When the producers of the new Broadway revival of Grease decided to drum up interest in the production by launching a televised competition to allow America to select the leading performers, they probably expected that the TV show might tank with a broad public that has little interest in Broadway. But what they may not have expected was the backlash from what few viewers the show did have once the winners were announced. Despite strong box office sales, Ticketmaster was swamped with calls from unhappy viewers wanting their money back when their personal faves didn’t land the leading roles.
