On December 3, 2015, NBC brought the thrill of live theater to people across the country with “The Wiz Live!” which featured an all-star African American cast and director. The show was viewed by nearly 14 million viewers and the modern take on the beloved musical touched the hearts of viewers nationwide.   

The classic themes of courage and strength in “The Wiz Live!” rang true to many of the show’s viewers, especially within the African American community. The production’s personification of “Black Excellence” took viewers back to the very first time they were introduced to the timeless story, and it received critical recognition at the 47th NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Television Movie and Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, which went to David Alan Grier for his portrayal of the Cowardly Lion.

“The Wiz Live!” also resonated with viewers via social media, breaking Nielsen Twitter records with more than 129 million impressions and 1.6 million tweets while on the air. At the time of the broadcast, it was the most tweeted-about special program (excluding awards shows and political events) since Nielsen Social began tracking Twitter TV activity. 

129M+
Impressions
via Twitter

1.6M
Tweets
On the Air

“The Wiz Live!” also made television history by becoming the first live broadcast entertainment program in the U.S. to be accessible to people with a visual disability. Comcast NBCUniversal included visual descriptions throughout the production, as well as a narration track between the natural pauses in the dialogue to explain the action that was happening on screen. This collaboration allowed people with visual disabilities to enjoy a unique, enhanced viewing experience unlike ever before.

Pictured Above: The Wiz Live!