Peter Pan Live! could've used a little more fairy dust.
The Allison Williams-starring musical revival aired on NBC on Thursday, Dec. 4, failing to reach the same high ratings that were earned by The Sound of Music Live! in December 2013.
Featuring Williams, 26, as the boy who never grew up, Peter Pan Live! debuted to a total of 9.1 million viewers, and charted a 2.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic of adults. In contrast, when Carrie Underwood played Maria von Trapp to negative critical reception, The Sound of Music Live! reached 18.6 million viewers and a 4.6 rating.
While the adaptation of 1954's Peter Pan Broadway musical could not measure up to the success of NBC's first live musical venture, Peter Pan Live! still performed strongly for the Thursday night time slot. Also starring Christopher Walken, Christian Borle, and Kelli O'Hara, among others, the special "won every hour" of its broadcast, according to NBC Entertainment chief Bob Greenblatt, who added that it was "a great night for NBC."
NBC's trip to Neverland was far better received by critics, who gave Peter Pan Live! considerably more positive reviews than those of The Sound of Music Live!, which was almost universally panned. Entertainment Weekly expressed shock that Williams' feature was "totally fine," while the A.V. Club gave the production a B+.
The Girls actress was vocal with her excitement before the live airing, writing on Facebook on Thursday, "We have been working so hard for many months to make this happen. This cast and crew has become my family… This has been the most rewarding hybrid of theater and television that I can imagine, and I really don’t want it to end."
