The Top 25 of 2015, No. 9: “The Wiz Live!” and “Coat of Many Colors”

If only some of that magic translated into the networkamp8217s series programming Three of its five fall freshmen have already been cancelled amp8211 amp8220Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harrisamp8221 amp8220Truth Be Toldamp8221 and amp8220The Playeramp8221 Miniseries amp8220Heroes Rebornamp8221 has been a lukewarm performer Like amp8220Chicago Fireamp8221 and amp8220Chicago PDamp8221 new companion series amp8220Chicago Medamp8221 is what it is which isnamp8217t much though I like the way characters move back and forth between the three the way characters used to on amp8220Green Acresamp8221 amp8220The Beverly Hillbilliesamp8221 and amp8220Petticoat Junctionamp8221 Seriously the three amp8220Chicagoamp8221 shows are perfectly fine but they always feel like they could be so much more than they are The only bright spot is amp8220Blindspotamp8221 a show that seems to owe much of its early success to the willingness of star Jaimie Alexander to bare all It certainly isnamp8217t the character development that is propelling this one alongBut when it comes to creating shows that are truly special NBC amp8211 home of amp8220The Tonight Showamp8221 amp8220Saturday Night Liveamp8221 amp8220Late Nightamp8221 the Golden Globe Awards annual coverage of the Macyamp8217s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the tree lighting ceremonies at Rockefeller Center and breathtaking coverage of the Winter and Summer Olympic Games amp8211 plus the fourth hour of the amp8220Todayamp8221 show with Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford amp8211 obviously excelsWhich brings me back to amp8220The Wiz Liveamp8221 and amp8220Coat of Many Colorsamp8221amp8220The Wiz Liveamp8221 was so wonderful that it obliterated all memories of the networkamp8217s presentation last December of amp8220Peter Pan Liveamp8221 instead reminding us all that the networkamp8217s first such production amp8211 2013amp8217s amp8220The Sound of Music Liveamp8221 amp8211 was perfect family friendly holiday entertainment and launched what should be an enduring holiday tradition at NBC All three were produced by miracle workers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron This is exactly the kind of bigswing programming networks should endeavor to create as the rising tide of scripted and unscripted cable and streaming fare threatens to overwhelm them and render them inconsequentialAnd then thereamp8217s Dolly whose amp8220Coat of Many Colorsamp8221 played like the ultimate Hallmark Channel movie or one of the better episodes of amp8220The Waltonsamp8221 This was a remarkably bold move by NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt and his team had the movie not worked as so many media observers anticipated it would have been a titanic embarrassment Instead amp8220Coatamp8221 was a deserving hit to the surprise of all except maybe Greenblatt and Co who made clear how serious they were about their new production deal with Ms Parton last spring by having her perform during NBCamp8217s Upfront presentation at Radio City Music Hall She is pictured below with Greenblatt at the pianoIf anything the success of amp8220Coatamp8221 on NBC should reinforce the success Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies ampamp Mysteries have been enjoying with their robust movie franchises Clearly there is a growing audience for their contentSo letamp8217s hear it for newcomer Shanice Williams pictured at top with her terrific costars David Alan Grier NeYo and Elijah Kelley whose performance as Dorothy in amp8220The Wiz Liveamp8221 actually eclipsed those of the many superstars in its cast though they were all just grand especially Stephanie Mills the original Dorothy in the 1975 Broadway production now movingly portraying Auntamp160Em and Mary J Blige as the Wicked Witch of the West and young Alyvia Alan Lind pictured above as the very young Dolly in amp8220Coatamp8221 Little Ms Lind by the way is a genuine scene stealer on CBSamp8217 amp8220The Young and the Restlessamp8221 on which she recently sang sounding once again every bit like a young Parton I have no doubt she39ll be entertaining people for generations to comeThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillageMyersBizNet management or associated bloggers

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The Top 25 of 2015, No. 9: “The Wiz Live!” and “Coat of Many Colors”

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Ed Martin

Empowering Women in Media: Insights from Industry Leaders (Video) - By E.B. Moss

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The Top 25 of 2015, No. 9: “The Wiz Live!” and “Coat of Many Colors”

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