The Wiz Live! took over NBC — and Twitter — on Thursday night, free of the usual snark that sprouted alongside the network’s previous two live musical efforts.
The network’s three-hour version of the beloved 1975 Broadway production put an updated spin on The Wizard of Oz while maintaining an African-American cast, including Ne-Yo, Common, Mary J. Blige, Amber Riley, Uzo Aduba, Elijah Kelley, David Alan Grier and Stephanie Mills (who originally played Dorothy onstage), with newcomer Shanice Williams as Dorothy.
The Kenny Leon-directed telecast — which averaged 3.3 rating among adults 18-49 and 11.1 million viewers, up from last year’s Peter Pan outing — was praised by Hollywood for its effort to prioritize diversity in representation, especially for such an anticipated event.
50 brown shades of American joy. #Bravo #TheWiz
— Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright) December 4, 2015
THANK YOU NBC! Thx for the courage to put this on the air. I feel like I’m 7 again watching this, only from a better neighborhood #TheWiz
— Tyler Perry (@tylerperry) December 4, 2015
Cant sleep. #TheWiz was all that. So grateful to all u artists & artisans who did the damn thing! And @davidalangrier well, u know I love u.
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) December 4, 2015
Let’s take a moment to applaud the BLACK EXCELLENCE on @NBC tonight! #TheWizLive
— Jackée Harry (@JackeeHarry) December 4, 2015
Last time I felt so mirrored in a tale was watching @4everBrandy as Cinderella. Thanks @LuvbeingShanice & #TheWiz! pic.twitter.com/7tgfB9zsr2
— Janet Mock (@janetmock) December 4, 2015
YASSSSSS!!!!! Emerald City Citizen serving up Ballroom REALNESS!! #TheWizLive
— Gabourey Sidibe (@GabbySidibe) December 4, 2015
.@LuvbeingShanice your world is about to “change its face” but I know where you’re going…as far and as high as you want. #TheWizLive
— Audra McDonald (@AudraEqualityMc) December 4, 2015
LOVE. https://t.co/sejpw34zSH
— Sara Bareilles (@SaraBareilles) December 4, 2015
Everyone in #TheWizLive does everything better than us. This is one mega talented cast.
— Jesse Tyler Ferguson (@jessetyler) December 4, 2015
I dunno. #TheWiz doesn’t have a very diverse cas…. OHHHHH so THAT’S how people of color feel everyday always.
— Jon Sosis (@FunnyJS) December 4, 2015
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Additionally, The Wiz seemed to put an end to the “hate-watching” ritual that dominated the conversation around 2013’s The Sound of Music and 2014’s Peter Pan, as a handful of Hollywood tweeters admitted defeat in attempting to be cynical and poked fun at the previous two productions.
That kicked ass. I don’t even know how to be snarky about this. #TheWizLive
— Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) December 4, 2015
Okay that was the most inspirational shit I’ve ever seen on TV and I watch Miss USA #TheWizLive
— Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) December 4, 2015
I’m so bummed- #wizlive doesn’t look like it’s going to suck #WhatsThePoint @nbc is taking all the fun out of these live musicals
— Sarah Michelle (@SarahMGellar) December 4, 2015
#TheWizLive even the #tornado is stunning Too bad the house from #TheWizLive didn’t fall on #PeterPanLive
— Sarah Michelle (@SarahMGellar) December 4, 2015
We should’ve had the VonTrapp kids do flips on stilts. #TheWizLive
— Laura Benanti (@LauraBenanti) December 4, 2015
I DO think @NBC could have found SOMETHING for Christian Borle to do in #TheWizLive.
— Jesse Tyler Ferguson (@jessetyler) December 4, 2015
The acting and singing in the first 4 minutes of this are already worlds above the other two musicals. Still waiting for the stage makeup.
— Michelle Collins (@michcoll) December 4, 2015
“That girl was a tasteless white bread and this girl is an everything bagel.” – Mom on Allison Williams vs. Shanice Williams #TheWiz
— Michelle Collins (@michcoll) December 4, 2015
