The Passion: New Orleans

Production

In December 2015, Fox revealed that Tyler Perry, who was born in New Orleans, would serve as host and narrator for a live television musical depicting the final hours of Jesus Christ. Aired on Palm Sunday, March 20, 2016, and produced by Eye2Eye Media and Dick Clark Productions, the special unfolded in New Orleans. It featured contemporary songs and an illuminated cross carried from Champions Square, near the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, to a stage at Woldenberg Park.

The script, adapted from Bible passages by High School Musical writer Peter Barsocchini, was reviewed by the American Bible Society. Producer Mark Bracco described the show as modern and inclusive, noting it could appeal to believers or anyone wanting to hear Trisha Yearwood perform a Whitney Houston song. Perry highlighted the choice of New Orleans, comparing Hurricane Katrina to the resurrection and saying the city had literally risen from a liquid grave. The broadcast was an American version of a Dutch television special of the same name, which had aired annually since 2011 and itself grew out of the BBC’s 2006 Manchester Passion.

Creator Jacco Doornbos first conceived the idea in 2007 after learning only a quarter of people in the Netherlands knew the Easter story. The Dutch edition drew about 3.57 million viewers in 2015, a 46% audience share. This was Fox’s second live musical, following Grease Live! two months earlier.

Broadcast

On March 20, 2016, Fox aired The Passion, which was preceded by the debut of the Easter-themed Ice Age special The Great Egg-Scapade. In Canada, Omni Television simulcast the program with Fox. The special earned a 4.3/7 household rating, ranking as the night’s second most-watched show behind NBC’s Little Big Shots. Netflix secured international digital rights to The Passion outside the United States and the Netherlands, making it available for streaming starting March 25, 2016.

Reception

Critics were split on The Passion: New Orleans, with Metacritic giving it a 40 out of 100 based on nine reviews, a score that falls into the mixed or average range. In Entertainment Weekly, Jeff Jensen found the performances mostly shallow, comparing them to the polished, emotionless camaraderie of a boy band video, where actors struck poses of earnest feeling rather than actually acting. He also noted attempts to pass off pre-recorded segments as live, like using headset microphones. The song selection drew criticism for weak thematic ties; Jensen singled out Demons as a pat, unsatisfying excuse for Judas’s betrayal, though he praised Calling All Angels for giving the Garden of Gethsemane an affecting voice.

Seal’s portrayal of Pontius Pilate and his scenes were called the night’s most genuinely live dramatic moment. Tyler Perry’s narration came off as repetitive and cliché, like a more subdued Ryan Seacrest counting down to midnight, while Nischelle Turner’s interviews with procession participants felt rushed and cheery, bending their poignant stories into product endorsements. The resurrection scene, where Jencarlos sang Katy Perry’s Unconditionally on the roof of the Westin New Orleans hotel, exemplified the special’s flaws. Jensen argued that placing Jesus on the ground among the people would have been more effective, but the staging instead kept him distant, creating a metaphor for how many experience God—far away and hard to see—and for a TV spectacle full of simplistic passion that failed as engaging theater.

Did You Know?

• Chris Daughtry's cover of Bring Me to Life debuted at #2 on the April 9, 2016 Billboard Hard Rock Digital Songs chart.
• Copies of the soundtrack sold at Target and Walmart stores contained two exclusive bonus tracks each.