Aside from the unbelievably shocking horrors found splattered across pages of USA Today, Chicago herself is currently going through some thangs. We’ve got a police department in shambles, a mayor few trust, and a list of evils some known and some yet to be discovered, if not hidden forever. What we all need is a break. For many, The Wiz Live! on NBC Thursday night was the perfect respite.
The Wiz is a spectacular retelling of the classic Wizard of Oz. New life is brought to the story with a mostly black cast that sing and dance and joke around in the same way its audience is singing, dancing, and joking any given day. That self-awareness is what makes The Wiz so much fun. It’s not full of itself. It knows who it is and who’s watching it. That was true in the ’70s just as much as it was last night. This isn’t a wide-eyed, naive story so doused in sugar that it comes off creepily detached. This version, instead, is more for today and more for everyone — no matter who you are. Code: It’s not just for black people.
Many of us grew up with both versions simultaneously lodged into our cognizance. Usually, however, one makes us feel more at home than the other.
Speaking of Home…
Twitter was made for moments like this. While swimming in nostalgia, folks in Chicago and the rest of the country bonded over emotions tweet by tweet, until Dorothy finally sang Home. Some were shady, some were clever, some were just grasping for a way to encapsulate the moment.
From the jump we knew it was coming for our lunch money, wigs, and edges. No one was disappointed.
THANK YOU NBC! Thx for the courage to put this on the air. I feel like I'm 7 again watching this, only from a better neighborhood 😄 #TheWiz
— Tyler Perry (@tylerperry) December 4, 2015
#TheWizLive – so far, so awesome! My heart is so full right now. This is what I hoped it'd be and it only just started!
— afrobella (@afrobella) December 4, 2015
The Wizard Of Oz vs #TheWiz pic.twitter.com/c7uqrLD7vp
— Corey Arvinger (@MrArvinger) December 4, 2015
#TheWiz watching alone in a hotel room. Is it ok to clap real LOUD???
— Chris Boneau (@cbo523) December 4, 2015
I pray Shanice doesn't become an afterthought after tonight. That little girl is sanging and acting. #TheWiz pic.twitter.com/z3vFJpPhD5
— Kevin Simmons (@TheSkorpion) December 4, 2015
My big brother @NeYoCompound really did What Would I Do If I Could Feel justice. amazing #TheWiz
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) December 4, 2015
Then we remembered the music.
https://twitter.com/cthagod/status/672601862009417728
https://twitter.com/Chicagoings/status/672622565379084288
NeYo just rocked that song. #thewiz pic.twitter.com/0JhVBeoxon
— Teen Vogue (@TeenVogue) December 4, 2015
Damn, @NeYoCompound got us like… #TheWiz https://t.co/9Fkhq40Pat pic.twitter.com/CtJ2S1ZZ9L
— GIPHY (@GIPHY) December 4, 2015
Me listening to #BeALion 🙌🙌🙌 #TheWiz #TheWizLive pic.twitter.com/Opc0HlrLxn
— Nikki G (@Bel_Grimel) December 4, 2015
It was all so CURRENT tho!
When you the tin man with no worries #TheWiz #Neyo https://t.co/JNnH8lBft0
— I Aint Fresh?! 😅 (@TeeJayTheArtist) December 4, 2015
https://twitter.com/Chicagoings/status/672598785550368768
Walk up in the club with the squad like pic.twitter.com/z5lPxsXLej
— tracy clayton jr the 3rd (@brokeymcpoverty) December 4, 2015
https://twitter.com/kswills/status/672607799961108485
"The hottest club in Emerald City is…" #TheWiz pic.twitter.com/J13b4OIbDW
— Lyric Opera of Chicago (@LyricOpera) December 4, 2015
All of the Emerald City: WHAT ARE THOSE!?! #TheWizLive
— Mercedes (@JaeltheJust) December 4, 2015
Chicago came through.
Heyyyyyyyy @common! I see you Chicago! #TheWiz #blkcreatives pic.twitter.com/MoaqogfYQQ
— #blkcreatives netwrk🏁 (@blkcreatives) December 4, 2015
Common…lets just say that Common definitely got paid in cash for this. Maybe a Wendy's bag full of 20s #TheWiz
— VSB (@VerySmartBros) December 4, 2015
When you yellin "HELLO FROM THE OTHER SIIIIIDE" of the emerald city bc Common won't let you in. pic.twitter.com/YY5XSqDiVs
— Casey (@Casey_Vee) December 4, 2015
Mary and The Queen did their thing.
MARY J IN THIS OZZERY.
— sean. (@Seantaneous) December 4, 2015
https://twitter.com/MinaSays/status/672605824997552128
https://twitter.com/Chicagoings/status/672609450264535040
https://twitter.com/BuzzFeedFashion/status/672605425108459521
What Friday night was like vs. what I tell people Friday night was like #TheWiz pic.twitter.com/mh9dnhRr1h
— Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) December 4, 2015
We learned a lot…
"If you don't know where you going, how you expect me to get you there." PREACH! #TheWiz
— L.Darcel (@BelleUnplugged) December 4, 2015
Already loving the choreography by Fatima Robinson in #TheWiz!! #BBWiz pic.twitter.com/dJQUN6pkf9
— BROADWAY BLACK! (@BroadwayBlack) December 4, 2015
Back-flipping in stilts is not easy! The trick? Practice! Check out this clip from @nbc's rehearsals #TheWiz pic.twitter.com/WzXDODZM77
— Cirque du Soleil (@Cirque) December 4, 2015
"Theres Nothing like greed that can turn a wise man into a fool" #TheWiz
— Tamika Jamison (Formerly Newhouse) ಠಿ_ಠ (@tamikanewhouse) December 4, 2015
The song "Everybody Rejoice (Can You Feel a Brand New Day)" was written by R&B artist Luther Vandross. #TheWiz pic.twitter.com/nVhOKv2qXb
— NBC BLK (@NBCBLK) December 4, 2015
…and laughed a lot too.
When you're trying to sneak out but your mom catches you. #TheWiz pic.twitter.com/NZ5be5LMDw
— Vulture (@vulture) December 4, 2015
NBC came through with the budget for #TheWiz! pic.twitter.com/rWUYfY9oJZ
— Courtney (@CourtneyCymone) December 4, 2015
https://twitter.com/Chicagoings/status/672617369039011840
The Dab choreography!!!! #TheWiz .@nbc
— @skylerhenry (@SkylerHenry) December 4, 2015
The Wiz may not have magical powers but she sure knows her way around a flat iron. #TheWiz
— Cocoa Butter (@cocoabutterbf) December 4, 2015
Dear prom dress makers! Y'all gonna gets LOTS of requests for @UzoAduba's dress in #TheWiz. To go with @IAMQUEENLATIFAH's hairstyle! LOL
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) December 4, 2015
https://twitter.com/chescaleigh/status/672598809235558400
Um, but where was Toto?
https://twitter.com/_CallMeLola/status/672614344769871872
And I know you saw that dash of milk in the Emerald City coffee.
https://twitter.com/Chicagoings/status/672601388615081984
In the end, it was all over too soon.
https://twitter.com/leauxmichelle/status/672622672455553024
A huge thank you to NBC and the entire cast of The Wiz Live! We’re all so grateful.
We just… #TheWiz was everything. https://t.co/cIkShM4Tfn pic.twitter.com/AkqoAcONuG
— MadameNoire (@MadameNoire) December 4, 2015
https://twitter.com/Chicagoings/status/672621618158370816
Thank you @nbc for doing this tonight! I watched all the way from China! I grew up watching the Wiz! https://t.co/58VwUuy4hP
— Kisha Hugh-Abban 🇯🇲🇬🇭 (@KishaHugh) December 4, 2015