Greaseology

We are discussing minutes 1:10-1:15 of Grease so get ready for the countdown!  In a matter of seconds National Bandstand will go live and all of Rydell High will be on television screens across the country.  Ms. McGee and Coach Calhoun must first deliver the remaining two rules for the night, but then Vince Fontaine takes the mic and preps the kids for live TV in rhyming verse and then they are LIVE!  Vince Fontaine introduces Johnny Casino and the Gamblers who go right into the first song, “Hound Dog”.  The students all start dancing The Madison, America’s first line dance from the 1950s.  During the song we see that the Frosty Palace waitresses are watching the show live in the restaurant on a black and white vintage 50s television.  After “Hound Dog” Vince Fontaine addresses the audience and says that the dance off is about to begin, and reminds everyone that it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s what you do with your dancin’ shoes!  Then the music kicks in and the band announces it’s time to do The Hand Jive! For the remainder of our segment, Vince Fontaine moves throughout the crowd tapping shoulders to eliminate students while Marty tags along.  Frenchie and Doody are eliminated followed by Rizzo and Craterface.  As the song progresses, the dancing gets racier and the moves go way beyond the original Hand Jive dance.  Our segment ends just as Kenicke had the wild idea to pull up Patty Simcox’s dress revealing her underwear on live television.We will also discuss the history of the song “Hound Dog” and how its roots began before Elvis ever even heard it.  We will also talk about the real hand jive song, “Willie and the Hand Jive” and how it influenced the version Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey wrote for Grease AND the famous Bo Diddley beat that can be heard in the song as well as in many other popular songs throughout music history.Okay cats, put your mittens around your kittens and away we go!Check out the Bo Diddley beat playlist on Spotify!

Pop in your VHS tape and grab your Pink Ladies jacket…we are discussing minutes 1:05-1:10 of GREASE in which the dance is still happening!  We’re about to meet Cha Cha, the bombshell from St. Bernadette’s that Danny definitely dated in the past (we love you Danny, but you’re not fooling anyone). Vince Fontaine makes his move on Marty with some cringy pick up lines and Sonny spikes the punch with booze.  While getting flirty with Tom Chisom, Blanche announces that when she hears music she just can’t make her feet behave which makes us wonder, “has Blanche made one-two-many trips to the punch bowl?”  Ms. McGee and Coach Calhoun make their entrance to announce Vince Fontaine (who is secretly getting cozy with Marty) and present THE RULES.

We are discussing minutes 60-65 of GREASE! The T-Birds are still getting Kenicke's car ready for Thunder Road and using stolen parts to get the job done.Marty and Rizzo still need dates for the dance off, but when she sees Craterface drive through the parking lot, Rizzo has a great idea that will promise to make Kenicke as jealous as possible.We hear "Rock n Roll Party Queen" play as students enter the gym all dressed up. Marty spots the super cool DJ Vince Fontaine and leaves Sonny in the dust as she makes her move. Sandy is nervous she'll get camera fright, but Danny says it's okay because he knows Ted, the cameraman.Johnny Casino and The Gamblers show up and perform their first song, "Rock n Roll is Here To Stay" as we watch background dancer couples move past the camera. Danny and Sandy are doing an amazing routine and get the attention of Mr. Rudie, a teacher who is helping judge the dance contest.Our segment ends during "Those Magic Changes" as Frenchy expresses to Doody that it would be nice to turn around on the dancefloor rather than march in a straight line.We will discuss Dennis Stewart, Edd Byrnes, Dick Patterson, Sha Na Na, and Wendie Jo Sperber. This is a great episode that you won't want to miss!

Fast forward your VHS tapes! We are discussing minutes 55-60 of GREASE in which Frenchy tells Vi she dropped out of Beauty School and wishes she had a guardian angel to tell her what to do when suddenly her real Teen Angel appears and encourages her to turn in her teasing comb and go back to high school

Get your popcorn ready, we are watching minutes 50-55 of GREASE! Sandy has just left Tom in the dust and is reconciling with Danny on the track field. The two make plans to go to the dance together and then head off to the Frosty Palace for an intimate and romantic come-back date over cherry sodas and polar burgers. All is well until Kenickie and Rizzo crash their date, followed by Sonny and Marty, Doody and Frenchie and then Putzie and Jan. The whole night is a big bummer for Danny and Sandy who didn't get to have their alone time, but it's an even bigger bummer for Kenickie and Rizzo who's fiery romance is extra volatile tonight. The scene ends when Frenchie removes her scarf and reveals her "Easter egg" pink hair to Vi.

In this special bonus episode I interview Cidny Bullens who recorded 3 songs on the Grease soundtrack, "It's Raining on Prom Night", "Freddy My Love", and "Mooning". Not only was he a rock and roll trailblazer in the 1970s, he is also a strong voice in the transgender community and is still recording music today. He just released his latest album, "Little Pieces" in 2023 and his memoir, "Transelectric - My Life as a Cosmic Rockstar" came out last year as well. You can find out more about Cidny at his website, cidnybullens.com and write to him at [email protected].

In this episode we will dive into minutes 45:00-50:00 of the movie Grease in which Sandy and Danny are finishing up a conversation at the Frosty Palace jukebox that ends with Sandy challenging Danny to prove he really can run circles around the jocks like he says.  Then Danny embarks on an athletics odyssey, in an attempt to become the kind of guy he thinks Sandy wants him to be.  After a few unsuccessful attempts at various sports, he eventually lands on Track and it's on the track field that Danny catches Sandy’s eye while jumping hurdles - and doing it well!  Danny also notices Sandy and can’t help but turn his head to look back at her which causes him to trip and fall flat down.  When she sees he might be hurt, Sandy immediately runs to Danny’s rescue and is all ready to forgive him.

In this episode we will dive into minutes 40:00-45:00 of Grease in which Danny and all the guys continue singing about how their souped up hot rod will help them get girls in the fantasy sequence of Greased Lightning and end the song back in reality in the school auto shop.  We then switch scenes to the street in front of the Frosty Palace where the Scorpions are wreaking havoc in Hell’s Chariot and a little more tension builds between the Scorpions and the TBirds.  Inside the Frosty Palace it’s wall-to-wall students sharing milkshakes and dancing to Ritchie Valens.  Sandy is on a date with Tom Chisum - the two of them in a private booth and Sandy wearing Tom’s letter sweater.  Danny tries so hard to play it cool when he sees Sandy with Tom, but all the while he’s distracted and surreptitiously trying to steal glances her way.  Sandy also notices Danny, but tries to work the situation to her advantage to make Danny jealous of Tom.  She moves across the room to the jukebox, fully aware that Danny is coming her way, but pretends to not see him as she selects a song.  Danny makes a sincere attempt to talk to Sandy and explain why he was a jerk at the bonfire, but Sandy isn’t ready to forgive him so easily.  Our segment ends in the middle of their conversation when Danny cynically suggests that Tom’s brains are in his biceps and Sandy accuses him of being jealous and asks, “And what have YOU ever done?”

A deep dive discussion of minutes 35:00-40:00 of the movie GREASE! Tell me more, tell me more!

In this episode we will dive into minutes 30:00-35:00 of Grease, in which Rizzo finishes singing “Sandra Dee” just as Sandy comes out of the bathroom and realizes Rizzo is making fun of her.  The T-Birds crash the sleepover in Kenicke’s “new” car to Frenchy’s panicked discovery.  Rizzo sneaks out through the window to join them and has a raunchy exchange of metaphors with Danny and Kenicke.  Annoyed and wanting to be alone, Danny hops out of the car and takes off on foot when Kenicke invites Rizzo in the car to fill the now empty front seat.  Wanting to be all alone, Rizzo and Kenicke immediately kick out Doody, Putzie, and Sonny, much to their chagrin.  Back in Frenchy’s room, Sandy is wondering what she ever saw in Danny Zuko, but Marty tells her “don’t sweat it honey, have one of mine” meaning one of her many male pen pals.  She gives Sandy a few sheets of perfume scented tissue paper just as the first notes of Hopelessly Devoted begin.  We get to spend the remainder of the segment with ONJ singing her unforgettable ballad in Frenchy’s backyard. Eat Your Heart Out meanings and origins ONJ performs HD at the 51st Academy Awards WWI French Pen Pals Pen Pal History and Information Scented Letters Olivia Newton-John (Wikipedia Bio) Hollywood Nights - Olivia Newton-John ABC special