I thought I’d start a new thread for discussion of the episode, instead of continuing the old thread.
I was definitely not blown away by the talent, and it didn’t look like the judges were either. I’m sure New York will be a different story.
The Sandys
I was disappointed that the pharmaceutical saleswoman didn’t make it through–she had the best voice of the ones they showed us. Her dancing must have sucked.
That one girl that the host begged the judges to give a second chance? That was hysterical when she went out there again and missed that note SO BADLY!
The ‘dancing cupcake’ girl and Sunshine had no chance, but they were fun.
In Chicago, the 17 year-old girl looks perfect for the part and her voice was OK, but I think she’ll have to improve some to stay in the running.
The Dannys
The guy who went last in LA was the only one that impressed me at all.
Judging the show as a whole, I liked it enough to keep watching for now. The judges seemed to make fairly professional and reasonable decisions, and I like that the judges all have a direct interest of some sort in the outcome. (One is the producer, another is the director and choreographer, and the third is the creator of Grease)
Billy Bush is a huge tool, perhaps more so than Ryan Seacrest, but thankfully his screentime was not too long.
Grease is still very popular with teenagers and is a staple of high school theater productions, so I could see this show doing really well if enough people watch the first few episodes to get invested in it.
I enjoyed it. It was too bad that pharmaceutical girl didn’t make it through – fun story. So far, no one’s really impressive – not that I can tell any of the Dannys, esp. apart – but that’s par for the course for me this early in one of these shows. I did like the 17-year-old boy with the great voice – wish they hadn’t felt compelled to make him cry and then air it though.
Is the blonde hostess the same chick from “So You Think You Can Dance”?
It’s supposed to just be casting for Danny and Sandy, which is too bad because there were some awesome Rizzo types out there (dancing cupcake, I’m looking your way…)
It is too bad that they’re only casting Danny and Sandy because I definitely saw some people who would have been terrific in the other parts. Particularly the dancing cupcake as Rizzo.
Overall the show was entertaining. Don’t know if I’ll continue to watch in the coming weeks or not. I think one show of this type is probably all my husband will put up with in one week, and American Idol is coming soon.
I agree! I think they could do an interesting show based on each episode being used to cast a single character. ‘This week, vote for your favourite Kennickie!’
But, I suppose, that wouldn’t make it easy for people to get to know the contestants well.
I’m guessing it would be a great deal of work to mold a whole group of unknowns into a cast as well. It will be difficult enough trying to work with two leads who have no/very little experience. I’m guessing they’ll choose more seasoned performers for the rest of the cast.
Cat Deely is the hostess of “So You Think You Can Dance.” This chick had a different name. But a poster mentioned in another thread that “YTOTIW” is another U.K. import. Apparently the UK had a similar show which cast Maria von Trapp in a “Sound of Music” musical. So I’d imagine the hostess is from that show.
I was joking in that other thread that I was taping this show to see if “Sex” showed up for the auditions. He wasn’t there, but his long lost sister showed up to audition for Sandy.
Now that this thread has been pointed out (thanks, PL), I’ll repeat myself…
I admit that the concept looks good, on paper. You’re casting parts that are well known, so everyone has an opinion about how good or bad a contestant fits. And it’s like American Idol, but with dancing and acting, too! What could be better?
Unfortunately, it looked just like a cheezy, low-budget knock-off of Idol. The hosts & judges had no memorable traits whatsoever. But the judges get my sympathy; I’m sure they had to hear “Totally Devoted” about 100 times more than the Geneva Convention allows.
Agreed that some of the contestants were probably well-suited to other parts, like Rizzo. Oh, well…
But I can’t see this lasting too long. I don’t think the public appetite for phone-in talent contests can support more than one at a time. Wasn’t there a spate of “making the band” shows that failed miserably a year or 2 back?
Do we need a new thread? Is anyone else still watching?
I’m glad we’re down to a (potentially) identifiable group of people – the only one I’m rooting for yet is Austin, who seems very talented. All the young women are indistinguishable from each other yet, for me.
I’m still watching. Austin seems so hammy, but I guess on stage it takes BIG singing and BIG emoting. I think that last girl is probably the one to watch.
I’m so glad that the teen girl with the freaky eyeliner is gone.
He comes across as hammy to you? To me he seems confident, competent, and comfortable – he’s clearly the most polished of the guys. Some of the others I just can’t imagine actually appearing on B’way.
