"Dirty Dancing" is coming back to television on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. The remake of the 1987 classic film will air on ABC much to viewers' delight. The plot remains the same. Therefore, don't expect any surprises as far as the storyline goes. The main thing that is different is the celebrity cast. Most people know that the original Johnny Castle played by Patrick Swayze died on September 14, 2009 at the age of 57 of pancreatic cancer.
Jennifer Grey, now 57, who played the part of Baby was asked to have a cameo role in the film; however, she declined.
It wasn't reported which part she was asked to play, however; it probably was not the part with the iconic dance that she and Swayze performed back in 1987. Grey's response was that since she had a starring role in the film once, she regards it as too important to be interfered with, and she wouldn't be able to add to what she has already done. She added that she would support the movie by watching it.
New cast
The remake will entertain viewers just as much as the original 1987 television movie did that was set in 1963 at the Catskills resort. The remake does have a new cast. Filling the role once occupied by Patrick Swayze is rising star Colt Prattes. Abigail Breslin fills Grey's old role as Baby.
Others appearing in the remake include Bruce Greenwood and Debra Messing as Baby's parents. They are joined by Nicole Scherzinger, Sarah Hyland, Tony Roberts, Katey Sagal, Billy Dee Williams, and J. Quinton Johnson.
Three-hour musical movie
If you loved the original movie, you will love the special three-hour musical event just as much.
The romantic drama is shown through a fresh perspective of the same social themes that were present in the first movie. Those themes include race relations, women's rights and the division between the rich and the poor.
Some of the same songs are in the 2017 remake, but the music has been updated and the songs have been modernized.
Some new songs are included.
As an added bonus to the upcoming "Dirty Dancing" movie on ABC, fans of the original movie will get to find out what happened to Baby and Johnny and the other characters after their summer together ended at the Catskills resort.
The iconic lift
People are anxiously watching to see the iconic lift that Johnny and Baby performed. They practiced the lift in the water and perfected it so much that it has become one of the well-known scenes from the movie. At 50, when Jennifer Grey appeared on "Dancing with the Stars" in 2010 with partner Derek Hough, they replicated the lift. They won the championship that season.
