Live performance of popular, mature musical hits sour note.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Feb 6, 2019

This, it should not need to be said, made for a depressingly lame show...

| Feb 1, 2019

Outside the dress rehearsal disaster, one of the weirder side effects of "Rent" airing on Fox is that "Rent" could never be itself on Fox.

| Jan 29, 2019

We'll never know whether a genuinely live version would have come closer to preserving the urgency of Larson's beloved musical, but it certainly would've had a better excuse for showing so many seams.

| Jan 29, 2019

The screwup on this one is about to become legendary and will probably have massive effects on any live musical theater performances on television going forward.

| Jan 29, 2019

But to make all of this even weirder, there was a live performance of Rent happening onstage - and it was awesome!

| Jan 29, 2019

I will give the live rendition credit on a couple of counts, however. Jordan Fisher, who played Mark, was fantastic.

| Jan 29, 2019

Rent: Live isn't the definitive version of Rent, but I don't think it set out to be either. Fox's version of Rent is-to quote David S. Pumpkins-it's own thing.

| Original Score: B+ | Jan 29, 2019

There were moments, songs, and even stretches of "Rent Live" that worked as an engrossing musical experience, but the whole thing did not gel.

| Jan 28, 2019

Rent Live not actually live, but the dress rehearsal, but still spectacular and timeless. Tinashe is the night's MVP.

| Jan 28, 2019

Despite its imperfections, it nevertheless managed to evoke the kind of joy and heartbreak that Rent fans should expect.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 28, 2019

Rent had a chance to show off the flexibility and work ethic of Broadway in the face of a setback - and completely blew it.

| Jan 28, 2019

The climactic introduction of Rent's original Broadway cast for a jubilant reprise of Seasons of Love added to the what-might-have-been vibe.

| Jan 28, 2019

Yes, it was disappointing. But clearly there was love in this production, too.

| Jan 28, 2019

Lots to enjoy - and yet, there was something a bit remote about this Rent.

| Original Score: B- | Jan 28, 2019

Rent Live was not actually live, but it did succeed in bringing back some of back those feelings we used to have about the show, crying through songs that we've heard over and over again.

| Jan 28, 2019

Worse, it failed to create the deep, affecting emotion the musical is known for.

| Jan 28, 2019

However, for reasons both outside of and within its control, Rent Live misses the mark. The earnest nature shines through, but the craftsmanship does not.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Jan 28, 2019

Given the various shortcomings, it's not clear it would have made enough of a difference to redeem a show that struggled to recover from an equally bad start.

| Jan 28, 2019

Someday, some network will deliver an unforgettable "Rent" to viewers. This, alas, wasn't it.

| Jan 28, 2019