The Sound of Music Live!: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

'''''The Sound of Music Live!''''' is an American [[television special]] that was originally broadcast by [[NBC]] on December 5, 2013. ~~Produced~~Directed by [[Rob Ashford]] and [[Beth McCarthy-Miller]], produced by [[Craig Zadan]] and [[Neil Meron]], and written by Austin Winsberg, the special was an adaptation of [[Rodgers and Hammerstein]]'s 1959 Broadway musical ''[[The Sound of Music]]''. The television special starred [[country music|country]] singer and ''[[American Idol]]'' winner [[Carrie Underwood]] as [[Maria von Trapp]], and was performed and televised [[live television|live]] from [[Grumman Studios]] in [[Bethpage, New York]].

Spearheaded by NBC chairman [[Robert Greenblatt|Bob Greenblatt]], the network positioned the special as being a live [[event television|television "event"]]. In preparing for the broadcast, Meron and Zadan emphasized the logistical challenges that they would face due to the live aspects of the special, and the fact that ''The Sound of Music Live!'' was an adaptation based on the musical itself and not the [[The Sound of Music (film)|1965 film version]]. Meron felt that if the telecast were successful, the concept could become "another kind of entertainment that can exist on TV." By her request, Underwood's casting as Maria was personally endorsed by [[Julie Andrews]], who starred in the 1965 film.

The production was met with mixed reviews; much of its criticism was directed towards the casting of Carrie Underwood to play Maria, whom critics (including the real-life [[von Trapp family]]) believed was not experienced enough in theatre to portray such an iconic role. While her vocal performance was praised, her acting was described by critics as "amateur", "lifeless" and lacking emotion. The production was a ratings success for NBC; with a total of 18.62 million live viewers, ''The Sound of Music Live!'' brought the network its highest Thursday night viewership for an entertainment program since the [[Goodnight, Seattle|series finale]] of ''[[Frasier (TV series)|Frasier]]'' in 2004, and prompted NBC to sign Zadan and Meron on to produce more live musicals for the network ~~in the future~~.

==Plot==

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* "The Grand Waltz" (instrumental)

* "[[Ländler]]" (instrumental)

* "[[So Long, Farewell]]" – The children & Party Guests

* "[[Climb Ev'ry Mountain]]" – Mother Abbess

* "The Lonely Goatherd" (reprise) – Max and the children

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==Reception==

===Critical reception===

Prior to the broadcast, members of the real-life von Trapp family were critical of casting Underwood to play Maria, agreeing with the notion that she would be a good singer but a poor actor. They suggested that [[Anne Hathaway]], who played [[Fantine]] in the [[Les Misérables (2012 film)|2012 film adaptation]] of ''[[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]]'' for which she won the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress]], would have been a better choice.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rothman|first=Michael|title=Who the Von Trapps Wish Could Replace Carrie Underwood in ‘The Sound of Music Live’|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2013/12/who-the-von-trapps-wish-could-replace-carrie-underwood-in-the-sound-of-music-live/|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|access-date=December 6, 2013|date=December 5, 2013}}</ref> ''The Sound of Music Live!'' received mixed reviews from entertainment critics, commending the show for its scope and supporting cast while questioning Underwood's acting capabilities.

Kevin Fallon of ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' wrote: "Naturally, Underwood sounded astounding, as alive as those damned hills, every time she was asked to stand on top of things and belt. But whether it was because of nerves or lack of experience, her acting was painfully lifeless and amateur throughout the first two thirds of the lengthy ordeal. The singer, it seems, is a proud graduate of the school of 'If I don't blink, they'll think I'm acting!'"<ref name=db-somlreview>{{cite web|title=‘Sound of Music Live!’ Review: The Hills Are Barely Alive| url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/06/sound-of-music-live-review-the-hills-are-barely-alive.html|work=[[The Daily Beast]]|publisher=[[The Newsweek Daily Beast Company]]|last=Fallon|first=Kevin|date=December 6, 2013|access-date=December 6, 2013}}</ref> Verne Gay of ''[[Newsday]]'' liked Underwood's performance, commenting that not only could she sing, but "she is a luminous stage presence who had the guts to take on one of the most iconic roles of the stage or screen."<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/columnists/verne-gay/sound-of-music-and-carrie-underwood-largely-a-success-1.6550556|title = 'Sound of Music' -- and Carrie Underwood -- largely a success|date = December 5, 2013|access-date =December 6, 2013|work = [[Newsday]]|publisher=[[Cablevision]]|last = Gay|first = Verne}}</ref>

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A [[soundtrack]] for the broadcast was released on December 3, 2013<ref>{{cite web|title=The Sound of Music (Music from the NBC Television Event) by Various Artists - iTunes album detail page|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sound-music-music-from-nbc/id731630716|work=[[iTunes Stores]]|publisher=[[Apple, Inc.|Apple, Inc]]|access-date=17 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-the-sound-of-music-2013-nbc-television-cast-mw0002593930|title=Carrie Underwood: The Sound of Music (2013 NBC Television Cast)|work=[[AllMusic]]|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]]|date= December 3, 2013|access-date=April 21, 2014}}</ref> and consists of 22 studio recordings.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.statejournal.com/story/23776848/sony-masterworks-releases-television-soundtrack-to-nbcs-live-broadcast-of-the-sound-of-music-starring-six-time-grammy-winner-carrie-underwood|title=Sony Masterworks Releases Television Soundtrack To NBC's Live Broadcast of 'The Sound of Music' Starring Six-Time Grammy Winner Carrie Underwood|access-date=November 14, 2013|work=[[The State Journal (West Virginia)|The State Journal]]|publisher=WorldNow and WVSTATE|date=October 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203095935/http://www.statejournal.com/story/23776848/sony-masterworks-releases-television-soundtrack-to-nbcs-live-broadcast-of-the-sound-of-music-starring-six-time-grammy-winner-carrie-underwood|archive-date=December 3, 2013}}</ref> [[Walmart]] outlets exclusively released a nine-track instrumental ([[sing-along]]) bonus CD with the soundtrack.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walmart.com/ip/32703614|title=The Sound Of Music (2013 NBC Television Cast) Soundtrack (Walmart Exclusive) (2CD), Carrie Underwood: Country : Walmart.com|work=Walmart.com|publisher=[[Walmart|Wal-Mart Stores, Inc]]|access-date=December 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206102910/http://www.walmart.com/ip/32703614|archive-date=December 6, 2013}}</ref> It peaked at number 17 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/2013-12-21/billboard-200|title=Billboard 200: Dec 21, 2013 (Billboard Chart Archive)|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]|access-date=December 24, 2013}}</ref> and number 2 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' Soundtracks chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/2013-12-21/soundtracks|title=Soundtracks: Dec 21, 2013 (Billboard Chart Archive)|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]|access-date=December 24, 2013}}</ref> The soundtrack had sold 103,000 copies as of January 2, 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=Country Album Chart News: The Week of January 2, 2013: Garth Brooks, Duck Dynasty, Cassadee Pope, Danielle Bradbery & Scotty McCreery |url=http://www.roughstock.com/blog/country-album-chart-news-the-week-of-january-2-2013-garth-brooks-duck-dynasty-cassadee-pope-danielle-bradbery-scotty-mccreery |last=Bjorke |first=Matt |publisher=Roughstock |date=January 2, 2014 |access-date=January 2, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102223559/http://www.roughstock.com/blog/country-album-chart-news-the-week-of-january-2-2013-garth-brooks-duck-dynasty-cassadee-pope-danielle-bradbery-scotty-mccreery |archive-date=January 2, 2014 }}</ref>

==Home media release==

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[[Category:2013 television specials]]

[[Category:American live television shows]]

[[Category:American English-language television shows]]

[[Category:American musical television films]]

[[Category:Musical theatre television specials]]