The Wiz was a big night for NBC

NBC’s live production of “The Wiz” turned out to be a ratings success for the network.

The first of NBC’s live musicals, “The Sound of Music Live!” attracted an astounding 18.6 million viewers and “Peter Pan Live” drew about 9.2 viewers.

It’s unclear whether the network and the producers were deliberately downplaying expectations, or honestly didn’t know what they had in The Wiz, which from top to bottom was the strongest and most impressive of NBC’s three live musicals.

Stephanie Mills, a former resident of Mount Vernon, eased into the role of Auntie Em 40 years after she originated the role of Dorothy on Broadway.

The production more than doubled NBC’s typical audience for a Thursday night despite CBS airing a down-to-the-wire National Football League game as competition. The Wiz Live! star became just that-a star-last night. In addition to the big ratings, we know a little over 11.1 million viewers tuned in.

It was mostly all about the Black excellence being put on display on the television screen thanks to standout performances from Queen Latifah, Amber Riley, Ne-Yo and Shanice Williams, the 19-year-old who portrayed “Dorothy”.

Newcomer Shanice Williams stunned as Dorothy, and was backed up by megastars Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige as The Wiz and Evillene, respectively, and Ne-Yo, Elijah Kelley, and David Alan Grier as her trio of heart, brain, and courage-deficient pals.

The Wiz Live! more than tripled Tweets than the earlier two live specials on NBC (see chart below). Time for NBC to consider bringing in a live crowd for the energy and pacing it provides. “Everyone served as a good reminder that, after the aerial dance numbers of Peter Pan Live! and the elaborate sets of The Sound of Music Live!, no flashy TV musical gimmicks can match the power of raw talent”.

Also annoying – and presumably not a factor when the show moves to Times Square – was the chopping up for commercial breaks in a work not designed for them. Which musical do you think NBC should do next year?

UPDATE 10/30/15: Complete casting has now been set for NBC’s December 3 live broadcast of “The Wiz Live”.