'The Wiz Live': Best And Worst Moments

Stephanie Mills, who played Dorothy in The Wiz's original 1975 Broadway production, took on the role of Aunt Em in NBC's version and got the show off to a mesmerizing start with her rendition of "The Feeling We Once Had." With her deeply felt expressions and second-to-none tone, Mills proved that after 40 years, she hasn't lost her ability to completely command the stage.

As a storm swept in to carry Dorothy from her Kansas farmhouse to the land of Oz, a troupe of semi-scary dancers — who looked like a cross between the Silence of the Lambs moth and the creature from Pan's Labyrinth — spun and leapt and shimmied to signify gale-force winds and rain. A little disconcerting? Sure. But ultimately, we'd choose innovative and cool as the best adjectives to describe 'em.

Good heavens, Glee grad Amber Riley absolutely slayed "He's the Wizard" — and then murdered it all over again with that epic final run. Can we get her back on our TVs on a weekly basis, NBC? Thanks!

Did nobody test Elijah Kelley's Scarecrow mask in high-def prior to broadcast? It's OK, it's OK — our waking nightmares should subside in a week... 10 days, tops.

Anyone questioning newcomer Shanice Williams' credentials in the lead role had to surrender to Dorothy after watching her move and groove through the first refrain of "Ease on Down the Road" — hitting every single note in the process.

Admit it: There were four or five instances during the telecast where you wished the costume designers had added an inch — maybe an inch-and-a-half — to Dorothy's hemline.

MOMMY, LEAVE THE NIGHTLIGHT ON! I DON'T REMEMBER THE FLYING MONKEYS BEING THAT SCARY!

If I'd known the Emerald City had a lively gay vogueing scene, I'd have packed my Walkman and my old Madonna CDs and booked a holiday there eons ago!

It was hard to look away from Queen Latifah — in fetching, verdant man-drag — as she belted "So You Wanted to See the Wizard." Except, once or twice, our attention drifted to that devilish Oz-head and army of creepy moonfaces floating behind her.

It can't be easy to convey one's emotions through silver face paint and a metallic half-mask, but Ne-Yo sung what he brung on "What Would I Do If I Could Feel" — and we felt it!

Yeah, we know that bucket of water did her in for good, but isn't there some way ABC's Sunday night fantasy series could resurrect Mary J. Blige's amusingly cantankerous Evillene for a spring 2016 arc? And before you tell me that's impossible, I have seven words for you: "Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News!"

Enough said.

Uff da. Common was so creaky and vacant as the Emerald City's Bouncer, we kinda wondered if a Pez dispenser might've been more convincing in the role.

With one crazy-beautiful high note, the green-wigged Mykal Kilgore snatched "Y'all Got It!" right out from under the mighty Queen Latifah.

Yeah, we caught a glimpse of some random stand underneath Orange Is the New Black's Uzo Aduba as she floated to the stage to belt out "If You Believe," but who cares? We were so enchanted by her fiber-optic-lit, golden gown, we briefly thought we were watching the Macy's Mardi Gras Parade! (We mean that as a compliment.) (Also, how is there not a Macy's Mardi Gras Parade?)

Well, unless it's being sung by Ashlee Simpson, you can't really go wrong with any production ending with the epic, emotionally gripping "Home." And while Melinda Doolittle's version will always be my fave — oh, you know I had to go there — Williams' rendition was pretty dang stellar, too!