Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Jason Alexander | ... | Albert J. Peterson | |
Vanessa Williams | ... | Rose Alvarez | |
Chynna Phillips | ... | Kim MacAfee | |
Tyne Daly | ... | Mae Peterson | |
Marc Kudisch | ... | Conrad Birdie | |
George Wendt | ... | Harry MacAfee | |
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Sally Mayes | ... | Doris MacAfee |
Jason Gaffney | ... | Hugo F. Peabody | |
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Blair Slater | ... | Randolph MacAfee |
Vicki Lewis | ... | Gloria Rasputin | |
Brigitta Dau | ... | Ursula Merkle | |
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Angela Brydon | ... | Sad Face Girl |
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Shelley S. Hunt | ... | Alice |
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Marlowe Gardiner-Heslin | ... | Suzie (as Marlowe Windsor-Menard) |
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Brenna Quan | ... | Penelope-Ann |
Rock-and-roll icon Conrad Birdie is about to go into the Army, and plans are being made to arrange his final going-away concert.
This TV adaptation of Bye Bye Birdie has a few things going for it. Vanessa Williams is sensational, and Jason Alexander, surprise, surprise, is a good singer and adequate hoofer. It follows the original play far better than the film, although, it also takes liberties with it. And doesn't have to pull its punches to quite the same extent as the movie did (1963 was kind of crossover year, where attitudes and mores were beginning to loosen up, but American movies were still stuck in the fifties.The TV version also gets rid of that horrible sped-up ballet that nearly ruins the movie version (the play had another ballet entirely, which is not in either the film or the TV version).
On the minus side, as good as Jason Alexander is, he wasn't right for the part. I'm not sure Dick Van Dyke was either, but he was better. George Wendt adds nothing to the mix, especially when compared to Paul Lynde. The character of Kim McAfee is pared back down to its original content, which is just as well. Chynna Phillips is woefully miscast as a teenager and really can't compete with Ann-Margert (who could?). Marc Kudisch's Conrad is a good imitation of Conway Twitty, who was the original template for Conrad (not Elvis), although Jesse Pearson (who looked like he was imitating Elvis) was better.
On the balance, worth watching if you're interested in Broadway musicals and their adaptations, but it's not a must-see.