Grease Live (Fox) - General Discussion

[Quickbeam]

Julianne has a very light voice, I feel like I can barely hear her half the time. She's not a bad singer, just not much power. Aaron really looks too old for the part.

[ByaNose]

Why is Sandy singing at the Growing Pains house? Same neighborhood?

[Branchop]

Second time Fox has lost it's sound in a live event in as many weeks. (Packers game first time). Totally unacceptable .

This is too close to the movie, down to the costumes. I have seen the movie a million times and seen the Broadway Tour once. Although I prefer the movie, I think it would have been better if this production distanced from the movie a little more. For the most part even the script is the same as the movie. Ugh!

[Fostersmom]

She's doing a decent job with this. Are those helicopters I hear? 

[SmithW6079]

Sound keeps crapping out. "Hopelessly Devoted" was fine.

I thought Sandy was just the new girl in town. I noticed they changed her last name from the stage show.

[novhappy]

On my tv they are having audio problems. Lost audio during hand jive and a crackle over Hopelessly Devoted.

[dbell1]

The sound mixer should be fired. Too many pops and crackles. And Sandy is camera shy? Um, the hell?

[Arynm]

I lost the entire picture, they went to a hulu commercial

[BW Manilowe]

Sound keeps crapping out. "Hopelessly Devoted" was fine.

I thought Sandy was just the new girl in town. I noticed they changed her last name from the stage show.

In the stage show, as I remember, Sandy's last name was Dombrowski. In the movie, it was Olson. I haven't heard what it is here yet.

[Dejana]

Aaron Tveit looks vaguely embarrassed to be doing this.

Whichever Jonas brother that is is doing a great job as Johnny Casino.

Welp, here comes "Hopelessly Devoted"

It's Joe Jonas: his group DNCE also does the song "Cake by the Ocean".

Sandy left the dance floor on her own and whatshername didn't have her dress pulled over her head--minor tweaks that play better to contemporary sensibilities.

Edited February 1, 2016 by Dejana

[mtlchick]

Sound went out during Hand Jive and definitely heard crackling through Hopeless Devoted (though I'll chalk that up to the rain cutting into the sound.) 

 

Hopelessly Devoted overall wasn't BAD but she wasn't going to match Olivia on this. 

 

 

Sandy's last name was Dombrowski. In the movie, it was Olson. I haven't heard what it is here yet.

 

It was Young. 

Edited February 1, 2016 by mtlchick

[bosawks]

I'm loving Blanche.

[SmithW6079]

In the stage show, as I remember, Sandy's last name was Dombrowski. In the movie, it was Olson. I haven't heard what it is here yet.

They changed it to "Young," I believe.

[reggiejax]

In the stage show, as I remember, Sandy's last name was Dombrowski. In the movie, it was Olson. I haven't heard what it is here yet.

 

During the cheerleader tryout scene, Patty Simcox refers to her as Sandy Young.

 

Whichever Jonas brother that is is doing a great job as Johnny Casino.

 

Honestly didn't think they could get anyone less cool than Sha Na Na. But hey, never say never. 

 

And yes, Mario is the perfect amount of smarm and charm for this.

 

I was thinking they made a huge mistake casting Mario Lopez, but then I realized he was playing the skeevy Vince Fontaine. So really, it is perfect casting. 

Edited February 1, 2016 by reggiejax

[ByaNose]

He's no Travolta.

[Fostersmom]

This should be angst-y, not all poppy. This is not good. 

[Laurie4H]

There is a lot of over acting going on here. I know it's common in musicals but it bugs me. I actually think Julianne Hough is playing it understated which I think works.

[WendyCR72]

Horrible to say - as the song overall is mega cheese and cringeworthy already (UGH) - but (heresy) Travolta handled "Sandy" better, IMO.

[mtlchick]

 

 

Whichever Jonas brother that is is doing a great job as Johnny Casino.

Honestly didn't think they could get anyone less cool than Sha Na Na. But hey, never say never.

 

I'll defend Joe Jonas by saying "Cake On The Ocean Floor" is one hell of a fun song. 

 

Interesting wrinkle to say Sandy wasn't allowed to go to dances.  Shades of Footloose?

[dbell1]

The guy playing Danny reminds me of Willem daFoe

[mtlchick]

 

I actually think Julianne Hough is playing it understated which I think works.

 

She's not a great actress, but I agree, she's playing it pretty straight laced which isn't so bad.  

 

Aaron is channeling Luke Perry circa 1991, sideburns, wrinkles and all.  And yet...he's no Luke Perry. 

[absnow54]

Yay Zack Woodley! His choreography was great on Glee, and it's been the highlight of this production.

[Irlandesa]

Sandy left the dance floor on her own and whatshername didn't have her dress pulled over her head--minor tweaks that play better to contemporary sensibilities.

I think those tweaks made it worse, especially with how they moved the "Hopelessly Devoted to You" song to after it.  In the movie, he looked like a HUGE jerk for not going after her when they pulled her out.  Here?  I guess the totally decent thing to do would have been to leave with her but given that it's her choice, he looks less like a jerk than he did in the movie. And her huge disappointment looks more dramatic than it needs to be.

 

I like Aaron but I have to say, I think I'm starting to appreciate Travolta's performance more.  Some of it was crazy weird but it worked.

Edited February 1, 2016 by Irlandesa

[drafan]

I think this Danny is a better singer than Travolta...so "Sandy" sounded sooooooo much better than in the movie. Liked it.

 

 Julianne is a cute Sandy, but is she asleep? This is the lowest energy performance I've ever seen...and I've seen middle school productions that had 2 weeks of rehearsal.

 

Don't think this will become a classic. But I do appreciate the lack of 70s disco moves. So...yay?

Edited February 1, 2016 by drafan

[Laurie4H]

I think Kiki is over doing it....and nobody is Rizzo but Stockard Channing.

[Nidratime]

During the cheerleader tryout scene, Patty Simcox refers to her as Sandy Young.

 

 

Like Brigham Young!

[SnoGirl]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks the Mics suck for this. I think the singers have been drowned out by the music.....

[ByaNose]

Vanessa doing pretty good with There are worse things I could do......

[mtlchick]

Not that I was going to knock Vanessa here as I think she's doing a decent job but hearing her sing her heart out when it's probably torn apart right now is making me tear up a bit. And for once the audience cheering loudly for her was worth it. 

[Branchop]

Vanessa is killing her song. She's not as mean as Stockard's Rozzo, but I loved her version of "Worst Thing I Could Do"

[SmithW6079]

I wonder which song they'll use for the Sandy transformation?

[Dejana]

I think those tweaks made it worse, especially with how they moved the "Hopelessly Devoted to You" song to after it. In the movie, he looked like a HUGE jerk for not going after her when they pulled her out. Here? I guess the totally decent thing to do would have been to leave with her but given that it's her choice, he looks less like a jerk than he did in the movie. And her huge disappointment looks more dramatic than it needs to be.

I was thinking more about how a girl being forcibly dragged off as she protests and another teenager having her dress pulled over her head in public goes over with a 2016 audience, some of whom aren't familiar with the musical/movie or wouldn't find those scenes humorous.

Edited February 1, 2016 by Dejana

[Frost]

I thought Vanessa did great with that song.  I got teary.  I feel so bad for her.

[reggiejax]

I have only seen the movie. Was Patty Simcox such a B in the Broadway show? It is kind of disappointing because I always liked her in the movie. In the movie she makes a remark about Rizzo, but she is a bit chastened when Rizzo looks her way. Here she is totally being mean. 

Edited February 1, 2016 by reggiejax

[Spartan Girl]

Not that I was going to knock Vanessa here as I think she's doing a decent job but hearing her sing her heart out when it's probably torn apart right now is making me tear up a bit. And for once the audience cheering loudly for her was worth it.

Yeah she seemed like she really got choked up there. Poor girl.

[Irlandesa]

I was thinking more about how a girl being forcibly dragged off as she protests and another teenager having her dress pulled over her head in public goes over with a 2016 audience, some of whom aren't familiar with the musical/movie or wouldn't find those scenes humorous.

Oh I know. Although, they left in the "did she put up a fight" joke which is...iffy.  And the suggestive dancing.  So I don't think sensibilities were top of mind.

[Frost]

Eve Plumb is the best actor in this whole show.  She needs to get a series!

[mtlchick]

I get that they cannot be driving the cars at full speed but this is the worst drag race EVER. 

[SmithW6079]

I was thinking more about how a girl being forcibly dragged off as she protests and another teenager having her dress pulled over her head in public goes over with a 2015 audience, some of whom aren't familiar with the musical/movie or wouldn't find those scenes humorous.

Yes, because people are such delicate flowers these days that they get offended about everything that is contrary to their view of how their special little snowflake world should be.

[ByaNose]

Hough isn't that bad.

[mtlchick]

Eve Plumb is the best actor in this whole show.  She needs to get a series!

 

Where is she in this and why have I not noticed?!

[merylinkid]

She's the shop teacher.   Her hair makes her look like Alice.   The character is so far from Jan, you have to be looking for her.

[bosawks]

Eve Plumb is the best actor in this whole show. She needs to get a series!

I vote a buddy comedy with Blanche!

[Fostersmom]

I want Sandy's shoes. The little strapy Mary Janes. 

[ByaNose]

Why doesn't Ana never say Rydell High? It's always Rydell.

[merylinkid]

No smoking on tv.  

[mtlchick]

I feel we need to start stunt casting for Grease 2 asap. 

[cmahorror]

I kept thinking that the guy playing Danny was Matthew Morrison.

 

All in all, not a bad job. Just like with Stockard Channing in the original, Vanessa Hudgens is outperforming everyone else. Bravo to her for going on after losing her father just last night.

 

Also loving Carly Rae as Frenchie.

[Dejana]

It's the same as the movie, but the timeline of Rizzo's pregnancy scare makes zero sense.

Maybe they gave Sandy strict parents so that her new look is more about rebelling than changing to hold a man's interest (a common criticism lobbed at the story).

[dubbel zout]

What a low-energy version of "You're the One That I Want." Hough had to be so careful in her heels so she wouldn't twist an ankle.

 

The end is clever, though.

Edited February 1, 2016 by dubbel zout