It may be quite different when talking about a group of friends who are facing more events. That story begins with the story of many friends in New York City facing financial poverty, homophobia, AIDS, and, of course, rent. It may seem quite different where there are more secrets and issues that have sparked great controversy.
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.
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.
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.
