On the cover

Abigail Breslin and Cole Prattes in ABC’s production of Dirty Dancing
Abigail Breslin and Cole Prattes in ABC’s production of Dirty Dancing

There has been a spate of television remakes of older theatrical films in the last couple of years. We’ve seen network versions of Grease, Hairspray and The Rocky Horror Picture Show to name three. The newest is ABC’s production of Dirty Dancing, which airs at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

For those who haven’t seen the 1987 version, the basic storyline is that while spending summer at a Catskills resort with her family, Frances “Baby” Houseman (Abigail Breslin) falls in love with the camp’s dance instructor Johnny Castle (newcomer Colt Prattes). They then go on to have the time of their lives.

The “modernized and updated” version also stars Debra Messing, Bruce Greenwood, Nicole Scherzinger, Sarah Hyland, Katey Sagal and Billy Dee Williams.

According to ABC, the three-hour filmed musical event classic is “told from a fresh perspective, diving deeper into the iconic characters, showcasing their progression and tackling social themes like race, women’s rights and the socio-economic division in the country at that time.”

Upcoming Events