Posted: 2/1/16 at 12:30am
The biggest winner of the night was the director. More things will come his way and there is no reason that he will not be considered for major motion picture musicals. He definitely deserves an Emmy nod.
Posted: 2/1/16 at 12:38am
I'm honestly just so happy to be seeing all the love Vanessa Hudgens is receiving.
Posted: 2/1/16 at 12:53am
I loved every second. The camerawork and choreography were outstanding. i really enjoyed Aaron Tveit as Danny. Although, the entire cast was terrific and deserves major kudos. It was so much fun to watch. I can't wait to watch it again.
Posted: 2/1/16 at 1:05am
Phyllis Rogers Stone said: "Legally Blonde was just shot in Broadway house, right?
Yes it was, thanks. I meant the interviews in and out of commercial - helped keep pacing and energy. I wish, wish, wish, they'd just record in the Broadway house in front of an audience.
"
Posted: 2/1/16 at 1:14am
This older Broadway outsider sticks his neck out to confess astonishment at the universal love given to this fun piece of fluff. (Of course it would take a lot of courage to post a negative review here.)
My characterization of most posters on this board would be savvy and cynical Broadway insiders, want-to-be insiders and should-have-been insiders. Not many likely to have had a high school experience like Rydell. Songs are pop hits but primitive compared to the scores of favorite Broadway shows such as Fun Home, King and I, Hamilton. Nothing like any song Sondheim, the reigning God here, ever wrote.
Would Sondheim love this show? Probably not. Does it matter? Just adds to my surprise.
Hudgens will probably be propelled into major stardom after tonight. It was easy to see Stockard Channing in her. Julianne was very good, but has to square off against Olivia N.J., who was pretty memorable in the film.
Saw Sha Na Na at the former Westbury Music Fair right near the end of their TV run when they were at the height of their popularity. It was like Bowser and his backup band, as he fronted the group with his mugging, which even my father enjoyed.
Posted: 2/1/16 at 1:15am
This shows what can be done when a musical is done right. Fox completely blew NBC out of the water with this. Highlights for me were definitely Vanessa Hudgens, Carlos PenaVega, and Elle Mclemore. Here's hoping Fox does this every year. My vote next would be West Side Story.
Posted: 2/1/16 at 1:20am
I'm thrilled that Carly Rae got so much love. I personally enjoyed her throughly as Cinderella and have since began wishing she would do more musicals. And now you guys have that Audrey seed planted in my head. I hope that happens soon. I also think she'd be a terrific Charity Hope Valentine in a live production a couple of years down the road. Maybe 10 years out? Anyway, I also really liked her new song. Although it wasn't in tune with the rest of the score, neither is Hopelessly, imo, so I didn't mind a bit. And her sweet and hopeful vocals really sold the song. So overall I'm just happy most everyone else loved her too. :)
Posted: 2/1/16 at 1:30am
From a technical standpoint I think this broadcast was a complete success. Personally, I would have enjoyed it a bit more if the choreographer and designers had been given more freedom to create their own Grease and not often adhere so ridiculously close to the film. If the goal was to do a live tribute to the movie and not a new television production of Grease then I guess that was successful too. Design wise it was all a little too familiar to me to be its own creation the way the 90s Broadway revival was able to succeed without using the movie as a blueprint.
Posted: 2/1/16 at 1:32am
This really is the kind of treatment HAIRSPRAY needs, what with all the crowd scenes indoor and outdoor and also (of course) the live tv show element. It would be a real shame to not use an audience for that, after seeing what it adds to these productions.
Posted: 2/1/16 at 1:42am
I just read that early ratings show a 7.2 for this tonight which is IMPRESSIVE AS HELL. Lucky for us, after that we can fully expect FOX to do this again.
Posted: 2/1/16 at 1:56am
Technical issues and slightly awkward transitions aside, this was one freaking fun, well made production of a show I think is decent at best. Everyone from the crew to the cast had a BLAST. Ironic isn't it that two actresses who played Cinderella on Broadway are in this and impressed me for the small roles they had (Keke Palmer and Carly Rae Jepson). Julianne did steal the show and made Sandy (a female character I don't care for) tolerable for once, but a well-cast and impressive Vanessa Hudgens was threatening her for that honor. Also awesome cameos are a plus!
I sure hope NBC can do a more refined version of what FOX did with a live audience now that can be something great and immersive if done really well, what this did was experimental (hence why the issues happened). But yeah I'm with you guys, this was fun and I mean FUN.
Posted: 2/1/16 at 2:06am
I wasn't all that fond of the new song that they wrote for Carly Rae's Frenchy, but the way she played the character acting-wise was great.
Posted: 2/1/16 at 2:06am
Every time Vanessa came on screen (especially at the dance), I thought "Anita" from WSS. If they do WSS with her though, she will probably be Maria.
Posted: 2/1/16 at 2:11am
If they did WSS and didn't cast a Latina actress in that role, the Internet would explode from the hate the production get.
Posted: 2/1/16 at 2:31am
Personally I loved it, beside some audio issues here and there I thought it was great. The fact we are getting more and more theatre on national TV is not something I'll ever be angry about.
Posted: 2/1/16 at 2:37am
I hate to be the negative Nancy but I don't get the hype at all. I honestly felt embarrassed watching it, especially during that ridiculous song they gave Carly Rae. Who the HELL thought that piece of crap fit in with the rest of the show???? Terrible decision. I had never seen Grease before tonight and I honestly don't understand why this musical is even popular. What the hell is the plot? Girl falls in love with douche bag and changes herself for him to like her. What a great message! If the musical is supposed to be funny then I didn't get it, cause there wasn't a single point where I laughed. The whole show felt like a consumerist nightmare filled with stunt casting and a crappy score. Bravo to everyone involved. The energy was certainly better than anything NBC has done and there were talented people in the cast. Other than that, I would describe "Grease Live" as a plotless musical with the aesthetic of Glee and the Disney Channel (two other things that I have never been able to like).
Posted: 2/1/16 at 2:46am
Not to thread jack, but if Hairspray plays their cards right they've got numerous chances to add in a live audience that would for sure up the energy.
Posted: 2/1/16 at 3:35am
I love the idea of doing a Broadway musical live on television. Doing a movie remake, not so much. I can watch the movie of Grease anytime but not the Broadway musical. And lip synching to tracks doesn't scream Live! to me.
Posted: 2/1/16 at 3:35am
I love the idea of doing a Broadway musical live on television. Doing a movie remake, not so much. I can watch the movie of Grease anytime but not the Broadway musical. And lip synching to tracks doesn't scream Live! to me.
Posted: 2/1/16 at 3:56am
Wilmingtom said: "I love the idea of doing a Broadway musical live on television. Doing a movie remake, not so much. I can watch the movie of Grease anytime but not the Broadway musical. And lip synching to tracks doesn't scream Live! to me."
I don't think they're was any lip synching going on.
Posted: 2/1/16 at 4:14am
For those who want to re-live all the fun:
(They're moving the release date up, but no exact date has been announced)
Posted: 2/1/16 at 5:38am
"I don't think they're was any lip synching going on."
Take another look.
Posted: 2/1/16 at 5:50am
OlBlueEyes said: "This older Broadway outsider sticks his neck out to confess astonishment at the universal love given to this fun piece of fluff. (Of course it would take a lot of courage to post a negative review here.)
My characterization of most posters on this board would be savvy and cynical Broadway insiders, want-to-be insiders and should-have-been insiders. Not many likely to have had a high school experience like Rydell. Songs are pop hits but primitive compared to the scores of favorite Broadway shows such as Fun Home, King and I, Hamilton. Nothing like any song Sondheim, the reigning God here, ever wrote.
Would Sondheim love this show? Probably not. Does it matter? Just adds to my surprise.
Hudgens will probably be propelled into major stardom after tonight. It was easy to see Stockard Channing in her. Julianne was very good, but has to square off against Olivia N.J., who was pretty memorable in the film.
Saw Sha Na Na at the former Westbury Music Fair right near the end of their TV run when they were at the height of their popularity. It was like Bowser and his backup band, as he fronted the group with his mugging, which even my father enjoyed.
Ooooh quite the theater snob aren't you? How's that working out for you sweetie?
"
Posted: 2/1/16 at 5:57am
NewYorkVibes said: "I hate to be the negative Nancy but I don't get the hype at all. I honestly felt embarrassed watching it, especially during that ridiculous song they gave Carly Rae. Who the HELL thought that piece of crap fit in with the rest of the show???? Terrible decision. I had never seen Grease before tonight and I honestly don't understand why this musical is even popular. What the hell is the plot? Girl falls in love with douche bag and changes herself for him to like her. What a great message! If the musical is supposed to be funny then I didn't get it, cause there wasn't a single point where I laughed. The whole show felt like a consumerist nightmare filled with stunt casting and a crappy score. Bravo to everyone involved. The energy was certainly better than anything NBC has done and there were talented people in the cast. Other than that, I would describe "Grease Live" as a plotless musical with the aesthetic of Glee and the Disney Channel (two other things that I have never been able to like).
You are most certainly entitled to your opinion but if you think "Grease" is just about a girl who falls in love with (and I'm using your description here) a "douche" and then changes for him then you totally don't get it. "Grease" is probably not the show for you and that's okay. Some shows just don't "click" with some people but that doesn't make them necessarily bad just because you think so.
Grease's worldwide popularity speaks for itself.
Updated On: 2/1/16 at 05:57 AM
