(Credit: NBC)
Dec. 9 (UPI) -- The Sound of Music Live spawned a Saturday Night Live spoof and plenty of social media haters after it debuted last week, but it also drew 18.6 million viewers, a ratings coup for the struggling NBC network.
Though it took 18 months to prepare, NBC entertainment chair Robert Greenblatt said that Neil Meron and Craig Zadan were planning to do it all over again next year. Speaking to The New York Times, Greenblatt said that the network was already "circling a couple of titles" for another live music special, set to air in 2014.
“All weekend, people have been calling us and emailing us,” he said. “Rights holders of musicals have said, ‘Please do one of our shows.’ We’re excited to try it again."
Though critics praised NBC for its stab at a difficult production process and a beloved musical, most panned Underwood's acting abilities.
"It’s impossible not to notice that she can’t act,” The Washington Post's Hank Stuever said of Underwood.
Even the real Von Trapp family wondered why more accomplished actresses weren't asked to do the part.
Underwood had only this to say:
Greenblatt said he noticed some of the negative reaction, but he noticed the ratings more.
“There is no snarkier universe than the Broadway world," he said. "It just sort of invites it. It’s O.K. I’d rather have people deeply engaged than ignoring it. Somebody I once worked for said to me once, ‘Everybody hated it but the audience.’ And I’ll take that.”
[New York Times]
