Bye Bye Birdie

TV movie version of the 1961 Broadway hit stars Jason Alexander as the songwriter Albert who has a chance at success because of a contract with new singing sensation Conrad Birdie. But Birdie's been drafted and headed to the Army. With his stalwart girlfriend Rose (Vanessa Williams, who can't dance) and smothering mama (Tyne Daly) in tow, they head to smalltown Ohio for a gigantic publicity stunt (Birdie kisses local girl fan goodbye) and to debut Albert's new song.

I guess this was a big TV event in 1995 (I don't recall it) but most (if not all) of the singing is canned. The three stars are all quite good (Alexander won a Tony Award for Jerome Robbins' Broadway in 1989, right at the start of Seinfeld). Big songs include "I've Got a Lot of Living to Do" and "Put on a Happy Face."

Others in the cast don't fare so well. Blah George Wendt as the Paul Lynde role as the harried father and gives not much to the famous "Kids" song (sung by Paul Lynde in the Broadway production). There's also Marc Kudisch as Birdie (he lip syncs badly) and Chynna Phillips as Kim the teen (a decade too old for the part). Vicki Lewis shows up for the small role of Gloria Rasputin.

Even away back in 1995 the story must have seemed long in the tooth what with its obvious reference points in Elvis Presley and Conway Twitty as well as Ed Sullivan. Other relics include a TV clip of Father Knows Best and a funny reference to the film Lost Horizons.

Jason Alexander is a delight. Tyne Daly is the only performer who does NOT lip sync a pre-recorded number. The three new songs added to this TV shows all stink.