Grease: You're The One That I Want - Aired March 18

Can you believe it? From the highs and lows of the auditions to the disappointment of Grease Academy not being all it could and should be to some great and not-so-great performances, we've finally come to this, the finals. One more Danny and one more Sandy will be going home, then the final four will compete for the last time for audience votes, and then one more episode to go, the season (and possibly series) finale.
Coming out to perform "Rock'n'roll Is Here To Stay", the final six did a pretty good job of making it actually sound like rock'n'roll which has been one of the biggest flaws with the competitors through the season. Was it perfect? No. But it was fun and that's what really matters.
There was some stuff with the contestants talking on video as to how much they want this, blah blah blah. I know I generally gloss over this video stuff, but that's because it doesn't really matter. The only thing about it is that the contestants should be a lot more careful with their words, as the voting public tends to favour humble over arrogant, or even confident for that matter.
We didn't have to wait for the results of last week, as there was no way to build the suspense without making the ousted auditioners compete for nothing.
First up were the Sandys. To nobody's surprise, Laura was safe. Then Billy Bush called Ashley's name, and he did his best to keep some suspense here. He did so well (and it's rare you'll ever see me compliment Billy Bush) that Ashley obviously thought she was leaving. I'm not exaggerating when I say "obviously". The emotions that played over her face were all over the place, but the dawning horror that came with the thought that she was about to be told that she was done was very visible and you could see the tears start welling up. After stringing her along long enough, Billy told her she was safe, and it all disappeared to be replaced by joy.
Manipulating emotions and breaking hearts. That's good television!
So Allie was gone, and she took the news like a real trooper. But don't let it get you down, kid, you're goin' places! (Imagine the last two sentences being spoken by someone in a movie from the Forties, as that's how it sounded in my head when I wrote them.)
Because these were the last eliminations before the finale, Allie got a nice little video tribute showing her journey from the auditions until now. That was sweet.
Next were the Dannys, and Austin was... pause for dramatic effect... safe. And the other Danny proceding on would be... after this commercial break.
Of course they never screw with minds the same way twice in a row, so when Derek's name was called next, it wasn't looking good for him. Sure enough, the best looking Danny and John Stamos' double was gone, and Max moved on.
Derek got his video journey as well, but he also got something Allie didn't. A word from one of the panel members. Kathleen was sad to see him go, and she said she was sure they would work together again. So I guess because Allie didn't get any similar encouragement, Kathleen must think the closest they'll ever work together again is when Allie asks her if she'd like fries with that. Don't be so mean, Kathleen. Allie rocks.
The competition would be different this week. Instead of singing their own songs, the Sandys and Dannys would be singing together so we could more easily compare and contrast them. I like this idea. It would have been a little tedious to see it carried throughout the season, but for one episode? Cool.
Laura and Ashley - Oh, this is one of those biggie songs, one of Sandy's biggest moments in Grease and frankly the only song in the whole thing I really don't care for - "Hopelessly Devoted To You". Laura has the stronger voice, but Ashley not only held her own, I actually liked her whole peformance (including the acting during the song) a little better. Still, this was a little too close to call.
Possibly because these were the finals, the panel didn't have any commentary after the song. Instead, each of the women got a video from a loved one. Laura had to push her wedding back because of this competition, and her fiance got to let her know how all their plans were coming along. Ashley's was more weepy with her sister letting her know how proud she was of her, despite early sibling rivalry over the whole theatre thing that came up after Ashley hurt herself and could no longer do ballet. She wishes she could be there, but unfortunately she couldn't afford the flight... If it weren't for the fans. Apparently a lot of people on the NBC message board came together to buy a ticket for Ashley's sister to come see her, and so she was able to be in the audience providing her support.
Audience voting is never on talent alone, so the winner from this video showdown has to be Ashley. The viewers like weepy.
The women then got to give a plea to the audience to vote for them, and they both seemed pretty even here.
Austin and Max - We've been hearing part of this song all season. The Dannys had to sing "Sandy", but fortunately for both of them it wasn't on the way out. I thought Austin sang more strongly, but Max acted it better and gave the right emotion for the lyrics.
Instead of videos from loved ones, the guys instead gave video interviews where they said what this competition means to them. Austin sees this as his last shot. He feels he needs to be somehwere by a certain age, and if this doesn't do it for him, it might be the end. Eh. I'm sorry, but if you really love performing, you will still do it even if you don't become a star. He should also be happy he's not a woman, or that age limit would be so much younger.
Max let us know he had Bell's Palsy as a child, and so he had to relearn how to use his face. He said because of this, it hurts when people say he's not "conventional looking" (though he isn't a conventional looking Danny, and that would be the case even without the palsy). No matter what else happens, I've got a strong feeling this video won the competition for Max. It's one thing to be a spunky underdog, but to overcome this too? He has this in the bag.
Billy then informed us that the margin between their votes from the previous week was about 1%. Yeah, that video surely put Max over the edge. The two men got their turn to plead for votes, but really, unless Austin started sharing how he was able to overcome years in a wheelchair, he's not going to beat Max no matter how hard he pleads.
There was still a lot of time left in the show, and I was wondering how they were going to fill it. It turned out the competition wasn't over yet. To help the audience judge chemistry, the Dannys and Sandys were going to take turns singing with each other.
The first song was "Endless Love", and the first couple was...
Austin and Ashley - Ashley was great, Austin not so much. But fortunately there was some chemistry there. Enough to make up for the difference in singing ability? I don't know.
Max and Laura - Laura was great, Max not so much. The women have outclassed the men throughout this whole process, and sadly enough we're at the final four and they still continue to do outshine. I'm afraid that no matter who becomes Danny, they're not going to be as good as Sandy and that could hurt the show. Max did put more emotion into the song than Danny, but I didn't feel any chemistry from this pairing which isn't good, as they seem to be the favourites.
It was then time to switch up and sing "I Had The Time Of My Life".
Laura and Austin - This was a much better song for Austin. So much so, I have to say this was my favourite performance of his yet. He was very strong through the whole song, and he did it in his baritone range, a range he seems to be a lot more comfortable and enjoyable in. He and Laura were very good together, and showed quite a bit of chemistry.
Ashley and Max - Neither of them were as strong as the other two here, but they were still pretty darned good. There was a lot more chemistry for Max with Ashley than there was between him and Laura.
Not that it matters. Based on the cheers in the audience alone, Max has this sewn up. If he does, it will be interesting to see how people who go see Grease on Broadway but have never seen this show will accept him.
Now that all the competitive singing was over, we finally got to hear from the panel.
Kathleen would love any one of them in the show, but who does she see most as a greaser and his high school sweetheart? Max and Laura.
Really? I know a lot of people love these two individually, but I felt no sparks at all between the two of them in their song.
Jim said the characters have evolved over the years, and he wouldn't have it any other way. Max and Laura were the two for him as well.
Oh come on. Am I the only one who was left cold by their duet?
David thought it came down to Austin's looks versus Max's humour, and that Max made him laugh so he feels America will fall in love with him, so he "edges it" for him. The women were almost too close to call, but Laura got it by that much just for passion alone.
I really hope for the sake of this Broadway production that I'm wrong about this lack of chemistry between Max and Laura if they win. However, I'm not so sure Laura's going to go all the way.
Yes, she's blown us away with many of her peformances, and by that measure alone she should get this. But as I've said many times, that's not all an audience votes on. She's always seemed a little... I don't want to insult her and I don't mean this in an insulting way... "colder" than Ashley, as well as a little less innocent. I don't mean Laura is cold and hardened by the ways of the world, but her emotions seem to be a little less close to the surface than Ashley, and that could hurt her despite her strong voice.
The Sandy votes could really go either way, and Ashley had enough strong performances this night to sway people who wanted to vote for her emotionally. I'd bet money on Max winning, but I wouldn't bet on the Sandys.
Finally we got to say goodbye to Derek and Allie.
Derek's version of "Sandy" was too upbeat for me, and his "Oh, Sandy!" at the end was with a smile. This made it so much easier to see him go. This last song is where they should be showing us what a big mistake it was to not vote for them, and "Sandy" needs to be full of longing.
Allie's "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee (Reprise)" was triumphant, a very nice way to end the last competitive episode of the season.