In TV productions of “Sound of Music,” “Peter Pan,” “The Wiz” and “Grease,” the standouts were all of Broadway stock: Laura Benanti, Audra McDonald, Christian Borle, David Alan Grier, Aaron Tveit and Vanessa Hudgens. It began as a cult-favorite John Waters movie about TV, later became a Broadway musical about TV, then a movie-musical about TV and finally a TV-musical about TV. “Hairspray,” despite not being as well-known as a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical or “Grease,” was a perfect choice for this new live-broadcast tradition. NBC’s “Hairspray Live!” was, after a rocky start, as bright and spirited as the Peacock’s tail feathers.Įven NBC, whose last two live presentations, “The Wiz” and “Peter Pan,” were halfway decent and horrendous, respectively, couldn’t mess up this hilarious, heartfelt ‘60s pastiche by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Please, I beg you, make this the last TV musical!īut cranks like me couldn’t stop the beat. Stop casting Carrie Underwood and Christopher Walken!ĭon’t add atrocious new songs to “Grease”! 'Banshees of Inisherin' review: McDonagh film is nuts - and hystericalīefore Wednesday night, my feelings about the live-TV-musical trend echoed the chorus from an infectious song from “Hairspray” called “Mama, I’m A Big Girl Now” - “Stop! Don’t! No! Please!”

'Phantom of the Opera' to close after 35 years on Broadway: sources 'The Whale' review: Brendan Fraser's comeback is shocking and unforgettable

'Phantom of the Opera' sales explode after shock closing announcement Brendan Fraser and Steven Spielberg could win Oscars

How do i watch hairspray live online