Episode 58: On the auteur Kenny Ortega
In celebration of #Pride month, my guest Vera and I discuss the work of the great choreographer and director, Kenny Ortega.
Some of the things we discuss are: Kenny’s testimony in the Michael Jackson manslaughter trial, Jon Cryer talking about working with Kenny Ortega, Terry Sweeney (the first openly gay cast member of Saturday Night Live), the Carolina Shag, the complexities of meaning of the Confederate flag as a symbol of regional pride, Pink Ladies canceled and removed from streaming, Leilani Sarelle in Basic Instinct, the “As God is my witness” speech from Gone With the Wind, William Deresiewicz on why art is boring now, Ashley Tisdale’s YouTube channel, Jennifer Grey on her nose job, my own interview with Lucas Grabeel, the backlash to Blue is the Warmest Color, an example of the “Jezebel press” backlash to Sucker Punch, Todd Haynes on Carol, Mike White and his dad, the Turtles album The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands, and Kenny Ortega on his history and on High School Musical as an old fashioned Hollywood romp.
Trailers for High School Musical-influenced Bollywood film Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge (2011), Teen Beach Movie (2013), Back to the Beach (1987) and Psycho Beach Party (2000) which was based on an off Broadway play.
Trailer for Shag (1989)
Jon Cryer doing “Try A Little Tenderness” choreographed by Kenny Ortega (please also watch for Molly Ringwald’s face of utter disgust).
Madonna’s “Material Girls” (you can also see a reference to this in High School Musical 3’s “A Night To Remember” with Sharpay and Zeke’s entrance to the prom)
Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time”
The songs played are:
1. “Lovely 2 C U” by Goldfrapp
2. “Dixie” performed by the The Royal Doulton Band
3. “Stagger Lee” by Lloyd Price (1958)
4. “Grease” (Theme from Grease) by Frankie Valli (1978)
5. “Monkey Time” by Major Lance (1963)
6. “Bop to the Top” (High School Musical) by “Ryan” and “Sharpay” (Lucas Grabeel and Ashley Tisdale)
7. “I Don’t Dance” (High School Musical 2) by “Ryan” and “Chad” (Lucas Grabeel and Corbin Bleu; and watch Corbin give some behind-the-scenes on the filming)
8. “Mein Herr” (Cabaret) performed by Corbin Bleu
9. “Bet on It” (High School Musical 2) by “Troy” (Zac Efron; watch for the amazing reflection scene)
10. “A Night to Remember” (High School Musical 3) by the Cast
11. “I Want It All” (High School Musical 3) by “Ryan” and Sharpay” (Lucas Grabeel and Ashley Tisdale)
12. “Jamaica Ska” by Annette Funicello (1964)
13. “Cookie” by NewJeans
14. “Happy Together” by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention (Fillmore East – June 1971)
15. “The Shag” by Tommy Page