Um. No, they can't think they're going to make people believe that they're sincere about presenting this on Easter.

And, two, JCS was not the original rock opera (September 1970). The Story of Simon Simopath (1967) by British psychedelic band Nirvana was the first recorded rock opera. Later in 1967, Montreal's Influence recorded a long suite titled "Mad Birds of Prey (A Mini-Opera)", which closed out their sole album, which was released in January 1968. Perhaps unaware of these earlier efforts, Neil Strauss of The New York Times wrote that S.F. Sorrow (1968) by The Pretty Things is "generally acknowledged as the first rock opera". Although Pete Townshend denied taking any influence from S.F. Sorrow, critics have compared The Who's Tommy (1969) to it. Scott Mervis of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote that, although Tommy was not the first rock opera, it was the first album to be billed as such.

The NBC article follows:


http://www.tvguide.com/news/nb...spring-2018-musical/

NBC is upping its musical ante in 2018 by going for a spring musical. The peacock network announced on Wednesday that it has acquired the rights for Jesus Christ Superstar and will air a live rendition of the production next Easter.

Broadway legends Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, who wrote the music and lyrics for the original show, will executive produce with Marc Platt, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.

"As we continue to expand the profile of our live musicals, we are thrilled to be partnering with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice to bring a new live staging of the iconic Jesus Christ Superstar to NBC," said NBC Entertainment chief Robert Greenblatt. "Casting has just begun, but we want to fill out this classic show with as many recording artists as possible to give proper voice to what is the original rock opera score."


The musical first started as a concept album that reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts before finding its feet on Broadway in 1971. The musical follows Jesus in the final week of his life and features other famous biblical figures like Judas Iscariot, Mary Magdalene, Pontius Pilate, Caiaphas, Annas, Peter, Simon Zealotes and King Herod.

Jesus Christ Superstar was subsequently turned into a film in 1973 and the stage version was revived in 2012.

NBC was the first of the big four networks to get into the live musical game, launching The Sound of Music Live! Christmas special in 2013, starring Carrie Underwood. The most recent musical endeavor was Hairspray! Live starring Kristin Chenoweth and Harvey Fierstein. The network will also stage a live version of Bye Bye Birdie this December with Jesus Christ Superstar coming shortly after in the spring.

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Can anyone say pandering?

No, but I can say that they obviously have never listed to nor understood the work. This is not a scriptural based performance that any Christian church would preform for Easter.

This is comparable to reading "Johnny Got His Gun" at Arlington National Cemetery for Memorial Day or preforming it live at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
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"Pandering is the act of expressing views in accordance with the likes of a group to which one is attempting to appeal. "

I get that they don't get it. They don't get what they don't get, but they're trying to pretend that they get it and that they're being supportive by doing this.

With John Legend and Alice Cooper starring you just know this is going to be awesome..... NOT!

NBC, continuing to exhibit its unhinged cluelessness to the world.



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I recall as a kid growing up the big 3 networks always played Moses and The Greatest Story Ever Told right around Easter?

This is nothing new.

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Originally posted by ChuckFinley:
The peacock network announced on Wednesday that it has acquired the rights for Jesus Christ Superstar and will air a live rendition of the production next Easter.

I can hardly wait to find out who the first trans-gendered actor to play Jesus will be.

Susan Sarandon is a lock for "Mary". And Whoopie Goldberg will play one of the "Three Wise Persons".

When I was a teenager I had JCS on cassette. The music is ok. The times in my life that I have been a church attendee I cannot recall any Christians mentioning JCS. I think that most do not know that JCS even exists.

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Originally posted by TigerDore:
NBC, continuing to exhibit its unhinged cluelessness to the world.



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I can't remember what network The Lawrence Welk Show was on...but "cluelessness" on TV goes back awhile ...

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Originally posted by PASig:
I recall as a kid growing up the big 3 networks always played Moses and The Greatest Story Ever Told right around Easter?

This is nothing new.

Yes, but this is new because this musical is a mockery of scripture. Christians who know about it are not going to watch it.



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Originally posted by Bisleyblackhawk:

quote:

Originally posted by TigerDore:
NBC, continuing to exhibit its unhinged cluelessness to the world.



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I can't remember what network The Lawrence Welk Show was on...but "cluelessness" on TV goes back awhile ...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA If didn't know better, I would swear that is a parody of The LW Show. That is hysterical.



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All in all, it's a very cool show with some really great music. I had the pleasure of seeing Ted Neeley perform it live in the 90's... Sounded as good as he did in the movie.

I've got the cd and like to listen to it when the mood strikes but let’s not confuse it with anything Christian.

Didn’t the church ban the movie for years after it was released?

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I can't remember what network The Lawrence Welk Show was on...but "cluelessness" on TV goes back awhile ...

Why do you think all those musicians were so happy and smiling while playing that "square" stuff? They just found the groove!