The Wiz Live!

I wasn't sure what to expect from the show. Well I'm not familiar with the wizard of Oz. (Did I hear a "shame on you"?) I didn't like the story, not a fan of fairy tales. But the songs, the music and the performances were marvelous. I didn't know Elijah Kelley but man, he's got a great voice. I knew David Alan Grier from his "In Living Color" days but now he really impressed me. And Ne-Yo was PERFECT in his songs. Queen Latifah is brilliant. Who would have guessed 30 years earlier that this young rapper would become such a charismatic actress and singer. Amber Riley, perfect as always. Uzo Aduba, was a pleasant surprise. Shanice Williams, was good too. But to be honest I didn't like Mary J Blige.

I think the show is a must-see for the music and the performers.

This was the annual NBC network live presentation for the Holiday season.

"The Wiz" was conceived and presented on stage back in the 1970s as a black re-imagining of the classic "Wizard of Oz" story. It differs in mood and songs, with an emphasis on the more traditional black vibe.

I have long been a fan of the "Wizard of Oz" movie and was very entertained by this live production. The basic story is the same but the costuming is unique, and of course the songs.

Newcomer Shanice Williams, 18 and from New Jersey, is in the lead role as Dorothy Gale. She sings wonderfully and her acting is OK for someone new to stage productions.

I always enjoy seeing Queen Latifah and here she plays the key role of The Wiz. At first it seems that they have chosen a female to play a male part but as the story unfolds her character is indeed a female.

It was also fun to know that Stephanie Mills, who plays Auntie Em, was in the original all those years ago.

All in all a successful presentation by NBC.

First of all, after seeing the original version of this amazing musical during its initial Broadway run in the mid-70s nearly 40 years ago which was one of the many incredible Broadway musicals to come out of that decade, and then seeing the most horrible (I can't say it enough) HORRIBLE vomit-inducing film version with 34-year-old Diana Ross in 1978 that was SO bad that it lost nearly half its budget, and then hearing that they were using a woman in the role of the Wiz this time around, I must admit that I went into this with more than a good deal of trepidation and very low expectations.

Well, other than Queen Latifah's performance of her two songs which were keyed so low compared to the original B'way version (sung by the still-amazing Andre DeShields) that she sounded like Bea Arthur and they lost all their energy and excitement, and the one ridiculously corny "new" song sung by Dorothy and her friends before leaving the Wiz's palace to try and do away with Evilene, EVERY SINGLE PERFORMANCE was flawless! All of the singing and dancing was done extremely well (although while Ms. Blige did do a fine job of acting and singing, she is certainly no gospel-singing Mabel King). The choreography was difficult yet fun and very well executed. But the main events were the costumes, wigs, makeup, sets, lighting, and special/video effects. For what was essentially a "stage" show, these items made a televised version of this show amazingly spectacular to watch. The one costume that really stood out for me was Glinda's golden spun-sugar gown near the end. While as a young child watching the 1939 version once a year on broadcast TV and seeing Billie Burke in that incredibly beautiful humongous pink sparkly gown and crazily-tall star-topped crown, I even took to drawing it once in awhile even though I had no skill in drawing. To me it was that beautiful and memorable. But this gown just took my breath away. It reminded me of something done with the help of CGI from last year's live-action Disney version of "Cinderella."

Most of the stand-out singing, dancing, and acting performances came from the four main characters, all of which were wonderful. But Uzo Aduba totally blew me away with her song, "If You Believe" as she sounded every bit as good as Dee Dee Bridgewater from the original B'way version which was absolutely shocking as I didn't even know Ms. Aduba could sing let alone have such great vocal chops.

However, I think the greatest flaw (and I hate to say it since I have always been one of his biggest fans, both of his writing and acting) was Harvey Fierstein's script. In fact, I almost stopped my DVR after the first four minutes in Kansas because the script was so far removed from the original. But I must compliment him highly on the touching scene when the foursome catches the "Wiz" in her bathrobe and she explains to each of them how they already have what they have been seeking, and how she came to be "The Wiz," as well as Dorothy's convincing speech to her about her being trapped in the dark, in secrecy, alone, and unloved. Very redeeming writing compared to much of the "updated" mediocre writing earlier.

Before I end this review, I must give Stephanie Mills her due. When she performed on Broadway she was merely 17. Now she is in her 50s, and believe it or not, her voice sounds EXACTLY the same as it did 40 years ago. In fact, I am listening to her version of "Home" from the Original Broadway Cast Recording at this very moment, and there is absolutely NO difference in the quality or strength of her voice in this new version. Kudos, Ms. Mills for hanging onto your amazing chops after all these years.

One more thing I have to mention to those who stated in the Message Boards that Shanice Williams was "too old" to play Dorothy. In the 1939 film version of "The Wizard of Oz" Judy Garland was 16, in the original Broadway version of "The Wiz" Stephanie Mills was 17, and Ms. Williams is only 19. In comparison, Diana Ross was 34 when she did the film version, so who was really too old to play Dorothy? And what difference is age in a performer, as long as they don't LOOK too old (as Ms. Ross definitely did in 1978). Just watch any of the four comedies on ABC on Wednesday nights and you will see a good number of young actors in their 20s playing high school and college students much younger than their actual ages. This has been going on in film and TV since forever.

In closing, an all-around surprisingly terrific "live" TV version of a great American Broadway Musical. I enjoyed it much more than I had expected.

I was so excited to see the show live. As a cast member of the movie "The Wiz" it brought back such fond memories. This cast gave it a modern kick!!! Dorothy is such a delight. Once again I believed that Shanice Williams was really Dorothy it was so easy to really go along with her on the journey. And my heart was so pleased to see Stephanie Mills as Aunt Em boy did I miss seeing her. It has been so long. I am so happy for the children who are seeing it for the first time…and how it will play out in their lives. My life has been full of the fantastic dreams & the music of OZ. David Alan Grier as the lion was so comforting. Just what I would want a lion to be. And say "Hey" to Queen Latifah as the Wiz. I was really into her down to earth reaction to being found out.

Thank you to all in this "Live" cast. You gave me such a gift…taking me on that journey once again to OZ & back HOME again.

I am amazed at the reviewer who make the claim and that David Alan Grier as the lion was OK but not sure if he were Broadway material. That is laughable firstly because he was probably the best actor in the whole production of the Wiz live! And gave the necessary histrionics that were needed for this theatrical production. Secondly, he has been in several Broadway plays and musicals as the star and actually was nominated for a Tony for Best Male performance in his very first outing in a Broadway musical playing Jackie Robinson the famed baseball player. I feel that this production of The Wiz was flawed but had much to recommend it. Shanice is an up and coming star and has a wonderful voice. If she were only slightly occasionally off key, it was probably due to nerves. Anyone in their first production and a live televised one at that would probably have a case of the nerves. My main fault with this production is what it has been for the other NBC live productions: the producers should be less concerned with ratings by placing pop stars in the major roles and place more emphasis on the acting by getting solid, proved actors to play the lead roles. Mary J Blige is not an actress. Queen Latifah, although having starred in several films, was totally miscast as the Wiz. I thought the actor who played the scarecrow was quite weak. However Neyo as the tin-man proved to be one of the better actors and singers as well. Overall not bad! Certainly a better production, though not smooth in its execution, then the past two. Maybe they are getting better as they go and the next will far exceed even this one. We can only hope!