Sunday night, Fox will present "Grease: Live," a TV version of the hit Broadway musical that was turned into -- or, depending on your view, glossily twisted -- into a blockbuster 1978 film.
It's the network's entry into the live-musical TV sweepstakes that's been dominated by NBC's holiday productions of "The Sound of Music" (2013), "Peter Pan" (2014) and "The Wiz" (2015).
Given the popularity of the 1978 movie starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, it's easily forgotten how raw the 1971 stage version -- which hit Broadway in somewhat altered form in 1972 -- was.
Jim Jacobs and Warren Carey's original was set in Jacobs' native Chicago and reflected the working-class lives of his old high school friends. The lyrics to "Greased Lightning," which survived into the movie, are all you need to know.
But despite the long run of the show -- when the original production closed in 1980, it was the longest-running show in Broadway history -- and countless amateur presentations, the film is so deeply etched in people's minds that it must be acknowledged. (In fact, post-film stage productions generally have incorporated some of the film's material.)
That's what the TV folks have in mind.
"One of the things we really were very focused on was trying to capture the spirit of both the original companies of 'Grease' and that film that has left such an indelible impression on all of us," director Thomas Kail told The Hollywood Reporter. "To try to honor that and pay homage to something that has moved us and we have such a great affection for, and then try to make our own version of it."
It's got an able cast -- and a terrific director.
The stage and movie versions of "Grease" are hard acts to follow: Among the performers who played the Broadway version are Barry Bostwick, Adrienne Barbeau, Richard Gere, Patrick Swayze, Marilu Henner, Treat Williams and Peter Gallagher.
Jeff Conaway and Travolta, both of whom also played Broadway, were in the movie version with Stockard Channing, Didi Conn, Michael Tucci and Newton-John.
But the TV version has a few aces, including Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo, Carly Rae Jepsen as Frenchy and Keke Palmer as Marty alongside Julianne Hough's Sandy and stage veteran Aaron Tveit's Danny. (Also in the cast: "Brady Bunch" favorite Eve Plumb and "Wire" and "Treme" notable Wendell Pierce.)
But the real ace may be the TV production's director: Kail, who's the director of the Broadway phenomenon "Hamilton."
Kail likes the idea of mixing it up between stage and screen.
"I deeply believe that theater should be for everyone," he told The New York Times. "I want people to do new plays on television."
It could be huge.
The live-musical game has been golden for the Peacock Network: "The Sound of Music" and "The Wiz," in particular, brought NBC large audiences.
Fox has mounted a huge push for "Grease: Live," as you've probably noticed by all the ads during football games.
The New York Times reported that the budget is $16 million -- massive for television -- and the live production will be accompanied by a behind-the-scenes "Internet experience" and a soundtrack album.
Aside from Kail, the musical's brain trust includes "Wicked" producer Marc Platt, "Hamilton" designer David Korins and award-winning composer and music director Tom Kitt. Kitt and collaborator Brian Yorkey have written two new songs.
Aside from the television audience, the show will have a live audience as well -- sometimes visible in the production.
It could rain.
Designer Korins built a "cafegymatorium" for the show, but not all of "Grease" will be set indoors. Some of the production will be shot outdoors on a carnival set.
This could be problematic, given that Sunday's forecast -- thanks to El Niño -- is for rain in Southern California.
However, don't worry too much. The set will be well protected by plastic sheeting, keeping "Grease" from turning into "Singin' in the Rain."
It's a harbinger of more to come.
"Grease: Live" is just the first musical Fox has planned. The network also announced a production of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" for fall, starring Laverne Cox.
ABC is getting into the game, preparing a (taped) "Dirty Dancing" with Abigail Breslin. And NBC has no reason to stop: Its next project will be "Hairspray."
Talk about hair-dos. With so much at stake, "Grease" is no kid stuff.
