'I wished I'd shot my eye out': A Christmas Story Live! three-hour musical divides fans on social media
A Christmas Story Live! divided viewers on social media on Sunday after airing on Fox.
The three-hour musical adaptation of the beloved holiday classic followed Ralphie Parker in his Christmas quest for a Red Ryder BB Gun as a gift.
'Sat through 3 hrs of #AChristmasStoryLive. Now I wished I'd shot my eye out instead. And my other eye. And both ears for good measure,' one Twitter user posted.
Live musical: Chris Diamantopoulos, Maya Rudolph and Andy Walken starred in A Christmas Story Live! broadcast on Sunday on Fox
The ambitious project was based on the popular 1983 film and also the 2012 Broadway musical, which caught some viewers by surprise.
'It's a MUSICAL? Shoot me now with a Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle!,' posted one viewer on Twitter.
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Others lauded the live event for broadening the presentation from the original.
'I am LIVING for the racial and body diversity in #AChristmasStoryLive. Amazing representation for everyone!!!!,' a viewer tweeted.
Eyes shot: One Twitter user wished he 'd shot his own eyes after watching the live musical
Musical letdown: The musical element caught a Twitter user by surprise
Another watcher on Twitter praised the diverse and thoughtful production for bringing 'a bit of sweetness, goodness, and joy in a time when it is severely lacking'.
The celebrity cast of A Christmas Story Live! Made it through the three-hour TV extravaganza with hardly a hiccup.
Matthew Broderick, 30 Rock star Jane Krakowski, The Hangover's Ken Jeong, and Saturday Night Live alumni Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen, and Ana Gasteyer, lead the cast in the musical remake of the festive favorite film.
No complaints: The 'super-talented cast' and the ambitious production was appreciated by one Twitter user who had no complaints
And the young actors, especially newcomer Andy Walken who played the lead role of Ralphie Parker, managed to shine during the lengthy live production.
Despite the ambitious production, including numerous sets and also constantly moving camerawork, there were hardly any missed lines, mistakes or major flubs.
Even when there were minor mishaps, such as when an ornament fell off a door, Chris Diamantopoulos, playing Ralphie's dad, managed to calmly include it into the show.
Christmas classic: Maya, Andy, Tyler Wladis and Chris played the Parker family in the live musical event inspired by the 1983 movie of the same name and the 2012 Broadway musical
Social media: Twitter users reacted to the musical adaptation of the beloved Christmas classic
There were ambitious shots, including the camera zooming in close to the face of Diamantopoulos - with him in a completely different costume, being changed from his day suit to a white tie and tux, all while singing on camera.
Broadway veteran Broderick's main role was as the older Ralphie, playing an actual on-screen narrator rather than the voiceover from the film.
He also appeared as several other roles including as a store employee, game show host, and mailman.
Major award: The Old Man proudly displayed his prize lamp of a woman's leg in fishnets
Story narrator: Matthew Broderick narrated the story as an adult Ralphie
Like the 1983 movie, the production followed nine-year-old Ralphie in 1940s Indiana and his desperation to get a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.
It included many of the films most noted moments, including Ralphie saying the 'Queen mother of dirty words,' the sexually-suggestive leg lamp, and his friend Flick's tongue getting stuck to the flagpole after a dare, only coming off for a millisecond as he spoke.
The original plot was padded out by material and song from the 2012 Broadway musical adaptation, as well as new material just for the show.
Spot on: Sacha Carlson as Skut Farkus and Elie Samouhi as Grover Dill as bullied Ralphie and Randy
Young stars: Andy and a talented cast of young actors performed a musical routine together
Dance moves: The youngsters showed off some impressive dance moves
The TV production featured Count On Christmas sung by Bebe Rexha that opened and closed the show.
Former SNL star Ana Gasteyer, playing the mother of one of Ralphie's classmates, also got to perform a special Hanukkah song for the show, A Market For A Miracle.
Mrs. Schwartz was joined by others as they danced through her home and her voice proved a powerful highlight of the production.
Family fun: The live musical was set in 1940s Indiana just like the original movie
Popular story: A Christmas Story Live! was the latest live musical broadcast for viewers
As she encouraged Ralph to dream in miracles, she finally asked what he wanted - stopping to repeat one of the film's most famous lines: 'You'll shoot your eye out!'.
It was the same response fellow SNL star Maya Rudolph, playing Ralphie's mother, told him when he first raised his desires for the potentially dangerous toy.
The line also was the theme of 30 Rock star Jane Krakowski's big number where she tap danced as a chorus of kids also danced around her.
Childhood dream: Ralphie wanted nothing but a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas
Favorite scenes: The musical included the scene where The Old Man wins a prize
Leg lamp: The Old Man loved his leg lamp prize and proudly displayed it
The teacher: Jane Krakowski played Ralphie's teacher Miss Shields
Krakowski, who came up performing on Broadway shows, played Ralphie's teacher Miss Shields, and in another number switched to black and white as he imagined her being kidnapped and tied-up, with him swooping in dressed as a cowboy to save her.
Another SNL veteran, Fred Armisen, also had a brief role, playing a grumpy elf helping an even grumpier Santa, played by David Alan Grier.
In the department store Higbee's, they told Ralphie when he asked for his BB gun: 'You'll shoot your eye out, kid.'
Beat down: Ralphie attacked the bully Skut
Car trouble: Ralphie didn't say 'fudge' when he fumbled while helping his father
Soap mouth: The boy was punished with soap in his mouth after uttering the F-word
Ralphie of course ended up getting his BB gun - just to hurt his eye with his first shot, breaking his glasses.
The Hangover star Ken Jeong, meanwhile, played a Christmas tree salesman who later played a pivotal role as the owner of a Chinese restaurant where Ralphie and his family go after neighborhood dogs stole their Christmas turkey.
He shocked the family by chopping off a duck's head and then leading his sons and other staff into an impeccable rendition of Deck The Halls.
Musical number: The Old Man performed a routine with backup lamp dancers
Cold pole: Flick took on the dare and stuck his tongue to a frozen pole
New number: Ana Gasteyer performed a new number for the TV show called A Market For A Miracle
Running reminder: Broderick kept popping up to keep the story moving
Harsh critic: One Twitter user said the show was now the worst thing Broderick has done
The scene was a departure from the movie in which the Asian staff sung the traditional Christmas song with heavy accents.
'I wasn't expecting that,' Ralphie's dad said, with Ken's character asking sternly: 'What WERE you expecting?'
After pointing out his sons were at Ivy League colleges - 'except for Bob who has a good personality' - he stressed in a key line: 'Isn't this a great country?'
Tree salesman: Ken Jeong played a Christmas tree salesman
Restaurant owner: The comedian also played the owner of Hong Kong Garden restaurant
Pop song: Bebe Rexha performed the opening and closing number Count On Christmas
Multiple talents: Krakowski got to put her singing and dancing skills on display
Christmas present: The Old Man received a blue bowling ball for Christmas
After the family walked off singing, Broderick's older Ralphie ended the show with a final song after an emotional monologue about 'the greatest Christmas gift I had ever received' but knowing his BB gun gift was really about 'love.'
He sounded close to tears as he said: 'My old man, my dad - he gave it to me. And my mom she let me keep it - that's why it was the greatest gift I would ever receive.'
'Merry Christmas,' he said, walking off as the camera panned away.
Big warning: Santa, played by David Alan Grier, and an elf portrayed by Fred Armisen warned Ralphie that he would shoot his eye out
Gun gift: Ralphie after initially being disappointed received the BB gun as a gift from his father
Eye shot: The boy fired his BB gun for the first time and broke his glasses
Fond memories: Broderick's older Ralphie reflected on the greatest Christmas gift he had ever received
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