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‘Grease’ With Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman, and Amanda Dobbins

August 15, 2022 · Grease (1978) · Comedy · Musical · Romance · 1:50:14 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

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Bill's list of the '70s wave of nostalgia-for-the-'50s movies and shows

Unranked list · Bill Simmons · ▶ 23:25

  1. ·Grease (musical) (1972)▶ 23:25
  2. ·American Graffiti (1973)▶ 23:30
  3. ·Godfather 2 (1974)▶ 23:31
  4. ·Happy Days▶ 23:32
  5. ·Laverne and Shirley▶ 23:33
  6. ·Grease (movie) (1978)▶ 23:33
  7. ·Animal House▶ 23:36
  8. ·The Buddy Holly Story▶ 23:37
  9. ·American Hot Wax▶ 23:40

Categories

Most Rewatchable Scene

Amanda Dobbins▶ 35:16Summer Nights, specifically the bleacher moment when Travolta combs his hair and everyone shimmies in response
Bill Simmons▶ 32:29The Summer Nights musical number, especially the split-screen back-and-forth at the end; also cites the opening credits sequence, Look at Me I'm Sandra Dee, Greased Lightning, the diner scenes, and the sports montage as other highly rewatchable scenes
Juliet Litman▶ 35:16Summer Nights, especially the bleacher choreography with the guys moving together - calls it one of the most iconic scenes she's ever seen

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill Simmons▶ 53:10The strawberry milkshake getting dumped scene

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 53:35The L.A. River location
Juliet Litman▶ 53:49The drive-in

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Amanda Dobbins▶ 1:01:22The car race scene's lack of excitement/realism — 'the slowest car race on film,' with cars not appearing to go fast at all.
Bill Simmons▶ 54:24The ages of the 'kids' in the movie — actors playing teenagers were clearly in their late 20s/30s (e.g., Stockard Channing 33), which breaks immersion; also calls out Grease 2 and the car race/physics (Travolta driving up the side of the LA river) as aging/weak elements.
Juliet Litman▶ 1:01:02The character of Jan — her only defined trait is eating a lot, with no real depth, which has aged poorly (also separately argues Rizzo is unlikable/cold, though that's framed more as a hot take than her main pick for this category).

Ron Burgundy Flute Award

Amanda Dobbins▶ 1:03:36The sports montage/sports scenes
Bill Simmons▶ 1:02:55The 'Beauty School Dropout' musical number
Juliet Litman▶ 1:04:45The sports montage, since it's long and still funny while being a good time to step away

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 1:04:20Floated 'Summer Nights' as an alternate title, but also says he likes the title 'Grease' as is.
Juliet Litman▶ 1:04:30Pushed back on 'Summer Nights' since most of the movie isn't set then; didn't offer her own alternate title, just explained the origin of 'Grease' (Greasers/50s hair reference) and said she doesn't mind the actual title.

Best Quote

Bill Simmons▶ 1:05:29Rizzo's "flog the log," "True love, didn't lay a hand on you, sounds like a creep," and "Tell me about it, stud"
Juliet Litman▶ 1:05:06"Sloppy seconds ain't my style" and "That's my name, don't wear it out" (both said by Danny/Travolta)

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Amanda Dobbins▶ 1:10:35Sandy looked better before her makeover at the end; dislikes the perm/wig look
Bill Simmons▶ 1:05:54Sandy (the character) sucked — no sense of humor, constantly surprised, overly sensitive, a prude, and brought nothing to the table besides being cute

Casting What-Ifs

Amanda Dobbins▶ 1:11:57Speculated that Marie Osmond was trying to associate herself with Grease's success after the fact, casting doubt on her claim of almost taking the role.
Bill Simmons▶ 1:11:19Discussed multiple casting alternatives for Grease: Linda Ronstadt was seriously considered for Sandy (revealed by Travolta 20 years later); believes she could have pulled it off but is glad Olivia Newton-John got it. Also noted Carrie Fisher and Susan Dey were considered, and skeptically recounted Marie Osmond's claim she almost took the role but turned it down for 'Going Coconuts.' Also discussed Lucy Arnaz being dropped from consideration for Rizzo after Lucille Ball called Paramount furious about a screen test.
Juliet Litman▶ 1:11:36Agreed Linda Ronstadt as Sandy would have been a totally different energy/movie compared to Olivia Newton-John.

Half-Assed Internet Research

Amanda Dobbins▶ 1:13:26Agrees it worked out well that Henry Winkler didn't play Danny Zuko ('it worked out for everyone, I think'); jokes that Elvis as Teen Angel means Bill won't take a pee break during that scene; surprised to learn Joe in When Harry Met Sally was Gerald Ford's son
Bill Simmons▶ 1:12:11Skeptical of the Olivia Newton-John 'turned down Grease for Xanadu/Going Coconuts' claim ('I'm just not buying it, Marie'); also notes she got reduced pay but demanded star billing with Travolta ('Smart'); says Henry Winkler turning down Danny Zuko 'almost broke my brain'; says Elvis Presley almost playing Teen Angel 'would have been unbelievable' and he wouldn't take a pee break for that scene; highlights Harry Reams (porn star) almost cast as Coach Calhoun as his favorite fact, also brain-breaking
Juliet Litman▶ 1:13:16Thinks it's good Fonz didn't play Danny Zuko ('The movie's worse if Fonz is Danny Zuko... so much worse... no for me'); also didn't know Stephen Ford connection to When Harry Met Sally; for Overacting Award picks Didi Conn as Frenchie over Sid Caesar ('she doesn't do it for me')

Overacting Award

Amanda Dobbins▶ 1:16:49The T-Birds (the 'Three Stooges') for overdoing the comedic relief
Bill Simmons▶ 1:17:01Agrees Vince Fontaine was dialed up (e.g., his handspring entrance); separately gives the 'Teddy KGB Award for actor doing his own thing' to Cha-Cha
Juliet Litman▶ 1:16:32Vince Fontaine, the lecherous National Bandstand host (also mentions Sid Caesar as a candidate she's 'in' on)

Teddy KGB Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:17:05Cha-Cha - completely over the top, out of control, chewing gum, looks 45
Juliet Litman▶ 1:17:33Agrees Cha-Cha is a lot, especially the dramatic arm-throw at the start of the race

Dion Waiters Award

Amanda Dobbins▶ 1:18:40Patti Simcox (after confirming Jeff Conaway isn't eligible)
Bill Simmons▶ 1:18:22Patti Simcox, with Vince Fontaine and Frankie Avalon also eligible
Juliet Litman▶ 1:18:08Blanche (though acknowledges 'it's a lot', especially in the dance scene with Tom)

Apex Mountain

Amanda Dobbins▶ 1:25:57Notes the 'Physical' moment doesn't happen without Grease first; also disputes Grease as Apex Mountain for movie musicals, citing Singin' in the Rain, Sound of Music, West Side Story as higher
Bill Simmons▶ 1:24:57Travolta's career peak was after Grease, but for Hall of Fame plaque he'd still pick Saturday Night Fever as Travolta's defining movie; agrees Grease is Apex Mountain for Olivia Newton-John
Juliet Litman▶ 1:25:38Agrees Grease is Apex Mountain for Travolta's career trajectory being erratic afterward, but argues Olivia Newton-John's 'Physical' moment is more sustained/bigger than Grease alone; also refuses to call Grease Apex Mountain for musicals as a genre since it borrows from films like West Side Story

Hall of Fame Plaque

Bill Simmons▶ 1:30:38No for Travolta (Saturday Night Fever is his Hall of Fame plaque movie instead), but yes for Olivia Newton-John (Grease is hers)

Racehorse Name Award

Amanda Dobbins▶ 1:31:00National Bandstand, Pink Lady, and Knicky (favoring Knicky as the quirky long-shot pick)
Bill Simmons▶ 1:30:52Hopelessly Devoted

Just One Oscar

Bill Simmons▶ 1:37:38John Travolta gets the one Oscar

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Amanda Dobbins▶ 1:38:11On Pink Ladies: compares them to the Plastics from Mean Girls, says she wouldn't want to be one. On Danny/Sandy at the beach: says 'I think no, because he's trying so hard,' though floats the Jezebel theory that the beach scene implies sex. Also raises whether Kenickie is a virgin before Rizzo, leaving it open
Bill Simmons▶ 1:37:51Raises unanswerable Pink Ladies questions (what were they, how you join, did they feud), then plays devil's advocate on the Danny/Sandy beach sex question ('she was Australian... pushing the envelope'), and poses the Kenickie virginity question as a 'great question' without a firm answer
Juliet Litman▶ 1:39:26Thinks arbitrary friend-group names like the Pink Ladies are realistic to high school. On the 'There Are Worse Things I Could Do' abortion theory, says it's 'intentionally vague' given the pre-Roe v. Wade era. On Danny/Sandy beach sex, argues against it since Sandy keeps holding him back throughout the movie

Best Double Feature

Amanda Dobbins▶ 1:42:48Agrees Saturday Night Fever is obvious, but offers Dirty Dancing as an alternate pairing (similar dance movie/VHS nostalgia object, slightly more mature than Grease)
Juliet Litman▶ 1:42:32Saturday Night Fever paired with Grease, watching Grease first then Saturday Night Fever (light to dark)

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Amanda Dobbins▶ 1:44:56'Turn in your teasing comb and go back to high school' — good life advice from the film
Bill Simmons▶ 1:44:34You have to be a 'bad girl' to keep your man happy — referencing Sandy's transformation at the end of Grease
Juliet Litman▶ 1:44:49Agrees with Rizzo's perspective — there are worse things than sleeping with a guy or two

Who Won the Movie

Amanda Dobbins▶ 1:45:08John Travolta, with Olivia Newton-John also a major beneficiary since it stayed with her career

Movies Referenced (42)

Saturday Night Fever (1977)

26 mentions · Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins, Juliet Litman▶ 2:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Titanic (1997)

9 mentions · Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons▶ 1:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Grease 2 (1982)

7 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 56:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dirty Dancing (1987)

6 mentions · Juliet Litman, Amanda Dobbins▶ 19:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Happy Days (1978)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins▶ 23:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Pulp Fiction (1994)

4 mentions · Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman▶ 7:26IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 4:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Top Gun (1986)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins▶ 13:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mean Girls (2004)

3 mentions · Amanda Dobbins, Juliet Litman▶ 57:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Rocky (1976)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 7:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Clueless (1995)

2 mentions · Juliet Litman▶ 1:28:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Fargo (1996)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:24:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (6)

Randal Kleiser

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman · Known for Grease, The Blue Lagoon, Flight of the Navigator▶ 49:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Lil Pump

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Deadpool 2, Good Boys▶ 59:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

George Clooney

1 mentions · Juliet Litman · Known for The Ides of March, Good Night, and Good Luck., Michael Clayton▶ 14:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Martin Scorsese

1 mentions · Juliet Litman · Known for Taxi Driver, Killers of the Flower Moon, Mean Streets▶ 1:21:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mitch Gaylord

1 mentions · Juliet Litman · Known for Batman Forever▶ 1:29:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Walt Frasier

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:06:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (55)

John Travolta

75 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman, Amanda Dobbins · Known for Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty, Saturday Night Fever▶ 2:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jeff Conaway

16 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman, Amanda Dobbins · Known for Grease▶ 38:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Elvis Presley

13 mentions · Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins▶ 16:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Olivia Newton-John

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman, Amanda Dobbins · Known for Grease, Xanadu▶ 3:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tom Cruise

7 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Top Gun, Mission: Impossible II, Minority Report▶ 13:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Didi Conn

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman · Known for Grease, Grease 2▶ 38:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Patrick Swayze

6 mentions · Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman · Known for Dirty Dancing, Ghost, Point Break▶ 19:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

James Dean

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins · Known for East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause▶ 16:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Carrie Fisher

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi▶ 1:11:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Linda Ronstadt

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Abyss▶ 1:11:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sid Caesar

3 mentions · Juliet Litman, Bill Simmons · Known for Grease, It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World▶ 1:15:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Stockard Channing

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Practical Magic, Grease, Six Degrees of Separation▶ 46:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (6)

Allan Carr

4 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Grease, Grease 2▶ 26:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

James L. Brooks

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Broadcast News, As Good as It Gets, Terms of Endearment▶ 1:02:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

2 mentions · Amanda Dobbins▶ 27:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Buddy Holly

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Big Fish, Almost Famous▶ 23:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jim Jacobs

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Grease, Grease 2, Easy A▶ 26:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Warren Casey

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Grease, Grease 2, Easy A▶ 26:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗