In hopes of finding two virtually unknown talents to lead this summer's upcoming revival of Grease on Broadway, NBC's reality casting special, "Grease: You're the One That I Want" reached the semi-finals round, narrowing down the Sandy Dumbrowski and Danny Zuko wannabes to six overall.
As each week has gone by, the show felt a little like taking the plunge on a roller coaster, delivering hits and misses, all leading up to something big. Or so everyone hopes, because the television show could easily turn into an extended commercial hawking a product that nobody remembers or cares for come the bow in New York.
There is a good thing going here though. National interest is being thrown Broadway's direction, and an air of sophistication, notwithstanding freshman jitters, swirls around "
Grease" as it is a legitimate stage production being cast as opposed to yet another cookie cutter record getting pressed on the similarly set up FOX talent-search series.
With the calendar shrinking leading up to opening night,
Grease producer and series judge David Ian has a lot riding on America choosing his leading pair wisely, because ultimately the decision lies in voter's hands, or dialing fingers at least. And if this week's bottom two Danny's proved anything, it is that viewers can be fickle and not always apt to lend their vote to the most qualified performers.
If only someone would put a muzzle on co-host Denise Van Outen, as her irrelevant and often grating comments only impede the casting process, this week more than ever. With so much time taken up by her throwaway remarks, Ian was simply passed over for a handful of performance critiques. Should NBC decide to pick up the show for another casting special, Van Outen should make like "American Idol's" original co-host Brian Dunkleman and vamoose.
Director and choreographer
Rob Marshall lent his opinion to the casting process as he took the hot seat this week as a guest judge, plopping down next to his little sister,
Grease's director
Kathleen Marshall. Nabbing multiple Tony Award nominations for both choreography and direction, it was a wise choice having him join the team at this point in the competition. Aside from his legit credits,
Rob Marshall gained Oscar notoriety with his 2002 musical adaptation of
Chicago, and it was such work that the contestants recognized in their show-stopping performance of "All That Jazz," dazzling both the studio fans and brother and sister Marshall alike.
Another amusing group number opened the show, with all the kids singing and dancing their way through the halls of Rydell High to "
Grease," allowing Marshall to showcase one of the unique aspects of the staged revival as her production will be the first allowed to incorporate many of the memorable songs created for the 1978 film version.
But the fun did not last long, as two Danny hopefuls were thrown to the wolves, actually not so much wolves as far too kind judges, to sing for their place in next week's episode. "Hot Danny"
Austin Miller and "Ambitious Danny" Chad Doreck received the lowest number of votes last week, and in a shocking revelation, host Billy Bush revealed Miller as having the least among the guys. America does not seem to have faith in experience, as Miller has the lengthiest resume of the bunch, yet in a show supposedly looking for fresh talent, perhaps they are right.
Both Dannys put up a worthy fight, singing "Rock N' Roll Party Queen," but in the end only Miller was crowned and given a reprieve, with the judges, smartly forgoing the voter's suggestion, unwilling to gamble and opting to keep the triple threat around for another go.
Of the three Sandys that sang Sunday, only Laura Osnes rose to the status of superstar, winning over Ian, Marshall and
Grease playwright Jim Jacobs, with her glittering rendition of "Don't Leave Me This Way." Decked out in a shimmering dress, this golden beauty is just begging to be set free on the Broadway stage where she is certain to steal the show. Having her break out moment during the
Andrew Lloyd Webber week, Osnes has all but signed a Sandy contract. The only thing standing in her way now would be the fickle folk phoning in their support each week.
"Baby Sandy" Allie Schulz gave a slightly underwhelming performance of "Natural Woman," tripping up a bit as she descended the stage's staircase, which only set the stage for her struggles. Ashley Spencer fared rather well in comparison, singing "You Keep Me Hanging On" to much approval of the panel. With only three girls left, Schulz did not give enough to overcome being the youngest in the competition, and should be the next to go.
In what could turn into the season of unconventional winners, Max Crumm, coolly singing "Suspicious Minds," emerged as the underdog making good, leaving nothing to doubt of his ability to command the stage. More so than any other guy in the competition, Crumm has displayed the necessary acting chops required for playing Danny. I think I might have been converted to becoming a slacker backer myself, as "Slacker Danny" could take the grand prize.
Finally making his way back to a key that works for this
John Stamos look-alike, "Wholesome Danny" Derek Keeling wound up abandoning the sour notes plaguing his previous two performances, now having a sweet chance at making the finals. With the looks down cold, Keeling's competition lies only in Miller, who after getting a rude awakening during the sing off, runs the risk of getting cut next week.
Photos courtesy of NBC.
