Went home to Reno to visit the family homestead and ended up getting stranded by high winds and a big storm that canceled all flights in and out of the Reno/Tahoe airport. Couldn’t get a flight back to Oakland until Thursday, so I find my Christmas vacation forcefully extended.
What’s a guy to do when the weather is bizarre (60 mph winds, rain, snow, an out-of-control brush fire)? Why, watch High School Musical, of course. I know I’m the last person in the known universe to see this thing — the most popular thing ever committed on film, ever, EVER — so I wanted to see what the fuss was all about. It is a musical, after all, and musicals, well, they’re not my life, but pretty darn close.
And I must say, I was completely charmed by the show. I don’t think I’ll ever be a huge fan of the songs, but it all works together as a package. I actually cared about Troy and Gabriella and their attempt to be multi-faceted teenagers.
If I were a tween (and I actually am a tween at heart), I’d have flipped for this 21st-century Grease rip-off — actually it rips off Grease and my 
favorite bad movie of all time, Grease 2 because in that one there’s a big school myew-zi-kall, as the HSM drama teacher calls it.
My favorite line was uttered by Sharpay: “We’re dealing with people who don’t know the difference between a Tony Award and Tony Hawk.” That’s why I love drama kids: they know what a Tony Award is and they know who Tony Hawk is.
Maybe I should be embarrassed, but I’m not. I loved “High School Musical” and would be happy to see it on stage. I hear it’s being done, appropriately enough, in high schools, which would be fun to see.
Before I sign off, I just wanted to state for the record, that that Jason person is an ass. Who leaves comments like that on an otherwise friendly blog? He must be a New Yorker.
I have a Cast Recording of the Live/Stage version of High School Musical, and it’s a lot better than the movie.
I am 9 years old. I have seen this movie at least five times and listened to the cd 50 gajillion times. My favorite part is when everyone starts singing STATUS QUO in the cafeteria. My favorite character is Gabriella because she’s nice. I really want to see this on stage!