In 1995, ABC presented a telemovie version of the Broadway musical Bye Bye Birdie produced by RHI Entertainment. It starred Seinfeld's Jason Alexander and Vanessa Williams of Desperate Housewives. While this version remained mostly faithful to the original musical (Michael Stewart remains the only credited author of this version), several songs were added and re-arranged, and dialogue was slightly rewritten to smoothly facilitate the musical changes. The musical revolves around an Elvis Presley-type rocker who's about to join the Army. To mark the occasion, his manager's secretary arranges for him to kiss a random fan goodbye on The Ed Sullivan Show. Bye Bye Birdie earned four Tony awards in 1961, including Best Musical and Best Actor in a Musical for its original star, Dick Van Dyke. In addition to Alexander and Williams, ABC's production starred Tyne Daly, George Wendt, Chynna Phillips and Mark Kudisch.
Acting
Jason Alexander committing 110% to every pratfall
Costume
Conrad Birdie's gold lamé jumpsuit deserves its own credit
Production
They actually built 'Sweet Apple, Ohio' on a soundstage in 1995
Director
Gene Saks
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Vanessa Williams' first major project after her 1984 Miss America scandal resignation — her casting as Rose was deliberately triumphant.
The original 1960 musical was inspired by Elvis Presley's actual 1958 Army draft; this 1995 version arrived as MTV-era pop was making Elvis look quaint.
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