Posted on 12/05/2015 8:25:57 PM PST by Impala64ssa
Some folks in the Twitterverse apparently don’t know their musical history.
Angry Twitter users took to the social media platform in the days leading up to NBC’s broadcast of “The Wiz Live!†to decry what they considered racist casting. The Thursday-night live production featured an all-black cast led by Queen Latifah, David Alan Grier, Ne-Yo and newcomer Shanice Williams.
That is in keeping with the history of the stage musical, which has always featured a black cast, as well as the 1978 film starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.
However, many Twitter users vented about the casting nonetheless.
I just learned there is a black version of The Wizard of Oz called “The Wiz†– how is this not racist?
– Evan (@MJTM) November 23, 2015
This is how I feel. Remaking something with an all-black cast seems…a tiny bit racist. #TheWiz — Jessica (@90s_Jess) November 19, 2015
One user, after tweeting, “This is how I feel. Remaking something with an all-black cast seems…a tiny bit racist. #TheWiz,†deleted her tweet, then went on to explain the thinking behind that deleted tweet.
I deleted a tweet. I was trying to bring awareness. No race should be proud about excluding other races. Not the original. Not the remake.
– Melly (@4princessmel) December 4, 2015
Those complaints about race sparked a heated debate during Thursday’s broadcast. As the hashtag #TheWiz trended throughout the night, the complainers came under fire themselves.
Please have a seat somewhere far in a corner. The wiz was an all black cast. Do your research. https://t.co/of9iZxdpTH — Ms. Misha (@Michele_Myjoy) December 4, 2015
So white ppl mad bc “the wiz†cast is all black,talking about “what if we had a all white cast of the wizâ€umm y’all did… the wizard of oz
– Chardae (@Justcallme_dae) December 4, 2015
Fellow white people, I need all of you to realize that we aren’t fierce enough to perform The Wiz. We gotta stick to Oklahoma and stuff… — Jordan Milam (@Jordan_Milam) December 4, 2015
People not realizing The Wiz and The Wizard of Oz are two different shows and wondering why the cast is all black….. I’m just……..
– Kirstyn Hippe (@kirstynhippe) December 3, 2015
There’s already a “White Wiz.†It’s called the Wizard of Oz & there were no blacks in it..So they made the Wiz! The Wiz isn’t racist,stop it — Maya Beatty (@_mayamia12) December 4, 2015
Laughing at all the ppl mad at @nbc for the #Wiz stating its racist the cast is black. Umm did they not EVER watch the Wizard of Oz? Duh
– Ms. China (@mschinapojazz) December 3, 2015
So ppl are mad that this is an all black cast.. But the original The Wiz was too.. I’m confused. — Zandra Mackey (@I_am_zee_M) December 4, 2015
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron executive produced NBC’s “The Wiz Live!†with Kenny Leon serving as stage director and Matthew Diamond as TV director.
Of course when Peter Pan was originally made, actresses were classy and good people overall. Today Hollywood is such a mess and it didn’t help that Brian Williams’ daughter was chosen for the lead which was nepotism at its worse. Of course NBC paid the price by a very low rating. Sometimes people have to learn the hard way. So glad you enjoyed the original.
Oh thank you.......Very interesting the day before Iowa.......We may watch Grease especially if the following days are going to be big time politics days. A little break pre-Iowa may be a welcome.
in the player’s lines, there will be the “F” word but not the “N” word
F is flaunted. N is shunned
if there is F, why can’t there be N?
Here’s Fox’s web page for it.
http://www.fox.com/grease-live
Some interesting casting choices, but at lest they won’t be “the world’s oldest teenagers” like the movie.
THanks!
Gald to do it. We’ll probably be watching ourselves.
I am telling you what the study said.
You are free to draw your own conclusion.
I didn’t know that .. I saw only the TV adaptation with Michael Jackson, Nipsy Russel and Dianna Ross
there we have it....It took several months after I;d “bottled” the first bottle of Panther Whizz until its struck me that Bear Whizz was the first Craft Whizz.... brewed in America
THAT will be interesting.
In the actual play they have only a few songs that appear in the movie.
I know people who have seen the stage play and they told me: WHERE are all of the songs I love?
They leave out a lot.
It was funky. I wanted to go because Mike Jackson was in it and the pretty lady that sang "bad girls" also had a part. I thought she was pretty(Donna summers of course)
The Wiz didn't have Donna Summer. It was Stefanie Mills on Broadway and Diana Ross in the film.
They should have let Geoffrey Holder reprise the role he created on film. He was a perfect Scarecrow.
Thank you so much for this. Very interesting indeed.
I hope you caught the 100 Year Birthday of Sinatra. Those were songs sung by a Meister.
Next step for NBC may be The Boy From Oz Live.
It would be really daring to remake that Peter Allen life story with an all straight cast, but I doubt it would be possible.
Thanks, NBN was all I remembered. I’ll check out the others.
Is Geoffrey Holder still alive?
BTW, remember Orlando (El Duque) Hernandez, the former pitcher for the Yankees? I always thought he looked like Geoffrey Holder.
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