Tonight, ABCs Family Channel treats us to an Olivia Newton-John double feature. We start our ONJ-fest at 8PM with 1978's Grease. The original "High School Musical," features unforgettable songs, romance, comedy and perhaps the oldest cast to ever play high school students in the history of old people playing high school students. Trivia: Jeff Conaway played Danny Zuko in the Broadway Production of Grease, but ended up playing his best friend Kenicke when John Travolta got the coveted role.
Immediately after Grease, is Olivia's 1980 film Xanadu. Watch this movie for the musical numbers (and only the musical numbers) and you won't be disappointed. Starring Olivia, Jeff Beck and the incomparable Gene Kelly (in his final lead film role), this movie is like, totally 80s! From the top of Olivia's feathered hair to the bottom of her leg warmers, it's a time capsule of the music and fashions from that period. The Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) shares soundtrack duties with ONJ and they work together on the musical finale. Other ONJ songs include Magic and Suddenly (duet with Cliff Richards). Trivia: Despite the film's poor box office performance, the soundtrack went to #4 on the Billboard charts. It contained five top 20 singles and went double platinum. Also of note: The film's assistant choreographer, Kenny Ortega would later go on to direct Disney's High School Musical films.
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