FoxGrease is the word…for delivering huge ratings that is. Fox's ambitious live musical event, appropriately titled Grease: Live, brought in 12.2 million viewers and a 4.3 same-day rating in the 18-49 demographic, according to preliminary ratings. That's bigger than Danny Zuko's hair and Sandy's at the end of the musical—combined! The ratings could change when finals are released and will likely increase when DVR playback is factored in.
NBC's latest live musical, The Wiz, initially had 11.5 million viewers and a 3.4 rating. The first live NBC musical, The Sound of Music, had a 4.6 rating and 18.6 million viewers and the following year Peter Pan averaged 9.2 million viewers and a 2.4 rating.
Fox's live Grease broadcast starred Aaron Tveit, Julianne Hough, Vanessa Hudgens, Carly Rae Jepsen, Keke Palmer, Kether Donohue, Carlos Penavega and Jordan Fisher with director Thomas Kail behind the camera. The musical was met with mostly rave reviews, especially for Hudges who revealed her father passed away Saturday, the day before the live broadcast. Fox dedicated the broadcast to him, as did Hudgens.
"I am so sad to say that last night my daddy, Greg passed away from stage 4 cancer. Thank you to everyone who kept him in your prayers," she tweeted. "Tonight, I do the show in his honor."
Ana Gasteyer, Eve Plumb, Didi Conn, Wendell Pierce, Joe Jonas, Mario Lopez, Boyz II Men and Jessie J also had roles in Grease: Live. Conn, the original Frenchie in the movie, had a scene with Jepsen, Grease: Live's Frenchie.