You're The One That I Want - Or American Idol lite

[Laira]

I thought I'd start a thread on this show since no one else has.

Anyway, I wasn't too impressed. It came across as an American Idol wannabe with inferior snarking from the judges.

None of the contestants impressed me and I don't think I'll watch again.

Worst of all, I now have songs from the Grease soundtrack lodged in my brain.

[Deleted]

I also was not impressed. First of all, while I loved Grease the movie when I was little, Grease is truly not one of the best musicals out there. Just my opinion but it's not one of my favorites.

The commercials were already bugging me with the fact that it's called "Your the one that I want" which isn't even IN the broadway musical. Then the show starts and every other girl is singing Hopelessly Devoted which ALSO is not in the broadway musical so I was filled with rage and then found out online that they're adding the movie songs into the broadway play.

Then I got annoyed when the three judges refused to see anyone who was not a clone of Olivia Newton John as Sandy. Listen, Sandy doesn't HAVE to be blonde.

I thought Sunshine would be an interesting non-traditional Sandy. The Tap-dancing cupcake on the other hand was way too old and her hair was way too greasy. Plus, every time she opened her mouth I wanted to punch her. The 57-year-old Danny from Chicago also bugged me based on his age.

I think this show would be so much better if they weren't trying to mimic American Idol so much. The idea of Grease Academy where I have to watch potential Sandy's and Danny's engage in hot tub lovin' also makes me a bit sick to my stomach.

I'll probably not watch for a while and pick it up for the final 12 when "America votes".

[marywebgirl]

Did they do any publicity for those auditions, or are they relying on the NYC group to be huge? Because they didn't seem to get a lot of people, and the people who came were either high school drama nerds or talentless hacks.

[biondetta]

Yeah, I was pretty bored throughout and actually relieved that it ended after 1.5 hours. I only know the movie, not the musical, so I don't have any issues in terms of which songs are included, but I wouldn't have any issue with them choosing leads that don't look exactly like Olivia Newton-John or John Travolta. Shake things up a bit! I think people can handle a little variety. Plus, with the interest the show is bound to generate, on top of the general interest a lot of people have in Grease, I think the show is bound to do well enough financially that they can afford to take some chances with casting.

That said, I'm already sick of the "you're the one we want" catch phrase, especially as they were picking contestants. Painful.

[Deleted]

The stage show is pretty different in chunks because obviously you can't do things like a drag race or large scale school carnivale on stage. And naturally Sandy is just from a neighboring high school and not Australia.

There are a few good songs in the stage show that are only background/radio songs in the movie:

Freddy My Love
It's raining on prom night
Those magic changes

The big final song is "I'm all choked up" and takes place in the burger joint in the stage show. There is no "you're the one that I want". And Hopelessy Devoted was only added the movie to give Olivia Newton John a hit single to coincide with the movie which is why it's pretty much the only song that's not at all 1950siish in the whole show. It's a pretty song but it always bugged me because it just doesn't fit musically in with the other ones.

On a completely shallow note, what is it with all the female contestants lining the tops and bottoms of their eyelids with heavy thick black eyeliner. The brunette Sandy girl and the 17-year old blonde both did that big time along with a few others. Not attractive.

[Deleted]

They are putting those songs in the show.

The new Broadway production will feature the smash Jacobs-Casey songs made famous in the original musical, including "Summer Nights," "Greased Lightning" and "We Go Together," as well as the four additional film songs "Grease is the Word," "You're the One That I Want," "Hopelessly Devoted to You" and "Sandy" interpolated into the score.

[jynni]

I saw a community theater production of Grease that had all those movie songs except "Grease is the Word" incorporated into the show and I thought it worked fine. The show was still short - less than two hours. It was actually a pretty good show too - everyone in the cast (except the poor girl playing Sandy - she could barely carry a tune) was great.

I'm curious how the NYC auditions go since I heard they did and equity audition before the general open call.

[Deleted]

So did anyone watch last night?

NYC was much more interesting. Less crappy auditions, more talented auditioners. I think the Hairspray Touring Guy has it locked up at this point. Unless someone really impresses the judges, at "Grease Academy" he's the standout for me.

I loved the couple that vowed to stick by each other and then he gets in and she doesn't and she dumps him right away. Loved that. I loved her face when he got through it was totally "What the F*CK?!" and then she just storms out. Nice, really nice. Biznatch.

I am sort of hating how some people (very pretty young girls) get four or five chances to sing whereas the more homely folks get sent home within 2 seconds if they mess up.

[thingamajig]

I loved the couple that vowed to stick by each other and then he gets in and she doesn't and she dumps him right away. Loved that. I loved her face when he got through it was totally "What the F*CK?!" and then she just storms out. Nice, really nice. Biznatch.

OMG, they cracked me up. I knew it couldn't end well when he was going on about how this audition would possibly save their relationship. I mean, if their relationship is in that much trouble that he's talking about it on TV, and he's dumb enough to think something like this will save it...just so dumb.

This show is still pretty dull, IMO. I do think it might be interesting when they get further along and have to do acting and dancing, not just singing, for the auditions and live shows. At least it might be an interesting change of pace from AI.

[dragonfly80]

I want to like this show because I loved Grease as a movie. I recorded the first two episodes and finally watched one today. It's just not all that interesting, maybe when it gets further on in the competition it will be.

I disagree that the judges should have to see people that don't look like Sandy and Danny. An overweight brunette really doesn't fit the part. I don't want to see someone who can't dance play the roll of a young dancing teenager. How on earth could they do scenes from the dance off (if that was in the play)?

Sunshine didn't seem to have that great of a voice . Maybe she would have made a good Tracey Turnblad in Hairspray but she's not right for Grease. Cupcake lady bugged me. I did like the little blonde 17 year old in Chicago with the adorable halter dress but all the Danny's so far look old enough to be her father. Chicago costume guy might have had a good costume to dance in but I didn't think he sounded great either, so it was good to see him cut.

Are all the episodes an hour and a half? I was fast forwarding through a lot just to keep my interest piqued.