The Trades - A Dose of Reality: Grease: You're The One That I Want

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ARTICLE

A Dose of Reality: Grease: You're The One That I Want - Episode 11- Finale
by Sheila Franklin
Published: March 26, 2007

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The opening number, “We Go Together,” features past contestants on this last night of “Grease: You’re The One That I Want.” All four finalists are impressive, and its admirable how all the previously eliminated Greasabees are getting into it. A bit of a flashback to fill space at the beginning, then David comments that he thinks that it is “Tom Cruise versus Ben Stiller.” That’s an odd comparison. I am thinking it is more like Clay Aiken versus a short Travolta personalitywise.

It’s fifteen minutes in, and we have to suffer through another memory lane walk. Time to grab a beer. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

All four perform “You’re the One That I Want” and it’s only appropriate that they mix and match the couples. I still believe that the best couplings are Max and Laura, and Austin and Ashley. Besides, they could always use the losers to be stand-ins, just in case the chosen Greasabees can’t handle the rough road ahead.

The former 10 Dannabees and Sandabees perform “Born to Hand Jive,” leading us to finally killing the first 30 minutes. I have no problem watching them perform again, but we are now repeating the limited score for probably the third time.

Argghh. More flashbacks. Why don’t we get performances from anyone else, say Stockard Channing or Barry Bostwick or Jeff Conaway or Sha Na Na? Even with a low budget, somehow this doesn’t seem fair to the losers to make them stand there and deal with all this reminiscing.

The Elimination

Having relatives doesn’t seem to be helping either Laura or Ashley much. They all look like they could use a Valium right about now. Laura is chosen as the one that we want, and the judges don’t look surprised. Gee, how about that? I hope they don’t make her go blonde. It’s very kewl that her name is in the bright lights of Time Square.

Austin’s mom and grandma are modestly proud, and Max, (who almost didn’t get selected in the beginning,) has metamorphosed so much that both he and his family appear still not able to accept that he has made it to the finals. I believe his brother will get to keep the leather jacket now that Max has also been chosen. He, too gets his name in lights on Broadway.

I guess this means I don’t have to eat my keyboard, if you read my earlier reviews. To me the choice was obvious, even if it was only my opinion. The losing Dannabees of Grease join Max in the closing number “Greased Lightening,” while Laura solos with “Hopelessly Devoted.” One more go round of “Summer Days” featuring the new Broadway cast. We close amid “You’re the One That I Want,” flowers, cheers from the judges, and cheap confetti.

Last Greasy Word:

I would have made this a half hour finale at the very most. I understand the logic of an hour-long show, but this was almost painful. Not even coming close to the top 20 in ratings this season, Grease certainly had its creativity limit and seemed like NBC’s bastard child. Trades props to Max and Laura, the ones that we wanted, too.

Cutest Kid Award:
Max’s little brother Jack, turning down Denise when she asks him to marry him.
Most Ludicrous Statement (Denise, referring to the judges)
"[This is] a completely powerless panel."
Most Nervous comment: (given by Max)
"There’s no Lose. There’s win or not win."