https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdS_yNe02vg
America’s gentle tolerance of live TV musicals is getting another nudge over the next few months with the arrival of NBC’s The Wiz and FOX’s Grease: Live. The latter now has a splashy, hand jivey, very musical-y teaser to go alongside it. Care to watch it? Of course you do.
In this zippy 30 second preview, we’re presented with a look at the cast for this upcoming curio. Will the planet accept Julianne Hough as Sandy, Aaron Tveit as Danny, Carly Rae Jepsen as Frenchy and Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo? We’ll find out by being on Twitter on January 31, won’t we? This early look mainly sells the novelty of seeing of seeing celebs of varying star wattage doing things you recognize from the musical.
“America’s favourite musical, today’s hottest stars, it’s the live event of the new year!” proclaims a cheery voiceover as Hudgens peers directly into your soul.
Grease: Live has been in the works for ages at FOX with the network trumpeting its future arrival way back in the spring of 2014. Network exec Shana C. Waterman said at the time that the live event is a natural fit for their broadcast philosophy:
“From Broadway to film, and across generations, Grease is one of the most beloved musical stories ever told – and we can’t wait to bring it to our air in a spectacular live event. Its iconic characters and addictive songs make it the perfect fit for Fox, and we’re going to give it the kind of star power and production quality to make every Sandy, Danny, Rizzo and Kenickie out there want to get up and sing along.”
Grease: Live is slated to air on Sunday, January 31, 2016, on your local FOX affiliate.