Sorkin's "A Few Good Men," Meron reveals, "A lot of it is cast-dependent. When you have an actor that would want to do it, you have to work out schedules, so it's kind of hard to say what the next one is. And it's not a Christmas show. What we would do next Christmas is another live musical event. NBC has optioned Music Man, but it could be something else."
If Queen Latifah was a big enough name I would've said Queen Latifah in Helly, Dolly! I feel it's an easy show (artistically speaking) with a big female lead that'd be really hard for NBC to screw up. And I mean, Queen Latifah herself is such a big personality who is experienced with both acting and singing so I'd be all for that!
Yeah, I believe it was supposed to be for this year's broadcast instead of Peter Pan. I remember it was supposed to star Jessica Sanchez (American Idol) as good ole Cindy and Mary J. Blige as the Fairy Godmother. I would've watched for Mary J. Blige.
I still want a Halloween broadcast of Little Shop of Horrors, starring Megan Hilty as Audrey, Christian Borle as Mushnik, Billy Porter as Audrey II, and some big name as Seymour (the possibilities of who could work are endless). They could also get stars and/or unknowns as the doo-wop girls. Not to mention there are endless "guest" star opportunities for the few customers that enter the flower shop.
Um.. yes, the point of the musical is a love story between the two, and the "conflict" to their romance is that Eliza is a young flower and Henry is a "confirmed old bachelor" who thinks that he will never love (see: I'm an Ordinary Man), and he realizes that he doesn't have to be lonely just because he is old, and realizes that Eliza is in love with him and he is in love with her (see: I've grown accustomed to her face). It is set against the backdrop of the royal embassy event to give them a reason to be together. They also do this in Gigi, which is what makes the two so similar (and equally wonderful)
