There were no shortage of exceptional performances in NBC's Jesus Christ Superstar Live on Sunday night. John Legend and Sara Bareilles knocked it out of the park as Jesus and Mary Magdalene, respectively, while Brandon Victor Dixon's scene-stealing Judas [1] had us bowing down thanks to his glittery rendition of "Superstar." [2] Of all the characters in the show, however, it seemed like fans couldn't get enough [3] of Alice Cooper's King Herod, who ended up being one of the evening's most unexpected delights.
The singer, songwriter, and overall rock god has spent the last fifty or so years simultaneously shocking and charming the music world with his raspy voice and performances full of fake blood and guillotines, so the choice to cast him as King Herod in an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical might have seemed like it was coming out of left field. That being said, as soon as he stepped out onstage in his fiery suit to tell Jesus to get out of his life, a fan-favorite was born.
Watch his electric performance above, and then check out all the hilarious and heartwarming things Twitter had to say about Cooper.
Alice Cooper is now my favorite King Herod, ever
Wow#JesusChristSuperStarLive [5]— ♈️☀️I'll Be 39 on 4/6🌙♌️ (@FeministaJones) April 2, 2018 [6]
I already know that Alice Cooper shouting "GET OUT OF MY LIFE" is going to be one of my most-used GIFs. #JesusChristSuperstarLive [7]
— AnikaChapin (@AnikaChapin) April 2, 2018 [8]
I'm just saying, I've never seen Alice Cooper and Steve Carrell in the same room pic.twitter.com/OwgeX0kSSq [9]
— Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) April 2, 2018 [10]
Just like that, Alice Cooper shows Ted Nugent what it is like to still be relevant. #JesusChristSuperstarLive [11]
— Paul Dullea (@PaulDDullea) April 2, 2018 [12]
Do you guys think Alice Cooper ever thought "I'm gonna sing a vaudeville number in an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical"? #JesusChristSuperstarLive [13]
— Robbie Rozelle (@divarobbie) April 2, 2018 [14]
#JesusChristSuperstarLive [15]
The crowd applauding for so long is what happens when you cast a legend in a cameo part ... and he pulls it off so well, he steals the show.
Alice Cooper as Herod was a masterstroke. pic.twitter.com/fkZ44emFcX [16]— James Mendur (@JamesMendur) April 2, 2018 [17]
I never knew I needed to see Alice Cooper as King Herod. But apparently, I really, really did. 🙌🏾 #JesusChristSuperstarLive [18] pic.twitter.com/m6HrFKFtkX [19]
— Lisa Bee (@leebee4life) April 2, 2018 [20]
I want someone to look at me the way this guy looks at Alice Cooper as King Herod. #JesusChristSuperstarLive [21] pic.twitter.com/86eAchXaR0 [22]
— spoopy mermaid (@thatgirl_lynn) April 2, 2018 [23]
Alice Cooper hasn't even started singing and he was already stealing the show #JesusChristSuperstarLive [24]
— Arlene Rios (@AlyRios) April 2, 2018 [25]
alice cooper saved Easter. #JesusChristSuperstarLive [26]
— zoe (@walshiepompeo) April 2, 2018 [27]
When Alice Cooper came out #JesusChristSuperstar [28] pic.twitter.com/UlTDzqfZCO [29]
— Coco 🐧 ♥ 💎 (@HappyMermaid94) April 2, 2018 [30]
OMG @alicecooper [31] as Herod! I am LOVING THIS! Edgier, less flamboyant, but just as campy. #JesusChristSuperstarLive [32]
— K Hoover (@Hoovereeno) April 2, 2018 [33]
@alicecooper [34] is honestly why I decided to watch. Never been so happy in my life. From now on, I will ONLY play Herod in my family's annual nativity, wearing THAT suit, THOSE boots. And a skull walking stick. #JesusChristSuperstarLive [35]
— Talk Nerdy With Us (@TalkNerdyWithUs) April 2, 2018 [36]
Alice Cooper???! This is the greatest thing I've ever seen
— natalie, i guess (@nararouge) April 2, 2018 [37]