NewsWiz Live! Ratings Surpass Peter Pan, But Sound of Music Remains TopEarly ratings for The Wiz Live!, which was broadcast Dec. 3 on NBC, indicate that the star-studded musical performed better than last year's Peter Pan but not as well as the network's first live offering, The Sound of Music.
December 04, 2015
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First Look Inside Dress Rehearsal for The Wiz Live!
Led by newcomer Shanice Williams in the role of Dorothy, The Wiz Live!, according to the Hollywood Reporter, scored a 7.9 rating, 13 share. (It also managed a 4.4 rating among adults 18-49.) In comparison, Peter Pan Live! drew a 5.9 rating, 19 share, and The Sound of Music Live! had a 10.9 rating, 18 share.
The NFL game on CBS, however, had the biggest ratings of the evening, bringing in an 8.7 rating, 15 share.
The Wiz cast featured Stephanie Mills as Aunt Em, Queen Latifah as The Wiz, Mary J. Blige as Evillene, David Alan Grier as The Cowardly Lion, Uzo Aduba as Glinda, Amber Riley as Addaperle, Ne-Yo as the Tin Man, Elijah Kelley as the Scarecrow, Common as Bouncer and 18-year-old newcomer Williams as Dorothy.
Kenny Leon directed The Wiz Live!; Harvey Fierstein adapted the book for TV. This latest incarnation of The Wiz is also on track for a full-scale Broadway revival.
Stephen Oremus served as music director for The Wiz. Fatima Robinson ("Dreamgirls") choreographed the production, and Harvey Mason Jr. ("Dreamgirls," "Pitch Perfect 2") served as music producer.