Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Did you know it’s been more than 50 years since a broadcast network has attempted to stage a full-scale musical on live TV?

Yep, that’s the task facing Carrie Underwood and her fellow cast members when NBC airs “The Sound of Music” live at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5.

Carrie Underwood as Maria and Stephen Moyer as Captain Von Trapp during preparations for “The Sound of Music” on NBC. (AP Photo/NBC, Paul Drinkwater)

Want a sneak peek at how things are going?

NBC will air a “making of” special tonight at 8 p.m.

When the real show airs, don’t expect a scene by scene remake of the 1965 “Sound of Music” film starring Julie Andrews.

Executive producer Neil Meron told The Associated Press that far fewer people are familiar with the 1959 Broadway musical than with the famous film that was based on it. Next Thursday’s version of the story is going back to the original source for inspiration.

As for having a relative acting newcomer like Carrie in the lead role of Maria …

Well, Meron told The Associated Press she arrived two weeks before rehearsals began with her lines fully memorized in order to get a head start.

Says Carrie: “I’m really hoping that on Dec. 5, we will have done it so much that it’ll feel like just another rehearsal.”

Here are photos of the production, provided by The Associated Press.

Carrie Underwood as Maria in a rehearsal for “The Sound of Music.” (AP Photo / NC Paul Drinkwater)

Carrie Underwood as Maria and Stephen Moyer as Captain Von Trapp in a rehearsal for “The Sound of Music.” (AP Photo / NC Paul Drinkwater)

Carrie Underwood and Stephen Moyer with other members of the cast of NBC’s “The Sound of Music.” (AP Photo / NC Paul Drinkwater)