Strange is the word

This weekend, a promo caught my eye on TV. The FOX Network (or Big Fox as Shepard Smith calls it) will mount a live production of GREASE, the musical,turned movie now turned into a modern day Kraft Music Hall, Playhouse 90 or something along those lines. In these days of "Netflix & Chill" it's interesting and encouraging to see the networks mount big productions and attempt "appointment viewing."

Of course, nothing can beat the collision of the 1970s and 1950s that is the Paramount-released movie from 1978. On the heels of Saturday Night Fever, their previous Travolta-helmed vehicle, this seemed like a natural. Just transport the musical,to the screen, add a little Ba-Ba-Barbarino to the proceedings and instant hit. Of course, Hollywood never leaves well enough alone. The approached the composer of that previous film to come up with a new title song. Gotta have a hit single. That composer: Barry Gibb.

The song has since been added into the Broadway musical. It's still out of place, even if time and nostalgia have smoothed it over (think of it: nostalgia for,the most nostalgic movie ever.) Still, this performance from who-knows-which variety show, is creepy.  It's as if Frankie has been dropped from another era into a reform school dance . What's with these two chicks on the left?