Posted: 12/8/15 at 12:46pm
I still cant get myself to watch this year's presentation. But yes I agree that Hairspray would be great.
Whatever they do, I hope they wont go for the same way they staged this year's production. I did not like LED screens instead of sets like the previous years.
Posted: 12/8/15 at 1:13pm
I like the idea of "White Christmas" too.
What really makes people think that any musical that had a movie produced with A-listers in the past decade would ever be able to top that A-lister cast to warrant a live TV production (Hairspray, Dreamgirls, Into the Woods, Annie, Les Mis, Nine, Chicago, etc)? It won't happen.
Updated On: 12/8/15 at 01:13 PM
Posted: 12/8/15 at 1:17pm
They're not gonna do it, but a live Into the Woods would so absolutely work.
Posted: 12/8/15 at 1:20pm
musicaljen said: "I still cant get myself to watch this year's presentation...
I'm pretty sure they'll survive if you decide never to watch it. They bested your precious SOUND OF MUCUS in every way, shape and form.
So don't watch it.
Posted: 12/8/15 at 1:28pm
They should go out on a limb and hire Lin Manuel Miranda to wrote a new musical exclusively for the broadcast.
Posted: 12/8/15 at 3:01pm
I'm pretty sure they'll survive if you decide never to watch it. They bested your precious SOUND OF MUCUS in every way, shape and form.
It was so inspirational.. I have already visited five stylists to try and make me like Elijah Kelly. I wonder if I change my fashion and go walking around looking like Kelly or any of the Emerald city
"
Posted: 12/8/15 at 6:04pm
skies said: "They should go out on a limb and hire Lin Manuel Miranda to wrote a new musical exclusively for the broadcast"
It would take about 6 years, if he writes it as good as Hamilton.
Re live Into the Woods, I agree completely.
Posted: 12/14/15 at 11:20am
The Music Man starring Seth MacFarlane and Sierra Boggess!
Posted: 12/14/15 at 11:41am
If they did Music Man I would hope to god they get Megan Hilty.
Posted: 12/14/15 at 1:07pm
They have considered Music Man the last two years with Timberlake and Bell. They were unable to secure those two, however, so they went another direction. Now that THE WIZ has been deemed as more successful than Peter Pan, it's likely they go a different route with something a bit more contemporary.
Posted: 12/14/15 at 1:57pm
I understand that the success of The Wiz makes NBC look at more modern shows, but what would appeal to the larger audience out there? (Annie? Blecccch!) The beauty of the older shows is their universality, and that's what draws advertisers.
Posted: 12/14/15 at 10:17pm
I like "How To Succeed..." with Nolan Gould and John Slattery, "Oliver" with Alan Cumming and Megan Hilty, or "Guys and Dolls" with Seth Macfarlane, Megan Hilty, and NPH.
Posted: 12/14/15 at 11:09pm
How about Christmas with Bella, Edward, and Jacob?
Posted: 12/16/15 at 5:41pm
pmensky said: " "Oliver" with Alan Cumming … "
as Fagin or Bill Sykes? I still see him as a bit youthful (at 50!) so I'd believe him as Bill more than Fagin.
Posted: 12/16/15 at 7:13pm
MrSweetNAwful said: "pmensky said: " "Oliver" with Alan Cumming … "
as Fagin or Bill Sykes? I still see him as a bit youthful (at 50!) so I'd believe him as Bill more than Fagin.
"
Cumming as Fagan. I saw Jonathan Pryce play the role in London when he was in his late 40's, and Ron Moody was in his mid-40's when he did the film. If they bring in someone who is actually age appropriate to play the role, they risk going down the same road they ended up on with Walken in Peter Pan. Cumming would be brilliant. I can't think of anyone ideal for Bill (unless Tom Hardy's movie career tanks in 2016), but Christian Borle would be serviceable. It would also be cool to see Audra come back to play Nancy alongside her husband, Will, as Bill. There are lots of other fun casting opportunities for the other supporting, adult roles, and all the kids they would cast would help sell it as a family event. Also, much like The Wiz, there hasn't been a Broadway revival or film remake of this musical, so not only is it well-liked with familiar music, it's also something not frequently seen.
Posted: 12/17/15 at 3:54am
I know that Oliver! is a 'family' show but isn't Nancy bludgeoned to death by Bill?!?
Posted: 12/17/15 at 2:35pm
Yes, but there were nazis in "The Sound of Music" and witches being murdered in "The Wiz." I think they can cut to commercial, and people will get the idea. There are frequently bad things that happen in family, holiday programs. "It's a Wonderful Life" is shown how many times each year? Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like attempted suicide!
Posted: 12/17/15 at 5:05pm
The Nazis in sound of Music are bumbling idiotic buffoons. A girl getting beat to death onstage is not the same as throwing a bucket of water on a witch and having her melt.
Posted: 12/17/15 at 5:26pm
Nancy is not beaten out in the open on stage. The film versions of "The Sound of Music," "The Wiz," and "Oliver!" are all rated 'G.' I'm sure they would figure out how to deal with that moment.
Posted: 12/17/15 at 5:29pm
Yes I'm very familiar with the show. However, even offstage, Nancy's end is very R rated and incredibly disturbing. Most community theaters change the ending of her fate.
Updated On: 12/17/15 at 05:29 PM
Posted: 12/17/15 at 10:13pm
" Most community theaters change the ending of her fate."
Wait......WHAT???? I have NEVER heard of a community theater changing the fate of Nancy in any production of OLIVER! Of course, that does not mean it has never happened. But "most" community theaters do this? I don't think so!
Posted: 12/17/15 at 10:38pm
Whatever they decide to do NBC must break away from stories about children going to fantasy lands. First the Darling family, then Dorothy. One must say isn't Alice in Wonderland, next?
There is a huge list similar to the sound of music which are family friendly and would turn into a good broadcast.
Oliver will never happen any time soon, since a new movie is in the works across the globe
Posted: 12/18/15 at 12:48am
c0113g3b0y said: "I know that Oliver! is a 'family' show but isn't Nancy bludgeoned to death by Bill?!?"
It's a family friendly bludgeoning.
No, the other posters are right, it's a really disturbing scene that takes place on stage, but usually behind a ledge so you can't actually see anything. Oliver! is probably the darkest "family musical" ever made. It starts off a bit dark (at the orphanage), gets a bit darker (at the funeral parlor), then Oliver meets Dodger halfway through Act One and things get really light and cheerful. Then halfway through Act Two, right around ‘It's A Fine Life (Reprise)’, it goes back to being a real downer. Even the “happy ending” ultimately can't save it from feeling melancholy.
But I still believe it's one of the better choices NBC could make.
