Annie Live!
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Annie Live!
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Annie Live! is a live special that modernizes the classic musical story of Little Orphan Annie to reflect and reach a more diverse audience. The NBC holiday special features big-name stars like Harry Connick Jr. as Daddy Warbucks and Taraji P. Henson as Miss Hannigan. Overall, the cast looks very different from most earlier iterations of Annie, showcasing racial diversity among characters, putting women in positions that earlier versions did not, and portraying a gender-ambiguous orphan. While many parents will have warm and fuzzy memories of enjoying the musical as a child, they should be mindful that there is some questionable content. True to some earlier versions of Annie, Miss Hannigan is often drunk. Her behaviors are suggestive at times, as she flirts and comes on to male characters. Her treatment of the orphans is harsh and sometimes violent. Some may feel that Taraji P. Henson's acting in the role of Miss Hannigan is over-the-top, but her skilled portrayal brings a cartoonish feel to the harshness of the character, distracting from the more provocative issues and softening the blow for young viewers. Other characters also consume alcohol, display violent behavior, and use curse words like "damn," "goddamn," and "ass" in addition to other language that may not be appropriate for younger viewers. Consumerism is mild but does not go unnoticed.
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What's the Story?
ANNIE LIVE! closely depicts the classic story that started as a comic strip and has been reproduced over the years on Broadway and in movies. Annie is a determined and sassy orphan (newcomer Celina Smith) who lives at Miss Hannigan's derelict orphanage. She believes that her parents are still alive and will one day return to take her home. She gets a rare opportunity to spend time at the estate of Oliver Warbucks ahead of the holidays. As the relationship between Annie and Mr. Warbucks grows, the billionaire uses his connections and resources to attempt to track down Annie's parents, offering a $50,000 check if they come forward. When two con artists, Rooster (Tituss Burgess) and Lily, learn of the money reward, they devise a scheme to obtain it. Warbucks acts on his hunch about the two criminals. Ultimately, Annie's persistence shows that dreams do come true.
Is It Any Good?
This modern production delights with stellar performances and diverse representations. The dancing and singing talent is exciting to watch in this large-scale production of Annie Live! Fans will enjoy seeing some of their favorite celebrities in these time-honored roles and will likely fall in love with the breakout star, Celina Smith. The musical's message about optimism also feels like great timing.
Some may feel that Henson's acting in the role of Miss Hannigan is over-the-top, but her skilled portrayal brings a cartoonish feel to the harshness of the character, distracting from the more provocative issues and softening the blow for young viewers. Other flaws include quite a few forgivable camera and lighting mishaps, and giving Harry Connick Jr. a bald head doesn't quite work. And it's hard to only get two brief appearances from beloved dog Sandy. Overall, multigenerational families will likely enjoy watching this production together because it's got something for everyone. And perhaps most significantly, members of a much wider audience can now enjoy seeing themselves represented in this classic story.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about privilege in Annie Live! Why do you think some have so much and some have so little? Is it fair? How can we work toward a world that is more balanced?
Why are historical depictions important? What do you learn about life in the 1930's in this musical? Do you think you would have wanted to live back then?
A lot of work goes into putting on a production like this. Which part of the performance -- singing, dancing, or acting -- did you enjoy most? How did the set, costumes, hair, and makeup add to the experience? What role would you want to play?
TV Details
- Premiere date: December 2, 2021
- Cast: Celina Smith, Harry Connick Jr., Nicole Scherzinger, Taraji P. Henson, Tituss Burgess, Megan Hilty
- Network: NBC
- Genre: Kids Musical TV
- Topics: Arts and Dance, Friendship, Great Girl Role Models, Holidays, Music and Sing-Along
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: August 30, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Annie (2014)
Update of classic musical is cute but a bit hokey.
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Annie (1999)
Joyous '90s version of classic musical.
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Annie (1982)
Classic orphan tale has great songs, some iffy content.
For kids who love musicals
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