NBC started a new trend with “The Sound of Music,” other networks are following suit

Apr 29, 2014 15:04 GMT  ·  By
Fox announces “Grease” live musical for 2015, casting details are still pending
   Fox announces “Grease” live musical for 2015, casting details are still pending

As John Travolta so eloquently put it in the 1979 feature film based on the “Grease” stage musical, “greased lightning!” NBC struck gold with the live musical television event “The Sound of Music” last year, and Fox is now jumping in for a slice of the pie.

Live musicals are becoming the hottest thing in television, and Fox isn’t wasting any time in getting in on the action, announcing the “Grease” live musical for 2015. It will be called “Grease Live” (of course!), Deadline reports.

“The project, which drew interest from multiple networks, comes from Paramount Television and marks the first official network green light for the recently relaunched TV division of the movie studio that was behind the blockbuster 1978 feature adaptation of Grease starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John,” the trade publication says.

“The Sound of Music,” which had Carrie Underwood as lead, caused quite a storm online at the time it aired, with many viewers taking to social media to blast her for what they considered an underwhelming performance.

Still, NBC hit a ratings record regardless of the controversy (or perhaps because of it), so it’s no wonder it’s already working on another live musical, “Peter Pan.” Just as unsurprising is the fact that Fox too is also doing it.

Let’s just hope that fans will receive it more warmly than it happened with “The Sound of Music.”