The Blockbuster Musical Airing August 1
JERICHO, NY, July 6, 2004 — Want to revisit Rydell High's senior class dance-off? Doo-wop along with Sha-Na-Na? Barrel down Thunder Road in a souped-up chassis? Then check out AMC's "DVD_TV" franchise presentation of GREASE on Sunday, August 1. The film will air in its full-screen version at 6:00 PM, followed by the MUCH MORE MOVIE version at 8:00 PM. The 1978 movie stars John Travolta, who cemented his star status in this film, and pop singer Olivia Newton-John.
Based on the enormously successful Broadway musical, "Grease" also stars Oscar®-nominee Stockard Channing ("The West Wing," "Smoke"), Jeff Conaway ("Taxi"), Fannie Flagg ("Fried Green Tomatoes"), Didi Conn ("Shining Time Station") and Dinah Manoff ("Empty Nest"). Special guest appearances include Eve Arden ("Our Miss Brooks"), Frankie Avalon ("Casino"), Joan Blondell ("A Tree Grows In Brooklyn"), Sid Caesar ("Your Show of Shows") and rock and roll group, Sha-Na-Na.
Once each month, DVD_TV taps into the cravings of movie people, offering a Sunday movie marathon populated by DVD-like extras, including original programming and rare behind the scenes footage, exclusive interviews and more. Each marathon features at least two versions of a seminal movie – the full-screen version followed by a MUCH MORE MOVIE version. MUCH MORE MOVIE is a letterbox version which provides viewers with little known facts about the movie as they appear at the bottom of the screen. It provides a rich layer of additional detail about the background players, the elements surrounding the production, the casting of the performers, the music, cinematography and much, much more.
Set in the idyllic 1950s, Danny (Travolta), a leather-jacket clad teenager, has a perfect summer romance with Sandy (Newton-John), who is visiting from Australia. Though they amicably part when Labor Day approaches, Sandy unexpectedly transfers to Danny's school, Rydell High. Danny and Sandy experience the ups and downs of first love. Danny is the leader of the T-Birds and is uncomfortable being associated with Sandy, who doesn't fit in with the "cool" scene. At the drive-in, the pep rally and the school dance, they are pulled apart by misunderstandings and bad timing. Like a modern day fairy tale, the two manage to happily come together in time for senior class graduation.
"Grease" is an American pop culture phenomenon. The 1978 soundtrack album, sung by Travolta, Newton-John and the film's cast, sold an estimated 20 million copies. "Grease" has grossed $153 million at the box office and over $60 million during its Broadway run.
AMC, a division of Rainbow Media's Entertainment Services, which also includes WE: Women's Entertainment and IFC Companies, is a 24-hour, movie-based network, dedicated to the American movie fan. The network, which reaches over 86,000,000 homes, offers a comprehensive library of popular movies and a critically-acclaimed slate of original programming that is a diverse, movie-based mix of original series, documentaries and specials. Over the past three years, AMC has garnered many of the industry's highest honors, including eight Emmy awards. AMC is "TV for movie people."
A leader in sports, news and entertainment programming, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC). Rainbow Media owns and manages national networks: AMC, Fuse, IFC (The Independent Film Channel) and WE: Women's Entertainment; as well as the on-demand services: Mag Rack, Uncensored On Demand, World Picks On Demand and World Picks Networks. Rainbow Media's other businesses include its regional programming services – MetroChannels, News 12 Networks and Rainbow Sports Networks – in addition to the Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation and Rainbow Network Communications. Rainbow Media is also a 50 percent partner in Fox Sports Net.
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