THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY: THE LITTLE MERMAID LIVE, ABC!

[merprincess]

Hi all! I've posted my review on tumblr, it's a bit too long to post here, let me know if you want to read it. But in summary, it wasn't perfect and had several awkward moments, most of all lacking the heart and charm of the actual story in full (cutting several scenes) in favor of spectacle and grandeur, but I'm still glad it happened and we did get some pretty marvelous performances out of it!

[fathomsbelow]

I logged back in for the first time in years basically to say I thought it was fun and it brought back so many memories!

[veu]

From The Hofstra Chronicle:

ABC's 'The Little Mermaid Live!' makes a splash
Arts & Entertainment

Live remakes of movies and musicals seem to be the new trend in Hollywood. ABC made a splash with their rendition of “The Little Mermaid Live!” which aired on Tuesday, Nov. 5. While Fox and NBC have already dived into the world of remakes, this was ABC’s debut, which celebrated the film’s 30th anniversary. There was a wide variety of responses from audiences, some claiming it swam and others believing it sank.

This hour-and-a-half special was introduced by the original voice of Ariel, Jodi Benson. “Fathoms Below” opened the show with energetic dancing, aerial acrobatics and a classic tap number. All of these elements were comparable to those of a Broadway show.

Interactive audience participation was encouraged, whether it was having members sway blue cloth to resemble waves or wear crab hands during “Under the Sea.” The director of the production took the live aspect of the show to heart, bringing a real dog on stage to play Prince Eric’s furry companion.

The production featured seamless transitions between live musical numbers and original film clips. It was hard to deny that “under the sea” feeling, especially with Ariel effortlessly swimming throughout the notable musical number “Part of Your World.” Bobbing technicolor jellyfish, floating bubbles and exquisite costumes all meshed together to create a night of oceanic wonder.

Auli’i Cravalho embodied the lead character of Ariel in her second Disney princess role. Cravalho took control of the waters in her previous role of Moana. As Ariel, Cravalho rode the tide throughout the show using her head voice, but faced rocky waters when belting sustained notes.

Queen Latifah anchored the show with her powerful performance of “Poor Unfortunate Souls.” Queen Latifah, who played the dark Ursula, descended to the ocean floor surrounded by her unruly tentacles at the start of the number. For the remainder of the song, she strutted like a true queen in her shiny, skintight dress. Fog machines, vials of glitter and detailed cave walls only intensified the already magical performance.

Other notable performers included Full House favorite John Stamos (Chef Louis) and “It Wasn’t Me” singer Shaggy (Sebastian).

While some felt nostalgia watching the live production, others felt like “poor unfortunate souls.”

Twitter had a field day as the hashtag #LittleMermaidLive was trending during the show. Critics were disappointed in the production’s choice to have audience members wear claws, while Shaggy surfed the stage clawless. Others were unhappy with Flounder’s unnerving appearance. The show crashed the most when ABC advertised it as a full live version of the film, which it wasn’t. The show featured more of the original film with drops of musical numbers throughout.

Regardless of viewer opinions, the popularity of remakes is a part of our world. ABC’s “Little Mermaid Live!” is only the latest in a trend that has been previously dominated by Fox and NBC. While ABC was a fish out of water with their debut, they managed to assemble an all hands on deck performance that, for some, seized the day.

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From Variety:

Success of ‘Little Mermaid Live’ Hooks Networks on the Idea of Big Event Programming
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER
Variety Editor at Large

The networks still want to be a part of your world, and the success last week of ABC’s “The Little Mermaid Live” was a reminder that they can — especially with the kind of appointment programming that the streamers still don’t do.

“The Little Mermaid Live” averaged 9 million viewers and a 2.6 rating among adults 18-49 in same-day ratings — numbers that aren’t huge but are remarkable in 2019, when fragmented audiences aren’t watching day-and-date TV like they used to.

“It was quite a surprise,” says Katy Mullan, executive producer at Done+Dusted, which was behind the special. “There aren’t many of these around anymore. In this day and age, we need something to watch together.”

And in a month where the industry is focused on the launches of direct-to-consumer services Apple Plus and Disney Plus, and preparing for the debut of several more entrants next year, that a special can break through like “Little Mermaid” is heartening for those looking to maintain broadcast relevancy.

“I think you’ll see more taking chances,” says ABC’s Rob Mills, senior vice president of alternative series, specials and late-night programming. “Even when you miss, it’s so much better to have a miss that everyone’s talking about. You want to keep them special, so we’re not doing them once a week. But we’re doing them more, which reminds people this is a place to have these shared cultural moments.”

The networks know this, of course, thanks to live sports coverage such as NFL games, which dominate ratings. But “appointment viewing still exists — it’s not just for sports,” Mullan says. The trend toward live TV specials first made a comeback earlier this decade with NBC’s “The Sound of Music Live” in 2013, and that success led to others on NBC and Fox.

This spring, ABC found success with a twist on the formula: “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” re-enacted two classic Norman Lear sitcoms.

“The Little Mermaid Live” aired in November, a month the broadcast networks used to schedule with all sorts of specials and programming stunts. That’s when “sweeps” — the months that Nielsen measured demographic ratings for local markets — still mattered. But demo ratings are now regularly available in major markets, and the idea of sweeps has disappeared.

“The networks for quite a while now have lacked showmanship,” laments former NBC and Fox scheduling head Preston Beckman, who’s now a media consultant. “When you do it, whether it’s something like this or how you package your regular programming, you often get rewarded for it.”

Mills agrees that the networks should be striving to do more specials and stunts, bringing back what used to be a hallmark of primetime.

“The irony is, you need to do more of it in the streaming era because there’s so much more competition, but I feel like broadcasters used to do this much more in the ’70s and ’80s when there wasn’t so much competition,” he says. “It’s about getting that confidence back that we can be just as important as the streamers.”

It’s not just about specials, says Beckman, who points to how ABC turned its regular series into a weeklong event with its recent Cast From the Past stunt. The idea featured reunions and cameos by casts from classic TV shows and movies on current shows. It was reminiscent of the kind of gimmicks networks used to do more frequently.

“I give them credit for that,” he says. “Some of these things, it’s not like they require a tremendous amount of effort.”

Beckman believes the broadcast networks lost that showmanship as they began to chase after cable and go the prestige route. But Mills also notes that live specials aren’t cheap — and in the age of fractured audiences there’s less of a guarantee they’ll attract a big enough crowd.

“You can’t hold people captive the way you really could before,” Mills says. “It’s a little bit of fear in taking a big swing that could possibly cost you tens of millions of dollars to your bottom line.”

One season where networks are going all out is the holidays, which have become a much larger presence in primetime. Perhaps inspired by the success of cable networks and radio stations that go wall-to-wall Christmas, every broadcaster has stuffed its December lineup with holiday-themed limited series and specials — including a new edition of “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” on ABC. “Your sales department wants that kind of stuff,” Beckman says.

Mills and Mullan say the numbers for “The Little Mermaid Live” pretty much guarantee that more live Disney musicals are coming. “When this first started, the idea was that in success, we’ve got a library of 60-plus years of these animated classics,” Mills says. “It’s a no-brainer that we can do more of these.”

[veu]

From PopCulture:

'Little Mermaid Live' Used a Real Dog for Max, and Viewers Have Thoughts

By KYLE PHILLIPPI - November 6, 2019 02:37 am EST

Viewers of The Little Mermaid are all on board with the production's casting of Prince Eric's dog, Max. Rather than take the easy route and use a costumed character or even a puppet, the team opted to use a real sheep dog to take on the iconic dog from the 1989 Disney classic. As a result, fans were raving about Max.

OMG THEY GOT A SHEEPDOG FOR MAX!!!!! #TheLittleMermaidLive
— Nora Mermaid w/ Post Gryph0n Depression (@nora_Mermaid) November 6, 2019
"So far my favorite actor in this live Little Mermaid is the actual dog playing Price Eric's dog Max," a user tweeted.

Echoing a similar sentiment, another person tweeted in all caps, "They're using a real sheep dog for The Little Mermaid Live, you have no idea how happy I am right now."

Max made his debut in the opening number when Graham Phillips, who plays Eric, performed the opening song. The emergence of a real dog was a welcomed sight for the audience, which erupted into a cheer.

At the same time, the audience's volume throughout the special has been an issue for viewers at home who are complaining that it is taking away from the performers on stage.

There was also a concern among fans on social media as to why Ariel's father, King Triton, did not have a role in the live-action part of the performance. King Triton's only appearances were from the clips from the original that were show in between numbers.

Nonetheless, the love of Max's casting was a win for the audience.

So far the best part of the little mermaid live is the dog, Max
— Yessi (@yessisg16) November 6, 2019
The show stars Auli'i Cravalho as Ariel along with Queen Latifah as Ursula and Shaggy as Sebastian. John Stamos also appears as Chef Louis.

Speaking with ABC's Las Vegas affiliate, WABC, Shaggy explained that he doesn't have any nerves heading into the special, and that he's eager to put his own twist on his character.

"I've done these kinds of live situations so I don't know if there's a nervousness or craziness that's supposed to be, I'm just really excited and really happy to bring the character back in to give a Caribbean feel to it and all of that," he said.

0
COMMENTS
The pivotal role of Ursula will be played by Queen Latifah.

"The actual movie will be playing, but then there are these musical numbers that go live," she said. "You'll see the characters pop-out and come to life."

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From ABCNews:

Meet Bagel the dog, who stole the show in 'The Little Mermaid Live!'
By ANGELINE JANE BERNABE viaGMA Nov 7, 2019, 7:32 AM ET

"The Little Mermaid Live!" is over, but there’s one star from the show who’s still the talk of the internet.

Meet Bagel, the cute ball of fluff who instantly stole everyone’s hearts as Max, Prince Eric’s loyal dog.

But unlike the film, Bagel is actually a girl!

'The Little Mermaid Live!' to star Auli'i Cravalho, Queen Latifah and Shaggy
In social media posts, Bagel can be found wearing cute bows with her hair clipped up to keep it from covering her eyes. She also lives quite an exciting life, too. Many photos show her on different adventures around Los Angeles.

Like Max in the 1989 film, Bagel is also an English sheepdog and almost identical to Max with her hair down.

The moment Bagel appeared on stage next to Graham Phillips in the show’s opening number, "Fathom’s Below," many took to Twitter to share their love for the pup, with some even claiming that it was Bagel who stole the show.


pls pick me im so goofy !
@heiioanti
i’m watching the little mermaid live and this dog stole the show i-
2
2:05 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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Kaela Yonemoto
@kaeelaa
S/o to the dog in the little mermaid live
7:38 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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Hitzel 🌙💃🏼
@hitzelmonroe
My favorite part of the little mermaid live was the dog tbh 😂😂😂💕
10:44 PM - Nov 6, 2019
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On Twitter, many had split feelings about the overall show, but one thing’s for sure: they absolutely loved Bagel.


Jacklyn
@thatjacklyn
The dog playing Max is 100% the highlight of my Little Mermaid Live experience.
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Lauren Buhler
@leblo3590
Watching Little Mermaid Live and all I care about is the dog!!!! Seriously sooo cute!
1
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Andie Yurchak
@aly8230
Why am I enjoying this partially live The Little Mermaid so much? I’m not sure, but there was a dog.
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While this was the first time that many have seen the pup, Bagel is no stranger to performing in front of big crowds.

From her Instagram account, @bagel_old_english_therapy_dog, this wasn’t the first time Bagel has played Max, but the second. Earlier this year, Bagel made her on-stage debut during "The Little Mermaid: An Immersive Live-to-Film Concert Experience" at the Hollywood Bowl.

There, he starred alongside Lea Michele as Ariel, Ken Page as Sebastian and even Alan Menken.

Among her many talents, Bagel also plays her part in the community by helping others as a therapy dog.

On their Facebook page, Bagel & Donut the Old English Therapy Dogs, Bagel works with her friend, Donut, to provide comfort and love to those in need. They’ve visited elementary schools, spent time with Girl Scouts and have interacted with kids in libraries.

In 2018, when the Borderline shooting and Woolsey Fire happened in Ventura County, she spent three days greeting firefighters and first responders and visiting trauma centers to provide comfort to shooting victims.


(MORE: Behind the scenes of 'The Little Mermaid Live')
Is there anything Bagel can’t do?


Video

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From Bustle:

'The Little Mermaid Live!' Dog Looks JUST Like The Animated Version
By KAYLA BLANTON
Nov 6, 2019

It only took five minutes for Prince Eric's dog in The Little Mermaid Live! to steal the show. During the musical special's opening number of "Fathoms Below," out popped Max — a real white and gray sheep dog who looks exactly like the one in the original 1989 movie. Immediately, he was Twitter's favorite part of the cast.


"So far my favorite actor in this live Little Mermaid is the actual dog playing Prince Eric's dog Max," wrote one viewer. Added another: "The dog is the best part of the little mermaid live I'm just sayin what a good boi the best boi."

The live production dipped back and forth between the original animated film and live, on-stage musical performances from the star-studded cast: Moana's Auli'i Cravalho as Ariel, Shaggy as Sebastian, and Graham Phillips (Riverdale, The Good Wife) as Prince Eric. But all of the promo ahead of the show failed to mention the most important part: one very glorious, well-groomed dog would also be in the cast.

Max plays a small but significant role in the animated movie, and the same seems to go for Little Mermaid Live!. In the film, he's there when Ariel spies on Eric for the first time from below his ship and eventually catches her scent and tracks her down. When a storm hits and the ship catches fire, he's nearly trapped and killed, but Eric risks his life to go back and save him.



Brandon Werner
@bbwerner
So far my favorite actor in this live Little Mermaid is the actual dog playing Prince Eric’s dog Max.
2
2:07 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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angel
@fakeaquarian
The dog is the best part of the little mermaid live I’m just sayin what a good boi the best boi
2:04 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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Max may have stuck to what he knew for the live production (there's not a lot of interpretation when it comes to, you know, being a dog), but the rest of the cast put their own spin on their characters. Cravalho's Ariel is "a little bit more sassy," she told Variety. "I think she's got a little bit more spunk to her. She's strong and she wants to do something different from her parents and from those around her." She said she imbued her portrayal of Disney's Princess Moana with that same attribute.

Graham Phillips added new dimensions to Prince Eric, too. "If it wasn’t for [Ariel], he wouldn’t be alive and he wouldn't have his vitality back after God knows how long of him being in the dumps," he said. If it wasn't for Ariel and Max, that is.

[veu]

From People:

The Little Mermaid Live: What Twitter and Disney Fans Thought of the Production
Disney fans were torn over the live production of The Little Mermaid
By Natalie Stone and Christina Dugan November 05, 2019 09:12 PM

The Little Mermaid was brought up from under the sea to the stage — and Disney audiences were torn over the production.
On Tuesday evening, ABC honored the 30th anniversary of the iconic Disney animated film with a live special that was performed in front of an audience on the Disney lot as the original movie was shown on a giant projection.
The two-hour live musical event took “viewers on a magical adventure under the sea as live musical performances by a star-studded cast” were “interwoven into the broadcast of the original feature film,” ABC shared ahead of the show.

Starring as Ariel was 18-year-old actress Auli’i Cravalho, who donned long red tresses and eyebrows to become the Disney princess. (Jodi Benson, the original voice of Ariel, also made a special appearance to introduce the production.)
Auli’i Cravalho, Queen Latifah and John Stamos

The villainous sea witch Ursula, meanwhile, was portrayed by Queen Latifah, who suited up in velvet tentacles, white hair and gold shell necklace for the role. Shaggy played Jamaican crab Sebastian, John Stamos portrayed Chef Louis, and Prince Eric was played by actor Graham Phillips, best known for his roles in Riverdale and The Good Wife. (Phillips also dated Ariana Grande.)
RELATED: Disney’s Original Ariel Reacts to Halle Bailey Being Cast in Live-Action The Little Mermaid
So what did viewers think? As The Little Mermaid Live! production aired, fans of the fan-favorite Disney film shared their mixed reviews on social media.
Some loved the production.
“The little mermaid live is beautifully stitching together live performances with clips from the original movie. I love the transitions, and the small things they’re adding,” tweeted one user.

Kimberly Stroh
@savvymamalife
Disney always nails the costume design. Between the parks, broadway and #LittleMermaidLive, they've proved that they CAN DO a theatrical Little Mermaid production.
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2:41 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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Jordyn Taylor
✔
@jordynhtaylor
Instantly iconic #TheLittleMermaidLive
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Joanna Nani Love
@mrslove711
@johnstamos totally owned the chef role! I loved it #thelittlemermaidlive
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some sarcastic teacher sh**™️
@teachercurses
the little mermaid live is beautifully stitching together live performances with clips from the original movie. I love the transitions, and the small things they’re adding.
2
2:34 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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michael blackmon
✔
@blackmon
Queen Latifah as Ursula is ICONIQUE #TheLittleMermaidLive
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2,858
2:54 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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726 people are talking about this

🦃🍂Sam I Am🍂🦃
@vesuvia30
Man the Little Mermaid is my favorite, and this live rendition is so good. Gettin me right in the feels of my childhood #LittleMermaidLive
3
2:35 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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Christmas Soon!
@ot7_bts20
OKAY BUT THE LITTLE MERMAID LIVE IS GIVING ME FEELS
2:35 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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#CowboysNation ✭
@thehavananation
As one of my all time favorite Disney movies, the idea of bringing The Little Mermaid to life combining a live cast with the original movie is awesome, loving it so far. #TheLittleMermaidLive
1
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April Gallardo
@aprrilnicole
Watching The Little Mermaid live and my heart is so happy. My favorite princess 🧜🏻‍♀️❤️😭🐠
2
2:42 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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Rod
@rod882
Im loving the live little mermaid, it’s so nostalgic 😭😭😭
2:49 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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Gary E Davis
@gary_E_Davis
They hit the nail on the head with the cast of the little mermaid Awesome is too small a word!!!
2
2:52 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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Bri SkinnyMinnie
@brililbooty
The little mermaid live has me feeling like a kid all over again! 😩
2
2:55 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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AmberDawn Landrum
@amberdawnland
Okay so it's official

Queen Latifah is an actual goddess — watching The Little: Mermaid Live on ABC
11
2:56 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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Janaya Williams
✔
@janaya
Shaggy was the best part of this whole production! #LittleMermaidLive
1
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But others weren’t as impressed.
“I’m not hate watching. I love The Little Mermaid, but my heart is hurting for this live production,” wrote another Twitter user.

Charae
@millenialmommie
Is Disney low key struggling, because I need an explanation for this #TheLittleMermaidLive
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1,717
2:49 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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Brian Leung
@writeleungwrite
I'm not hate watching. I love The Little Mermaid, but my heart is hurting for this live production.
20
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Jay
@jswarley29
This hot mess isn’t making me hopeful for the live action movie of The Little Mermaid... #LittleMermaidLive
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Just❤️Aaron🥂
@kinggmocha
Umm I need something to happen on this #TheLittleMermaidLive because right now I’m now impressed. I am too much of a Disney fan for y’all to be playing with the little mermaid like this. 😫
6
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🌻Sadie🌻
@sadie99001936
Im watching the little mermaid live and not to be that person BUT wow that was bad and its only the first song 😒
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2:35 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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abi
@pibbers_
The little mermaid live ....
I’m not mad, just disappointed
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2:36 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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lyss
@zingbothot
so i’m watching the little mermaid live and it’s...not good
2:35 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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idgafawyhtsydt
@zombiesgorawrzz
This is a huge let down for someone that’s favorite Disney movie is the little mermaid. #TheLittleMermaidLive
1
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Randa
@randa_Leigh21
not loving the live version of the little mermaid........I need them to act more animated idk
1
2:35 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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Currently, Disney is gearing up for the production of a live-action feature adaptation of the 1989 animated film, starring Halle Bailey as Ariel.
Production is anticipated to begin in early 2020.

[veu]

From Variety:

‘The Little Mermaid Live’ Team Talks More Musical Numbers, Aerial Work and Understudies
By DANIELLE TURCHIANO

The live television musical is a genre that has seen great evolution over the years. Some productions have employed inside/outside settings, while others have incorporated 360-degree oners, and many have created immersive experiences where the audience is part of the production. For ABC’s first foray into this special area of artistry, it is upping the ante further: “The Wonderful World of Disney: The Little Mermaid Live” mixes live-action song-and-dance numbers featuring puppetry, aerial work and live animals with the animation of the 30-year-old classic film.

“Everybody wanted to do something a little different,” executive producer Raj Kapoor tells Variety. “We had this whole creative team that comes from a vast range of experiences, and everyone wanted to put their own spin on it because we see this as blending the theatrical version with the feature film version with a live awards show meeting elements of the Super Bowl.”


The process to develop Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” into a live television event began more than two years ago, Kapoor explains. But a mere four months ago the creative team he references, which includes the other producers, director Hamish Hamilton and production designer Misty Buckley, started “dissecting the movie — examining how we were going to get in and out of the feature film to our live performances,” he continues.

Unlike past live television musicals, “The Little Mermaid” will play scenes from the original animated film on a screen in Stage 2 on the Burbank, Calif. Walt Disney Studios lot. This will keep the action of the story going as the crew resets the stage for next musical number, during which live-action performers will take the stage.

“Everything that you love about the movie is still intact. We literally just burst off the screen to do these musical numbers,” says John Stamos, who first played Chef Louis in the 2016 production of “The Little Mermaid” at the Hollywood Bowl and now reprises him for ABC.

For Stamos, being a part of ABC’s version is a chance to go “deeper into what I came up with” for the Hollywood Bowl version. “I started thinking this guy was insane, really, so I just wanted to play into that, and they were like, ‘Great, go with it.’ He’s a serial killer for fish and crabs, but he’s just manic. And with the Hollywood Bowl you sort of just stood there and did the thing, but with this, I’m chopping fish and I’m chasing crabs, and I get rid of one crab and there’s another one, and then I think I’ve got all of the crabs cooked and one comes out of the sky. It’s really incredible,” he says.

Enhancing the physicality of Chef Louis while he sings his infamous “Les Poissons” is just the tip of the iceberg for how ABC’s version of “The Little Mermaid” is expanding upon the iconic music of the story, though. While Kapoor admits that composer “Alan Menken’s original score is a masterpiece,” he shares they had the ability to re-score the project so that “even the movie that’s being played has an entirely new in-hand score, so the audio dynamics completely match what will be recorded live.” The production brought in a 45-piece orchestra for this new score — which will be featured on the show’s soundtrack, dropping the same night as the television event.


But that is not all that has been tweaked. Auli’i Cravalho, who plays the titular Ariel, shares that her version of the character is “a little bit more sassy” than in the animated film. “I think she’s got a little bit more spunk to her,” she says. “Admittedly that is myself, that’s also what I brought to Moana: She’s strong and she wants to do something different from her parents and from those around her.”

Graham Phillips, who plays Prince Eric, says there will be new insight given into his character, as well. “He’s lost both of his parents, and he’s decided to go off on a ship, and [when] he goes off on this adventure, he finds this girl who, literally, when he falls overboard brings him back to life. There’s something really interesting about that need to get back into a place where he feels alive again,” he says. “Sometimes it feels like there’s a girl he has a crush on, but it’s a lot more than that: If it wasn’t for her, he wouldn’t be alive and he wouldn’t have his vitality back after God knows how long of him being in the dumps.”

The spoken dialogue of the film will play as animated, but “The Little Mermaid Live” will lean heavier on the music to reach its audience emotionally. For this, too, Kapoor says the production made notable changes, including altering some of the lyrics “because things that people reacted to 30 years ago are a little different now, and we wanted to maybe have Ariel be a little more present and feel like she had a little more of a voice, even when she doesn’t.” But they also wanted to be able to celebrate some of the featured characters in a new and unique way.

While the 1989 film had four iconic character songs, ABC’s version is tripling that, in part by pulling from some of the material that was developed for the Broadway version of the story. This allows for the “Daughters of Triton” number that originally last for less than a minute in the movie to become more of a centerpiece for the characters of Ariel’s sisters, introduced by a brand-new emcee character, played by Amber Riley.


“I kind of channeled Whitney Houston,” Riley says of her character.

Additionally, Prince Eric, who never sang in the animated film, is now a part of four out of the 12 numbers.

“I started out doing opera and Broadway and whatnot, so it feels like a homecoming for me,” says Phillips. “I’ve always felt more comfortable on stage, doing something live, than I do on camera for some reason. In a strange way it feels less contrived because there’s a degree of commitment that requires you to really be fully present that you don’t always get when you’re doing 15 takes. You’ve only got one shot at this.”

In order to adequately prepare for the one-take on show night, the performers have been working for approximately a month, taking part in costume fittings and choreography rehearsals with choreographers RJ Durell and Nick Florez, which led to camera blocking and tech rehearsals. Those performers who will be taking flight in the show, such as Cravalho, also went to Las Vegas to have aerial rehearsal with Fly by Foy.

“I’m in a harness — in a tail, in a wig, in full hair and makeup and singing. It’s been challenging, but I’ve loved the challenge,” she says. “I do crunches before getting into the harness to tighten my core and not to get injured.”

The first full dress rehearsal for the cast did not take place until the day before the live show, on Monday, Nov. 4. In fact, some of the performers, such as Stamos and Shaggy (who plays Sebastian) had not even met until the dress rehearsal.

“No pun but I’m like a fish out of water, really. But that was also part of the excitement of why I wanted to do it. I’ve never done anything like this theatrical production — and I think if they had offered me this 10 years ago, I would have probably said no. But where I am in my career, in my mind, what I’ve already accomplished and done, it feels like the right time,” Shaggy says.

Although the role of Sebastian the crab went to a human, “The Little Mermaid Live” is not shying away from different representations of different animals. Many of the fish and other underwater creatures are done as puppets, for example, but Prince Eric’s beloved dog Max is a real dog — the only live animal in the show. Bagel, an English Sheepdog, plays Max the dog, and came with her trainer to all of the rehearsals that her human costars had to.


“Our show is so layered with people flying and puppeteers, and we also have a dog, but we also have kids. I think the youngest people in our cast are eight years old, but we also have people in our cast who are 72 years old. We have a live audience of about 500 who will get to take part in an interactive way, with performers coming into the audience and bubbles for the kids,” says Kapoor. “We wanted to celebrate all different ethnicities, all different body types, all different ages and have people feel like they could be part of our show. We kind of have everything under the sun because we wanted it to be a family celebration.”

Prior to going true live, the production is running through the show three full times. Kapoor notes that they “definitely have understudies and we are taping all three of our full run-throughs.” After performer Brennin Hunt broke his foot ahead of Fox’s live version of “Rent” in January, the team behind “The Little Mermaid Live” wanted to make sure they had a contingency plan. Fox ended up airing the previous night’s performance, which had been shot live-to-tape, and then went true live for the final act.

“We would never want to have to do what Fox did, but that is one of our backups as well,” Kapoor admits.

Yet, injuries aside, Stamos is one performer who believes the fun of a live show is seeing something go wrong. “Unless you’re screwing up or something funny happens, you may not really know it’s live. I remember they did ‘ER’ live years ago and the east coast one went so perfect they told [George] Clooney, ‘In the next one, kick a camera, mess it up a little bit.’ So that’s what I’m going to do,” he says.

“The Little Mermaid Live” airs Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

[veu]

From Los Angeles Times:

TELEVISION
‘The Little Mermaid Live!’ isn’t 100% live. Here’s how they pulled off that opening

NOV. 5, 2019 5:08 PM
“The Little Mermaid Live!” doesn’t have the most accurate title. Airing Tuesday night at 8 p.m. on ABC, the television event isn’t structured like the live musical events shown on the other broadcast networks in recent years. Instead, the unique presentation combines the dialogue scenes from the 1989 animated movie with newly staged musical numbers — a formula that’s worked well for Disney for years at the Hollywood Bowl.

The musical performances are broadcast live from the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. Well, most of them.

Nov. 5, 2019
The event’s introduction by Jodi Benson, the actress who voiced Ariel in the original film, was taped before the broadcast. “I can’t believe it’s been over three decades since I sang ‘Part of Your World’ for an exciting new Disney musical called ‘The Little Mermaid,’” she says to the throngs of attendees gathered around the stage, as well as the viewers at home.

After the opening frames of the film, the feed goes live to the “dive-in theater” — a Disney sound stage outfitted with vivid LED screens and a proscenium topped by a King Triton bust — for the program’s first live number: “Fathoms Below,” sung by Prince Eric (Graham Phillips) and his diversely cast seaboard crew. The impressive spectacle includes intricate dance numbers, aerial routines, fog effects and flocks of puppet seagulls. There’s even an appearance from Eric’s shaggy dog, Max.

The film then resumes for some minutes, before returning to the sound stage for another song. This time, though, the underwater concert — “Daughters of Triton,” sung by a narrator-like character (Amber Riley) instead of in unison by Ariel’s siblings — was pretaped.

That’s because adapting both of the film’s early songs for the (semi-) live format required large set pieces that would have taken too long to set up and pull down — especially since there’s no commercial break between them. During Tuesday morning’s dress rehearsal, it took nearly eight minutes to dismantle the parts of Eric’s ship and put up the pieces of Ariel’s treasure trove: the giant harp, oversized candlestick and other thingamabobs that decorate the kelp-covered set and hang from the ceiling. That onstage transformation also requires trucking Ariel’s iconic rock to the turntable at the top of the thrust stage, so that Auli’i Cravalho can re-create that splashy pose during the reprise of “Part of Your World.”

Though that ambitious transition is done offscreen, it is indeed done live — while those at home are watching the animated scenes. The rest of the program’s musical numbers, sung by Queen Latifah, Shaggy and John Stamos, are broadcast live.

[veu]

From Los Angeles Times:

TELEVISION
Queen Latifah’s Ursula is the best part of ‘The Little Mermaid Live!’ Let us explain

By ASHLEY LEESTAFF WRITER
NOV. 5, 2019 6:06 PM
“The Little Mermaid Live!” may be named after Ariel, but during ABC’s musical event, Ursula stole the show.

Queen Latifah portrayed the singing sea witch, voiced by Pat Carroll in the animated film and previously played onstage by Rebel Wilson, Harvey Fierstein and Sherie Rene Scott. We are richer beings for witnessing her knockout number, “Poor Unfortunate Souls.”

Nov. 5, 2019
Here are all the things we loved about Latifah’s take on the beloved villain:

Her marionette tentacles.
As a conniving cephalopod, Latifah made a spectacular entrance by descending onto the stage with her tentacles dancing along to her song.

Her latex look.
After singing the first few bars of her song, Latifah ripped open her purple dress (really, a cleverly designed floor-length harness) to reveal a body-hugging black latex gown, with a sweetheart neckline and a trumpet-like train. She then sauntered across the stage and picked up a matching eel, which she wore as a boa around her shoulders.

Her powerful voice.
Audiences shouldn’t be surprised that Latifah could conquer “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” a song that requires strong vocals and a delicious personality. Latifah previously sang onscreen in Warner Bros.’ gospel choir movie “Joyful Noise” in 2012, the New Line movie-musical “Hairspray” in 2007 — later made into its own live musical — and the Miramax adaptation of “Chicago” in 2002, for which she received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.

Her aquatic makeup.
With blue eye shadow and burgundy lipstick, Latifah’s look was completed by a white-gray wig with waves that seemed to stand straight up. The fireworks of her cauldron paled in comparison to her ensemble.

Her unmistakable stage presence.
As many of the networks’ previous live musicals have illustrated, it’s tough to evoke stage presence through a screen. But Latifah is a seasoned actress of film, TV and theater, and shows off her ability to engage both the live audience at Disney’s “dive-in theater” — a sound stage in Burbank — and those watching at home. She works the camera and the crowd, leaving no one wanting. (Latifah was previously a highlight of NBC’s live musical version of “The Wiz” in 2015. Talk about cornering the market.)

[veu]

From Insider:

5 awkward moments from 'The Little Mermaid Live!' and the one performance that made the show
Lauren Frias Nov 6, 2019, 8:27 AM



To honor the 30th anniversary of one of the most beloved Disney films of all time, The Wonderful World of Disney and ABC are proud to present a spectacular, live musical event showcasing “The Little Mermaid.” This special tribute to the original animated classic and its timeless music takes viewers on a magical adventure under the sea as live musical performances by a star-studded cast are interwoven into the broadcast of the original feature film, live on ABC. ABC/Eric McCandless
"The Little Mermaid Live!" captivated nostalgic audiences Tuesday night with a "never-before-seen hybrid format" that blended scenes from the original animated film with live musical performances.
"The Little Mermaid Live!" starred Auli'i Cravalho as Ariel, Queen Latifah as Ursula, John Stamos as Chef Louis, Shaggy as Sebastian, and Graham Phillips as Prince Eric.
While the on-stage/movie hybrid reminded audiences of their childhood, the unique format also made for some awkward moments — but there was one standout performance that made the whole show.

In honor of the 30th anniversary of the classic underwater Disney classic, "The Little Mermaid Live!" premiered on ABC, captivating nostalgic audiences Tuesday night with a "never-before-seen hybrid format" that blended scenes from the original animated film with live musical performances.

"The Little Mermaid Live!" starred Auli'i Cravalho as Ariel, Queen Latifah as Ursula, John Stamos as Chef Louis, Shaggy as Sebastian, and Graham Phillips as Prince Eric.

While the on-stage/movie hybrid reminded audiences of their childhood, the unique format also made for some awkward moments that confused the internet — but there was one standout performance that saved the whole show.

The "hybrid" performance made for a show that spliced the original animated film with actors appearing on stage to perform musical numbers.



In the above scene, Graham Phillips as Prince Eric performs with a live-action Max in front of the animated castle from the film. ABC/Mitch Haaseth
"The Little Mermaid Live!" was ABC's first entrée into the live musical genre that others networks have previously aired. Some Twitter users expressed confusion over the hybrid format of the show.

One person wrote: "There were so many scenes from tonights #TheLittleMermaidLive #TheLittleMermaid that could have been performed by the LIVE ACTORS instead of showing us the movie which we have all already seen. We wanted to see new actors shine tonight but they weren't given much of a chance."

"Why is the whole show not live!! It's the movie and then only when they sing is live. I need an explanation," another Twitter user wrote.

Some watchers were not wow'd by the animal puppets that were used throughout the show.



Photos of frog puppets from rehearsal. ABC/Eric McCandless
Twitter users made a meme of the puppet of Ariel's best friend Flounder, comparing the unrealistic puppet to the original animated fish.


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A duet between Ariel and Prince Eric — that wasn't in the original film — happened before Ariel got her voice back.



Prince Eric and Ariel sing "If Only," which was in the 2007 Broadway musical, but not in the original film. ABC/Mitch Haaseth
In addition to incorporating live action and animation, ABC's live version also blended songs from both the original animated film and ones from the 2007 Broadway musical.

"If Only," sung in this instance by Ariel and Prince Eric, was a new addition for those unfamiliar with the Broadway musical version of "The Little Mermaid."

And it caught at least one person off guard, because it occurs during a moment in the plot when Ariel has no voice.

"How ariel and prince eric gotta duet AND SHE DON'T HAVE NO VOICE?!?!?" one person wrote on Twitter.

People were confused why Shaggy's Sebastian costume took a minimalistic approach, missing the crab's characteristic claws.



Shaggy as Sebastian did not seem to have claws. ABC/Eric McCandless
Some watchers compared Shaggy to Michael Jackson in the "Thriller" music video, as well as Britney Spears in her all-red jumpsuit in the "Oops I Did it Again" video.

In the movie, Chef Louis chases Sebastian around his kitchen to cook the crab for dinner. However, John Stamos' rendition of the culinary villain didn't feature Shaggy's Sebastian at all.


John Stamos performs in "The Little Mermaid Live!" ABC/Mitch Haaseth
Instead, there were multiple actors in crab costumes. Stamos stayed in character as he squished the face of one of the actors — a kid in a crab costume.

"I was really hoping Shaggy would be running from John Stamos [for real], that would've been mad entertaining," one person tweeted.

A general consensus, according to the Twitterverse, was that Queen Latifah stole the show with her performance as Ursula.



Queen Latifah performing as the sea witch. ABC/Mitch Haaseth
The actress posted videos backstage, which included moments where she was polishing her tentacles or practicing her evil villain laugh.

The real-life dog who played Max also won over Twitter users.



Prince Eric and Max. ABC/Mitch Haaseth
Audiences expressed their love for the dog, calling him a good boy.

"To this dog: you're doing amazing, sweetie," one Twitter user wrote.

[veu]

From Billboard:

TELEVISION
The 5 Best Moments From 'The Little Mermaid Live!'

11/5/2019 by Joe Lynch , Denise Warner

The latest live TV musical event hit ABC on Tuesday (Nov. 5) with The Little Mermaid Live!. Unlike most of its predecessors, Little Mermaid was a mixture of live musical performances in front of a theater audience (with songs from the film and the stage version) and footage from the beloved 1989 animated Disney classic, which was less jarring than you’d expect.

From Queen Latifah​’s scenery-chomping Ursula to John Stamos’ wacky cameo as the crab-crazed chef, these are our five favorite moments from The Little Mermaid Live! on ABC.

"Fathoms Below" Comes Out on Top

Ariel might be from the bottom of the sea, but Little Mermaid Live kicked off on a sky-high note with a rip-roaring run through of “Fathoms Below.” In a movie renowned for producing numerous Disney all-time classics, this song is hardly the most memorable musically speaking, but the cast of the ABC production imbued it with such joyous verve that it was impossible not to smile. From Graham Phillips’ glowing stage presence to the energetic choreography to the real-live dog playing Max to the audience members waving ribbons, it was a delight.

Queen Latifah Scares Up a Win As Ursula

While the entire show was well cast, whoever came up with the idea of Queen Latifah as Ursula deserves an Emmy. Like the sea witch dominating every inch of her lair, Latifah owned the stage, prowling around with a delicious mixture of sneering exasperation and sardonic camp in “Poor Unfortunate Souls.” Thanks to her history as a hip-hop pioneer, the Queen readily spat out the lyrics to what’s the most syllable-stuffed song in The Little Mermaid with ease. Whether flicking her eyes deviously about the stage, belting out the buttery final notes or cackling maniacally into a glowing shell containing Ariel’s voice, Latifah brought unity to Twitter — basically everyone agreed she was the show’s MVP.

John Stamos Gives It His All For "Les Poissons"

Uncle Jesse did not come to play. Stamos, complete with ponytail and handlebar mustache, danced and sang his way as the murderous Chef Louis. His thrill at slashing and stuffing the (fake) crab while affecting a heavy French accent made it a pure triumph. And the actor's own joy with his scene-stealing role shone through to a delighted audience.

We'll Do It Live

While the choice to present The Little Mermaid as half-animated movie and half-live concert was certainly interesting, the live portion -- juxtaposed against the movie -- definitely impressed. From Amber Riley's charming and powerful "Daughters of Triton" to Shaggy's colorful "Under the Sea," the set design and staging took this musical to the next level. Especially exciting? Auliʻi Cravalho as Ariel "swimming" through the air during "Part of Your World."

It's The Little More-maid

Fans of the 1989 film who have never seen the Broadway musical might have been confused when Prince Eric -- played by Graham Phillips -- began his solo "Her Voice." That bewilderment might have devolved even more when he dueted with Cravalho's Ariel on "If Only." But the addition of the Broadway tunes added a nice touch to the familiar.

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From ExtraTv:

John Stamos Gives Update on Adorable Son Billy, and Teases 'The Little Mermaid Live!'
John Stamos is ready to play Chef Louis in "The Little Mermaid Live!"

"Extra's" Jenn Lahmers caught up with the actor Monday to talk about the musical, and to get an update on his adorable son Billy.

Stamos joked of 17-month-old Billy, "His first two words have been 'trust fund'… he has a good sense of humor… That's the milestone I like."

He also revealed a cringeworthy story about Billy that is so relatable to any parent! "We were doing an episode of 'Fuller House,' and I have a friend — Josh Peck — on... His wife brings his son Max and my wife brings Billy, who's never done a bad thing in his life. They were taking a picture and he bites Max [on the face]… It was horrifying! It was the first time I was disappointed in my son. It was a weird feeling."


He joked, "Josh now owns my house in Hidden Hills and I’m looking for a condo in Encino."

So will Billy watch "The Little Mermaid Live!" starring his daddy? "Well, I tried to get him to watch 'The Little Mermaid,' the movie, and he just goes, 'Coco, Coco, Coco.' He loves 'Coco.' That’s what he dressed up as for Halloween — Coco."

Stamos teased the new TV special, saying, "Everything you love about 'The Little Mermaid' is still intact." He added that fans can look forward to "special, extra, new memories with these live numbers."

John laughed when Jenn asked if he was concerned that Disney thought he would make the perfect murderous French chef.

"Yeah. I wonder what happened to, you know, Prince Eric?... I did [Chef Louis] at the Hollywood Bowl. I didn't know what I was going to do with it… A couple hours before, I said to my assistant, ‘Go get me a big mustache, give me a beret and some guyliner'… It's just gotten deeper and deeper, and he's insane. I'm just playing him completely nuts."

Stamos added, "The beauty of this, too, is that there's really audience participation."

John also crashed our interview with his co-star Shaggy. It was actually the first time they had met. Watch!

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From The Triangle:

‘The Little Mermaid: Live’ stands on its own two legs

By Catherine Brady Nov. 8, 2019

The cast of Tuesday’s spectacle, “The Magical World of Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” featured Auli’i Cravalo as Ariel, and actor Graham Phillips as Prince Eric, who previously starred in “The Good Wife” and “Riverdale.” Other cast members include Queen Latifah as Ursula, “Full House” star John Stamos as Chef Louis, and “It Wasn’t Me” singer Shaggy as Sebastian.
Taking on the role of Ariel, as well as Moana, Auli’i Cravalo has crossed Disney Princess paths, preceded only by Lea Salonga. Cravalo played the role of Moana in the 2016 title film, as well as Ariel in this modern adaptation. Lea Salonga, who stars both on stage in Miss Saigon and on-screen, provided the singing voices for both Jasmine in Aladdin and Mulan.
Shaggy’s portrayal of Sebastian seemed stiff compared to the other performers, who seemed to be embracing their roles, especially John Stamos. After “Les Poissons,” Stamos proudly exclaimed, “I knew I could have played Prince Albert! Er, Eric.”
The staging is practically identical to the original film, which helped the transitions from animation to stage. Seamless transitions were perfected for home viewers, all accompanied by choreography, aeriel (no pun intended) artists and the members of the audience to enhance parts of the set. During the opening song, they waved silk scarves to look like waves and later were fitted with crab pincers during “Les Poissons.”
Minor lyrical changes were added to this rendition, including a callback from Ariel during the full-cast song “Under the Sea,” which was heavily diluted with vibrant colors and action filling all areas of the stage completely. “Part of Your World Reprise” included an interpretation of Ariel’s daydream, with aerialist doubles portraying a world in which Ariel and Eric could swim together. Another small edit was having two dancers on the stage twirling as part of a larger-than-life music box in Ariel’s grotto.
Besides lyrical changes, the costumes were also updated for live-action performers. Shaggy was sporting a shiny pleather-looking jacket with 80s-inspired crab-like shoulder pads during “Kiss the Girl.” Queen Latifah as Ursula rocked the largest costume of the night, complete with moving tentacles maneuvered from above, perfect for an octopus sea witch.
Though some creatures like Scuttle and Sebastian were portrayed by actors in costume, fishy friend Flounder was a puppet. This differs from the Broadway adaptation in which everyone’s favorite fish sidekick was played by a young male actor. The Broadway adaptation chose to use skates instead of wires or aerialists to incorporate the underwater effects. However, Eric’s trusty sidekick Max was portrayed by a real sheepdog during the opening song, “Fathoms Below,” sung by Prince Eric and his sailing crew.
Disney loves to include its so-called “Easter Eggs,” which are small details in a film that reference other Disney films. Some with a careful eye may have spotted the framed paintings of Lady Tremaine and Captain Hook beside Ariel’s palace vanity.
The prince has no singing roles in the film adaptation, though the 2007 Broadway production contains multiple songs for the character of Eric, and the upcoming live-action film is rumored to contain original songs.
After awakening from his near-death experience, Eric sings about his mystery (mer)woman. Graham Phillips showed off his chops in “Her Voice.” America’s second–favorite flutist (second to Lizzo, of course) then sings a new duet, following Shaggy’s “Kiss the Girl,” combining “Her Voice” and “If Only” from the Broadway adaptation. These unexpected additions took a risk and the audience was pleasantly surprised by Phillips’ singing talent.
During commercial breaks, Disney featured some behind-the-scenes looks during the ads, following Auli’i as she moves from place to place in a wheelchair, holding the larger-than-life iconic tail. John Stamos also received focus before his song, “Les Poissons.” The only thing dampening the magic was the commercial breaks, which were more frequent than regular cable television and lasted multiple minutes.
If you missed the live performance, no worries! “The Magical World of Disney’s The Little Mermaid” is available online on ABC.com, free of charge. Disney will soon be splashing in with another adaptation of the classic tale starring Halle Bailey as Ariel.

[veu]

From NPR:

TV Review: 'The Little Mermaid Live'

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November 6, 20195:57 PM ET
Heard on All Things Considered
Eric Deggans


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Transcript
The Little Mermaid was performed in front of a live audience on ABC last night. It starred Auli'i Cravalho, the actress who voiced Moana, and combined animation with the live performance.

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

"The Little Mermaid," the animated Disney classic, became the latest film to get a live treatment on network television. It aired on ABC last night. And as NPR TV critic Eric Deggans says, the show had a few stumbles, the kind that happen when big companies tried to reinvent beloved franchises.

ERIC DEGGANS, BYLINE: There was a moment in ABC's "Little Mermaid Live!" that hinted at the great potential of this event, and it came courtesy of Queen Latifah playing the villainous sea witch Ursula.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE LITTLE MERMAID LIVE!")

QUEEN LATIFAH: (As Ursula, singing) They weren't kidding when they called me, well, a witch. But you'll find that nowadays I've mended all my ways, repented, seen the light, and made a switch to this.

DEGGANS: Initially known as a rapper, Queen Latifah showed off impressive vocal chops and a spellbinding stage presence in the popular number "Poor Unfortunate Souls," a gleefully wicked turn that brought the house down.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE LITTLE MERMAID LIVE!")

LATIFAH: (As Ursula, singing) Flotsam, Jetsam, now I've got her, boys. The boss is on a roll. You poor, unfortunate souls.

DEGGANS: But her success also highlighted how ABC's "The Little Mermaid Live!" was really only about half that because the show mixed live musical numbers with a lot of scenes from the 1989 animated film, which delivered most of the dialogue and plot. The result was an experience that often felt like a ride at a Disney theme park - great for young fans, less so for more experienced eyes, even when star Auli'i Cravalho offered a note-perfect performance as the Little Mermaid herself, Ariel.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE LITTLE MERMAID LIVE!")

AULI'I CRAVALHO: (As Ariel, singing) Up where they walk, up where they run, up where they stay all day in the sun wandering free. Wish I could be part of that world.

DEGGANS: The real-life performers tried hard. Former "Glee" co-star Amber Riley belted her way through the opening number, "Daughters Of Triton," a spectacle where she was surrounded by mermaids suspended from the air and a dazzling set.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE LITTLE MERMAID LIVE!")

AMBER RILEY: (As self, singing) And then there is the youngest in her musical debut. A seventh little sister, we're presenting her to you to sing a song Sebastian wrote. Her voice is like a bell. She's our sister, Ariel.

DEGGANS: And John Stamos gamely waded through a slapstick performance as Chef Louis, revisiting a role he'd played before on stage.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE LITTLE MERMAID LIVE!")

JOHN STAMOS: (As Chef Louis, singing) Les poissons, les poissons, how I love les poissons. Love to chop and to serve little fish.

DEGGANS: Though he did bungle an ad-lib at the end of his big number.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE LITTLE MERMAID LIVE!")

STAMOS: I knew I should have played Prince Albert.

DEGGANS: Everybody knows dreamy Prince Eric is the good guy here. Anyway, the show's high points left me wanting more live performance. Too much time was soaked up by clips of the 30-year-old movie. Constant commercial breaks filled with promos for other Disney products - the first one came about 12 minutes in - was irritating. And the less said about Shaggy's turn as the crab Sebastian, which left you wondering why ABC hired a guy who can't sing or dance to co-star in a musical, the better.

Back in the day before streaming and even VCRs, "The Wonderful World Of Disney" was a rare source of high quality children's TV, a way to welcome a bit of Disney magic into your home. So it makes all kinds of sense that the Walt Disney Company would try to revive this franchise for a new audience. But "The Little Mermaid Live!" mostly proved that ABC's next musical should go all-in on the live part, allowing talented performers to deliver a unique experience that can't be found on a VCR tape, streaming service or DVD. I'm Eric Deggans.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE LITTLE MERMAID LIVE!")

CRAVALHO: (As Ariel, singing) I don't know when, I don't know how. But I know something's starting right now. Watch and you'll see...

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From Allure:

Watch Auli'i Cravalho's Backstage Beauty Routine From The Little Mermaid Live Musical
Disney fans, this one's for you.
BY LEAH PRINZIVALLI
November 7, 2019


Auli'i Cravalho performing as The Little Mermaid
Getty
Fans know Auli'i Cravalho, the voice of Moana, as a Disney heroine. But she's never been a Disney princess until this week's live-action performance of The Little Mermaid.

Cravalho starred in ABC's live musical, which featured Queen Latifah as Ursula, John Stamos as Chef Louis, and Shaggy as Sebastian the Crab. "The Little Mermaid is one of my favorite movies of all time. I've been singing these songs since I was a little girl, and to get the chance to be Ariel, and to do it live in front of the whole world, is a dream come true," Cravalho said on Instagram. Thankfully for the rest of us fans, she filmed her entire transformation process into the iconic cartoon character. The resulting video is a gift for any Disney lover who has ever wondered about Ariel's skin-care routine.

Over the course of a sped-up video, we see Cravalho's makeup artist prep her skin using foundation and an under-eye mask. She curls her own lashes, then her makeup artist swoops back in with mascara and an eye shadow brush. We see her makeup artist apply individual lashes and paint on lipstick, slowly completing her transformation into Ariel.

http://instagram.com/p/B4gLjvzgPLc

But the exact moment that Cravalho becomes Ariel is when she's fitted with her wavy red wig — which, as the video shows us, is worn over a wig cap spray-painted red. Imagine one of those cheap wigs from a local party store, and then picture the exact opposite. This piece looks just like the cartoon princess's hair: It perfectly recreates the mermaid's waves, voluminous bangs, and vibrant red hair color. The final touch is a purple flower tucked into her side part.

It took me until adulthood to realize that Ariel's gorgeous waves would be impossible to maintain on an actual beach, let alone under the actual sea. But this transformation is so inspiring, I just might believe again.

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From The Oprah Magazine:

Fans Didn’t Care for The Little Mermaid Live!—but Let’s Leave Auli’i Cravalho Alone
She is just an 18-year-old kid after all.



By DeAnna Janes
Nov 6, 2019
ABC's "The Little Mermaid Live!"ERIC MCCANDLESSGETTY IMAGES
The Little Mermaid Live!, which starred Auli’i Cravalho, Queen Latifah, John Stamos, and Shaggy, premiered Tuesday night on ABC.
Fans took to Twitter to express their feelings about the much-anticipated Disney production that promised to take them on a magical underwater adventure.
Fair warning: The reactions for the most part were not good.
Twitter did as Twitter does Tuesday night: It unleashed a fury like a sea witch seeking revenge. ABC’s much-anticipated production of The Little Mermaid Live! premiered Tuesday evening, and the resulting show sent fans, in a word, reeling.

Perhaps Disney enthusiasts were hoping for a live production more akin to ratings hits The Whiz, The Sound of Music Live or Grease: Live—all three approached the stage with more traditional re-imaginations, whereas last night’s ABC attempt chose to do things differently.

Rather than just have actors onstage for the entire production, the Mermaid team intercut the original film’s footage with high-flying stunts, musical performances by the actors, and also some singing and dancing courtesy of amphibious-inspired puppets. Some would say ABC took a big risk. But leave it to Twitter to finish that sentence with “that didn’t pay off.”

Fan reactions ranged, as they usually do, from comical to just plain awful. No part of the production was immune to social commentary roasts crafted by Twitter users. Every element that went into taking viewers under the sea and into the world of Disney—the props, the costumes, the high notes—were proverbial bull’s-eyes for the highly opinionated public.

Before we get to the bad, let's address the good.

Queen Latifah won over fans with her on-point portrayal of Ursula and dramatic octo-costume. And John Stamos lightened the mood with a Prince Albert flub. But, unfortunately, there wasn’t too much positive feedback for Disney’s leading mermaid, played by actress Auli’i Cravalho.


Twitter was downright cruel to the 18-year-old native Hawaiian actress. Sure, she had some trouble with the ending of the “Part of Your World” melody. But in all fairness, not many can hit that climatic note even when they aren’t dangling from a string while wearing a leg-contorting fish tail. Thank goodness there was at least one Twitter user who came to her defense.


𝕞𝕚𝕤𝕤 𝕞𝕒𝕣𝕤 ✨
@stormy_things
me protecting Auli'i Cravalho from you ***** ass haters coming at her for that one note #LittleMermaidLive
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4:36 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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Aside from criticizing her rendition of the hit song, well, fan comments only got worse.


ABC
People were disturbed by the reimagined Flounder puppet (“Look at this thing. Is that a fish?”).


hailstorm
@haleyjeanne
When you order online vs when it comes in the mail #TheLittleMermaidLive
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3:04 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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Em
@princessdiva702
Therapist: the Flounder puppet from #TheLittleMermaidLive isn’t real and can’t hurt you
The Flounder pupet from Little Mermaid Live:
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Tony Maglio
✔
@tonymaglio
Made direct eye contact with #TheLittleMermaidLive Flounder puppet so I'll be dead in 7 days
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4:02 AM - Nov 6, 2019
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They were relentless over the seemingly mailed-in Sebastian costumery Shaggy took the stage in, comparing his red leather uni to Michael Jackson and Britney Spears garb.



Joan Clayton
@_Alibama
ABC has ruined The Little Mermaid! I’m crying laughing, but it’s not funny! This isn’t Sebastian!
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Nae Nae
@_NeylanPatton_
The fact the Shaggy is playing Sebastian and is dressed as Michael Jackson.#TheLittleMermaidLive
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Tommy
@conwaytw1tter
Eddie Murphy gonna sue somebody #TheLittleMermaidLive
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And, ultimately, the fans were all too giddy to completely roast the stage production’s lack of “live” elements.


Heather Concannon
@hmmconcannon
Am I the only one who thought there’d be more “live” in #LittleMermaidLive?
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Trice🦄💋
@triciejay
So we getting one song then 15 mins of movie .. then one song... then more movie ....tf is this lol #LittleMermaidLive
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Courtney Weg
@cbweg
Me watching the little mermaid live #LittleMermaidLive
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Viewers are certainly allowed to voice their opinions about the live production—and sure, maybe some of those costumes could have used some work. But c'mon: We need to give Cravalho a break. She did an amazing job as Ariel, bringing the magic of the original animated film to life. And after all, she's a pro at this Hollywood thing considering she voiced Moana for Disney—and is just getting her career started. Don't we all make mistakes?

For another take on the epic tale, The Little Mermaid starring Halle Bailey and Awkwafina is set to release next year.

[veu]

From CinemaBlend:

TELEVISION
How ABC's The Little Mermaid Live Did In The Ratings
WRITTEN BY MICK JOEST

Musicals have become increasingly popular among major TV networks over the years, as live events can lead to large live audiences. That said, while live musicals can often win some solid ratings for networks, they're not guaranteed successes. Some TV fans may have been curious as to whether ABC's The Little Mermaid Live! would be a success or flop, and judging from the live ratings, the star-studded adaptation of Disney's beloved story was more of a hit than miss.

The Little Mermaid Live! has a Live+Same day rating of 2.6 in the 18-49 age demographic. In terms of viewership, Variety reported the star-studded musical pulled in just under 9 million viewers. While solid, it wasn't the most-viewed live musical to ever appear on television, nor was it the most-watched broadcast of the night. That honor belongs to NCIS, which pulled in 10.7 million total viewers.

While The Little Mermaid Live! didn't get enough viewers to be the most-watched program of the night, it did dominate in the ratings. The second highest ratings win of the night was a tie between The Voice and This Is Us, each with 1.3 in the 18-49 demo. Although NCIS had the most-viewed episode of the night, it came in third in the ratings with a 1.0. Overall, The Little Mermaid Live! helped ABC maintain a 2.0 rating average throughout the night, which is solid.

When compared to other live television musicals, The Little Mermaid Live! was the highest-rated made-for-TV musical since Grease: Live! which aired on Fox back in 2016. Fox's production of Rent: Live back in January did far worse in comparison with a 1.4 rating and 3.4 million total viewers, though that could've been linked to issues beyond the show's control.

The overall viewership of The Little Mermaid Live! lagged behind 2018's Jesus Christ Superstar Live, which pulled in 9.6 million in Live+Same Day totals. That said, The Little Mermaid Live! still won out in the ratings by a wide margin, with the John Legend-starring Jesus Christ Superstar Live only netting a 1.7 rating.

As previously mentioned, The Little Mermaid Live! was the highest-rated made-for-TV musical since Grease: Live. That slightly-altered production gathered a total audience of 12.18 million total viewers, and a Live+Same Day rating of 4.3 in the 18-49 demographic. So while The Little Mermaid Live! did well, obviously there was some potential for it to have done even better. Still, it’s not like there should be any disappointment on ABC’s end on how the special performed, because those ratings and viewership are still very good.

Did you enjoy The Little Mermaid Live!, or did you think it could’ve been better? Sound off in our poll below, and be sure to stick with CinemaBlend for all the latest and greatest news happening in the world of television and movies.

[yougottaloveariel]

JUMPING JELLYFISH VEU thorough what are you gonna do this weekend? Basically as I stated it is Voyage of The Little Mermaid with a bigger BETTER budget AND was better then the Ipad thing

As to Auli'i Cravalho yes LEAVE THE POOR GIRL ALONE

Will be reading this stuff later since there is QUITE ALOT to go through

leave "thoughts" later