GREASE: LIVE Executive Producer Marc Platt Reveals the Biggest Challenges of the Broadcast

FOX's GREASE:LIVE was an undeniable hit last night, earning rave reviews, 12.2 million viewers and a 4.3 rating in the all-important A18-49 demographic. Executive producer Marc Platt has a lot to be happy about today, and he spoke with the Hollywood Reporter about his big night.

He explained that the weather was the biggest challenge of the night. He told THR: "We were so concerned that the Jessie J. number which ends under that structure, we weren't going to be able to perform as we had wanted to and so, literally at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, an hour before airtime, we got the cast together and Jessie J. and we staged that opening number because we didn't think we were going to be able to use the structure. We had a B plan and we went and did that, and thankfully, literally at 3:50 [p.m.], the rain stopped, the wind died down, we were given the OK and we herded the audience into their bleachers and went back to the A plan, but that was a pretty scary moment."

On the death of Vanessa Hudgens' father and whether using an understudy was considered, Platt explained: "She's a pro. She's worked onstage before and she knows the show must go on even in times of sadness. She was fierce and she was determined and I think that it showed in her performance. ... Nothing was going to stop her from going on. We did bring her mom to the telecast so she could watch the east coast feed on the Warner [Bros.] lot so she was there. She said to me after the show, "This was really a celebration." So I'm very proud of the girl."

On whether he'd do another live musical, he added: "I have no thoughts of that at the moment. For me, it's so much about what the material is and if I think I can bring something to it that continues to develop this great format of live musicals on television. So we'll see what the future brings."

Click here to read the full interview.

GREASE: LIVE reintroduced and reimagined 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 starred 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."

Photo Credit: Kevin Estrada/FOX