The beloved lead character in Fox’s upcoming live musical has been cast. The network’s presentation of “A Christmas Story Live!” on Sunday, Dec. 17, will have 11-year-old Andy Walken of Seattle in the role of Ralphie Parker.
“More than 350 applicants were considered for the role of ‘Ralphie,’ a boy whose only dream is to get a Red Ryder Range Model Carbine Action BB Gun for Christmas,” Fox said in today’s announcement. Walken was cast after a nationwide digital casting call.
You can see a clip below showing Walken finding out he got the part — but you may want to have a tissue handy.
Walken joins previously announced cast members Maya Rudolph (“Saturday Night Live,” “Bridesmaids”), who will star as “Ralphie’s” mother; and Matthew Broderick (“How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying,” “The Producers,” “Manchester by the Sea”), who will star as the narrator.
From Warner Horizon Unscripted & Alternative Television, “A Christmas Story Live!” is inspired by the holiday classic feature “A Christmas Story” and the Tony Award-nominated Broadway production “A Christmas Story: The Musical.” The adaptation will be filmed at the Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank.
Here’s the clip …
Uh…if it’s live, it won’t be FILMED at Warner Bros. studios. It will be performed LIVE at Warner Bros. studios.
You have a point, but I’ve seen the press release from Fox and the word they used was “filmed,” suggesting that the event will be recorded, and of course it would be unimaginable in this day and age to expect anything else. They would want to have a way to preserve it for delayed distribution to some time zones, along with rebroadcast, digital platforms, etc.
I believe most people are already aware of this, but as a reminder, the word “filmed” in general use has a much broader connotation than it once did, just as does “taped.” It’s not meant literally to imply that a particular medium such as film or tape is being used, but rather that the event is being recorded.
However, I suspect the main reason Fox used the word “filmed” in its announcement is simply because they’re used to it. Technically, it has been incorrect for decades, if one insists on the original meaning of the term, as television production would almost never be done using actual film.