Grease: You're the One That I Want!

Grease: You're the One That I Want!
Created by	BBC Worldwide David Ian
Starring	Kathleen Marshall Jim Jacobs David Ian
Country of origin	USA
Production
Running time	Varies
Original release
Network	NBC
Release	scheduled for January 7, 2007

Grease: You're The One That We Want is an announced NBC reality TV show ], to be based on an original format developed by the BBC under the title How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?

It will air on Sunday nights, beginning on January 7, 2007. The show's host will be British actress/presenter [[Denise van Outen <ref<BBC</ref> and Access Hollywood anchor Billy Bush, the first cousin of U.S. president George W. Bush .

Background

A new stage version of the musical Grease is being developed for Broadway theatre, to be shown from June 2007 and directed by Kathleen Marshall. The NBC show You're The One That We Want will search and select using a reality TV show format from mid-Autumn season 2006, to cast the lead characters of Sandy Dumbrowski and Danny Zuko. The show will have open auditions for the role, whittling down the applicants under the eye of a panel of experts to ten contestants, one of whom will then be selected by the American public telephone voting, to be the lead actors ho will under take the roles for the first year of the production. Paul Nicholas and David Ian Associates Ltd, Nederlander Presentations and Phoenix Productions will produce the show

Development and original format

In 2005, Andrew Lloyd-Webber and David Ian agreed to be co-producers on a production of the Sound of Music. After approaching and being turned down by actress Scarlet Johansson, Lloyd-Webber approached the BBC, and created the reality TV show How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, hosted by Graham Norton.

The format of the show was an open audition/reality TV show, where by suitable members of the public (women aged 18years and older, ideally looking around mid-20's) could audition for the role of Maria von Trapp. The 2000+ entries were whittled down in a nation wide audition tour to 100 girls, who were then given additional singing and dance lessons en-masse over three days. These 100 girls were then whittled down by the expert panel to 50 girls, who were given two more days of coaching, particularly focused on acting.

The 50 girls were then reduced to 20, who undertook a week of additional coaching, before performing both as a group and as soloists at Andrew Lloyd Webbers Berkshire home, in the converted chapel where he has trailed and premiered all of his productions since Evita. These 20 girls were reduced to ten.

The reality TV format now takes over the selection process, where by each girl performs a solo song each week, and is given criticism by the expert panel of three experts, plus additional comments by Lloyd Webber. The public then vote to save their favourite girl. The two with the lowest votes then sing an additional song, with one being saved by Lloyd-Webber's discretion

Controversy

On 20 August 2006, it was reported that Lloyd Webber had taken legal action against David Ian. Lloyd-Webber reportedly wanted to take the show's format to the United States to cast a Broadway theatre production of Grease. Lloyd-Webber discovered that Ian had already brought the idea to NBC, who announced they will look for unknowns to play Sandy and Danny, via reality TV show You're The One That We Want with David Ian and the BBC, leaving Lloyd Webber furious. David Ian said "I don't understand the problem. Andrew has no connection with the stage show Grease, which I have successfully produced in the UK. There is a new production of Grease on Broadway in the spring of 2007, that's why I've been asked to judge on You're The One That We Want." [1]

See also

• List of programs broadcast by NBC

External links

• NBC Press Release
• Reality TV magazine
• You're The One That We Want at The Internet Movie Database