Greaseology

About Greaseology

A hopelessly devoted fan deep dives the movie "Grease" 5 minutes at a time.

Publisher

Cassie Newsom

Category

tv & film

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

9 May 2023

Latest episode

21 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

16 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   21 Jul 2026

   Episode 15 - Born to Hand Jive

   We are discussing minutes 1:10-1:15 of Grease so get ready for the countdown!  In a matter of seconds National Bandstand will go live and all of Rydell High will be on television screens across the country.  Ms. McGee and Coach Calhoun must first deliver the remaining two rules for the night, but then Vince Fontaine takes the mic and preps the kids for live TV in rhyming verse and then they are LIVE!  Vince Fontaine introduces Johnny Casino and the Gamblers who go right into the first song, “Hound Dog”.  The students all start dancing The Madison, America’s first line dance from the 1950s.  During the song we see that the Frosty Palace waitresses are watching the show live in the restaurant on a black and white vintage 50s television.  After “Hound Dog” Vince Fontaine addresses the audience and says that the dance off is about to begin, and reminds everyone that it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s what you do with your dancin’ shoes!  Then the music kicks in and the band announces it’s time to do The Hand Jive! For the remainder of our segment, Vince Fontaine moves throughout the crowd tapping shoulders to eliminate students while Marty tags along.  Frenchie and Doody are eliminated followed by Rizzo and Craterface.  As the song progresses, the dancing gets racier and the moves go way beyond the original Hand Jive dance.  Our segment ends just as Kenicke had the wild idea to pull up Patty Simcox’s dress revealing her underwear on live television. We will also discuss the history of the song “Hound Dog” and how its roots began before Elvis ever even heard it.  We will also talk about the real hand jive song, “Willie and the Hand Jive” and how it influenced the version Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey wrote for Grease AND the famous Bo Diddley beat that can be heard in the song as well as in many other popular songs throughout music history. Okay cats, put your mittens around your kittens and away we go! Check out the Bo Diddley beat playlist on Spotify! (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2hhOh9ZVsZyJlcOlUJh1hO?si=pLUrpBWKSqiZS4jTnzQvyw)

2. 

   17 Jun 2026

   Episode 14 - They Call Me Cha Cha

   Pop in your VHS tape and grab your Pink Ladies jacket…we are discussing minutes 1:05-1:10 of GREASE in which the dance is still happening!  We’re about to meet Cha Cha, the bombshell from St. Bernadette’s that Danny definitely dated in the past (we love you Danny, but you’re not fooling anyone). Vince Fontaine makes his move on Marty with some cringy pick up lines and Sonny spikes the punch with booze.  While getting flirty with Tom Chisom, Blanche announces that when she hears music she just can’t make her feet behave which makes us wonder, “has Blanche made one-two-many trips to the punch bowl?”  Ms. McGee and Coach Calhoun make their entrance to announce Vince Fontaine (who is secretly getting cozy with Marty) and present THE RULES.

3. 

   30 Apr 2026

   Episode 13 - Rock n Roll Party Queen

   We are discussing minutes 60-65 of GREASE! The T-Birds are still getting Kenicke's car ready for Thunder Road and using stolen parts to get the job done. Marty and Rizzo still need dates for the dance off, but when she sees Craterface drive through the parking lot, Rizzo has a great idea that will promise to make Kenicke as jealous as possible. We hear "Rock n Roll Party Queen" play as students enter the gym all dressed up. Marty spots the super cool DJ Vince Fontaine and leaves Sonny in the dust as she makes her move. Sandy is nervous she'll get camera fright, but Danny says it's okay because he knows Ted, the cameraman. Johnny Casino and The Gamblers show up and perform their first song, "Rock n Roll is Here To Stay" as we watch background dancer couples move past the camera. Danny and Sandy are doing an amazing routine and get the attention of Mr. Rudie, a teacher who is helping judge the dance contest. Our segment ends during "Those Magic Changes" as Frenchy expresses to Doody that it would be nice to turn around on the dancefloor rather than march in a straight line. We will discuss Dennis Stewart, Edd Byrnes, Dick Patterson, Sha Na Na, and Wendie Jo Sperber. This is a great episode that you won't want to miss!

4. 

   21 Mar 2026

   Episode 12 - Beauty School Dropout

   Fast forward your VHS tapes! We are discussing minutes 55-60 of GREASE in which Frenchy tells Vi she dropped out of Beauty School and wishes she had a guardian angel to tell her what to do when suddenly her real Teen Angel appears and encourages her to turn in her teasing comb and go back to high school

5. 

   26 Jun 2025

   Episode 11 - Peachy Keen Jelly Bean

   The hosts of Greaseology analyze minutes 50-55 of Grease, focusing on Sandy and Danny's reconciliation and the tumultuous date at the Frosty Palace, highlighting the challenges in their relationships.

6. 

   29 Jul 2024

   Episode 10 BONUS - Interview with Cidny Bullens!

   In this special bonus episode I interview Cidny Bullens who recorded 3 songs on the Grease soundtrack, "It's Raining on Prom Night", "Freddy My Love", and "Mooning". Not only was he a rock and roll trailblazer in the 1970s, he is also a strong voice in the transgender community and is still recording music today. He just released his latest album, "Little Pieces" in 2023 and his memoir, "Transelectric - My Life as a Cosmic Rockstar" came out last year as well. You can find out more about Cidny at his website, cidnybullens.com (https://www.cidnybullens.com/) and write to him at cid@cidnybullens.com.

7. 

   29 Jul 2024

   Episode 10 - He's a Hitter!

   In this episode we will dive into minutes 45:00-50:00 of the movie Grease in which Sandy and Danny are finishing up a conversation at the Frosty Palace jukebox that ends with Sandy challenging Danny to prove he really can run circles around the jocks like he says.  Then Danny embarks on an athletics odyssey, in an attempt to become the kind of guy he thinks Sandy wants him to be.  After a few unsuccessful attempts at various sports, he eventually lands on Track and it's on the track field that Danny catches Sandy’s eye while jumping hurdles - and doing it well!  Danny also notices Sandy and can’t help but turn his head to look back at her which causes him to trip and fall flat down.  When she sees he might be hurt, Sandy immediately runs to Danny’s rescue and is all ready to forgive him.

8. 

   8 May 2024

   Episode 9 - Jealous, Are You?

   In this episode we will dive into minutes 40:00-45:00 of Grease in which Danny and all the guys continue singing about how their souped up hot rod will help them get girls in the fantasy sequence of Greased Lightning and end the song back in reality in the school auto shop.  We then switch scenes to the street in front of the Frosty Palace where the Scorpions are wreaking havoc in Hell’s Chariot and a little more tension builds between the Scorpions and the TBirds.  Inside the Frosty Palace it’s wall-to-wall students sharing milkshakes and dancing to Ritchie Valens.  Sandy is on a date with Tom Chisum - the two of them in a private booth and Sandy wearing Tom’s letter sweater.  Danny tries so hard to play it cool when he sees Sandy with Tom, but all the while he’s distracted and surreptitiously trying to steal glances her way.  Sandy also notices Danny, but tries to work the situation to her advantage to make Danny jealous of Tom.  She moves across the room to the jukebox, fully aware that Danny is coming her way, but pretends to not see him as she selects a song.  Danny makes a sincere attempt to talk to Sandy and explain why he was a jerk at the bonfire, but Sandy isn’t ready to forgive him so easily.  Our segment ends in the middle of their conversation when Danny cynically suggests that Tom’s brains are in his biceps and Sandy accuses him of being jealous and asks, “And what have YOU ever done?” --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cassie-newsom/message

9. 

   5 Mar 2024

   Episode 8 - Call Me Betty

   A deep dive discussion of minutes 35:00-40:00 of the movie GREASE! Tell me more, tell me more! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cassie-newsom/message

10. 

    30 Sept 2023

    Episode 7 - Hopelessly Devoted

    In this episode we will dive into minutes 30:00-35:00 of Grease, in which Rizzo finishes singing “Sandra Dee” just as Sandy comes out of the bathroom and realizes Rizzo is making fun of her.  The T-Birds crash the sleepover in Kenicke’s “new” car to Frenchy’s panicked discovery.  Rizzo sneaks out through the window to join them and has a raunchy exchange of metaphors with Danny and Kenicke.  Annoyed and wanting to be alone, Danny hops out of the car and takes off on foot when Kenicke invites Rizzo in the car to fill the now empty front seat.  Wanting to be all alone, Rizzo and Kenicke immediately kick out Doody, Putzie, and Sonny, much to their chagrin.  Back in Frenchy’s room, Sandy is wondering what she ever saw in Danny Zuko, but Marty tells her “don’t sweat it honey, have one of mine” meaning one of her many male pen pals.  She gives Sandy a few sheets of perfume scented tissue paper just as the first notes of Hopelessly Devoted begin.  We get to spend the remainder of the segment with ONJ singing her unforgettable ballad in Frenchy’s backyard. Eat Your Heart Out meanings and origins (https://www.languagehumanities.org/what-does-eat-your-heart-out-mean.htm⁠ ) ONJ performs HD at the 51st Academy Awards (https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x43dxdz⁠ ) WWI French Pen Pals (⁠https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/marraines_de_guerre#:~:text=The%20institution%20of%20wartime%20pen,pal%2C%20was%20a%20great%20success⁠. ) Pen Pal History and Information (⁠https://blog.penpal.me/what-is-a-pen-pal-from-then-to-now/⁠ ) Scented Letters (⁠https://www.fragrancex.com/blog/how-to-make-scented-cards/#:~:text=To%20make%20the%20letter%20more,every%20time%20they%20opened%20it⁠. ) Olivia Newton-John (Wikipedia Bio) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivia_Newton-John⁠ ) Hollywood Nights - Olivia Newton-John ABC special (⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_wjglS9xRY⁠ ) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cassie-newsom/message

11. 

    24 Jul 2023

    Episode 6 - Sandy, Sandy Beauty is Pain

    In this episode we will dive into minutes 25-30 of the movie Grease in which Sandy goes to Frenchie’s house for a sleepover with the Pink Ladies.  The girls try to corrupt Sandy with wine and cigarettes and then, Frenchie tries to pierce Sandy’s ears! In an effort to keep blood off the carpet, Frenchie drags Sandy to the Powder Room to finish the other ear, but the combination of booze and tobacco is just too much for Sandy.  When Frenchie comes out, she reveals that Sandy got sick in the bathroom when she saw the blood and presumably must stay in there a little bit longer to recuperate.  While she’s away, Rizzo breaks out into song and sings “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee” as she and the other Pink Ladies wear beauty shop wigs and dance around in their pajamas. Frenchie’s house (https://www.dirt.com/gallery/locations/filming-locations/grease-slumber-party-house-los-feliz-1203576326/lb-grease-slumber-party-house-los-feliz-2/⁠ ) LA Mag article - Grease filming locations (https://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/grease-movie-locations-los-angeles/⁠ ) Ipana Toothpaste (⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipana⁠ ) The Ipana Troubadors (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ipana_Troubadors⁠ ) Ipana toothpaste commercial (outer space) (⁠https://youtu.be/q0po-g28uTg⁠ ) Ipana toothpaste commercial (circus) (⁠https://youtu.be/wlInmGdcF6g⁠ ) Interview with Jamie Donnelly - Bucky Beaver origin story (⁠https://www.mountainlakesalumni.org/laker-in-the-spotlight-jamie-donnelly/⁠ ) Italian Swiss Colony wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Swiss_Colony⁠ ) History of ISC (⁠https://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Italian_Swiss_Colony⁠ ) History of Twinkies (⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twinkie⁠ ) A Brief History of Cooties (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/brief-history-cooties-180971914/⁠ ) Goodyear Blimp (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodyear_Blimp) History of Candy Cigarettes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candy_cigarette⁠ ) Sandra Dee (⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandra_Dee⁠ ) Rock Hudson & Doris Day (⁠https://retrogazing.com/entertainment/film/doris-day-and-rock-hudson-movie-collaborations-ranked/⁠ ) Troy Donahue (⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Donahue⁠ ) Sal Mineo (⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sal_Mineo⁠ ) Stockard Channing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockard_Channing) Stockard Channing on Sesame Street (⁠https://youtu.be/FTn9Xr_lyqQ⁠) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cassie-newsom/message

12. 

    21 Jun 2023

    Episode 5 - That's Cool Baby

    We'll discuss minutes 20:00-25:00 in which Sandy and Tom Chisum "exchange appreciative glances" and we have a brief introduction to the rival gang, The Scorpions. Danny and Sandy are reunited via Rizzo's prank, but it doesn't go well. Danny acts like a fool in front of the T-Birds causing Sandy to run off crying. Frenchie goes after Sandy to console her and invite her to the sleepover. Young Lorenzo Lamas’ favorite ONJ song (https://youtu.be/4IFQZyxxyyM) Lorenzo Lamas Bio (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorenzo_Lamas) 1998 Grease Documentary (20th anniversary) (https://youtu.be/l0f1Gr-TTc4) Great article about what happened to the cars of Grease, specifically Hell’s Chariot (https://www.motortrend.com/features/grease-car-1949-mercury-custom-chop-top/#:~:text=%22Hell) Examples of the word “divoon” being used in literature and film (https://www.wordsense.eu/divoon/) Didi Conn Bio (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didi_Conn) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cassie-newsom/message

13. 

    5 Jun 2023

    Episode 4 - Summer Lovin'

    In episode 4 I discuss minutes 15:00-20:00 in which the guys and girls finish performing "Summer Nights", Sandy reveals the name of the boy she met on the beach and the Pink Ladies have an awkward reaction. We are also introduced to Coach Calhoun at the pep rally. West Side Story “Tonight Quintet” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyUV3hIL-G0) History of Technicolor (https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-technicolor-definition/) Peachy keen origins (https://disappearingidioms.com/peachy-keen/) Sid Caesar performing 4 different languages in “double talk” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SqEmkwADmY) Sid Caesar Bio (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_Caesar) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cassie-newsom/message

14. 

    24 May 2023

    Episode 3 - Welcome to Rydell

    In episode 3 we discuss minutes 10:00-15:00 of Grease where Ms. McGee gives morning announcements on the first day of school and then at lunchtime, the big topic is "summer lovin'"! See John Travolta on American Bandstand in 1976 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4VR5xp87XU) John Travolta's ADORABLE interview with Dick Clark on American Bandstand (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIntO6OAjgg&t=80s) Dody Goodman and Ellen Travolta's "Love Boat" episode (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIntO6OAjgg&t=80s) Fanny Flagg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fannie_Flagg) Fanny Flagg on "Love Boat" - First appearance (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0636633/?ref_=nm_flmg_eps_tt_1) | Second appearance (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0636820/?ref_=nm_flmg_eps_tt_1) | Third appearance (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0636652/?ref_=nm_flmg_eps_tt_1) Albert Wolsky (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Wolsky) Darrell Zwerling (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darrell_Zwerling) Annette Funicello (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annette_Funicello) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cassie-newsom/message

15. 

    24 May 2023

    Episode 2 - Hey, There's Danny!

    In this episode we discuss minutes 05:00-10:00 of Grease where the students are arriving on the first day of school. The T-Birds reunite in front of the school and Sandy is confused when Frenchy asks if she has psoriasis. The students make their way to class, but the T-Birds are lingering in the halls and Ms. McGee has words with Sonny. Our segment ends as the T-Birds accost Eugene on the stairs. Eve Arden (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eve_Arden) Episodes of "Our Miss Brooks" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5FozSPUn6M&list=PLsfcIgLn6eRz-cxRSC-JcgpXEhaIyiRAo) Dody Goodman (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dody_Goodman) Patricia Birch (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricia_Birch) Bill Butler (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Butler_(cinematographer)) Grease Day USA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J_Q44lwipE&t=2573s) ABC Sunday Night movie bumper from 1981 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=out4xjG3IZ4) Heartbreak of Psoriasis commercial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG1JsKsOUTM) Robert Hall clothes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hall_Clothes) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cassie-newsom/message

16. 

    9 May 2023

    Episode 1 - It's Only the Beginning

    Thank you for listening to Greaseology! In our very first episode I share some history about Grease the stage musical becoming Grease the movie. Then we begin with the first 5 minutes of the film. I share some history on the Paramount Pictures logo and have a correction - Paramount began in 1912, not 1916. And depending on how you watch Grease (on VHS/DVD or streaming) you may see a slightly different version of the logo. We discuss the opening beach summer romance scene and how it was slightly different in the shooting script. My apologies again for my poor attempt at properly pronouncing Leo Carrillo. Finally, I give a breakdown of John Wilson's opening credits animation sequence and discuss every iconic image. Second correction - I mention the "A-WOP-A-LOO-BOP-LOP" portion of the opening credits and noted it was in reference to a Little Richard song, but forgot to mention the song it's from is "Tutti Frutti" (1957). Finally, when I was giving reasons why John Wilson may have included a brief flash of the swastika symbol in his animation, I said the reasons "made sense". I just want to clarify that I do not think a swastika was necessary at all to create shock value and further, I don't think it has any place in my favorite movie. Next time we will break down minutes 5:00-10:00 of Grease! Here are the links I mention in this episode: https://www.randalkleiser.com/ (https://www.randalkleiser.com/) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Marie_Reid (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Marie_Reid) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Carrillo_State_Park (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Carrillo_State_Park) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodak_Brownie (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodak_Brownie) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebel_Without_a_Cause (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebel_Without_a_Cause) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramount_Pictures (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramount_Pictures) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq7tou6S2YA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq7tou6S2YA) (Promo for Randal Kleiser’s book, “Grease, The Director’s Notebook”) https://www.artofthetitle.com/title/grease/ (https://www.artofthetitle.com/title/grease/) (Read more about John Wilson’s opening credits animation) https://wehoville.com/2023/01/04/through-the-years-with-barneys-beanery/ (https://wehoville.com/2023/01/04/through-the-years-with-barneys-beanery/) (Read more about Barney’s Beanery) https://youtu.be/Bcd7WLPn214 (https://youtu.be/Bcd7WLPn214) (John Wilson animation - Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (1973) https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/12/saturday-night-fever (https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/12/saturday-night-fever) (Read more about the making of Saturday Night Fever) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cassie-newsom/message

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 29 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

35

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

60

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.