What musical will/should NBC broadcast next? Survey results revealed!

Broadway soothsayerAfter the success of The Sound of Music, I predicted that NBC would broadcast another live musical in 2014.  And wouldn’t you know it, the next day, they announced that they would!

Ok, ok, I’ll admit it . . . you didn’t have to be a soothsayer to know that they were going give it another go when they got 20 million people to watch that first one.  In fact, that prediction was even easier than predicting, “Broadway ticket prices will increase this year!”  Doesn’t take a brain surgeon.

The harder part is predicting what NBC will choose to broadcast.  So I put that question to you, oh sayers-of-the-sooth.  What sayeth you?  What musical will the network broadcast?  Oh, and to add a little fantasy fun, I also asked, what musical should they broadcast.

I thought it fitting to reveal the results on Christmas Eve because, well, this is what you want NBC to give you for Christmas, now isn’t it?

So, drumroll please . . . here are your top 10 answers . . .

WHAT MUSICAL NBC WILL BROADCAST

The Music Man (13.59%)
Peter Pan (8.73%)
South Pacific (8.73%)
My Fair Lady (6.79%)
Annie (6.79%)
The King and I (4.85%)
Oliver (4.85%)
Fiddler on the Roof (4.85%)
Oklahoma (3.83%)

Interesting.  Although Music Man was the favorite choice here, I have to disagree.  The Matthew Broderick/Kristin Chenoweth televised Music Man from 2003 isn’t a distant enough memory yet for put another one on the small screen.

Peter Pan is an interesting choice.  Too much for the kids, I’d think.  Not enough adults would be interested.  South Pacific has the same problem as Music Man, with the Glenn Close version still lingering in our minds.

A lot is going into this choice.  It needs to be a classic, appeal to a huge demo, and have great roles for non-stage stars (translation – they can pull off even if they aren’t the greatest actors).

Although sometimes I think NBC is going to want to spread the “rights holder” wealth and give the next broadcast to a non-R&H show (in which case I’d predict Fiddler), I’m going with The King and I as my bet.

And now . . .

WHAT MUSICAL NBC SHOULD BROADCAST

Mame (5.98%)
The Music Man (4.27%)
Wicked (4.27%)
In The Heights (3.41%)
Gypsy (3.41%)
My Fair Lady (3.41%)
Funny Girl (2.56%)
Singin’ In The Rain (2.56%)
Ragtime (2.56%)

This one was a harder one for all of you. No real runaway.  Mame is a great choice.  (As is Hello Dolly.)  And realistic options as well.  What surprised me about this list is that there was no Sondheim in the top 10 of what you wanted to see.  Are you Sondheimed out?

My vote?  Well, I’d like to see ’em tackle Falsettos.  Wouldn’t you?  A prime time network musical about a real “modern family?”  Awesome.

Thanks for participating, everyone!  I’ll be sure to check back in on this blog when NBC does announce what they are going to do this coming year.

In the meantime, I hope Santa Claus and NBC brings you everything you want this Christmas!

 

(Got a comment? I love ‘em, so comment below! Email Subscribers, click here then scroll down to say what’s on your mind!)

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