FOX Producing Live 'Grease' Musical for 2015
Even despite sagging ratings for a lot of new shows on its network, NBC must be proud that they're still getting ripped off! Yes, it's true. FOX is now producing a live stage musical of its own in an attempt to duplicate NBC's success this past year with The Sound of Music Live!.
In 2015, FOX will produce a live, three-hour version of Grease, the Broadway classic-turned-hit movie musical. Grease Live is being billed as "the first-ever live broadcast TV production of the 1971 musical from Warren Casey and Jim Jacobs, which also inspired the 1978 hit film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John."
“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,” said Shana C. Waterman, senior VP of event series for FOX. “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.”
Credit: Paramount Pictures
This is a ballsy move from FOX. Beyond the obvious accusations of piggybacking off of the success of The Sound of Music Live!, the choice to produce Grease is virtually another shot fired at NBC. Apparently, Grease had been one of the musicals under consideration by NBC for 2014, once they saw the ratings for The Sound of Music Live and decided they were totally going to make this whole "live theater in primetime" concept a yearly thing. However, NBC ultimately chose to go with Peter Pan, which will air this holiday season on Dec. 4.
No specific timeframe for Grease Live has been announced just yet, beyond the announcement that it'll air some time in 2015. One would assume it would air on a Sunday, since that's the only night on which FOX programs three hours, but it's FOX, so who even knows for sure at this point? With special permission from local affiliates, FOX could realistically air this on whatever night they want. Of course, the question now remains: who will FOX get to star in this thing? I'm frothing with anticipation! Hey, if you need a cute, young, blonde Australian for the lead, leave it to foreign reality TV!
Via: Entertainment Weekly