BEST: SHADOW DANCING IN "I'VE GOTTA CROW"
Williams convincingly served up perpetually boyish glee in the night's first song-and-dance number — complete with a "Peter dancing with his shadow(s)" segment that was cooler than it should've been.
Williams convincingly served up perpetually boyish glee in the night's first song-and-dance number — complete with a "Peter dancing with his shadow(s)" segment that was cooler than it should've been.
2-Peter-Pan-Live-Wall-Sconce
WHOOPS: I'M FLYYYYING... INTO A WALL SCONCE
Williams was terrific introducing the Darling clan to Peter's aerial gifts — but we're pretty sure the scheduled flight pattern wasn't supposed to include a boot-to-light-fixture layover.
Williams was terrific introducing the Darling clan to Peter's aerial gifts — but we're pretty sure the scheduled flight pattern wasn't supposed to include a boot-to-light-fixture layover.
3-PETER-PAN-LIVE-HUNCHBACK
WHOOPS: LITTLE IN THE MIDDLE BUT HE'S GOT HUNCH BACK
Does youngest Darling child Michael (John Allyn) need to see the Neverland chiropractor, or were his "I'm Flying" pajamas on the losing end of a battle with the flight-cord technology?
Does youngest Darling child Michael (John Allyn) need to see the Neverland chiropractor, or were his "I'm Flying" pajamas on the losing end of a battle with the flight-cord technology?
4-PETER-PAN-LIVE-WALKEN-BROWS
WORST: AN ARCH PERFORMANCE
No, we're not (yet) throwing shade at Oscar winner Christopher Walken — but whoever was responsible for his eyebrow game got a little carried away with the pencil, no? Reminds us of the lady we always see taking too long to order at the deli.
No, we're not (yet) throwing shade at Oscar winner Christopher Walken — but whoever was responsible for his eyebrow game got a little carried away with the pencil, no? Reminds us of the lady we always see taking too long to order at the deli.
5-Peter-Pan-Live-tiger-lily-naked-guys
BEST?/WORST?/ALMOST WHOOPS?: BARE NECESSITIES
No disrespect to the enviable physiques of Tiger Lily's crew, but these boys were all about a slipped banana leaf away from showing us their own "Peter Pans Live."
No disrespect to the enviable physiques of Tiger Lily's crew, but these boys were all about a slipped banana leaf away from showing us their own "Peter Pans Live."
6-peter-pan-live-Taylor-Lauderman
BEST: A STAR IS BORN?
She may have gotten billed behind Williams and Walken, but Taylor Lauderman brought just the right amount of wide-eyed wonder and romanticism to the role of Wendy — quietly stealing scenes even when she wasn't singing.
She may have gotten billed behind Williams and Walken, but Taylor Lauderman brought just the right amount of wide-eyed wonder and romanticism to the role of Wendy — quietly stealing scenes even when she wasn't singing.
7.PeterPan_Forgotten_Line
WORST: BLURRED LINES (OF DIALOGUE)
Walken was the only major player in the production who struggled with remembering his dialogue — a fact that became uncomfortably clear when the actor completely blanked on a line. “Peter Pan has found a mother”...once Captain Hook found his cue card.
Walken was the only major player in the production who struggled with remembering his dialogue — a fact that became uncomfortably clear when the actor completely blanked on a line. "Peter Pan has found a mother"...once Captain Hook found his cue card.
8-peter-pan-live-allison-williams
BEST: MARNIE FROM GIRLS BECOMES A REAL BOY
Yes, yes, Peter Pan's portrayer was clearly a grown woman, but somewhere in the midst of an extra-jaunty rendition of "I Won't Grow Up," that fact flitted away from our brains like Tinkerbell zipping out of the Darlings' window. If Allison Williams was hoping to avoid being typecast as a self-absorbed twentysomething New Yorker, mission accomplished.
Yes, yes, Peter Pan's portrayer was clearly a grown woman, but somewhere in the midst of an extra-jaunty rendition of "I Won't Grow Up," that fact flitted away from our brains like Tinkerbell zipping out of the Darlings' window. If Allison Williams was hoping to avoid being typecast as a self-absorbed twentysomething New Yorker, mission accomplished.
9-peter-pan-live-shazaam
JUST CURIOUS: DID ANYBODY SHAZAM THE HELL OUT OF THIS SHOW?
Or is that on the calendar for Saturday afternoon?
Or is that on the calendar for Saturday afternoon?
10-peter-pan-live-crocodile-costume
WORST: WHAT A CROC!
Dude slips into a bright-blue and very goofy crocodile suit... a nation collectively goes "Hrm?"
Dude slips into a bright-blue and very goofy crocodile suit... a nation collectively goes "Hrm?"
11-peter-pan-live-teacup-slip
WHOOPS: SHIFTING PLATES
Maybe Williams should've skipped the conditioner Thursday morning? As the Lost Boys deftly balanced their cups and saucers on their heads during a rollicking dance number, Peter's piece of china refused to stay in place.
Maybe Williams should've skipped the conditioner Thursday morning? As the Lost Boys deftly balanced their cups and saucers on their heads during a rollicking dance number, Peter's piece of china refused to stay in place.
12-peter-pan-live-terrible-costume
WORST: IF NBC WAS GOING TO GET BUDGET-CONSCIOUS ON ONE ITEM...
...why did it have to be Peter's costume, a hodge-podge of mesh, snakeskin and pleather that read very "Off the sales rack in mid-November at Party City."
...why did it have to be Peter's costume, a hodge-podge of mesh, snakeskin and pleather that read very "Off the sales rack in mid-November at Party City."
13-peter-pan-live-alex-wong
BEST: IT'S ALEX FREAKING WONG!
Nope, you didn't fall into a Neverland-esque fever dream and imagine the cherished So You Think You Can Dance All-Star busting a move as part of Tiger Lily's gang. That was indeed Mr. Wong doing Fox's summer reality staple proud.
Nope, you didn't fall into a Neverland-esque fever dream and imagine the cherished So You Think You Can Dance All-Star busting a move as part of Tiger Lily's gang. That was indeed Mr. Wong doing Fox's summer reality staple proud.
14-peter-pan-live-cleavage
WHOOPS: NICE TREASURE CHEST!
Maybe what Tink was trying to say in this scene was... don't go with a mesh top next time you play a boy!
Maybe what Tink was trying to say in this scene was... don't go with a mesh top next time you play a boy!
15-peter-pan-live-spanking
GIRLS-IEST MOMENT
Seventy-something man spanks Allison Williams. Somewhere, Lena Dunham just got her inspiration for Marnie's worst Season 5 episode ever.
Seventy-something man spanks Allison Williams. Somewhere, Lena Dunham just got her inspiration for Marnie's worst Season 5 episode ever.
16-peter-pan-live-zumba
BEST: NEVERLAND'S FIRST ZUMBA CLASS
But how many calories did Peter Pan and Tiger Lily manage to burn off during this dance routine? The viewing audience has a right to know!
But how many calories did Peter Pan and Tiger Lily manage to burn off during this dance routine? The viewing audience has a right to know!
17-peter-pan-live-hidden-cameras
BEST: CLEVERLY HIDDEN CAMERAS
A camera apparently hidden in the trunk of the tree the Lost Boys circled here made the subsequent improbable camera angle just a bit magical (if dizzying).
A camera apparently hidden in the trunk of the tree the Lost Boys circled here made the subsequent improbable camera angle just a bit magical (if dizzying).
18-PeterPan_WendyNeckline
WORST: WENDY TAKES THE PLUNGE
Was the eldest Darling sibling simply being practical given Neverland’s tropical climate, or was she showing the Lost Boys a bit of skin by loosening up her nightgown?
Was the eldest Darling sibling simply being practical given Neverland's tropical climate, or was she showing the Lost Boys a bit of skin by loosening up her nightgown?
19-peter-pan-live-tinkerbell-clapping
WHOOPS: WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?
Yeah, we get that you can't really mess with the classic Peter Pan timeline, but what a pity that the pivotal "kids at home, clap and cheer to keep Tinkerbelle alive!" scene took place in the 10pm hour. Alas, come Friday, a nation of fourth-grade teachers will be wondering about the rampant yawning and fidgeting in their classrooms.
Yeah, we get that you can't really mess with the classic Peter Pan timeline, but what a pity that the pivotal "kids at home, clap and cheer to keep Tinkerbelle alive!" scene took place in the 10pm hour. Alas, come Friday, a nation of fourth-grade teachers will be wondering about the rampant yawning and fidgeting in their classrooms.
20-peter-pan-live-hook
WORST: GIVE HIM THE HOOK!
Acting with a hook can't be the easiest task, but could Walken have tried a bit harder not to steer the Jolly Roger with his "wrist"?
Acting with a hook can't be the easiest task, but could Walken have tried a bit harder not to steer the Jolly Roger with his "wrist"?
21-peter-pan-live-pirouette
BEST: SPIN CYCLE
No need to pretend otherwise: You gasped at Allison Williams' mid-swordfight pirouette to the sky.
No need to pretend otherwise: You gasped at Allison Williams' mid-swordfight pirouette to the sky.
22-peter-pan-live-minnie-driver
BEST: WENDY IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT
Narrator Minnie Driver finally showed her face in the night's final scene, during the grown-up and married Wendy's bittersweet reunion with her girlhood crush. Not only did NBC manage a nice bit of synergy by casting the star of its charming Tuesday-night sitcom About a Boy, but it also got a performance that helped give the show's final scene some real emotional heft.
Narrator Minnie Driver finally showed her face in the night's final scene, during the grown-up and married Wendy's bittersweet reunion with her girlhood crush. Not only did NBC manage a nice bit of synergy by casting the star of its charming Tuesday-night sitcom About a Boy, but it also got a performance that helped give the show's final scene some real emotional heft.