At times, last night’s ABC telecast of “The Little Mermaid Live!” seemed as caught between two worlds as its heroine.

Was it supposed to be a one-of-a-kind live television event? Or was this just another re-airing of an animated classic? Was it a nostalgic reminder of Walt Disney Studios’ long association with network television? Or was it a two-hour commercial for all things Disney?

The most important question: Was it entertaining? The answer: mostly yes. As the Disney executives learned 30 years ago, a handful of catchy Howard Ashman and Alan Menken songs nearly always covers up any shortcomings.

“The Little Mermaid Live!” wasn’t a straightforward live-action adaptation of the 1989 animated film, nor was it a TV version of Disney’s 2007 Broadway musical. Instead, the producers borrowed an idea from the recent Hollywood Bowl concert presentations of “The Little Mermaid,” by alternating between the original film’s footage and some new live performances of its big musical numbers.