The WIZ
The WIZ
#1The WIZ
Posted: 7/22/15 at 11:17am
With only five months left to go until The Wiz goes live on NBC, I decided to try and watch the movie, since I am not familiar with this show. Unfortunately I had to stop the film twenty minutes in, after getting bored to tears. The tunes aren't catchy and I cannot understand why on earth NBC made this choice. Are they expecting 18 million viewers for this piece???? 
#2The WIZ
Posted: 7/22/15 at 11:22am
I think you should probably watch the rest before making a judgement.
Not saying you'll like it, and I agree the movie is flawed, but the score is wonderful.
Did she even get to Oz before you switched it off?
When done right it's a fun and tuneful take on the classic.
Also, I agree that the opening is lackluster. I've always thought they needed a better opening number.
....but the world goes 'round
Updated On: 7/22/15 at 11:22 AM
too boring for me.
Huss417
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#6The WIZ
Posted: 7/22/15 at 12:16pm
Couple of things.
Firstly, the film is radically different from the stage show, and not in a good way. The stage version was/is a hipper version of The Wizard of Oz - Dorothy came from Kansas, and while there were plenty of references to contemporary black life, it was still pretty fantastical. The Film's Oz is a bizarre fun-house mirror of New York, and is to a degree obsessed with inner-city grime. It's not a good movie (though Michael Jackson and Ted Ross do phenominal work in it). They also rewrote the script significantly, which I imagine they will do again for NBC. That's fine, the script is pretty dated (funny, but dated). From where you say you stopped, you heard a grand total of TWO songs. You can't judge a score from two songs.
Which leads me to my second point. If you are going to go online and bather on about how you do not like something, actually WATCH the something you are judging in its completition. You have to actually take in a piece of art before condemning it*. The number of times I have found something to like in a piece that I thought I would find reprehensible is incalculable. If an excerpt from something, such as a film trailer, doesn't seem like it's going to grab you, that's fine. But you can't say "This is a terrible movie" unless you actually see it.
*with the obvious exception of Adam Sandler films. He's had his chance.
Broadwaystar2
Broadway Star Joined: 9/4/13
#8The WIZ
Posted: 7/22/15 at 12:34pm
" Couple of things.
Firstly, the film is radically different from the stage show, and not in a good way. The stage version was/is a hipper version of The Wizard of Oz - Dorothy came from Kansas, and while there were plenty of references to contemporary black life, it was still pretty fantastical. The Film's Oz is a bizarre fun-house mirror of New York, and is to a degree obsessed with inner-city grime. It's not a good movie (though Michael Jackson and Ted Ross do phenominal work in it). They also rewrote the script significantly, which I imagine they will do again for NBC. That's fine, the script is pretty dated (funny, but dated). From where you say you stopped, you heard a grand total of TWO songs. You can't judge a score from two songs.
Which leads me to my second point. If you are going to go online and bather on about how you do not like something, actually WATCH the something you are judging in its completition. You have to actually take in a piece of art before condemning it*. The number of times I have found something to like in a piece that I thought I would find reprehensible is incalculable. If an excerpt from something, such as a film trailer, doesn't seem like it's going to grab you, that's fine. But you can't say "This is a terrible movie" unless you actually see it.
*with the obvious exception of Adam Sandler films. He's had his chance. "
^ ALL OF THIS + 24 X 7 divided by 365 to the 1,000th power. PREACH!
Showface
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/14
#9The WIZ
Posted: 7/22/15 at 12:38pm
You didn't seem to like the idea of NBC doing The Wiz when it was first announced...you seemed 100% against it.
But, anyway, I predict that this will be a ratings Smash, as NBC is doing something new and exciting this year that will bring in new audiences to watch it!
#10The WIZ
Posted: 7/22/15 at 12:47pm
if something bores me there is no way I will sit through it. I even walked out of theatres when I paid for thickets. Last year I was the one to predict that Peter Pan will have a dramatic decrease in the viewers rates and so will happen with the Wiz. its not use ranting about it but time will tell.
mpd4165
Leading Actor Joined: 8/6/09
#12The WIZ
Posted: 7/22/15 at 12:49pm
"if something bores me there is no way I will sit through it. I even walked out of theatres when I paid for thickets. Last year I was the one to predict that Peter Pan will have a dramatic decrease in the viewers rates and so will happen with the Wiz. its not use ranting about it but time will tell."
And yet you sat through Peter Pan and Walken's 800 hours of saying dialogue...
#13The WIZ
Posted: 7/22/15 at 12:53pm
The Wiz (stage show) is very entertaining. The movie, less so. Not that you would know - twenty minutes is simply not enough time given to pass judgment. You didn't like it? Fine, shut it off. But then don't come here and rant about it to people who have actually seen it!
#14The WIZ
Posted: 7/22/15 at 12:58pm
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
Liza's Headband
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
#17The WIZ
Posted: 7/22/15 at 1:07pm
The film of the WIZ is quite ghastly: completely joyless. But I do find the soundtrack rather exciting on it's own and well worth a listen.
Though I didn't see it, apparently the British premiere of the stage production of THE WIZ starring Celena Duncan at the Lyric Hammersmith, in the mid 80s, attempted to basically put the film on stage (and failed miserably). I don't think we've ever seen another major production of it over here.
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”
#18The WIZ
Posted: 7/22/15 at 1:08pm
musicaljen do not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
The Wiz isn't a great movie, but it does have a wonderful score, and a couple of the songs are considered classics.
Don't be a dummy and judge a whole work on the first twenty minutes of an adaptation.
Broadwaystar2
Broadway Star Joined: 9/4/13
Hamilton22
Broadway Star Joined: 7/18/15
#20The WIZ
Posted: 7/22/15 at 1:25pm
I suggest you start by following your own advice. See you on December 4th.
^ This. It seems that you have made up your mind without seeing the entire film and came on here to complain without wanting to hear anyone's opinion other than your own. Did you come on this forum to state ignorant nonsense and somehow think everyone would agree with your babble? By all means don't come back until Dec 4. But you have already made up your mind, so why bother even watching the NBC show?
Showface
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/14
#21The WIZ
Posted: 7/22/15 at 1:26pm
"How is this **** with a newcomer going to sell to 18 million viewers?????"
Strong word choice for something you've only seen 20 minutes of.
Oh, and I'll answer your question for you:
1) They're going to capitalize on the fact that there is a fresh talent playing Dorothy. People are going to tune in and see who this "rising star" is...
2) The Wiz is going to bring in a new audience of viewers who otherwise wouldn't have tuned in if they decided to do something like The Music Man.
OH! I forgot! They're planning on surrounding this newcomer with stars, who can pull in viewers with their names alone!
Updated On: 7/22/15 at 01:26 PM
Showface
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/14
#23The WIZ
Posted: 7/22/15 at 2:04pm
musicaljen,
It is extremely unfair and ignorant that you are judging NBC's upcoming live broadcast of THE WIZ by the 20 minutes you afforded the 1978 film version. The film version and the stage version are very different.
NBC isn't adapting the film version. They are going to be doing the stage version with a revised book by Harvey Fierstein.
I also don't understand how you could judge an entire show's score by only watching the film for a mere 20 minutes.
Charlie Smalls' score for THE WIZ is considered a classic.
I think people would respect your views if you were well versed on what you are actually discussing.
It's obvious you are biased in your opinions regarding THE WIZ because you opposed it as soon as it was announced it was being done.
You should really do yourself a favor and take the time to listen to either the Original Broadway Cast Album or the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack before criticizing the entire score as "boring".
#24The WIZ
Posted: 7/22/15 at 2:10pm
"What they want are viewers and this piece is definitely not the answer."
Well, if you feel THE WIZ is definitely not the answer then what in your opinion is the answer? Don't make blanket statements like that about an alleged problem and then don't offer alternate solutions. No one respects that.
If you're so damned confident THE WIZ is the wrong move for NBC then why don't you write to NBC and come up with a more viable solution.
It's obvious your view(s) on THE WIZ are prejudiced and nothing anyone can say or do is going to sway your opinion on NBC's decision to broadcast this, so I am going to propose to you to do yourself a huge favor: DON'T WATCH IT.
It really is as simple as that.
#25The WIZ
Posted: 7/22/15 at 3:17pm
musicaljen, I too had a similar experience with the film of THE WIZ. Many times I have tried to watch it and became so bored I had to shut it off. Truly a worthless terrible film.
Then this past year I saw a production of the show. AND I LOVED IT!! The show is so vastly superior to the movie that it truly astounded me, that a high budget Hollywood studio could turn such a fun piece into such schlock.
I understand your disappointment (I shared a disdain for the announcement at first too) but you really should at least give the broadcast a chance, in the hopes it may exhibit more of the life the stage version has.
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