http://www.timeout.com/newyork/blog/why-allison-williamss-peter-pan-didnt-fly-on-nbcI feel like this article really hits the nail on the head with all of the issues with both of these live broadcasts.
I'm a huge fan of the idea of this, and of bringing "live theater" to the masses, but I feel like it's just problematic.
In particular, the comments about the camera work are something that bother me about basically any recording of a live performance that involves dancing (STOP IT WITH THE CLOSE-UPS, I WANNA WATCH THE CHOREOGRAPHY DANGIT! THAT'S WHY YOU HIRED THE DANCERS IN THE FIRST PLACE YOU BIG DUMMIES!).
Also, I think that NBC should have picked a show where they could have cast one of the many HUGE stars who will bring the name recognition but also have the Broadway experience to pull off a live performance. Neil Patrick Harris, Hugh Jackman, Idina Menzel is a household name now thanks to Frozen, Josh Gad, Jane Krakowski, & Andrew Rannells are fabulous stage actors who might surprise people who only know them from their TV/film roles, even some of the actors on Glee like Lea Michele or Matthew Morrison. It's not like the list of Hollywood A-Listers who also have mad Broadway chops is particularly short these days, and it's pretty obvious that the standout performances from both of the live broadcasts have been the Broadway stars cast in the supporting roles (Audra McDonald and Laura Benanti in Sound of Music last year, and Christian Borle and Kelli O'Hara this year). It takes a particular set of skills to perform a musical LIVE- lots of film actors have great singing voices but don't have that Broadway chutzpah or what-have-you and I think the producers need to acknowledge that in their casting in order to be really successful.
Anyway, if you're going to do it, (and I think they should keep on doing it!) just DO IT RIGHT.