The best and worst moments of "Hairspray Live"
And with that, “Hairspray Live!” is officially over!
After months of preparation, the three-hour live event hit television sets Wednesday, dazzling audiences with its impressive sets and star-studded cast -- but not every moment shined so brightly.
Here are the best, worst, and weirdest moments of NBC’s live show.
THE BEST
Garrett Clayton’s Solo Mannequin Challenge:
Garrett Clayton makes just as good of a mannequin as he does a Link Larkin. The former Disney star shined throughout the show, but we just can’t forget his amazing poses during “I Can Hear the Bells.” Why wasn’t he better utilized during the cast’s amazing mannequin challenge?!!
Seaweed and Little Sis:
We could not get enough of Ephraim Sykes and Shahadi Wright Joseph, who graciously volunteered their Broadway talents (Sykes starred in “Hamilton,” while Joseph’s already racked up an impressive resume in “The Lion King” and “School of Rock”) to the small screen for the night as Seaweed J. Stubbs and Little Inez.
The Dynamites:
They may have sang backup, but these ladies in red took center stage in almost every musical number. Their smooth harmonies, coordinated outfits and jazzy moves left us wanting more.
Tracy Reunion:
The Tracy Turnblad tribute was almost too much for us to handle. The TV musical did not disappoint with Ricki Lake and Marissa Jaret Winokur’s cameos during “Welcome to the ’60s,” which was quick enough to pay respect to the former Tracys, but keep the focus on Maddie Baillio.
Derek Hough:
Hough was as charming as ever as Corny Collins, backing up his already-impressive moves with a surprisingly good singing voice and a cool Oreo trick that we can’t get out of our minds (and he can’t get off his jacket... We saw that little milk spill, Hough).
Jennifer Hudson’s Killer Pipes:
Jennifer Hudson did not disappoint! The 35-year-old singer-actress soared as Motormouth Maybelle, showing off her unbelievable vocal range in “Big, Blond and Beautiful,” and “I Know Where I’ve Been.” Slay, J-Hud, Slay!
THE WORST
Mic Issues:
We’re not exactly sure if this one’s a mic issue or if Baillio just forgot the words, but there was a considerable silence during the show’s opening number, “Good Morning Baltimore.” While Baillio quickly recovered from the snafu, mics also cut out a few other times throughout the three-hour show.
Good Morning Baltimore?:
Baillio might have been singing her city good morning, but unless she wakes up at 3 a.m., we’re not buying it. While the show’s use of outdoor sets was certainly impressive, opening with “Good Morning Baltimore” when it’s clearly dark outside maybe wasn’t the best choice.
Dead Silence After Obvious Jokes:
Harvey Fierstein did not disappoint with Edna’s signature jokes, but somehow they just didn’t translate without the audience’s laughter. While audience reactions were used during “The Corny Collins Show,” failing to use the crowd’s genuine reaction to obvious jokes was a missed opportunity.
Darren Criss:
Sorry, Darren Criss, but you just weren’t needed. We thought the “Glee” actor’s addition to the musical as host would end with the pre-show, but Criss was there whenever the show faded to black -- and even when it didn’t -- to transition us to commercial break. While we could’ve done without him, Criss did have one shining moment: giving a shout-out to “Dangerous Woman” Ariana Grande between performances.
Kristin Chenoweth’s Curtain Call Gets Cut Short:
Famous Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth slayed as Velma Von Tussle, but if you only tuned in for the curtain call, you’d have no idea. The camera awkwardly cut to Ariana Grande as soon as Chenoweth ran up to take her bow. Awkward.
THE WEIRDEST
Confusing Backstage Live Feed:
While Darren Criss led us to commercial breaks, the show kept going -- airing the cast’s backstage activities in a tiny screen in the lower right corner of the screen. While it was an interesting feature, we just didn’t know where to look. Alas, the show must go on... even through commercial breaks.
Producers’ Choice:
While we anticipated variations to NBC’s version of the show, giving “Ladies’ Choice” to Hough was definitely unexpected. Though we don’t disagree with the move given Hough’s outstanding performance, the decision to take away Link’s solo -- and give it to an older Corny -- was a little weird.
Ariana Grande’s Bangs:
Girlfriend could use a trim! Grande rocked Penny Pingleton’s signature look throughout the show, but her wig seemed just a little too long during her final performance. The pint-sized singer could barely see through her fringe! While her hairline was definitely a distraction, we’re just happy Grande made it ponytail-free for three full hours.