Did You Know? Top 10 Ways the GREASE Film Was Almost Very Different
By: Sally Henry Fuller Jan. 27, 2016
With Fox's upcoming live broadcast of GREASE, let's take a look back at what could have been. Below, check out the top 10 "almosts" from the original 1978 GREASE movie, courtesy of a Vanity Fair interview.
1. Danny Zuko was almost played by Henry Winkler (aka, "The Fonz" from HAPPY DAYS).
2. BEWITCHED's Paul Lynde almost played Rydell High School's principal.
3. Sandy was almost played by Marie Osmond.
4. Donny Osmond almost played Teen Angel.
5. "Greased Lightning" was almost sung by The Beach Boys.
6. Porn star Harry Reems almost played Coach Calhoun.
7. "Sandy" and "You're the One That I Want" almost didn't make it.
8. Lucie Arnaz was almost cast to play Rizzo.
9. Frankie Avalon's fear of heights almost prevented him from filming "Beauty School Dropout."
10. It almost had a sequel entitled SUMMER SCHOOL, depicting Kenickie and Rizzo's wedding.
GREASE: LIVE will reintroduce and reimagine some of the show's most memorable moments, great music and timeless love story to an entirely new generation. In this live television adaptation of the musical classic, the beginning of senior year means the end of Danny and Sandy's summer romance - until Sandy unexpectedly transfers to Danny's high school. With their friends pulling them in different directions, it's up to Danny and Sandy to stay hopelessly devoted as they make their way from Rydell High to a new frontier.
The live event stars Julianne Hough ("Safe Haven," "Rock of Ages") as the angelic "Sandy" - Rydell High's most talked-about newcomer - and Aaron Tveit ("Graceland," "Les Miserables") as bad boy "Danny Zuko." Also tapped to star are Vanessa Hudgens (Broadway's "Gigi," "Spring Breakers") as iconic bad girl "Rizzo"; Keke Palmer (SCREAM QUEENS, "Masters of Sex") as sassy Pink Lady "Marty Maraschino"; Carlos PenaVega ("Big Time Rush") as "Kenickie," Danny's tough-guy sidekick; multi-Platinum Grammy® Award-nominated singer and songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen as Pink Lady and beauty school dropout "Frenchy"; Kether Donohue ("You're The Worst") as Pink Lady "Jan"; David Del Rio ("Spare Parts," "The Troop") as T-Bird "Putzie; Jordan Fisher as "Doody"; and Andrew Call as "Sonny."
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