Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies is an American musical romantic comedy television series created by Annabel Oakes for Paramount+. The series is a prequel to the film Grease (1978), based on the stage musical of the same name by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. It premiered on April 6, 2023.

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies
Genre
Created byAnnabel Oakes
Based on
Starring
Music by
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
ProducerGrace Gilroy
Production locationsVancouver, British Columbia
Running time48–59 minutes
Production companies
Release
Original networkParamount+
Original releaseApril 6, 2023 (2023-04-06) –
present (present)

Premise

The series takes place in 1954, four years before the events of Grease, and follows four fed-up and misfit students who band together to bring out the moral panic that will change Rydell High forever and become the founding mothers of the first female high school clique, known as the "Pink Ladies".

Cast and characters

Main
  • Marisa Davila as Jane Facciano
  • Cheyenne Isabel Wells as Olivia Valdovinos
  • Ari Notartomaso as Cynthia Znudowski
  • Tricia Fukuhara as Nancy Nakagawa
  • Shanel Bailey as Hazel
  • Madison Thompson as Susan
  • Johnathan Nieves as Richie Valdovinos
  • Jason Schmidt as Buddy Aldridge
  • Maxwell Whittington-Cooper as Wally
  • Jackie Hoffman as Asst. Principal McGee

Recurring
  • Chris McNally as Mr. Daniels
  • Charlotte Kavanagh as Rosemary
  • Josette Halpert as Dot
  • Nicholas McDonough as Gil Rizzo
  • Maximo Weber Salas as Shy Guy
  • Alexis Sides as Potato
  • Niamh Wilson as Lydia
  • Madison Elizabeth Lagares as Fran 'Frenchy' Facciano
  • Emma Shannon as Betty Rizzo

Production

Development

The series was given a straight-to-series order by WarnerMedia in October 2019 under the title Grease: Rydell High, set to air on their streaming service HBO Max.[1] In April 2020, Annabel Oakes was hired to write the pilot episode and act as executive producer for the series.[2] In May 2020, the title of the series was changed to Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, and it was announced that the series is set to premiere in 2021.[3]

In October 2020, it was announced that the series would instead premiere on Paramount+ after Chief Content Officer for HBO and HBO Max Casey Bloys decided to not move forward with the series at HBO Max. Along with the change of network, Annabel Oakes was announced to serve as creator of the series.[4] In July 2021, the series was given a ten-episode series order officially by Paramount+. Marty Bowen and Erik Feig joined the series as executive producers.[5] Alethea Jones was announced as a producer in October 2021 and also directs the first episode.[6]

Casting

On January 31, 2022, it was reported that Marisa Davila, Cheyenne Isabel Wells, Ari Notartomaso, Tricia Fukuhara, Shanel Bailey, (as the Pink Ladies)[7] Madison Thompson, Johnathan Nieves, Jason Schmidt, Maxwell Whittington-Cooper, and Jackie Hoffman were cast in starring roles.[8] In February 2022, it was announced Chris McNally, Charlotte Kavanagh, Josette Halpert, Nicholas McDonough, Maximo Weber Salas, and Alexis Sides joined the cast in recurring capacities.[9][10]

Filming

The series was initially scheduled to be filmed in California after receiving a tax credit to shoot in the state.[11] On January 31, 2022, it was reported that production had begun in Vancouver, British Columbia.[12]

Episodes
No.Title [13]Directed byTeleplay by [14]Original release date [15]
1"We're Gonna Rule the School"Alethea JonesAnnabel OakesApril 6, 2023 (2023-04-06)
2"Too Pure to Be Pink"Alethea JonesMackenzie DohrApril 6, 2023 (2023-04-06)
3"So This Is Rydell"Diego VelascoAuriel Rudnick & Kay RichApril 13, 2023 (2023-04-13)
4"If You Can't Be an Athlete, Be an Athletic Supporter"Marie JamoraChristina NievesApril 20, 2023 (2023-04-20)
5"You Can't Just Walk Out of a Drive-In"Jennifer MorrisonRobert SudduthApril 27, 2023 (2023-04-27)
6"Sloppy Seconds Ain't My Style"Jamal SimsLaura PollakMay 4, 2023 (2023-05-04)
7"Cruisin' for a Bruisin"Alethea JonesMackenzie Dohr & Raul Martin RomeroMay 11, 2023 (2023-05-11)
8"Or at the High School Dance"Annabel OakesAlison WongMay 18, 2023 (2023-05-18)
9"You're Dropping Out of Rydell"TBAPhylicia Pearl MpasiMay 25, 2023 (2023-05-25)
10TBATBAGabe Liedman & Samantha CorderoJune 1, 2023 (2023-06-01)

Music

Around 30 new songs have been written for the series by American songwriter Justin Tranter,[16]some co-written with others, each capturing the 1950s-style nostalgia and harmony, but with a modern day bass and beat, adding to a more contemporary flavour.[17][18] He is the executive music producer for the series.[19] Tranter recognised the music will be remembered as a snapshot of this present time, he purposely crafted the music to be in line with the story and characters, being progressive, radical, inflammatory and revolutionary.[20]

Release

The premiere of Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies was first earmarked for early 2023 in a story in Entertainment Weekly in December 2022.[21] On January 9, 2023, the series was announced at a Television Critics Association panel to premiere on April 6, 2023.[22]

Reception

Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 59% approval rating, with an average rating of 6.5/10, based on 27 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Rise of the Pink Ladies isn't quite automatic, systematic, or hydromatic with its catalogue of merely passable songs, but the core cast is plucky enough that nostalgic viewers will want it to tell them more, tell them more."[23] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 59 out of 100 based on 14 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[24]

References
  1. Petski, Denise (October 15, 2019). "'Grease' Spinoff Series 'Rydell High' Ordered By HBO Max". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  2. Andreeva, Nellie (April 10, 2020). "'Grease: Rydell High': Annabel Oakes To Write & EP HBO Max Spinoff Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 13, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  3. @WarnerMedia (May 27, 2020). "#HBOMax is here! 🥳 Our groundbreaking streaming platform features iconic and beloved programming from across the WarnerMedia portfolio, a roster of new Max Originals, & fan-favorite acquired franchises & films" (Tweet). Retrieved May 31, 2020 – via Twitter.
  4. Thorne, Will (October 14, 2020). "'Grease' Spinoff Series Moves From HBO Max to Paramount Plus (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  5. Andreeva, Nellie (July 16, 2021). "'Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies' Prequel Series Officially Ordered By Paramount+". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  6. Del Rosario, Alexandra (October 5, 2021). "'Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies': Justin Tranter, Jamal Sims, Alethea Jones Board Paramount+ Prequel Series' Creative Team". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  7. Kelley, Aidan (January 27, 2023). "Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies: Cast, Release Date, Trailer, and Everything We Know So Far". Collider. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  8. Petski, Denise (January 31, 2022). "'Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies': Paramount+ Prequel Series Sets Cast As Production Begins". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  9. Petski, Denise (February 11, 2022). "'When Calls The Heart's Chris McNally Joins 'Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies' & 'Firefly Lane'2". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  10. Petski, Denise (February 23, 2022). "'Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies' Adds Five To Supporting Cast Of Paramount+ Prequel Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  11. Patten, Dominic (December 16, 2019). "'Impeachment: American Crime Story', 'Star Trek: Picard' & 'Euphoria' 2nd Seasons Among CA Tax Credit Winners". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  12. Goldberg, Lesley (January 31, 2022). "'Grease' Prequel: Meet the Cast of 'Rise of the Pink Ladies'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  13. "Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies - Episodes". Paramount Press Express. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  14. "Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  15. "Shows A-Z – Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies on Paramount+". The Futon Critic. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  16. "Can't wait for the world to see this show April 6th on Paramount plus!". instagram.com. March 31, 2023.G:ROTPL-"The world isn’t ready for this Masteriece"
  17. Rampton, James (March 23, 2023). "Grease prequel Rise Of The Pink Ladies offers modern take on 1950s attitudes". stuff.co.nz.
  18. Flam, Charna (March 30, 2023). "'Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies' Features 30 Original Songs by Justin Tranter". Variety.
  19. Wood, Mikael (April 5, 2023). "Conventionality belongs to yesterday: Hitmaker Justin Tranter puts their spin on the new 'Grease' prequel". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  20. Vincentelli, Elizabeth (April 4, 2023). "In This 'Grease' Prequel Series, Pink Is the Word". The New York Times.
  21. Lenker, Maureen Lee (December 19, 2022). "Rydell High is back in a first look at Grease prequel series Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  22. Eng, Joyce (January 9, 2023). "Here's when 'Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies' will premiere — watch the first trailer". GoldDerby. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  23. "Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  24. "Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
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