Though not a classic on the level of “Grease,” which Fox staged beautifully this year, or “The Sound of Music,” “Hairspray” features infectious pop music by Marc Shaiman, with lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman, that feels instantly familiar. Like the inspired take on “The Wiz,” “Hairspray Live!” was anchored by a terrific and shockingly assured newcomer, Maddie Baillio, making her professional acting debut as the rebellious, bouffanted Tracy Turnblad, whose attempts to integrate a teen dance show in 1960s Baltimore - and become Miss Teenage Hairspray in the process - form the center of the action. Though preliminary ratings suggest that it wasn’t a hit on par with last year’s “The Wiz Live!,” Wednesday night’s “Hairspray Live!” was a boisterous, technically dazzling, socially relevant and frequently very funny staging of the musical based on John Waters’ celebrated 1988 film. But what started as a collective snark-a-thon has morphed rather quickly into a more purely joyful viewing experience.

Three years ago, when the network started what it hoped would be an annual live musical tradition with “The Sound of Music,” many of us tuned in to do a bit of ironic rubbernecking. Tracy’s mother Edna encourages Tracy along with her friends to introduce her campaign to integrate the all-white Corny Collins Show. Two songs that were written for the 2007 film will be included in Hairspray Live!: “Ladies’ Choice” and “Come So Far (Got So Far to Go).” The songs “The Big Dollhouse” and “The New Girl in Town” from the stage production are not in the television version.Ladies and gentlemen, I believe we owe NBC an apology. Her dream becomes a reality when she earns a place on the show and becomes a celebrity overnight. In 1960s Baltimore, Tracy Turnblad’s dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show. Hairspray Live! is tonight’s live musical adaptation of the 2002 Broadway musical Hairspray, which is based on the 1988 film of the same name.

Maddie Baillio has been cast as the lead, is surrounded by big names such as Harvey Fierstein, Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande, and Derek Hough. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are producers of the project. Hairspray Live! airs tonight at 8:00 P.M.

How to watch hairspray live on the app