'Why are there no whites?': The Wiz Live draws huge numbers for NBC with over 11million viewers desp

[sheshe2]

Last edited Fri Apr 8, 2016, 12:41 AM - Edit history (1)

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One user tweeted to the major network: 'Minorities act like they're the victims, but can you imagine if we made an all-white version of The Wiz?'

Another user wrote: 'why are there no whites starring in #TheWiz? this is racist! can u
'Why are there no whites?' : The Wiz Live draws huge numbers for NBC with over 11million viewers despite hilarious confusion over the show's all-black cast
imagine if it were the other way? #whitelivesmatter #TheWizLive.'



Bwahahahahaha~



Additionally, a viewer posted: '#TheWiz on @NBC is a PC Disaster. An all-black Wizard of Oz? Give me a freaking break. I could say that's racist but...'

Others were more positive as one wrote: '@nbc it has been the other way before and we don't complain about all white casting, i.e the notebook, 500 days of summer..etc.'

NBC have not yet commented on the complaints.

It is most likely the complainants did not realize that The Wiz was written as a retelling of the classic story from an African-American context of The Wizard of Oz.

Penned by composer Charlie Smalls, the show won a Tony award and was adapted into a film in 1978 starring Michael Jackson, Dianna Ross and Richard Pryor.

The numbers for The Wiz far surpassed the 9.21million who watched last year's Peter Pan but fell short of the first live production of The Sound of Music in 2013, which drew 18.6million viewers.

The show even came close to beating Thursday's epic football game between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions - an unheard of feat - but fell just short.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3345408/Social-media-flooded-racist-tweets-black-Wiz-Live-musical-special-kicks-off.html#ixzz45COXX2Fb
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Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! This was AWESOME!

I needs a copy, gotta watch again and again. It was beautiful.

[mn9driver]

1. I used to think that those comments must be satire.

Then I met some folks who actually do not know what the whole point of The Wiz is.

And when I tried to explain it, it was obvious that they just didn't get it. All I was doing was pissing them off.

They are out there. And they vote.

[sheshe2]

4. One night...

For a black child to feel special. For the world to focus on them without ill intent. A night to hope and dream of a better place, a brand new day.

[rusty quoin]

2. That's crazy. They have no clue or context.

[xfundy]

3. Did the commenters miss the fact that the original was all white?

The anti-intellectual onslaught continues by the cons and repigs. We all live in this world together, and if we can't do that, we will all perish. That's basic common sense.

The Wiz is a great concept, and the Wiz is now a woman.

Some of the nation's greatest talent were/are participant, yet some choose to get butt-hurt because David Duke or Kid Rock or some other asshole wasn't in it.

Disclaimer: I'm a white gay guy, if I don't belong commenting in this group, please let me know by DUmail.

Thanks.

[sheshe2]

5. I am a white woman.

I have been welcomed here. It is all about respect and a shared commitment to right the wrongs. I am tired, not even saying this well.


Thank you for your response.

[wildeyed]

16. Group statement of purpose:

"Discuss topics and issues which affect the African-American community. DUers from all races are welcome to participate."

I would add that we try to do it in a sensitive and/or supportive manner. Which it seems like you are doing.

[Journeyman]

6. 11 million viewers, 1.6 million tweets -- 85% of which were positive . . .

Tweets don't actually make a network money (yet), but they do constitute one way for a network to gauge the populace's reaction to its programming. The analytics firm Brandwatch not only tracks tweet volume but also categorizes sentiment. NBC's previous two live musicals, 2014's "Peter Pan" and 2013's "The Sound of Music" were marked by copious Twitter snark, with viewers making fun of everything from the trippy crocodile puppets on "Peter Pan" to the fact that everybody but Carrie Underwood (playing nun-turned-governess-turned-wife Maria) had an accent on "The Sound of Music."

This year, though, 85 percent of the tweets about "The Wiz Live!" were positive, according to Brandwatch.

The ratings for "The Wiz Live!" bear out the tweets-don't-equal-ratings maxim. While the tweet volume for "The Wiz" was more than triple that of "The Sound of Music," the former was outrated by the latter to the tune of 7 million total viewers.

Yet that's not to say there weren't intangible benefits for the network and, possibly, society. "The Wiz Live!" had an all-black cast, putting an end to NBC's streak of monochromatic productions, and Twitter noticed:

I don't even think NBC realizes the gift it gave our little black girls tonight #TheWizLive
7:44 PM - 3 Dec 2015

http://www.ibtimes.com/nbcs-wiz-live-dropped-house-twitter-16-million-tweets-during-show-2213078

That's all mighty impressive, a cultural accomplishment we could choose to celebrate . . .

[xfundy]

7. Little black girls, little black guys

... and grownups are still unfortunately in the position of justifying their lives.

Ever watch kids playing? They accept each other, embrace each other, compare their hair and color, etc., without judgement-- and learn from that. They don't become assholes till some older person tells them to mistrust the 'other.' This kind of shit will probably end us all.

[yuiyoshida]

8. I have forgotten

was Michael Jackson in this? I seem to recall he was, but am a little fuzzy now.

[sheshe2]

9. That was the old one.

This one is all black and so awesome!!!!

[yuiyoshida]

10. There were two versions?

Guess I never saw new version, but I thought Michael Jackson was the cowardly Lion maybe? I don't remember.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

11. He was the Scarecrow so it was a major role....

Diana Ross was Dorothy.

I loved that version.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

12. Doncha love white victimhood?

[2naSalit]

29. Yeah...

seems pretty profitable, wonder how I can get in on some of that.

[Cha]

13. LOve the WIZ, she.. thank you for posting!

[sheshe2]

14. Ha.

Thanks

[MADem]

15. Whaddaya mean, no whites??????

?w=684&h=513&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=70

That dog looks pretty white to me!!!

[JustAnotherGen]

17. You are so naughty!

[sheshe2]

20. ...

[Kind of Blue]

18. K&R!

I can't remember whether it was here years ago or somewhere else when I read of a little black girl who invited her best friend, a white classmate, over for dinner. The guest was clearly uncomfortable and finally boldy asked her friend's dad if he was a racist. Stunned, he asked what would ever give you that impression. The young guest said something like, All these paintings and photos around your house and there's not one white person in them - why? Amazing

So easy to see thru these tweets how children are rapidly indoctrinated.

[sheshe2]

21. Oh, yikes.

[1StrongBlackMan]

31. I don't know if you were referring to the incident that I shared here, awhile back ...

it involved my daughter's BFFF ... they were 13 at the time.

I think what got her was the picture of the Last Supper ... JC and the Dees are all distinctly African in dress and features.

[Kind of Blue]

32. OMG! I've told this priceless story so many times

and have come back full circle
Thank you 1SBM for now I can stop wondering where I read it!

[awoke_in_2003]

19. "can you imagine if we made an all-white version of The Wiz?"

I cannot even begin to come up with a response to that stupid statement

[Iggo]

22. I'm trying, but all that comes out of my mouth are little exasperated exhales.

[gollygee]

23. ROFL

I will be laughing all day.

[Starry Messenger]

24. I made a strange little noise I have never heard before.

[OneGrassRoot]

25. lololol!

First laugh out loud moment in a few days.



Thanks to all four of you above ^^^!

[MadDAsHell]

26. Devil's advocate, why would we use the "all white" 1939 version as justification for "The Wiz?"

Last edited Mon Apr 11, 2016, 05:54 PM - Edit history (1)

Isn't that like saying, people were bigoted and closed minded 80 years ago, so why can't we be today?

The Wiz is great on its own; saying The Wiz exists solely as a counter to the all-white The Wizard of Oz makes us look as tone-deaf on diversity efforts as they were.

[bettyellen]

28. I don't think it is a justification as much as putting it in context? No one who complained

seemed to realize white was the default setting for the bulk of our history.

[2naSalit]

30. Excellent observation! ....nt

[Else You Are Mad]

27. I remember...

In the days after the SCOTUS gay marriage ruling someone tweeted to NBC that they were offended NBC would change their peacock logo to a rainbow in support. Not realizing it has been the same since the 60s.

Some people are just morons and can't help but show the world in perpetuity on the Internet that they are racists.