A live production of the stage musical “Hairspray” may be coming to NBC this year.
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During the Television Critics Association press tour, NBC Entertainment chief Bob Greenblatt was asked about Fallon’s health. I hear the deal closed minutes before NBC’s TCA presentation.
NBC has made something of a cottage industry with live musicals, including “The Sound of Music”, “Peter Pan” and “The Wiz”.
“I went to the ER and I said, ‘I tripped holding a bottle of Jagermeister, ‘” he joked afterwards.
Zadan and Meron have had a lot of success with their television musicals, partly because they have created the best formula.
The network has scored hits – The Wiz and Carrie Underwood in The Sound of Music – and a miss with Peter Pan.
There’s a difference between being in business with Trump and having him on shows like “Saturday Night Live” and “Meet the Press”, Greenblatt said. With Mark Shaiman and Scott Wittman’s infectious songs, and Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan’s sharp, witty book, Hairspray has the potential to be a ratings juggernaut for NBC.
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“Hairspray” follows chubby teenager Tracy Turnblad in 1950s Baltimore who wins a spot as a dancer on “The Corny Collins Show” and brings racial integration to the dance show’s set. When Tracy lands a starring position on the show, she becomes an overnight celebrity and fights against social injustices of the time – including the need to integrate the program. It was subsequently developed into a Broadway play in 2002. Zadan and Meron also produced the 2007 movie musical remake of the original 1988 John Waters film.
