News

When Paramount+ canceled Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies after a single season last month, it seemed like new fans would never get a chance to watch the show.

At the time of the cancellation, it was revealed all episodes of the Grease prequel would be purged from Paramount+, a move that's becoming all too familiar to fans of canceled streaming series.

After fans and creatives hit out at the controversial decision, it seems the first -- and only -- season will continue to be found thanks to a digital release.

The series is now available to buy on the iTunes store and Amazon, and that's not all:

A DVD release has been confirmed for November 7, meaning you can own a physical copy of the show.

We're also getting over 30 minutes of special features as part of the DVD release, taking us further into the Grease-verse than before.

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies...

Paramount recently announced that Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies will be made exclusively available on Digital and DVD.

The prequel series to the Oscar and Golden Globe-nominated cult classic Grease is already available on Digital with a DVD release set for Nov. 7, 2023. The DVD release, which is available now for pre-order, will include over 30 minutes of special features. The Digital and DVD release for Rise of the Pink Ladies comes after the series was removed from Paramount+ in June 2023 and ensures that audiences will be able to find, own and enjoy the series for many years to come.

Related: Grease Was Originally a Much Darker Animated Film

The Grease prequel series originally began life in October 2019 under the title Grease: Rydell High, with the project set to debut on the streaming service HBO Max. However, after a year in development, the series -- now titled Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies...

Grease is still the word as Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies is getting another shot at being discovered by viewers following its cancellation and removal from Paramount+.

The prequel starring Marisa Davila, Cheyenne Isabel Wells, Ari Notartomaso, Tricia Fukuhara and Jackie Hoffman has hit Video-On-Demand (VOD) services like Apple’s iTunes and Amazon. Each episode is available for $2.99 with the full 10-episode season available for $19.99.

Paramount Home Entertainment also announced that a DVD release for the whole series is slated for Nov. 7 with more than 30 minutes of special features included in the box set.

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies premiered on Paramount+ on April 6 of this year with the last episode made available on June 1. By June 23, Paramount+ pulled the show from the streaming service to take a content write-down and bar people from discovering it.

Creator Annabel Oakes called the removal of the show from the streamer a “brutal move.

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies is rising again after getting the axe at Paramount+.

The cancelled prequel to the hit musical is now available for digital purchase, Paramount Home Entertainment announced on Monday. (Episodes are available for $2.99 each via Apple’s iTunes Store and Amazon, with the full 10-episode season available for $19.99.) Plus, a DVD release is slated for Nov. 7, with more than 30 minutes of special features included.

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Warning! This article contains Spoilers for Rise Of The Pink Ladies! Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies’ final episode both concludes the season’s plot while leaving some details unresolved, seemingly setting up season 2 for the Paramount+ series. Set four years prior to the original Grease movie, Rise Of The Pink Ladies follows the origins of the titular greaser group and the Rydell students who start it. Initially a ragtag group of outcasts, Jane (Marisa Davila), Olivia (Cheyenne Isabel Wells), Nancy (Tricia Fukuhara), and Cynthia (Ari Notartomaso) eventually become close friends and use their new group to try to make Rydell High a more accepting place.

The first season of Rise Of The Pink Ladies enhances Grease’s story and develops the franchise’s new characters, but the huge events of its season finale leave their futures uncertain. In the last episode, Jane and Susan (Madison Thompson) drag race to...

There was a bit of a massacre of content at Paramount+ this week, with several shows getting the boot at once. It was reported that Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies had been canceled after one season, joining Star Trek: Prodigy, The Game, and Queen of the Universe. Worse yet, it was also revealed that all four shows would be removed from Paramount+ entirely, essentially erasing Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies from streaming almost as soon as it arrived. The show debuted on Paramount+ in April and wrapped up its first season earlier this month. It is currently streaming but is expected to be pulled within the coming days.

On her Instagram Stories, series creator Annabel Oakes responded to the news with a message that stated, “In a particularly brutal move, it is also being removed from [Paramount+] next week and unless it finds a new home you will no...

School's out, permanently. Paramount+ has cancelled the Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies TV series, so the streamer won't be making a second season.

Starring Marisa Davila, Cheyenne Isabel Wells, Ari Notartomaso, Tricia Fukuhara, Shanel Bailey, Madison Thompson, Johnathan Nieves, Jason Schmidt, Maxwell Whittington-Cooper, and Jackie Hoffman, the series is set in 1954, four years before the events seen in the Grease film. Read More…...

The creator of the Paramount+ series Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies says she is “devastated” that the series is not only canceled but will be removed from the streaming service.

Earlier Friday, Paramount+ canceled several of its original series, including Pink Ladies as well as Star Trek: Prodigy, Queen of the Universe and The Game. The streamer is also taking the series off the platform as a content write-down.

Reacting to the news, creator Annabel Oakes wrote on her Instagram Stories: “In a particularly brutal move, it is also being removed from @paramountplus next and unless it finds a new home you will no longer be able to watch it anywhere. The cast, my creative partners, and I are all devastated at the complete erasure of our show.”

Oakes thanked the “beautiful fans” who have engaged with series and reminded them that “the music will remain even after the show is taken down.

Paramount+ has canceled a slew of its originals including Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, Star Trek: Prodigy, Queen of the Universe and The Game and is taking the shows off its platform as it becomes the latest media company to take a content write-down.

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies has been canceled after one season, Star Trek: Prodigy will not be going forth with its previously announced second season, The Game has been canceled after two seasons and Graham Norton-hosted reality series Queen of the Universe has been axed after two seasons.

All of these titles will be removed from Paramount+ with the studios planning to shop some of them to rival broadcasters and streamers.

The company will take a content impairment charge and is expected to reveal the financial impact at its next earnings.

The move comes a few months after Paramount+ removed a slew of...

Ari Notartomaso stars in Paramount+'s musical "Grease" prequel series "Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies" as Cynthia, a butch lesbian in the 1950s who's coming into her own despite the regressive social forces around her. Notartomaso's performance became a fan favorite not just because of Cynthia's journey, but also because of their powerhouse vocals on songs like "Crushing Me" and "I'm All In." Season one ended earlier this June.

In a year that has seen unprecedented anti-trans legislation and violence, Popsugar is highlighting the perspectives of trans and nonbinary folks throughout Pride Month. These leaders are sharing ways they protect their joy, reminiscing on moments of gender euphoria, and suggesting how allies can support the LGBTQ+ community right now. Explore all of our coverage here, and read Notartomaso's story, in their own words, ahead.

A lot of my friends that I gravitated toward when I was younger have since come out as queer.

This story about Ari Notartomaso, Nicole Maines, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Devery Jacobs, Cheyenne Jackson, Nicco Annan and Sherry Cola originally appeared in the Drama Series issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.

In a time when anti-lgbtq+ legislation is on a historic rise and discriminatory rhetoric is normalized by politicians and news media figures the world over, onscreen representation matters more than ever. In celebration of Pride month and in the lead-up to Emmys 2023, TheWrap saluted these seven performers who are fighting for LGBTQ+ equality through their work on the small screen.

Ari Notartomaso, “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies“ Ari Notartomaso (Credit: Irvin Rivera for TheWrap)

One of the many delights of Paramount+’s “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” is the breakout performance of Ari Notartomaso as Cynthia, the prequel series’ “little butch” [their words]. Depicting a closeted teen lesbian’s coming-of-age in the 1950s, Notartomaso, who identifies as nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns,...

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies.Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies star Marisa Davila shares a hopeful update about season 2. Created by Annabel Oakes and streaming on Paramount+, the musical rom-com takes place four years before the events of the Grease movie. It follows four students at Rydell High School — Jane, Olivia, Nancy, and Cynthia — who become the group's founding members known as the 'Pink Ladies.' Along with Davila, who plays Jane Facciano, the ten-episode series also includes Cheyenne Isabel Wells, Ari Notartomaso, Tricia Fukuhara, Shanel Bailey, Madison Thompson, Johnathan Nieves, Jason Schmidt, Maxwell Whittington-Cooper, and Jackie Hoffman.

In an interview with ComicBook.com, Davila gave an update on Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies season 2 and said that she's heard "positive" things about the show's future but can't say if the Paramount+ prequel will return. If the show is renewed, the actor...

In our Q&a series Last Call, we get down to the bottom of every last thing with some of our favorite celebs - from the last time they were starstruck to the last song they listened to. This week, "Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies" star Tricia Fukuhara takes our call.

One thing about Tricia Fukuhara is that she can hustle. Before the actor was cast as Nancy in Paramount+'s "Rise of the Pink Ladies," which released its first season finale on June 1, she was working odd jobs in Los Angeles. "I had three jobs at the time," she tells Popsugar of the period when she was auditioning for the role. And she was literally on a shift at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter when she got the news she'd landed the part.

"It was my frog choir job at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter," she says.

The Paramount+ musical series Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies is set in 1954, four years before the original Grease, at a time when four outcasts decide to band together and support each other, and even have super cool pink jackets to prove it. Jane (Marisa Davila), Olivia (Cheyenne Isabel Wells), Cynthia (Ari Notartomaso) and Nancy (Tricia Fukuhara) aim to change Rydell High, rule the school, and have a ton of fun along the way, all on their own terms.

Marisa Davila, Ari Notartomaso, and Tricia Fukuhara in ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ episode 10 (Photo Credit: Eduardo Araquel / Paramount+)

Paramount+’s Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies season one episode 10 ends with the shocking arrival of a character with a last name familiar to all Grease fans. The season finale has a lot going on, including a wedding, a drag race, and a carnival, yet it still manages to weave in quieter moments that reveal just how the Pink Ladies have matured over the course of the season.

Episode 10, “Racing for Pinks,” begins with Olivia (Cheyenne Isabel Wells) wearing a veil and gazing into the mirror when Jane (Marisa Davila), Nancy (Tricia Fukuhara), and Cynthia (Ari Notartomaso) arrive and rip the veil off her head. Olivia screams at her mom for letting them in but the Pink Ladies refuse to leave. Minutes in, and we’re treated to one...

The Paramount+ musical series Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies is set in 1954, four years before the original Grease, at a time when four outcasts decide to band together and support each other, and even have super cool pink jackets to prove it. Jane (Marisa Davila), Olivia (Cheyenne Isabel Wells), Cynthia (Ari Notartomaso) and Nancy (Tricia Fukuhara) aim to change Rydell High, rule the school, and have a ton of fun along the way, all on their own terms.

Marisa Davila, Maximo Salas Nicholas McDonough, Ari Notartomaso, and Tricia Fukuhara in ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ episode 9 (Photo Credit: Eduardo Araquel / Paramount+)

The storm raging outside the Frosty Palace matches Nancy’s mood in episode nine of Paramount+’s Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies. “You’re Dropping Out of Rydell?” begins with Nancy (Tricia Fukuhara) pouting about none of the Pink Ladies returning her calls. In pops her old BFFs looking to reconnect, and after briefly considering their request, Nancy tells them off. She wants her real gang back and has a plan to mend the Pink Ladies’ fences.

Assistant Principal McGee (Jackie Hoffman) congratulates Jane (Marisa Davila) on being Rydell’s first girl president. McGee says Principal Nicholson asked her to apologize on his behalf. McGee also advises Jane to use her power wisely.

Jane spots Richie and Buddy in the principal’s office and Olivia...

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including red carpets for Reality, Primo and FYC events for Queen Charlotte and George & Tammy.

GLAAD Media Awards

GLAAD announced its second batch of 2023 winners at its NYC Media Awards on Saturday, where Maren Morris received the Excellence in Media Award and Jonathan Van Ness received the Vito Russo

Award. The New York ceremony for the 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards was hosted

by Harvey Guillén, and featured a special performance from Idina Menzel. Winners included Fire Island, We’re Here and Heartstopper.

Cast of ‘Fire Island’ Maren Morris and Jonathan Van Ness

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies FYC

The stars of the new Paramount+ series attended a FYC event for the show in Hollywood on Sunday.

Ari Notartomaso, Marisa Davila, Cheyenne Isabel Wells and Tricia Fukuhara

George & Tammy FYC...

Choreographer Jamal Sims is no stranger when it comes to creating top-of-the-line dance numbers for television and film projects, and his work on “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’” “New Cool” sequence just extends his repertoire.

“Because I grew up on this film, I felt like [the choreography] was in me,” Sims tells Variety.

The scene set for “New Cool” resembles that of another favored number from the original “Grease” film — defined by boilersuits, beat-up cars and a whole lot of grease.

“[‘New Cool’ is set] in a mechanic’s classroom,” said Sims. “I [knew], going in, that this was going to be compared to ‘Greased Lightning.’” Indeed, the number pays great homage to John Travolta’s covertly sexual anthem. Sims says that the key difference between the two lies in the “storytelling.”

“‘Greased Lightning’ for John Travolta was all about the male ego,” but for Pink Lady Cynthia (portrayed by Ari Notartomaso), Sims says the number...

Paramount+'s 2023 series "Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies" serves as a prequel to the hit 1978 film. The musical series follows Jane (Marisa Davila), Olivia (Cheyenne Isabel Wells), Cynthia (Ari Notartomaso), and Nancy (Tricia Fukuhara) as they form the girl gang the Pink Ladies in 1954. In "Grease," which is set in 1958, Sandy (played by the late Olivia Newton-John) is befriended by the Pink Ladies clique when she becomes a student at Rydell High, though Betty Rizzo, Frenchy, Jan, and Marty are all different levels of welcoming toward her.

How does "Rise of the Pink Ladies" connect to the original "Grease"? Well, of course, the new Pink Ladies and T-Birds attend the same high school that the original characters do. In the movie, Rydell High is run by Principal McGee, played by the late Eve Arden, but in "Rise of the Pink Ladies," she's Assistant Principal McGee, played pitch-perfectly by comedic icon Jackie Hoffman.

Ari Notartomaso as Cynthia Zdunowski and Marisa Davila as Jane Facciano in ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ episode 8 (Photo Credit: Eduardo Araquel / Paramount+)

Paramount+’s Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies episode eight opens with breaking news. Teenagers are out of control, what with their big hair, loose morals, and rock n roll music! And now the kids at Rydell want to play the devil’s music at their school dance. The horror!

Tippy St. Clair, the President of Rydell PTA, tells a local reporter that she strongly opposes this dance. However, the Pink Ladies believe change is necessary, while class president Buddy (Jason Schmidt) declines to be interviewed.

The reporter questions whether this could be the end of the world as we know it. As the episode concludes, fans may share those same concerns.

But back to the real business of the day: the dance committee meeting. The...

A hilarious revelation compares the cast ages of the Pink Ladies in Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies to the actresses of the original girl group featured in the 1978 film. The iconic pink jacket has been taken out of reserve, but this time to adorn a more assorted set of young high schoolers whose songs, dances, and distinctive portraits have been woven together to recount the origins of the Pink Lady syndicate. Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies encompasses the nostalgic 1950s even now, and many aspects of the series evoke the fervor of Grease despite the passage of time.

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies incorporates retro tunes and cheerfully bright sets to replicate elements of the film and the '50s, yet the new cast of Grease characters indicates purposeful diversions from the movie to highlight contemporary narratives and to reach a much larger audience. The blend of...

This article contains spoilers up to and including Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies Season 1 Episode 6.

If Niamh Wilson carries herself like a showbiz veteran, it's because she is. The Canadian wunderkind has been working in the entertainment industry since age five.

Wilson is currently lighting up our screens as rival-turned-romantic interest to Cynthia (Ari Notartomaso) in Paramount+'s Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies. We discussed the impact of Lydia and Cynthia's unlikely romance and reflected on Wilson's already impressive career.

When I remark on the beauty of the vibrant work of art on the wall behind her, Wilson announces that she painted it herself. It's hardly surprising -- the 26-year-old acts, sings, dances, directs, and writes. Is there anything she can't do?

"I'm terrible at sports!" Wilson admits.

Unlike her character Lydia, Wilson wasn't a typical theatre kid in high school.

"I acted [in film and television] throughout my entire school career...

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies is a fun new look at the world of the 1978 musical movie. The Paramount+ series takes place four years before the original Grease, and follows the establishment of the Pink Ladies girl gang. Thanks to the fact that Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies season 1 has 10 episodes, the series is also able to dive deep into the social dynamics of Rydell High and explore the lives of students of different backgrounds, social groups, and passions.

Even while examining the ‘socs’, T-birds, and eponymous Pink Ladies, the series turns its eye to another high school staple: the drama department. When Ari Notartomaso’s Cynthia begins a stint as an actor in the school play, she butts heads with top thespian Lydia, played by Niamh Wilson. A lifelong dancer and actor, Wilson has previously appeared in projects like Degrassi and the graphic novel adaptation Random Acts of Violence,...

Ari Notartomaso as Cynthia Zdunowski and Niamh Wilson as Lydia in ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ episode 6 (Photo Credit: Eduardo Araquel / Paramount+)

Episode six of Paramount+’s Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies finds Jane (Marisa Davila) not quite sure what to do after kissing Buddy. Buddy (Jason Schmidt), on the other hand, can’t stop thinking about that kiss.

Jane suggests they keep their relationship a secret for now and admits she’s confused. They have a lot to sort out, including her recent breakup with Richie. Buddy’s super supportive and agrees, even offering to help show her the ropes as class president.

Meanwhile, Cynthia (Ari Notartomaso) and Lydia (Niamh Wilson) are enjoying rehearsing Romeo and Juliet, in particular the kissing scene! Rehearsal is really just a ruse to kiss. Finally, they don’t even bother with the lines and just kiss. (We stan Cynthia and Lydia!

Ari Notartomaso, Marisa Davila, Cheyenne Wells and Tricia Fukuhara in ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ episode 5 (Photo Credit: Eduardo Araquel / Paramount+)

Rydell students are gathered for an assembly to learn what to do in the event of a nuclear bomb as Paramount+’s Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies episode five begins. Some seem to take the topic seriously, but Richie (Johnathan Nieves) is more interested in what’s happening that night. He and the T-Birds plan on setting off fireworks at the drive-in, while Jane (Marisa Davila) confesses she has a feeling of impending doom.

It’s Halloween and the momentum seems to be on Jane’s side. Olivia (Cheyenne Isabel Wells) is sure the election’s in the bag, but Jane knows it’s always calmest right before the storm. And that declaration leads into the episode’s first song. Jane sings about bombs dropping, the calm before chaos,...

Ari Notartomaso, Tricia Fukuhara, Cheyenne Wells and Marisa Davila in ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ episode 4 (Photo Credit: Eduardo Araquel / Paramount+)

Paramount+’s Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies episode four kicks off in Jane’s bedroom with the Pink Ladies having a sleepover. Unfortunately, their night of makeovers and hanging out turns into an evening of worrying about what will happen Monday at school after they learn they’re being blamed for Buddy’s broken arm. The school newspaper has a scathing article blaming the Pink Ladies for injuring Rydell’s quarterback.

Cynthia (Ari Notartomaso) points out the newspaper’s run by Mr. Daniels and that he and Olivia (Cheyenne Isabel Wells) have a history. Jane (Marisa Davila) approaches the touchy subject very carefully and asks for more details. Olivia confesses they were in love.

It began with Olivia hanging around after class, progressed to discussing books and their lives,...

The lead stars of Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies made an appearance at Deadline’s Contenders Television awards-season event to talk about their experiences on the musical.

Marisa Davila, who plays Jane Facciano in the Paramount+ series, said she might have been a little too young to have watched the 1978 film for the first time, but most of its themes were going over her head.

“Considering it’s a period piece, it really hasn’t gone too much out of style,” Davila said. “I’ve definitely known the music longer than I can even remember the first time I saw it.”

Davila added: “I don’t really know if you meet a lot of people that haven’t seen Grease these days. We’re just adding to the history of that universe and, I mean, what an honor. We’re just really grateful that this is a project that...

The prequel series Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies has been charged with '50s era inconsistencies that disregard the prominent creative liberties made in the 1978 film, Grease. Although Rise of the Pink Ladies holds some magical appeal as a modern musical television series set to imagine the origin of the famous girl crew, it faces a fair amount of backlash for its depiction of the nostalgic 1950s period that inspired the legacy of Rydell High and its students. Taking place four years before the events of Grease, the prequel observes four young ladies as they carve their own narratives through a more conservative generation.

Jane (Marisa Davila), Olivia (Cheyenne Isabel Wells), Cynthia (Ari Notartomaso), and Nancy (Tricia Fukuhara) powerfully sing and dance to the beat of their own drums, only to be heckled by the moral panic of Rydell, a reaction that is reproduced by disgruntled audiences who watch on.

Shanel Bailey as Hazel in ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ episode 3 (Photo Credit: Eduardo Araquel / Paramount+)

Paramount+’s Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies episode three introduces a new character to the mix. Hazel (Shanel Bailey) is an intelligent, introverted Black teenager who doesn’t fit in after transferring to Rydell. She’s an academic whiz who’s set her sights on attending college. However, she’ll first have to survive Rydell High School to do so.

Hazel breaks out in song to share her feelings, describing the promise of greener grass and cleaner streets – a promise that thus far hasn’t been kept. Still, she keeps her focus on the stars and realizes that despite all the changes, the sky remains constant.

“The stars, they still shine. Orion says hi. Everything’s changed, but I’ve got the same sky,” belts out Hazel.

Meanwhile, Jane (Marisa Davila) and...

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies contradicts a crucial moment from Grease when Sandy's initiated into the group. The new Paramount Plus series has only premiered two episodes but has already set a very different tone from the 1978 Randal Kleiser film. While Grease is a beloved classic, many of its messages don't resonate in modern-day society. A Rise of the Pink Ladies' first scene quickly corrects the idea that anyone should have to change who they are to appeal to another person, as Sandy does in Grease. The new series also has a much more diverse cast than the film.

Rise of the Pink Ladies also includes actor Ari Notartomaso who plays Cynthia, a queer character who wants to be accepted into the T-Birds but is cast out for being a girl. This adds another layer to the Pink Ladies' origin story as Ari wasn't allowed to join the group she wanted,...

The doors of Rydell High are open once again thanks to Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, a new 10-episode musical series set in the world of 1978’s Grease and 1982’s Grease 2. Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies takes place four years before the events of the original Grease, and serves as both a love letter to and an expansion of the films. The show was created by Annabel Oakes, who previously produced Minx and Atypical.

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies is brought to life thanks in large part to its fun, energetic cast, each of whom has a theater background and a rich history of live performance. Two standout cast members are Ari Notartomaso and Tricia Fukuhara, who play Cynthia and Nancy, respectively. Both Notartomaso and Fukuhara shine as they round out the show’s central gang of Pink Ladies.

Related: Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies Season 1 Review - A Busy,...

Tricia Fukuhara as Nancy Nakagawa, Marisa Davila as Jane Facciano, Cheyenne Wells as Olivia Valdovinos and Ari Notartomaso as Cynthia Zdunowski in Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies “Too Pure to Be Pink” on Paramount +, 2022. Photo Credit: Eduardo Araquel/Paramount+ It’s been nearly 45 years since Grease first debuted in theaters … and 41 years since Grease 2 completely flopped in theaters. Given that so much time had passed, it may seem a little surprising that Paramount+ has revived the franchise with a new series, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies. In fact, the idea came as a shock to the woman who is now the series’ showrunner, Annabel Oakes. When we spoke to her about the show, she told us how her feelings about the concept swung from a firm “no” to an enthusiastic “yes.” (Click on the media bar below to hear Annabel Oakes) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads...

"Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies" takes viewers straight back to high school, recounting the origin story of "Grease"'s infamous girl gang, the Pink Ladies. The show features a whole new slate of songs written for the series by hitmaker Justin Tranter, who designed the soundtrack to bridge a classic 1950s sound with more contemporary elements.

If you were wondering if the "Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies" cast are really belting out all those showstoppers, the answer is yes! A rep for the series confirmed to Popsugar that each and every one of the actors sings all their own parts. Singing and dancing were always requirements for the show's stars, as it turns out; actor Fiona Vroom, who plays Susan, shared that the casting process for "Rise of the Pink Ladies" required everyone to show off their singing, dancing, and acting skills. "I sent in quite a hefty audition,...

“Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” might not spotlight characters from the original 1978 film like Didi Conn’s Frenchy or Stockard Channing’s Rizzo, but it does set the stage for their impending reign on Rydell High.

Though tampering with any reiteration of the cultural cornerstone that is “Grease” has proven unsuccessful in the past, showrunner Annabel Oakes was clearly up for the challenge. So, how does one begin to cast the characters for a prequel television series based on the beloved movie? Casting directors Leigh Ann Smith and Conrad Woolfe of Indigo Casting accredit showrunner Oakes’ clear vision.

“[Oakes] had lived in that world with these characters for so long,” Smith tells Variety. Adds Woolfe, “We didn’t necessarily feel pressure [casting these characters] because Oakes had done such an incredible job of expanding the universe in her imagination before we even came to the table to do the casting.”

“Pink Ladies” stars Marisa Davila as Jane,...

Four years before Sandy arrived at Rydell High, the Pink Ladies began their reign as the newest clique to champion the school’s class of outsiders. Paramount+’s new prequel series, Grease: The Rise of the Pink Ladies, tells the story of the classic film’s outcasts set to the tune of teen friendships, sweet romance and standout dance numbers.

Marisa Davila stars as “Brainy” Jane, a Sandra Dee-type who sees her good-girl rep destroyed by a vicious rumor. Fed up with the social hierarchy, she bands together with fellow outcasts Olivia (Cheyenne Isabel Wells), a brainy romantic who’s been labeled the school slut; tomboy Cynthia (Ari Notartomaso), who longs to join the T-Birds; and Nancy (Tricia Fukuhara), who favors fashion over the dating scene.

Below, find out when to stream every new episode of Grease: The Rise of the Pink Ladies without cable, as well as how...

The following contains spoilers from the premiere of Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies.

Two familiar names (and one very familiar voice) pop up in the premiere of Paramount+’s now-streaming Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, adding a cheeky full-circle element to the musical prequel series.

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Set in 1954, Rise of the Pink Ladies chronicles the...

Just how close is the new Paramount+ prequel series “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” connected to the beloved 1978 film “Grease?” Pretty close, as it turns out, considering two characters from “Grease” make appearances in the TV show.

Now streaming on Paramount+, “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” takes place four years before the events of “Grease,” before the T-Birds are the coolest guys in school, and before the Pink Ladies even exist. The story centers on Jane (Marisa Davila), Olivia (Cheyenne Isabel Wells), Cynthia (Ari Notartomaso) and Nancy (Tricia Fukuhara), a group of misfits at Rydell, who eventually just lean into the reputations they’ve been given.

They’re the ones who pave the way for the future Pink Ladies we know and love: Rizzo, Frenchie, Marty and Jan. But, as it happens, two of those ladies do get an appearance in this show, because one has a direct...

Tricia Fukuhara, Marisa Davila and Cheyenne Isabel Wells in ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ episode 2 (Photo Credit: Eduardo Araquel / Paramount+Z)

Paramount+’s Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies episode two begins with phones ringing all over town. Moms interrupt their household chores and day drinking to spread the news that the girls at Rydell have gone crazy. There’s even a new girl gang at the high school! The horror!

Poor Assistant Principal McGee’s phone won’t stop ringing with moms complaining and demanding action be taken. She promises she’ll get right on it.

Jane (Marisa Davila) and Olivia (Cheyenne Isabel Wells) get the worst of it from their parents, while Nancy (Tricia Fukuhara) apparently has her mom and dad wrapped around her little finger. As for Cynthia (Ari Notartomaso), she’s not in the least bit of trouble.

At school, the reaction to Jane’s...

Paramount+’s Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies is set four years before the events of Grease and tells the origin story of the Pink Ladies. Episode one, “We’re Gonna Rule the School,” introduces the new key characters while paying homage to the long-running Broadway musical and 1978 feature film.

And now to the recap:

It’s the start of Jane’s second year at Rydell after moving from New York, and she’s entering the 1954-1955 school year with Big Man on Campus Buddy (Jason Schmidt) at her side. Jane (Marisa Davila) isn’t sure why Buddy wants to be with her, given that she’s not exactly popular, and as we meet the couple, they’re parked at a secluded spot making out.

Buddy’s super happy she helped him plan a pep rally, and Jane’s hoping she can use it as a launching pad for a run for student council.

A new Paramount Plus series is taking viewers back in time to four years prior to the events of “Grease.” Set in 1954, “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies,” follows the founding members of the high school clique. The first episode of the new musical series debuts on the streaming service on Thursday, April 6. Then, one episode will premiere weekly throughout the season, so be sure to tune in. You can watch Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies: Season 1 with a 30-Day Free Trial of Paramount Plus.

How to Watch ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ Series Premiere When: Thursday, April 6, 2023 Where: Paramount Plus Stream: Watch with a 30-Day Free Trial of Paramount Plus. 30-Day Free Trial$4.99+ / month paramountplus.com

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About ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ Series Premiere

“Grease” fans will enjoy going back to the roots of the...

Even after all these years, Grease is still the word!

Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies premieres with two episodes on Thursday, April 6, on Paramount+.

The highly anticipated prequel to 1978's iconic musical film, Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies takes us back to Rydell High School in 1954, where we meet the young women who will become the first Pink Ladies.

To learn about all the work that went on behind the scenes, we spoke to the cast and creatives behind this exciting new musical series.

You can watch all our interviews below!

Marisa Davila (Jane) & Cheyenne Isabel Wells (Olivia)

Marisa Davila plays the brainy and ambitious Jane Facciano, who won't settle for anything less than the best.

Cheyenne Isabel Wells plays Olivia Valdovinos, the tough-as-nails sister of T-Bird leader Richie.

Davila and Wells spoke of their joy of filming the show's big musical numbers, their similarity to their characters,...

Nearly half a century on, the argument rages on over whether Grease was overtly sexist for its girl-changes-to-please-a-boy ending, or secretly feminist for its vivid female characters and rejection of puritanical sexual mores. If Paramount+’s Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies has its way, there will be no corresponding debate over its own progressive stances. The prequel aims to tackle head-on the sexism and racism plaguing its 1950s setting, while also, of course, delivering infectious tunes, lovable characters and sweet teen romance.

The series succeeds at some of that. As a statement of social-justice ideals, Rise of the Pink Ladies is on uneven ground; as a musical, it’s disappointingly forgettable. But as a story about the joys of teen friendship and first love, it’s almost endearing enough to make up for its shortcomings in other areas.

Set four years before the events of the original Grease, Rise...

A prequel to the hit musical Grease, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies features a talented young cast telling the origin story of the infamous titular girl gang. Created by Annabel Oakes, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies releases on Paramount+ on April 6, 2023. While the 1978 musical film starring John Travolta and the late Olivia Newton-John took place in 1958, the prequel show begins four years earlier in 1954. Boasting similar great costumes and catchy songs, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies centers on four underdog teenage girls coming together to live life on their own terms and rule the school.

Many elements of Grease haven't aged well, from its lack of diverse characters to its sexist ideals, none more prominent than the film's climax in which Sandy (Newton-John) transforms her entire look and personality to make her relationship with Danny (Travolta) work. However, the musical also had elements of progressiveness, as the Pink Ladies,...

Even in the streaming wars era, with programmers gambling on new concepts in order to gain and retain subscribers, schedules aren’t brimming with musicals. That’s because TV musicals are hard. And as a general rule, they rarely stick — even when well executed.

Sure, for every “Galavant” and “Eli Stone” there’s a “Glee,” a “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist,” or a “Smash,” which was a delightful disaster for two seasons. But even “Glee” had its own set of pacing and storyline problems after the surprising first season. “Smash” failed to catch fire in the ratings despite its cult following, and “Zoey” barely held on during its two-season (and a movie) run. As for Apple TV+’s “Schmigadoon!,” the proof will be in the (corn) pudding as to whether it can sustain its momentum when Season 2 debuts this month.

Part of the problem is that TV musicals are divisive. You...

Where can you watch Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies? Here's everything you need to know.

Have you ever wondered what happened at Rydell High before Danny and Sandy had their Summer Lovin’? Find out what to happened and discover where to watch the new prequel series Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies online now.

Since its release in 1978, the movie Grease has been recognized as one of the most famous and successful musical films of all time. It has since spawned a sequel movie, a musical revival, and several spin-off series. One of the most popular aspects to come out of this movie were the two school groups, the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies. There are plenty who don pink jackets and grease back their hair for fancy dress parties.

But have you ever wondered how these school groups were created in the first place? How did the T-Birds...

Prequels are all the rage these days.

We love returning to beloved universes that feel familiar but have new stories to tell.

Prime Video's A League Of Their Own was a terrific example of taking the framework of the source material and transforming it into something that feels relevant to modern audiences and uplifts voices that were not always given a platform in the eras being depicted.

Similarly, Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies focuses on the outcasts, the nerds, the ambitious, and the women who don't feel like conforming to the status quo -- or, because of who they are, haven't been allowed.

Why shouldn't they band together and create something new and special to celebrate each other?

Musically, we get the familiar opening number, "Grease Is The Word," and it manages to set up all the central characters. The lyrics take on new meaning, and it's like we're...

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including red carpets for Air, Renfield, Beef, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and Murder Mystery 2.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves premiere

Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Sophia Lillis, Justice Smith, Hugh Grant, Daisy Head and co-directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley walked the carpet at Sunday’s L.A. premiere of their Dungeons & Dragons flick.

Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Sophia Lillis, Justice Smith, Daisy Head, Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Hugh Grant, Regé-Jean Page and Jeremy Latcham Chris Pine, Paramount Pictures president and CEO Brian Robbins, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein

Air premiere

After first debuting at SXSW, Ben Affleck and his cast of Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina and Chris Tucker brought their Nike film to Los Angeles on Monday.

Marlon Wayans,...

“Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” music producer and songwriter Justin Tranter says their prolific career actually started with a passion for musicals.

“Musicals are why I started making music as a kid. Even though I was in a rock band and now I make pop music, musicals are why I started making music in the first place,” the Grammy-nominated songwriter told Variety at the Paramount+ series’ premiere Wednesday night in Los Angeles. Tranter has worked with Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga, the Chicks, Leon Bridges, Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber, just to name a few.

After “fighting hard” to join “Rise of the Pink Ladies” and providing demos for showrunner Annabel Oakes, the two then teamed up with choreographer Jamal Sims for the series. Along with some co-writers, Tranter wrote and produced 30 original songs for the 10-episode season.

As a longtime “Grease” and musical theater fan,...

Plot: The musical series takes place four years before the original “Grease”. In 1954, before rock ‘n’ roll ruled, before the T-Birds were the coolest in the school, four fed-up, outcasts dare to have fun on their own terms, sparking a moral panic that will change Rydell High forever.

Review: My expectations for Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies were very low. I have an appreciation for the classic feature film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, as well as for the Michelle Pfieffer-led sequel. The years have not been kind to some elements from Grease, but that has not stopped people from attempting stage productions and even a maligned live version on Fox. Now, as the streaming wars continue to mine their intellectual property for any potential series, the Paramount+ prequel series Rise of the Pink Ladies aims to correct some of the less diverse elements of Grease for a new generation of fans.