With the release of Annie Live! on NBC, the live network TV musical has returned to primetime; here's every live network musical ranked from worst to best. Based on the Broadway show, and taking elements from the 1981 movie musical, Annie Live! played on the nostalgia of those who grew up on the iconic New York orphan, while including a diverse cast. NBC kicked off the recent live television musical trend with The Sound of Music in 2013, which starred country music and former American Idol Carrie Underwood in the role of Maria. It boasted the highest non-sports Thursday night rating for NBC in years, prompting NBC to continue producing live television events. The success of NBC’s live musicals also prompted other networks to get in on the fun.

Usually airing close to a major holiday, often Christmas, most of the live event musicals are based on stage versions of famous and popular musicals that already have a huge fanbase. Musicals like Hairspray and Rent have big names and long, successful runs on Broadway, making them a big audience draw for fans. What they all have in common is that they tell stories that resonate with a lot of people. Sometimes, nostalgia is enough to make a show enjoyable, but other times, the attempt can result in a disastrous show.

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Including Annie Live!, there have been 12 television event musicals to grace the small screen since NBC’s The Sound of Music. While some have been big successes, pleasing both audience and critics, others missed the mark. From the unintentionally creepy to the awe-inspiring, how does Annie Live! stack up compared to the other network event musicals? This list explores each live event musical, ranking them from worst to best.

12. Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical Live

The Grinch in the live musical

The Grinch aired on NBC during 2020’s coronavirus lockdowns, which already gave it obstacles to overcome. Filmed in the UK under COVID-19 restrictions, the cast performed the show without the live audience that these musical events usually have. The lack of an audience hurt the show but isn’t the main reason that it struggled. Matthew Morrison of Glee fame starred in the musical as the Grinch, but his performance was unintentionally creepy. While the Grinch is meant to be unpleasant, he’s generally a lovably bad character who audiences can secretly root for. Morrison’s Grinch, however, ventured into disturbing, with the actor basing his performance on the Joker.

The show was a loud, colorful mess that lacked the heart of both the animated movie and the live-action Grinch movie starring Jim Carrey. While it was based on the stage musical adaptation, which features narration by the Grinch’s dog, Max, it also tried to incorporate iconic moments and songs from the two movies, which just left it feeling bloated and directionless. Cindy-Lou Who, the little girl from the original story whose character is expanded in the Carrey movie, lacks heart in this musical and it’s unclear why she wants to befriend the Grinch. The singing and performance numbers were fun, but not fun enough to overcome the bad vibes radiating off of Matthew Morrison.

11. Peter Pan Live!

Based on the classic musical, NBC aired Peter Pan Live! in December of 2014, due to the success of The Sound of Music. It starred Allison Williams as Peter Pan and featured Christopher Walken as Captain Hook. The show wasn’t a bad adaptation, but at times both Williams and Walken felt miscast in their roles. While Peter Pan is traditionally played by a woman in stage productions, he’s still supposed to be a young boy, and Williams’ version of Peter missed the mark. She both looked and felt like a woman pretending to be a little boy, rather than creating the illusion of a little boy.

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Christopher Walken’s Captain Hook was the most unintentionally hilarious part of the musical. His famous speech pattern made his singing as Captain Hook so odd and comical that SNL made a parody of it that week. While Captain Hook is supposed to be a funny character in most Peter Pan adaptations, Walken’s confused warbling in his signature accent while men dressed as pirates sang and danced around him was so awkward that it became hilarious. Overall, the show wasn’t bad, and with different actors playing Peter and Hook, it might have been a better production.

10. The Passion

Produced by Tyler Perry, The Passion: New Orleans wasn’t so much a traditional musical as it was a Christian music revue inside of a traditional passion play. Airing on Fox in 2016, the live event was a contemporary retelling of the Passion of Jesus Christ, which is the story of his crucifixion and resurrection, and it set the story in a contemporary setting to contemporary music. While the story itself is a dynamic one, the musical felt like the boy band-ification of Jesus' story.

Starring Latin pop singer Jencarlos Canela as Jesus Christ and Trisha Yearwood as Mary Magdalene, the vocals were strong and dynamic and were the best part of the musical. The biggest problem with the production is that it was obviously not live for nearly half of the show. The cast performed music-video style, and only performed in front of a live audience towards the end. The use of contemporary pop songs in the musical gave it a chance to be a unique retelling of an iconic story, but in the end, it felt like it wanted to replicate the success of Jesus Christ Superstar and fell short.

9. Rent: Live

Based on the popular Broadway musical Rent by Jonathan Larson, who also wrote Tick, Tick...Boom!, Rent: Live aired on Fox in 2019. While it also features pre-recorded sections like The Passion, it felt less like an extended music video and more like a musical, which is why it's in the ninth spot. Rent: Live’s biggest problem was that Brennin Hunt, who played Roger, was injured before the broadcast, causing Fox to air mostly footage from the dress rehearsal. Because it used dress rehearsal footage, the performances weren’t necessarily the version audiences would have seen had they been able to perform live.

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The casting, however, was strong, and stars Jordan Fisher, Tinashe, and Vanessa Hudgens gave great vocal performances and good interpretations of Larson’s iconic characters. Vanessa Hudgens, who had long been typecast for her role as Gabriella in the High School Musical movies, proved that not only can she play against the sweet, geeky Gabriella type, but that she can belt. The touching moment at the end, featuring the Rent: Live cast with the original Broadway cast of Rent together singing “Seasons of Love” also saved this musical from the worst spots on this list.

8. A Christmas Story Live!

The cast of A Christmas Story Live

The original A Christmas Story is a beloved holiday classic that is nearly inescapable in the days leading up to Christmas. A Christmas Story Live! aired on Fox in 2017, and was based on the stage musical A Christmas Story: The Musical. The stage version of the musical isn’t anywhere near as popular as the original movie, which already put this live event at a disadvantage. The musical itself is only fine, incorporating the nostalgia of the film into whimsical songs that capture the innocence of childhood. It featured stars such as SNL’s Maya Rudolf and Ferris Bueller himself, Matthew Broderick, in leading roles and starred child actor Andy Walken as Ralphie.

While the performances were good, with Maya Rudolf shining as Ralphie’s mother and Matthew Broderick nailing the narration, the show felt long and the musical numbers often felt out of place. The styling, though, was almost a perfect recreation of the movie, and the moments in Ralphie’s imagination were just as big and dramatic as Ralphie’s dreamworld demanded to be. Plus, seeing other SNL alums like Fred Armisen and Ana Gasteyer make cameos was perfect in a show that Maya Rudolf carried.

7. The Sound of Music Live!

Starring Carrie Underwood, The Sound of Music Live! was NBC’s first live musical event in 2013. Betting on the popularity of the original film that starred the amazing Julie Andrews as Maria, the singing governess who comes to take care of the Von Trapp children and ends up stealing the entire family’s heart, NBC took a chance on this musical and succeeded. While Carrie Underwood’s acting left something to be desired, she made up for it with her powerhouse vocals and charm. The musical also featured stars such as True Blood’s Stephen Moyer and Broadway legend Audra McDonald.

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Though the reviews for the event musical were mixed at best, its faithfulness to the original and the strong performances from the more experienced actors made this an overall solid production. Casting Maria with someone who is both a strong singer and actor might have improved the show, which sometimes felt a little like it was meant to showcase Carrie Underwood’s singing, more than anything. However, the show was well-received by audiences, and its success kicked off the trend of the live television musical, which in the end, is a win for The Sound of Music Live!.

6. The Wiz Live!

the wiz live online

Another NBC production, The Wiz Live! aired in 2015. Based on the iconic Broadway musical and film The Wiz, the NBC version captured the soulful, funky spirit of the originals while bringing an updated flavor to the 1970s-based show. The production starred newcomer Shanice Williams as Dorothy and featured a star-studded cast with celebrities such as R&B singers Ne-Yo and Mary J. Blige, and movie icons Whoopi Goldberg and Queen Latifah. The stunt casting, while a big audience draw, might have actually hurt the production more than it helped.

Another rough spot for the musical was its decision to cast a newcomer in the leading role. While NBC might have been hoping to make a star, the way the original Broadway production did when it cast Stephanie Mills, Williams seemed to be out of her league among the bigger stars in the show. Ne-Yo, who has a great R&B voice, also seemed out of place in a musical theater-style setting. However, the vocal performances, especially from Mary J. Blige, made this one of NBC’s highest-rated musicals.

5. The Little Mermaid Live!

The Little Mermaid Live! was ABC’s foray into the live TV musical game in 2019. Based on the 1989 Disney classic The Little Mermaid, it starred Disney alum Auli’i Cravalho, who previously voiced Moana, as the mermaid princess Ariel. While it received mixed reviews from critics, especially for Disney’s decision to air the original animated movie and only show live performances of the musical numbers, the cast gave spectacular performances. Queen Latifah was perfect as Ursula, giving the iconic villain the devious wit she is known for.

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The strangest casting choice was Shaggy, who played the role of Sebastian. While the iconic Jamaican crab does sing reggae-style songs just like Shaggy’s music, the singer wasn’t a good fit. He didn’t so much play Sebastian as he played himself singing Sebastian’s songs. Similarly baffling was John Stamos as the chef singing “Les Poissons.” While he gave a good performance, it felt random and out of place, especially because Stamos is such a recognizable actor in a role that amounts to a throwaway joke in the original film. The overall production, however, had the Disney magic that audiences expect from the Mouse, and only raised anticipation for the upcoming live-action Little Mermaid movie starring Halle Bailey.

4. Hairspray Live!

Hairspray Live!, based on the Broadway musical Hairspray, aired on NBC in 2016. This version of Hairspray was a spectacle that lived up to the hype. Following in the tradition of the original John Waters film, it starred newcomer Maddie Baillio, who went on to star in the Netflix film Dumplin’. Featuring pop diva Ariana Grande as Tracy Turnblad’s best friend Penny Pingleton and Disney Channel star Dove Cameron of Agents of SHIELD and The Descendents as antagonist Amber Von Tussle, the cast, which could have been accused of stunt casting, was phenomenal. The sets were dynamic and aimed for an immersive feel, and the costumes were bright, bold, and perfectly paid homage to the bold fashions of the 1960s. The production also featured cameos by the original two Tracys, Ricki Lake, who played Tracy in the non-musical John Waters version, and Marissa Jarret Winkour, who originated the role on Broadway.

The star-studded cast included Kristen Chenoweth, Harvey Fierstein, Martin Short, and Jennifer Hudson, among other big names. Fierstein, who played Tracy’s mother Edna, actually originated Edna on Broadway and won a Tony for the role. The only casting that felt a little out of place was Ariana Grande’s Penny, because Grande felt a little too glamorous for the role, which is supposed to be an awkward teenage girl.

3. Grease: Live

Casting can make or break a musical, and Grease: Live did a good job casting the iconic show. The original, which starred John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in the roles of Grease's Danny and Sandy, was the highest-grossing movie musical of all time at the time of its 1978 release and is considered a classic by fans of movie musicals. This live production, which aired on Fox in 2016, incorporated elements from both the iconic movie and the original stage production. Julianne Hough, who starred as Sandy, played the innocent school girl a little differently from Newton-John’s classic performance, but what she brought to Sandy was her strong dancing.

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It was also impressive that Fox went with Broadway star Aaron Tveit as Danny, rather than stunt casting a popular Hollywood actor who might not have given as good of a performance. The show successfully created a nostalgic experience for fans of Grease while allowing the performers to shine in their way, instead of expecting them to recreate previous work. Vanessa Hudgens also earned praise for her professionalism, as her father passed away the day before she performed in the show.

2. Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert

This show is what The Passion wanted to be. Starring music superstar John Legend, who isn’t normally an actor, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert aired on NBC in 2018, earning high praise from audiences and critics alike. While Legend is an acting novice, his soulful singing and gentle demeanor created a warm, relatable Jesus that captured hearts. Because this production was presented as a concert rather than a full theatrical production, it remained on one fixed set with minimal costume changes. However, the cast was so dynamic that it felt as alive and fleshed out as a full production. It also tells the story of the final days of Jesus Christ, leading up to the crucifixion, but where The Passion felt like a collection of moments, this version felt intimate and personal.

A production of Jesus Christ Superstar is only as good as its Judas, and Hamilton alum Brandon Victor Dixon more than delivered in a career-defining performance. Stars John Legend, Sara Bareilles, and Brandon Victor Dixon all earned Emmy nominations for their performances in this musical. It was so well received, that it actually won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special, along with four other Emmys in technical categories. From the costumes to the performances, this live musical event was near perfect and was a tough one for any of the networks to top.

1. Annie Live!

Coming out at number 1, it’s that curly-haired orphan who has been winning the hearts of NYC and the world for nearly 100 years. Though Jesus Christ Superstar was tough to beat, it’s even harder to beat cute kids and perfectly cast celebrities in a well-made show. Young Celina Smith, who starred as Annie, was an adorable and sweet version of the iconic character and wowed audiences with a powerful voice. Taraji P. Henson’s homage to Carol Burnett, who originated the role of Miss Hannigan in the 1982 film version, was spot-on and delightful. The little girls who played Annie’s fellow orphan were also ridiculously good, dazzling with acrobatics, high-energy dance numbers, and adorable moments from Felice Kakaletris as little Molly.

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The casting choices could have gone either way. When a musical focuses more on famous people, even if they’re good singers, it can lead to disasters like the live-action version of Cats. Here, singer Nicole Scherzinger (Grace Farrell) and music icon Harry Connick Jr. (Daddy Warbucks) not only gave excellent vocal performances but delivered with their acting, as well. Tituss Burgess and Megan Hilty, who played Rooster and Lily St. Regis, completely transformed, putting their Broadway training to good use. While many of the live musicals got complaints about not being up to par against the Broadway versions of the show, this version brought every bit of the Broadway flair to the small screen. Annie Live! is a star-making turn for Celina Smith, who previously starred in a touring production of The Lion King.

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