That's a wrap, and it seems as though "nerd" is the word. NBC's reality casting series, "Grease: You're the One That I Want" finished with a bang Sunday night crowning Max Crumm and Laura Osnes the leads, Danny and Sandy, in the upcoming Broadway revival of Grease. Had anyone taken a glance at Sunday's New York Times, they might have been privy to a sneak peak at the winning duo as the Broadway advertisement paired the two promoting the series finale.
And as America loves a good election, with "millions" of voters showing their love for the final four contestants, including
Austin Miller and Ashley Spencer, the final tally favored "Small-town Sandy" Osnes and "Slacker Danny" Crumm hopefully without any sort of recount. Was Florida allowed to vote?
Glancing at the myriad marketing materials circulating for
Grease, it is hard to ignore the total Americana vibe surrounding the musical, with red, white and blue colors and "America" being used twice in a single sentence promoting the show. Only time will tell if this rock and roll homage to the 1950's will spark ticket sales, but the NBC series provided for some spurts of fun along the grueling audition process.
It only took the producers until the final episode to get completely on the ball, finally pumping more musical numbers than senseless banter between the hosts into the show. Opening with "We Go Together," all the gang reunited, those already rejected contestants included, with everyone full of smiles and high energy, but the mood was tenser than their faces were letting on. At least, that is what hosts Billy Bush and Denise Van Outen were scripted to say, so it must have been true.
Cue the dramatic battle music, as each of the four hopefuls walked down memory lane via that oh so loved flashback sequence. Those unfamiliar with the series were reminded how the kids were put through the ringer at the hands of
Grease's producer David Ian, director-choreographer
Kathleen Marshall and co-creator Jim Jacobs while at
Grease Academy, and then by couch potatoes around the country each week during the live episodes.
After running through "You're the One That I Want," and a few words of wisdom from the judges panel, looking more like proud parents gloating over their jubilant children than ruthless Broadway professionals, the previously eliminated Danny and Sandys were allowed to sing a song all of their own, "Born to Hand-Jive." Forever known as the
Grease has-beens, well hopefully not forever, their performance only reminded why these kids were cut. Full of off-key notes, it played a bit like a song of shame.
Definitely trying to milk the finale into a full hour-long episode, Bush resorted to a "Seacrest-esque" delay of announcing the chosen ones by cutting to far too many commercials. Somebody has to pay the bills. Parents, siblings and loved ones were trotted out to give a few words of comfort to the contestants before the gavel fell.
Osnes and Crumm, upon finding out they were the winners, got a quick glimpse of their names plastered across Times Square on Broadway, though there were no shots of anyone actually paying attention to the digital billboard, that had to have been a thrill to the non-professional actors. Coming into her own while singing
Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Superstar" a few weeks ago, Osnes never looked back on her less mesmerizing days in the competition, proving she was the powerhouse diva, with a sweet side, that was meant to play Sandy. As for Crumm, he went through a complete transformation since his first audition, earning the title "Look-At-Him Now Danny."
This column has been on Crumm's side for the last couple weeks, so the most shocking moment of the evening came not when Miller was given the old heave ho, rather it was the moment Ian's jaw dropped upon hearing the announcement. Could this be regret or dismay at America's decision, or merely a hidden elation in the form of honest shock over his choice getting recognized by the voting public? For his bank accounts' sake, hopefully it is the later.
Rounding out the celebratory evening was a block of
Grease melodies, including "
Greased Lightnin'," "Hopelessly Devoted To You," "Summer Nights," and "You're the One That I Want," all sung by the now Broadway stars Crumm and Osnes. Plus, as a treat for sitting through the hour-long show, the remaining cast members of the upcoming stage production joined in on the fun for the last number. What a motley crew they appear to be, not to mention their looking a bit older than the new leads. Should prove to be an interesting New York run.
Tickets for
Grease are now on sale through Ticketmaster. Group Sales are available now by calling Nederlander Group Sales at 212-840-3890.
Photos courtesy of NBC.
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