How did the latest live TV musical stack up against its predecessors?
Fox's Grease: Live was easily the most ambitious live TV musical we've seen. The effort to film the production on multiple stages paid off, with perhaps the most dynamic entry into the canon yet. We've come a long way from 2013's The Sound of Music Live!
If the live TV musical trend continues — and let's hope that it does — we can look forward to increasingly elaborate takes on the genre, with productions that capitalize on the medium to create something that feels both theatrical and unique to television.
For now, here's a look at what worked and what didn't in Grease: Live.
Frank Micelotta / Fox
1. The incredible direction and camerawork.
Director Thomas Kail deserves a lot of credit for some exceptional work here. Grease: Live found that rare balance between a live stage production and something distinctly televisual. There was so much going on here that it was often hard to believe that everything was live. (Footage of the cast being rushed between stages on trams only underscored how difficult this was to pull off.) Yes, there's something to be said for keeping it all on one stage like a real Broadway show — but this is television. Kail understood that, and the gorgeous, sweeping camerawork reflected how great this medium can be, and how thrilling it is to see a musical number filmed to perfection.
Fox
2. Vanessa Hudgens going on with the show.
The fact that Vanessa Hudgens chose to perform as Rizzo in Grease: Live so soon after the death of her father speaks to her incredible professionalism. She was praised for her decision — and with good reason — but it was incredible how well she pulled it off. She had every reason to be distracted, but Hudgens committed fully. Her rendition of "There Are Worse Things I Could Do" was a highlight of the three-hour show, with her vocals at the top of their game. Hudgens has spent the last decade maturing past her High School Musical days, and even though Grease: Live plopped her back into high school, it showcased her development into a more grown-up musical theater talent.
Fox
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