Good morning Baltimore. A certain John Waters indebted musical is being sized up for a spot on NBC this December.
NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt’s busy Wednesday at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour included the news that Hairspray is the musical production the network hopes to air this December. It’s been stressed that the deal isn’t locked in just yet (a detail reiterated by NBC’s own Twitter account), but if it does go through it will be with Craig Zadan and Neil Meron serving as executive producers.
The glowing reviews and cultural event feel of The Wiz Live! has helped add an extra aura of importance to the way NBC trots out its special presentation musical offerings. It’s a daunting act to follow. Even with the super duper official confirmation still to come, that hasn’t stopped fantasy casting proposals from being crafted and Nikki Blonsky has probably charged her Motorola RAZR to full capacity just in case.
Popping up on network television isn’t all that nutty of a turn of events for Hairspray. Originally a 1988 cult classic devised by John Waters, the ’60s set motion picture would later morph into a Broadway musical in the early ’00s with a sh*tload of Tony Awards to follow. Inspired by the property’s Broadway success, the world was presented with a film adaptation based on the musical with John Travolta in tow. Now we’re at the cusp of Hairspray‘s television age. If we play our cards right, the next decade is destined to have a Hairspray Babies cartoon airing on Saturday mornings.
(via The Wrap)
