Grease: You're The One That I Want - Aired March 4

Last week it was the Sandys all to themselves, this week it's the Dannys, and with the less talented of the two groups performing, you know it's going to be a great time for everyone. I would also like to let you know the sacrifice I've been making for this blog.
I'm currently able to only record one show and watch another. Grease is on at the same time as The Amazing Race here. They are both also on at the same time as The Simpsons, which has been airing new episodes. Yes, I'm recording friggin' Grease: You're The One That I Want instead of new Simpsons episodes! What kind of monster has this blog made of me?!? This show entertains me, but really, this is too much.
But I will stick it out to the bitter end, despite Billy Bush! If you watch The Office (and really, if you don't, why aren't you?) you'll be very familiar with how cringe-inducing Michael's attempts at jokes are, and it's that cringe-worthiness that's funny. Not with Billy Bush. When he tries to be funny, you just cringe. I even wrote down in my notes, "Billy Bush still an idiot." I can't even remember what he said, just that it was worthy of that note.
My bellyaching aside, let's get to the show.
The opening number was "Greased Lightning" with some horribly cleaned up language.
"You know without a doubt we'll be really makin' out in Greased Lightning!"
Yeah, it's American network television (language restrictions are much more relaxed in Canada, where The Sopranos aired on broadcast television uncut (though at least you guys make great shows like The Office and The Simpsons, and we make Corner Gas)), but that was still lame.
The one thing about watching this number is it became very clear that there are no John Travoltas amongst the remaining Dannys, or even any Jeff Conaways. He played Kenickie in the movie. There is more raw sexuality in an episode of Spongebob Squarepants than there was on stage this night. But that's just me. The audience full of screaming 14-year-old girls loved it, and hooo boy, they were screaming.
What has become one of my favourite parts of the show is the videos where we get to see egos on display and the contestants smacktalking each other. Usually it's all about how everyone is friends and we all love one another, so this makes for a nice change. Apparently Chad is really talked about poorly by the rest of the guys!
No! No gossip here! Even though it's still fun to see. Tee hee!
Oh, and the panel is three people again, and there were absolutely no special guests this week. It's possible word about the show has gotten around, and nobody wants to work with Billy Bush.
Austin - It seems that all the guys have things they've had to work on, and for Austin, it was loosening up and allowing himself to be more comedic. So he went to the Groundlings theatre with some of the Sandys (who seemed to go with most of the guys on these excursions) where he got some lessons from one of the members of that troupe.
His song this week was "Fun Fun Fun", and it was anything but. Yes, he was trying, but he was trying too hard and left me flat. The screamers enjoyed it, but that's because they enjoy a man twice their age on stage in a too-tight shirt dancing around. Hell, we've all been there, and I'm sure I'm not alone in going to a motel with the guy.
David had fun looking at the Sandys who were dancing with Austin, like we really believe David looks at women (I kid, he's married with two children). He's still not convinced with Austin, and wants to see more of a twinkle in his eye. Jim said it felt forced, but he too was partially distracted by the women (which I believe, because he's been lusting after the Sandys since the season premiere). Kathleen disagreed with them, which makes me wonder about her judging abilities now. She said she thought it was great and that he was loose and goofy. She loves his attack and energy.
Derek - After the huge crack in his song two weeks ago, his trip was to a vocal therapist to avoid that happening again.
He sang "Heaven", the Bryan Adams song, and I liked his performance even though there was a hint of a crack in it again at one point, but not as horrifying as the previous time.
Kathleen said Derek redeemed himself, but he needs to show a more unpredictable side. Jim said it was a solid performance, though he questioned if he heard a crack or if it was just Derek's song styling. David said it was definitely a crack, and thought the approach to the song was safe and boring. He needs to work on his vocals, something David sees as a worry.
Max - Max's goal was to work on his physicality, and to do this, he went to a gym and spent some time in a boxing ring. Unfortunately he didn't do any actual sparring, as that would have livened things up somewhat. It was entertaining to hear the pseudo-Rocky music. It was close enough to invoke the music of the movie, but they didn't have to pay for the rights. Everyone wins!
He sang "Hard To Handle", and it was easily one of the best "rock" performances of the series. It still wasn't completely believable rock and roll, but it was enough to make this the performance of the night.
Oh yeah. This is where Billy Bush said, "Crummbelievable!" I'll leave you to ponder that one for a moment.




David was impressed. "Wow, what a transformation!" Yes, Max has an "unconventional look" (a nice way of saying, "not very attractive"), but he has pure talent and he hopes Broadway can accept him as the next sex symbol. Out with it, David! Just call him a horrifying mutant who can sing and dance! You know you want to!
Jim said it's been building with Max, and yes, he has lots of talent. He loved the performance. Kathleen thought it was fun to see him strut and sneer, and she sees him more and more each week as a Danny Zuko.
Chad - His issue was trying to fill a theatre with his presence, so he used Shakespeare and a UCLA professor to help them with that. It helped that Chad's the best actor of the remaining Dannys, something we know because he told us so.
He sang "Don't Stop Me Now", and I liked it. It was the second best performance of the night, I thought anyway. But then I also think Chad looks like a young Donny Osmond, but without the 70s hair.
Kathleen saw a leading man, but he was vocally in and out and she wants to see him make the songs more his own. Jim thinks he's too pretty looking (having struck out with the Sandys, Jim seems to have moved on to the Dannys), so he needs to toughen up. Maybe if they cut his face or something. Yes, that's what he said and I found it quite funny. Certainly funnier than anything Billy has said all season. David said it wasn't the greatest vocal performance, but that pretty looking guy would sell millions of tickets. Yeah, because "pretty" outsells "talent" all the time on Broadway.
Oh. Maybe it does. It certainly works a lot in Hollywood.
Because there was no special guest this week, there was time for some more video, and we got a look into what a week is like for the contestants. Despite my snarking, they do work hard to get ready for each Sunday. On Monday mornings they get an envelope with the song they're to perform, which they have to learn and practise. On Wednesday they have a vocal coach and a choreography coach. There are also the wardrobe fittings, which in itself takes time away from rehearsing their songs and choreography. Show days are the most hectic of the lot. That may not sound like much, but getting ready to perform a number on live, national television as well as learning the opening number? All that rehearsing is where all the hardest work is.
Finally we came to the bottom two. Who would it be this week? Kathleen and Allie, that's who, making it three weeks in a row for Kathleen. If this was based on votes along, Allie would be the one to go home.
With no time to compose themselves, it was right on to the song, "Raining On Prom Night". The song itself, one of my favourites on the Grease soundtrack, is a little silly in its lyrics, but it works best when the singer approaches it seriously, which is why I liked Allie's version better than Kathleen's, though they both have strong, beautiful voices.
There was a commercial, and when we came back we got to see how the two of them reacted to being in the bottom two, but that's pretty much the same thing every week. The panel was polled as to who they thought the best Danny was this week, and Max was the unanimous choice.
Then David had to do the dirty work. The woman he was about to save was Jim and Kathleen's choice, not his, but the one staying was Allie.
I liked Kathleen, but it will be nice to not have to distinguish between Judge Kathleen and Contestant Kathleen anymore. She has a great voice and lots of potential, so there is no reason she can't have a career on stage.
As has become customary now, we heard another touching version of "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee (Reprise)" when Kathleen sang her last song. I have to think that it's a combination of the real emotion they're feeling combined with the relaxation of not having to compete, but this has been one of the best songs the Sandys have been singing for a few weeks now.
They've also been working closely enough that we're starting to see more tears coming from the remaining Sandys too, which adds to the poignancy of this number.
But damn it, I'm still missing The Simpsons for this.