Jesus Christ Superstar Live! (NBC) - General Discussion

[billisd]

Regarding the scarves....i believe they are supposed to be tallit... Jewish prayer shawls.

[WednesdayAddams]

Too much crooning and not enough anger and passion for me. I've seen it on Broadway 3 times and mostly loved the PBS version back in 2000. I'm particular, so I could be biased. 

[RedheadZombie]

53 minutes ago, mightysparrow said:

'Rent' has a lot to answer for.

I thought of Rent, too.  I never saw the original JCS Broadway show so I'm not sure who inspired who.

[bosawks]

All these commercials are certainly a momentum killer.

[RedheadZombie]

Please someone identify the guitar player - it's driving me crazy.

[Caseysgirl]

I’m not disappointed. I loved the music when I I bought the original cast album years ago, & played it over & over (sacrilegiously using “I don’t know how to love him” to mourn a now long forgotten boyfriend). I probably prefer the original cast but these performers are fine and happy to hear the music again. The commercials are definitely distracting.

[Snow Apple]

4 minutes ago, bosawks said:

All these commercials are certainly a momentum killer.

Especially the commercial with John Legend and his wife.

I think the commercials are why I'm not feeling it as much as the one they showed on PBS years ago.

Edited April 2, 2018 by Snow Apple

[satrunrose]

Jesus Christ Superstar came first (which is why, as much as I enjoy Rent, I'm always annoyed when people call it the first rock musical).

[ebk57]

Just now, satrunrose said:

Jesus Christ Superstar came first (which is why, as much as I enjoy Rent, I'm always annoyed when people call it the first rock musical).

This was always my issue with Rent - it's a fine show, but they used a tag line something like "nothing you've ever seen in theatre".  And I always answered "only if you've never been to the theatre".  They took themselves awfully seriously.

[janeta]

Well, JCS was originally characterized as an opera (to the annoyance of the opera buffs) so —— oooh Alice!

[Snow Apple]

Alice!

[bosawks]

1 minute ago, ebk57 said:

This was always my issue with Rent - it's a fine show, but they used a tag line something like "nothing you've ever seen in theatre".  And I always answered "only if you've never been to the theatre".  They took themselves awfully seriously.

That’s what annoyed me so much about the Spring Awakening folks, Hair is calling and they want you to relax...

[IOU Payne]

Squeeee!  Alice Cooper!!!

[bosawks]

Alice is looking pretty good!

[Linderhill]

after reading about all of the scarves on here I laughed out loud when all of these scarves came fluttering thru.

[Browncoat]

Wonder why Alice isn't mic'ed?  Maybe he's more comfortable with a mic in his hand?  Either way, he and the girls are fab!  In fact, I'll go out on a limb and say that the entire cast, with the exception of John Legend, is amazing.

[ebk57]

Nicely done Alice!

[janeta]

Ok that alone was worth the price of admission.

[bosawks]

You go Alice with your mic drop!

[Snow Apple]

Just now, Browncoat said:

Wonder why Alice isn't mic'ed? 

I think his character is supposed to be played as a lounge singer.

[ChromaKelly]

12 minutes ago, RedheadZombie said:

Please someone identify the guitar player - it's driving me crazy.

The Edge, Jr.
...at least that's what I'm calling him in my head. Or the other one, up on the scaffolding? 

Edited April 2, 2018 by ChromaKelly

[Browncoat]

Just now, Snow Apple said:

I think his character is supposed to be played as a lounge singer.

It certainly worked!  I loved it.

[Linderhill]

i was a youngster when I went to see Superstar on Broadway and a few things stood out in my memory.  One, when Pontius Pilate sang his mic went and they had a "servant girl" bring a new one out to him.  Two, I loved Herod's song and the way he danced in his number.  Three, Ben Vereen was awesome and it really struck me the way they hoisted him up into the air. Four, that HUGE gold dress that Jesus was in during the Superstar chorus.  

All that being said, I didn't mind Alice but would have liked it if he'd danced along with his chorus girls.

[RedheadZombie]

Just now, ChromaKelly said:

The Edge, Jr.
...at least that's what I'm calling him in my head.

Me too!  Maybe crossed with a little Metallica.

[EllenB]

2 minutes ago, Snow Apple said:

I think his character is supposed to be played as a lounge singer.

Son of a lounge singer and Cabaret MC.

[Spartan Girl]

Alice Cooper FTFW with the mic drop!

Did anyone else catch some of the cast members doing the "not worthy" bow?

[Linderhill]

there are WAY TOO MANY commercials that last TOO LONG.

And look, more scarves.

[Nordly Beaumont]

Could We Start Again was always my favorite part. 

[Rickster]

Dunno, I think Alice was the only disappointment, in what should be a high energy campy role. Here they relied on dancing girls instead.

I’m old, and saw the original on Broadway as a teen. I think, Alice aside, this is a great production. My recollection back then was that Jesus was the weakest role in the show, so I am not as bothered as some by John Legend.

[Browncoat]

Just now, Linderhill said:

there are WAY TOO MANY commercials that last TOO LONG.

I'm kinda wishing I had recorded it to watch later and skip the commercials.  But then I'd have missed all this lovely chat!

[janeta]

2 minutes ago, Linderhill said:

i was a youngster when I went to see Superstar on Broadway and a few things stood out in my memory.  One, when Pontius Pilate sang his mic went and they had a "servant girl" bring a new one out to him.  Two, I loved Herod's song and the way he danced in his number.  Three, Ben Vereen was awesome and it really struck me the way they hoisted him up into the air. Four, that HUGE gold dress that Jesus was in during the Superstar chorus.  

All that being said, I didn't mind Alice but would have liked it if he'd danced along with his chorus girls.

Well, he's, what, 70? And no matter what he may think, golf does not get one in shape for stage dancing. ;-)

[rwlevin]

52 minutes ago, Browncoat said:

That could be interesting.

This guy playing Judas is AH-mazing.

I went to college with him. He was in the annual varsity show and then he went on to Broadway, being in The Color Purple, The Scottsboro Boys and Shuffle Along, to name a few shows.

[starriepie]

HORRIBLE TIME FOR A COMMERCIAL! 

[Snow Apple]

Wow. 

That is all.

[ebk57]

4 minutes ago, rwlevin said:

I went to college with him. He was in the annual varsity show and then he went on to Broadway, being in The Color Purple, The Scottsboro Boys and Shuffle Along, to name a few shows.

To quote someone (@Browncoat)  upthread - I'm jealous! 

Edited April 2, 2018 by ebk57
had to find out who "someone" was!

[EllenB]

Judas just made me cry.

The break for commercial made me scream in rage.

[Cotypubby]

Brandon Victor Dixon absolutely killing it!!

[satrunrose]

I loved Could we start again please, which has always been my favourite little song. Sarah Bareilles is killing it, as is Brandon Victor Dixon. John Legend sounds really nice, but I was underwhelmed by Gethsemane. Overall it's not bad, but not amazing.

Edited April 2, 2018 by satrunrose

[Browncoat]

Just now, ebk57 said:

To quote someone upthread - I'm jealous! 

That was me.  I'm even more jealous, and I'll reiterate -- he's AH-MAZING!

[rwlevin]

I've met Alice Cooper - he's a super nice guy and funny. If you've ever seen Wayne's World, that's pretty much what he's like in real life. And for what it's worth, I think he slayed.

[Browncoat]

I keep thinking the guy playing Pontius Pilate is Sting.

[Linderhill]

Pilate is very good, I'm enjoying him. Not the greatest voice but great acting chops.  Great outfit too.

[bosawks]

This is certainly the fittest and most energetic  Pilate I’ve seen.

John Legend aka Skinny Jean Jesus.

[rwlevin]

Pilate is Tony and Olivier Award nominee Ben Daniels. He's got amazing stage presence.

[voiceover]

Ugh.  It's just starting out here, and while I love Judas already, I hate the live-audience reax, telling me how I'm supposed to feeeeeeeel.  Let me learn to like it without the cues!

Eh.  Maybe I'll get past it.

[janeta]

Oh, and Simon was effing great. :)

[RedheadZombie]

1 minute ago, rwlevin said:

Pilate is Tony and Olivier Award nominee Ben Daniels. He's got amazing stage presence.

I didn't know he was in the show.  I screamed out "Father Marcus!".

[janeta]

Utilikilt ftw!

[bosawks]

Damn

[Nordly Beaumont]

It's not the same without the white fringed jumpsuit - but I still got chills!