The Wiz Live! (2015 TV Movie) User Reviews

A must-see

[ChrisaRafa · 8/10 · 1 February 2016]

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.

Dorothy's back on the farm!

[mark.waltz · 8/10 · 3 December 2015]

After being transformed into an unhappy schoolteacher who ends up in Oz in the misguided 1978 movie version of the smash hit Broadway musical, Dorothy has been given another chance on the screen, this time on T.V. The third live musical over the last three holiday seasons, hopes have been high for the past couple of weeks that they get it right. So Dorothy is a young girl again, modernized to the current day, so greater care has been taken to ensure that the show is preserved with its original themes.

It starts off great with the original Dorothy, Stephanie Mills, as the strict but loving Auntie Em, singing to her troubled niece (Shanice Williams) with patience, adoration and guidance. Outstanding choreography represents Dorothy inside the tornado, and is stunning. At first, young Miss Williams seems just a tiny bit older than her years through cynicism and clothing perhaps a bit too revealing for a girl her age, but it soon becomes obvious that she is indeed a young lady as her vulnerabilities and curiosities arise over her new location.

Other than Mills, David Alan Grier, Mary Jay Blige and Queen Latifah, I am unfamiliar with any of the supporting cast as well as the T.V. shows they are on. However, they all have the skills of veteran Broadway performers. Why Queen Latifah hasn't graced the stage as of yet is a mystery to me. Elijah Kelley is a totally vulnerable scarecrow, gentle and thoughtful even with out a brain, while Ne-Yo is a joy as the tin man. He doesn't have the scene-stealing capabilities that Nipsey Russell gave to the movie but simply makes it his own take on a beloved character. Grier adds his own magic as the lion, a representation of the prototype of blow-hard that shows off their exuberance or force of nature yet is a total pussycat on side. Each encounter with Williams shows her just getting more and more lovely with that teen angst disguised as attitude disappearing as fast as witches are dispatched of.

The only issue I had with the introduction of her friends us that they all take place immediately on top of each other and feels rushed. What is not rushed is the care that went to the creation of the sets and costumes which are a drag queen's dream come true. It has all the qualities of a live Broadway musical and in that sense, it us absolutely spectacular. For the remaining cast, Amber Riley is an exuberant Addapearle while Queen Latifah is a good gender switched Wiz, playing the role with serious authority. her smile and dimples winning me over all the time. Blige sweeps across the stage as Evalene, and adds a funny take on her queen of mean. Instead of being a vile old witch/slave master, she's more grumpy than wicked. Uzo Aduba as Glinda reminded me of a subtler Bette Midler in her posture. If not a drop-dead beauty in looks, her spirit is quite beautiful and her belting of Believe in Yourself is a gem. Topped off with Williams' Home, it just comes to an emotional conclusion.

As for the songs, they are energetically performed and lavishly staged. The ballads are touching and the production numbers and comic songs filled with energy. A brand new song seems to be an anthem in the making with its energy and heart as Dorothy works on challenging her clearing friends to join her in the quest that the Wiz has given her. But what the heck happened to Toto after the opening scene? Perhaps since Diana Ross's Dorothy forgot Toto in the Emerald City of the movie, they didn't want to make that mistake again. It is interesting to note that the dancers are multi-racial. So let it be said that after two fairly enjoyable tries that are still publicly maligned and wrongfully scorned that the network got it right, giving the world a very well staged version of a show that up until now didn't have a legacy. No Cheese Wiz this one!

"The Wiz" starts slowly, but finishes strong

[atlasmb · 8/10 · 3 December 2015]

With a stellar cast, you might wonder how this production could be anything but great. Well, it starts off somewhat shakily.

The story is rooted in the 1939 classic film, though there are substantial changes--including the entire song list. But it is best to evaluate this work on its own, without comparisons to the MGM classic. It is easy to miss the film's "Over the Rainbow" barnyard ballad, but the viewer quickly gets past that if he accepts the new sensibilities of this modernized version, with its less stringent grammar.

But the beginning is plagued with a very obvious camera in frame. And the dance of the dust devils feels like nothing more than a time filler. And there is a product placement that draws the viewer away from the story. Overall, the first scene lacks magic. Granted Dorothy is not yet in a magical land, but it doesn't grab the audience's attention. Then, the Winkies dance in costumes ill-designed for dance.

Fear not. The best is yet to come. Indeed, this live performance exceeds expectations and gains momentum throughout the telecast. By the time we meet the Tin Man, "The Wiz" hits its stride.

With only an occasional misstep, the remainder of the show is stirring, clever and filled with great musical performances. ("Believe in Yourself"--a predictably strong musical number--does fall a little short due to straining on the high notes).

Another criticism is the inclusion of religious imagery in the dialogue and lyrics. This serves to undermine the story's message--look to yourself for strength.

I don't mean to sound too critical, because this is a show worth seeing. Take out that camera reveal, and this could be an annual favorite.

7/14/16: Received six Emmy nominations.

NBC's annual live stage telecast, done quite nicely.

[TxMike · 4 December 2015]

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.

Loved it!!

[febmary · 10/10 · 4 December 2015]

I am not a theater expert or a theater critic. I watch TV to be entertained and oh boy, was I ever entertained with "The Wiz Live!" I didn't look for flaws. I didn't listen for missed notes or lyrics. I didn't scour sets and costumes for flaws. I certainly did not inspect dance routines for missteps. I didn't unfairly compare it to the original Broadway production, subsequent movie, or the beloved classic that I so dearly adore. I simply watched and I was enchanted with what NBC put before me.

No, this viewer won't pick apart the production. I will just say again that I was entertained and I am so very glad I had the privilege of watching NBC finally get it right!

Uneven, but far better than anticipated

[TheLittleSongbird · 6/10 · 3 August 2016]

Of the NBC live productions, 'The Wiz' is by far the best, which is saying a lot seeing as 'The Sound of Music' and particularly 'Peter Pan' fell completely flat.

Also think that it is a big improvement over the 1978 Sidney Lumet-directed film with Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. That did have a few good thing, such as Jackson, but generally it is down there with the worst film musicals with Ross being horribly miscast and the whole thing felt misconceived.

'The Wiz Live' is not perfect but entertained and was mostly well performed, far better than anticipated. The musical itself this reviewer likes a lot, there may be some bias though as someone who performed the backing vocals in our school production ten years ago and has fond memories of the experience. The songs, in a 1970s Motown style, are catchy with a great mix of the funny and the emotional, and are surprisingly accessible, and the story is a clever updated version of the classic 'Wizard of Oz' story.

Starting with the many good things, 'The Wiz' is by far the best-looking of the NBC live productions, 'Peter Pan' did look beautiful if a little confined sometimes in space while 'The Sound of Music' looked sparse and cheap. 'The Wiz' however is far more expansive in space and is bursting with colour with inspired use of video screen to create background sets. The costumes, apart from the cheap ones for the Winkies that are not right for dancing really, are beautifully designed and look great especially the breathtaking one for Glinda.

Choreography is full of energy, with a fantastic contribution by Cirque De Soleil who not only do some wonderful dancing and characterful acting for the Flying Monkeys and Poppy Girls but manage to solve potential problems with scene changes, was surprised at how well the tornado came off. The staging is similarly energetic and also boasts some very touching moments, though this reviewer has always found the ending rushed and abrupt and it's the case here. Less successful is the updated dialogue, with some jokes that badly jar and feel stale and out of date.

Musically, the production is mostly very good, with rousing and nuanced playing from the band, beautifully balanced and enthusiastic backing vocals and alert and sympathetic musical direction. Most of the performances are quite excellent, with standouts being Elijah Kelly's vulnerable and full-of-life Scarecrow, Ne-Yo's charming and sometimes witty Tin Man, David Allen Grier's purr-fect (pun intended) Lion, Amber Riley's sympathetic Addaperle and Stephanie Mills (a great Dorothy herself a long time ago) touching Aunt Em who makes the most out of "The Feeling We Once Had".

Unfortunately a few don't come off so well. Shanice Williams' inexperience does show in some rather one-dimensional acting and stiff and not-sure-of-the-steps dancing as Dorothy, though she does possess a good voice, especially in "Home" and "Ease On Down the Road". Uzo Aduba looks and acts positively angelic as Glinda, but while some of her singing is good she does sound strained and flat in "Believe in Yourself".

Mary J Blige and particularly Queen Latifah are more problematic. Mary J Blige sings well in the role of Evilene, though this viewer prefers a more gospel sound in "Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News", but her acting falls flat, Evilene should be menacing but also funny, Blige is neither and looks ill at ease with the menace being non-existent and the scenery-chewing being ham-fisted and unnatural. In a gender reversal, Latifah is all wrong in the title role, she shouts her way as well as sounding somewhat drunk in her introductory song and her acting feels like a bizarre comedy skit with flat line delivery.

Overall, while an uneven production 'The Wiz Live' was far better than anticipated. By far the best of the NBC Live production and superior to the film. 6/10 Bethany Cox

The show took us on that yellow brick road again.

[denicenortez · 10/10 · 3 December 2015]

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.

Overall a decent, yet flawed, production!

[johnat_one · 7/10 · 5 December 2015]

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!

Way better then the actual movie!

[Irishchatter · 8/10 · 4 December 2015]

I've just watched it there and I just was so happy that it wasn't like the movie! The songs were absolutely brilliant and well done. You are able to dance with them and in the movie, it was dull as hell. I'm just so pleased that they made a recreation of 'The Wiz!' because it very much needed it years later.

I found it quite enjoyable and moving, the dancing was literally spot on and to me, it's like I'm in another world watching the whole action! I was thrilled to see Amber Riley, Ne-Yo, Mary J. Blige and Queen Latifah involved in this. This really deserved well known stars, it makes the whole movie fun to look at and be excited for what happens next! I sound like a child but still, this was just the best. I can't describe it, everything about it was just wonderful!

This is worth your time folks, make your kids watch it too!

Better than the Diana Ross film.

[CriticsVoiceVideo · 7/10 · 17 March 2021]

The singing is good, the choreography is good, the music arrangements are great, Stephanie Mills is good. The set is pretty bland and the acting by others leaves a lot to be desired. Some terrible amateur acting from background and chorus members.

Slightly better than NBC's Peter Pan & Sound of Music

[duraflex · 4/10 · 4 December 2015]

Started out okay but after 95 minutes, we had enough. We waited for the Wizard to show up but that was a big let down and we tuned out.

Staging and dancing was interesting but most vocals and orchestrations were thin - not nearly as good as the Broadway cast album from the 1970s. Stephanie Mills was fantastic in the lead role way back then and she really owns the role. She made a great Auntie Em this time around.

The costumes, sets and lighting were imaginative but above all, this production needed a much better Dorothy. She was too tall, too old, only a fair singer and hardly a dancer. The young woman always looked angry and has absolutely zero charisma.

Queen Latifah as the Wizard was an interesting choice but I was disappointed in the lack of energy she brought to the role.

Overall, this WIZ lacked the fun and charm of the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz".

I'll eventually try and find the closing rendition of "HOME" on line but probably won't be watching the inevitable rerun. Will not be buying the DVD.

So you wanted to meet the wizard!

[cinematicallyinlove · 10/10 · 3 December 2015]

He's the wizard!!!

Back in the year 1978 the world was introduced to a new kind of land of OZ, this time with a jazzy soul twist, based on the hit Broadway musical of the same name! Now today 37 years later we get to relive the magic and emotion all over again! Tonight NBC let us relive the magical trip down the yellow brick road, for a whole new generation. This is an event for the whole family to enjoy all together.

This star powered cast makes this trip worth while. This production opened to a beautiful set of the little farm house in Kansas we've all grown to know and love. The cameras set on Aunt Em; played by the extremely talented Stephanie Mills. Mills is a Broadway veteran who at age fifteen won the starring role as Dorothy in the hit Broadway show 'The Wiz'. I found my self tearing up as she sang her first note. This was so beautifully sung,, such a powerful voice.

Just horrible

[preppy-3 · 1/10 · 4 December 2015]

A live stage version of the Tony award winning musical. Basically it's just "The Wizard of OZ' with an all black cast. It's done on a stage but no audience.

I've seen the original stage musical and the movie and love both but this is TERRIBLE! First of all they try to update it but adding in contemporary slang and social media. The "new" dialogue wasn't funny or cute--just annoying. When one of the witches pulled out a tablet to use I almost turned it off. Second all is the casting. Nobody is really bad. They can all sing and dance but their acting is WAY over the top. They start at 11 and keep on going. This works fine on stage but not on TV. It's too much. Queen Latifah especially gets loud. Mary J. Blige is lousy as Evilene. She has the show-stopping "Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News". She's OK singing but her acting is terrible. Her attempts at being evil are downright laughable. Constant commercial interruptions didn't help. This works as a PLAY with one interruption. Throwing in a commercial every 10 minutes disrupts any flow the show might have had. I turned it off during the last hour. I was bored and disgusted. Stick with the movie.

Best live performance yet from NBC

[carolpochapsky · 10/10 · 3 December 2015]

What a treat to watch all of these professionals. The dancing was amazing as were the acrobats. The choreography was very hip and interesting. It reminded me of the old black and white movies where the dancing was at least as important as the singing and the acting. There isn't enough of that in many of the musicals I have seen recently. The scenery changes were flawless as was the scenery itself. I loved the emerald dancers and would love to know a little more about who they were and if they are dancers on Broadway. The costumes were also fun. Dorthy's was probably the least inspired which I found kind of odd. Shenile just sealed her future.

Excellent in all areas.

[gkeith_1 · 10/10 · 7 December 2015]

Oh, my goodness. I loved this whole show. I was waiting for it. I loved the costumes, dancing, makeup, music, etc.

The original Wizard of Oz I think was a series of books written by L. Frank Baum. The first Wizard of Oz performance appeared on stage in the early 1900s. I do not know if a silent film or two was/were made later, but the Judy Garland version was made in the late 1930s.

I never saw the earlier The Wiz shows, neither stage nor screen, but I remember all of the excellent reports about Stephanie Mills, Diana Ross, Nipsey Russell and Michael Jackson.

I am very happy to see the recent The Wiz Live. I liked all the witches, Dorothy and her friends and Stephanie Mills. I just adored the closeup facial makeup designs of the scarecrow, and I feel that he and his antics stole the show. I loved the wiz's costuming, hair and makeup.

My most favorite group costumes were of the crows and poppies. Kudos to everyone. I loved you all. You were wonderful. Loved the acrobats (Cirque de Soleil?) For a live performance, everyone did excellently. 15/10.

Bravo! Spellbinding and Hypnotic! Surpasses the old movie in every way!

[mike48128 · 10/10 · 5 December 2015]

Apparently, there are thousands of people out there who never saw or knew about "The Wiz"? How dare they make a black version of the Wizard of Oz? Well,it's only been around as a play and movie since 1975! What a major improvement over the scary and depressing movie! I love the fact that the Good Witch of the North is "low on batteries" and her glitzy fireworks fizzle! Not as long as the 2 previous "live" NBC shows. Just under 2 hours without 54 min. of commercials. For all ages, and, well, just for everyone. It's presented as a live Broadway play and needed a live audience! The staging reminds me of "Wicked", and I am comparing it to "Wicked" in a very positive way! The use of "Cirque Du Soleil" talent is genius, but the battle scenes seem small and are not that impressive. The opening tornado scene is a bit hard to understand for a very brief moment. The "grey storm people" in strange costumes represent the tornado, as they are spinning around and around like a "whirling dervish". They should have been more "airborne"! The video-photographer takes a few scenes to find his "composition". Dorothy scowls a bit due to her face not being fashion model-perfect. She is just a "plain girl" from the farm. Then she sings! She totally "owns""Home" and it is sung in both acts. It's a song requiring both range and power. Great choreography and dancing. The dancing poppies are very slinky-sexy and steal the show! The laser-generated backdrops are most effective. A simplified "Oz" story with 1970's "jive" talking. The Wicked Witch's coal factory replaces the dreadful "ghetto sweat-shop" from the movie. The "Oz-Man" mechanical head sure reminds me of "Wicked"! The stage pyrotechnics are effective! The best thing I have seen on broadcast TV this year! The only people that won't like this are people who don't like musical plays. Many of the songs flow into each other. Songs that were "minor" in the movie get full-treatment here! It will be on Broadway again! Yes, there are a few chorus and "Cirque" people who are white, Asian, etc. Why not? Far superior on the DVD without an hour of Walmart commercials! Includes the "Making of The Wiz" as a bonus.

Worse than I expected

[shani_dayo · 1/10 · 4 December 2015]

I viewed "The wiz live!" last night when it premiered on T.V for the first time, and I was utterly disappointed. My main issues were with the singing, acting, casting, line delivery, and lastly costuming. Now I know this isn't an actual Broadway musical, but this is closely based off of the real thing, and the T.V version didn't even come close. Because I have so many issues with the play, I'll split my review into different parts.

First I will begin by saying that the play wasn't all bad, the scenery for a stage production was well done, but the good pretty much stops there.

Characters: Dorothy: I understand the young lady who was cast as Dorothy is only 19 years old, and this is Her first time acting, but truthfully I have seen five year olds that can do a better job than what I saw last night. The actress was just missing spunk, personality, cunningness, wit, likability, charm etc......all of the things that make You like a character. The actress didn't become the character, She was quite one dimensional and plain in my opinion. This young actress just doesn't have star quality, She didn't grab my attention or draw my eyes in any way except negatively. I fail to see how She was cast as the iconic character "Dorothy Gale".

Scarecrow: Eligah Kelly's performance as the scarecrow was one of the highlights in this dreary play. He brought life to the stage, His excellent portrayal of the scarecrow made Me smile. He gave that old-time charm, and comedic appeal that fans of all ages would enjoy. Of all of the cast I watched the scarecrow the most.

Tin-man: Ne-yo as the tin-man was the perfect casting choice. Ne-yo managed to keep the classic charm of the tin-man while also adding in His own 2015 spin on the character without overdoing it.

Wicked witch of the west: I honestly must say I expected much more out of Mary J. blaige, as She is one of my favorite actresses/artists. But this role was just not right for Her......The wicked witch is supposed to be frightening, unapproachable, unspeakably evil, and Mary J. didn't portray the character to it's fullest, and She didn't act or sing to Her real potential.

Good witch of the North: Her performance was solid, She was confident in Her role, sang well, acting was on point......not much to say about this one.

Lion: The actor who played the Lion was very good as well, I am not sure He is Broadway material per-say.....but was good enough for the stage play. This Man didn't draw my eye in a positive way, or a negative way, He was just.......mediocre at best.

Oz: I believe I hated this character portrayal most of all! (No pun intended) Queen latifah was without a doubt one of the worst actresses in the whole production! Her line delivery was flat, She did not posses any of the mannerism's "OZ" would have, and Her singing was totally and utterly to say the least, off key. We all know Queen L. is quite manlike in real life, but that is no reason to cast Her as OZ! She just didn't fit the part, something about it just didn't sit right with Me.

The other few character's are not relevant enough to even mention, so I will just skip ahead to my other thoughts.

The music: The lyrics to the music were breathtaking, unfortunately the singers who preformed the pieces were not, particularly Shanice, Queen L., and Glenda.

Shanice was trying to hard to sound like a professional, it was obvious She didn't have much experience with singing or being on stage. Often times She was off-key and shaky with Her delivery of the lyrics.

Queen L.: She cannot sing, end of story. Queen L. sounded like She was talking more than singing, Her deep, gruff voice didn't fit the song at all.

Glenda: Her singing was atrocious. She was off-key in "believe in Yourself" and was trying to hard to sound authentic.

The Dancing: I thought Shanice's dancing was stiff, and lifeless. She was just going through the steps and thinking to much, She didn't feel the music or get into it like Her co-stars. Other than "Dorothy's dancing, I thought it was good.

Pacing: The play started off slow, and nearly uneventful. By the end it was basically still slow and uneventful. Even the climax scenes were not all that interesting in My opinion. I also believed that the ended was slightly rushed, and looked foolish. Didn't Aunt Em' wonder were Dorothy had gone? If She was outside during a tornado wouldn't She have been presumed dead? Were are the other members of the cast at the end of the play that were present in the beginning? Such as Uncle Henry or the other farm hands? Wouldn't they be running out to greet Dorothy as well? Costuming: The costuming was fine, except for accuracy. Dorothy was dressed as a modern day teen-aged girl, while the other characters were stuck in the 1800's time period. It made no sense to have one modern themed character, while the others look like farm hicks from 1812.

Overall I thought the play was weak, slow, tedious, and a chore to watch. I would not recommend this abomination to anyone who would like to see a good musical, not even my worst enemy. Avoid this musical disaster at all costs!!!!!!!!!

A must-see

[mehme · 10/10 · 6 December 2015]

This was such an amazing production, with superb acting all around. My favorites were Scarecrow and Tinman. But it's hard to pick faves since even the smaller parts like the Crows did a fantastic job. The actors did a fantastic job. And I loved the set and the costumes (except Dorothy's!)

For those complaining that The Wiz Live is nothing like The Wizard of Oz, please note it is not a remake of The Wizard of Oz, but of The Wiz - go look it up. And really, if you think a remake should stick exactly to the original, with no changes or updates, then you should probably stay away from remakes in general.

Total and utter disappointment

[lovelesstrini · 4/10 · 3 December 2015]

I enjoyed the original Wiz movie....but this play was a complete and utter mess....the play felt rushed in many scenes, and the transitioning from one song to another was terrible. I think that they put so much work into the costumes, that they forgot to work on the script.

****SPOILER*****

Speaking of costumes...it's pretty obvious that the crows in the scarecrow encounter scene had a obvious wardrobe malfunction during the last minutes to curtain call....crows are supposed to have BEAKS! The crows in the Wiz LIVE look like human crow hybrids....I was hoping for a complete production when I watched this remake....but I was sadly disappointed and let down.

Surprisingly not ANYWHERE nearly as bad as I had anticipated

[ftlauderdalefilmfan · 8/10 · 26 December 2015]

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.

Great updated Version

[op_timo · 10/10 · 3 December 2015]

The only spoiler that I have is that it's a great version of the movie. From the stage set / costumes/ singing/ acting/ personnel in the production, all came together like a moment in time that can't be replaced. I have always loved 'the Wiz' movie, from the original with Diana and MJ to the current with... well everyone that I love in our culture. This is the first time in a long time that I can't say anything bad about it. There's no reason not to endorse/support and completely embrace this production. I'm so filled with joy from the this play that I want to see it again. I would love for it to be on Broadway for a time. I will absolutely purchase the DVD/blu-ray (without hesitation). OK... I believe it's enough, but one more thank you for this piece of art.

Great job

[vchimpanzee · 7 December 2015]

I know the story from the 1939 movie--my favorite of all time--and a beautifully illustrated book. I have never seen a version of this story, where the cast is black and Dorothy is trying to return to Omaha, not Kansas. Or was she? I don't know what was invented for this production, and I didn't see the "Making Of" special until afterward. All I know is the crows were in the Scarecrow's big number. I do know some of the language used here could not have been in any of the 1970s versions, since those words didn't have those meanings way back then.

The first two live NBC productions had their problems. Until I read or heard other opinions, I didn't think anything was wrong with Carrie two years ago, except the other cast members were more talented than she was. Last year, there was one truly dismal performance and one uneven performance among the leads. This year, NBC had no weak links and, for the first time, the lead actress was fantastic. And she was a newcomer!

Elijah Kelley is quite a dancer. Could Michael Jackson have done quite as well way back then? Perhaps. I've never seen him in the role. I do know Jackson had that kind of talent in the 80s.

In the "Making Of" special, Ne-Yo is said to have delivered his lines with heart. That's certainly true.

Bad Principal to Bad Teacher had a Bad Series, in the eyes of most viewers, but I liked his show. But because others didn't agree with me, he was available to be a great Lion.

Common is anything but common. The Bouncer of Emerald City stands out and becomes a truly memorable character.

The original Dorothy is now Auntie Em, and very good too. Quite stern but loving, as she has to be. I'm not clear on whether Stephanie Mills played her sister, who tempted Dorothy in Oz, or who made Dorothy see her. This was something new to either this specific production or to the black version. Anyway, Mills is good in both roles if that is her.

When I saw the Good Witch, I saw a great if quirky character and did not see Mercedes from "Glee". In the "Making Of" special I immediately recognized her.

The Wiz is great too, in different ways. I've never seen a version where the group saw the actual person before that one scene, but what they did see at first was a flamboyant, confident and demanding ruler. Queen Latifah is great there and, of course, later. If you don't know the story, I won't give it away, but the later scenes are quite effective.

The Wicked Witch has a less prominent role here than in the 1939 movie. Mary J. Blige is deliciously evil and even more so than her ABC counterpart, but not quite on the level of Margaret Hamilton or ABC's most evil witch of all.

And then there is a fourth witch, another good witch. She is kind and less off-the-wall than the other one. Not in the 1939 movie, but presented in a different way in the book.

I'm not sure what the purpose was in having the farm hands, since they weren't in the original book and no mention is made of Dorothy thinking they were familiar either in Oz or later. I was wondering how they could get out of makeup to do the finale from the 1939 movie, but that's not what happened. Anyway, there is no Uncle Henry, so running a farm on her would have been quite a challenge for Em and Dorothy alone. The farm hands add something at the beginning.

I mentioned no weak links. As in the 1939 movie, everyone who has a line delivers it well, whether it is one line or many. Lots of other quirky characters add something. Several Munchkins and a couple of employees of the Wicked Witch are included. And the crows are very "Street".

The music is great even if it isn't entirely my taste, but I couldn't help but like the Scarecrow's number, which isn't quite disco but is the style that became disco back in the 70s. Some of the music is good to me, and some is good only to those who have that particular taste in music, which I don't.

And the dancers are very talented. Once again, not necessarily what I would like, but it is a fantastic production.

Visual effects are pretty spectacular as well. I learned a lot more when I saw the "Making Of" special, but so much of what goes on in the background is so real. I only saw one wire supporting a character who was up in the air.

Family friendly? A little less so than the 1939 movie, in which some the flying monkeys scared some kids. This one is not quite as scary, but does have three curse words, one for each hour, and one particularly bad one.

The best yet? Maybe. NBC should keep doing this.

Flawless performance

[HotToastyRag · 8/10 · 13 December 2020]

I'd never seen the 1979 film The Wiz, thinking nothing could hold a candle to the 1939 classic. After all, since I didn't live through the '70s, I wasn't exactly eager to sit through a bunch of '70s songs. But, since I always like to watch the live post-Thanksgiving shows on television, I decided to check out The Wiz Live! Nothing with Queen Latifah could be bad, right?

Right! I was a little unprepared for Dorothy to be such a knockout, since I was used to the Judy Garland version. But once Shanice Williams took over, I forgot all about Judy. Cute as a button, great figure, powerful voice, and a fine dancer; I certainly hope she'll have a booming career ahead of her. The songs do sound '70s, but with Shanice performing them, it didn't take long to charm me into loving the musical.

The production values and special effects are mind-blowing. During the tornado, the house and Dorothy actually fly up in the air and spin around the stage! The sets are gorgeous, and the makeup and costumes are very detail-oriented. My hat is off to choreographer Fatima Robinson, who created entertaining, charming, and fitting dance numbers that continued to wow me throughout the show. The crows in "You Can't Win" made me believe they really had wings, the munchkins were cheerful and bubbly, the dancers pulled out all the stops in "A Brand New Day." In addition to Dorothy being cute as a button, her three supporting pals were also fantastic. Ne-Yo constantly used robotic movements as the Tin-Man, Elijah Kelley's bone-less Scarecrow movements were flawless, and David Alan Grier was a far cuter lion than Bert Lahr in 1939. Mary J. Blige, Uzo Abuda, and Amber Riley look like they're having a blast as the three remaining witches in Oz, each giving a show-stopping musical number when they're introduced. In an interesting casting choice, Queen Latifah plays the usual male role of the Wiz. She gets two songs, and during her entrance, she looks magnificent in her green get-up!

Usually, during a live performance there are some flaws. This performance of The Wiz is flawless. I couldn't believe I wasn't watching a real movie. Full of little touches, like using Stephanie Mills (the original Dorothy on Broadway) as Auntie Em, and a brand-new libretto from Harvey Fierstein that's modern and hilarious, every scene of this musical is entertaining. The intense high energy from everyone in the cast makes you feel like you're watching something really special - which you are! Next Thanksgiving, if you don't care to see the featured live production, ease on down the road and rent The Wiz Live! instead.

if I wanted to hear screaming, I'd go to a playground

[clearthinkernow · 5/10 · 5 December 2015]

I don't think I've ever actually seen The Wiz before. I do remember the commercials and all the interviews back when Michael Jackson's version was made, but don't recall seeing the entire movie. Perhaps it's time to check it out now. For a big-name production and, I'm sure a big financial commitment by NBC, this is a sad mess. Some of the songs have become iconic, but the renditions here show each performer trying to make his or her "mark" by screaming out the songs. Screaming may be in vogue right now, but it is not pleasing nor does it actually showcase a singer's talent. I found it so annoying, I had to force myself to sit through the entire production. The reason we enjoys musicals is so that we can live through the songs with the story. If I'm gritting my teeth and grimacing throughout, I'm not enjoying. Skip this version. Unfortunately another loss for NBC live productions.

The story of The Wiz should be light and airy. This one was so angry that I would have ended viewing if children had been present. We never saw Dorothy scowl before. Speaking of children, Dorothy, who is a child, had the shortest skirt NBC could get away with. I am appalled that, even with children, we cannot seem to have modest clothing. The actress did not have a slip on either. Her turns showed all the way up. This version is definitely not for children or anyone who appreciates fine theatre or their hearing.

Disappointing

[blaqadonis · 1/10 · 20 December 2015]

Not That Great. I was expecting more and this production felt rushed and felt extremely flat. Casting was horrible and the entire production looked cheap. In an attempt to be hip The Wiz Live lacked heart. It was not good on any level at all. It doesn't have any identity from the Wizard of OZ which. The Wiz Live will be enjoyed by 3 to 12yo for sure. There are better productions. Singing was off pitch, dancing looked clumsy, costumes looked scary, acting was horrible, sets were cheap and tacky. It was a nice attempt but NBC really missed the mark with this production. The Wiz with Diana Ross and Michael Jackson will always be the best adaptation of THE WIZ. Just skip The Wiz Live and just watch THE WIZ with Diana Ross. Its much more enjoyable and urban. It sets itself apart from Wizard of OZ copy cat versions.