Gil Rizzo is a recurring character in the Paramount+ original series, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies. He is portrayed by Nicholas McDonough.
Gil is the founder of the T-Birds with Richie Valdovinos.
Biography[]
Gil Rizzo is the oldest and only brother of six children, including Betty Rizzo. His father left the family when Gil was eight, which made him the man of the house. He helped take care of his sisters and mother and worked at the family delicatessen. Gil attended Rydell High School where he befriended Richie Valdovinos and founded the T-Birds with him. They recruited their close friends Shy Guy and Potato. Gil also developed a crush on Richie's younger sister Olivia Valdovinos, but never made a move.
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies[]
In "We're Gonna Rule the School", Gil and the T-Birds went to the drive-in movie theater. Olivia Valdovinos honked her way into a parking spot and then signaled for the T-Birds to get out. The gang emerged from the trunk and backseat in spades. As she walked away, Richie shouted to his gang not to watch his sister walk away. Cynthia drove up on her dirt bike and joined the T-Birds in song.
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Later, Cynthia waved around a bottle of alcohol and offered to ditch the passion pit for real fun, but the gang shot her down. They wanted to prowl for girls; the first to get a girl won the keys to the car. Susan arrived and asked Richie to buy her a soda. Gil dropped the keys into Richie's expectant hand. The gang left to patrol.
While there, Gil heard gossip that Jane Facciano went all the way with Buddy Aldridge. On the first day of school, he walked to Rydell High with the T-Birds, Cynthia, and Oliva. They all gossiped over the incident. Richie commented on Olivia's good mood. She decided to stop worrying about what everyone said and lean into it. She removed her long jacket to reveal a vibrant outfit. He tried to cover her with his jacket but she wanted to find out what everyone would say. She sauntered into the school and Richie shouted for the boys not to watch his sister, and Gil quickly looked away.
The T-Birds burst through the corridor and peeped up Jane's skirt as she hung the banner. Gil peeked up Jane's skirt and said that under her skirt was New York's most visited tourist attraction. She grabbed hold of Richie to ask the gang what people said and learned the extent of the salacious rumors.
During lunch, Gil sat on the bleachers and joked around with the T-Birds. He watched as Susan approached Richie and wanted him to ask her out but he couldn't, because kissing her was “like going through a car wash without a car!”. She screamed, called him despicable, then ran to her fellow Socs. She lied that she had one soda with him to be nice and now he won't leave her alone. Richie, the T-Birds, Olivia, and Cynthia stalked over as Richie argued that Susan flipped the roles. Neil didn't believe Susan would associate with low-life dirty greasers or “their whore sisters”, which provoked Richie to attack Neil. Jane intervened before it could escalate and told everyone what she saw. She reasoned with Susan that someone could get hurt. Susan admitted that she exaggerated a little. The Rangers mocked the T-Birds as the groups dispersed.
That afternoon in a garage, the T-Birds plotted revenge against the Rangers for the disrespect at the football field. Cynthia announced she wanted to be a T-Bird, but they laughed at her. She gave her case and offered an initiation; she would get them revenge. She led them in a performance of “New Cool” that took them from shop class to a warehouse. After it ended, Cynthia explained to Gil that they would interrupt the pep rally that night. If they pulled it off, she would get her own T-Birds jacket. Richie agreed and joked that if they pulled it off, he'll give her his.
The T-Birds arrived at the pep rally that night and Gil goofed around as he stretched. The band and cheerleaders took center stage under a banner that read “THIS YEAR, RYDELL GOES ALL THE WAY”. Jane took the stage in the front as a baton twirler under their banner. During the grand finish, the cheerleaders pulled a rope that revealed a second banner which covered the words "THIS YEAR, RYDELL" and replaced it with "JANE FACCIANO", which humiliated the girl and her family. The T-Birds arrived wearing mascot costumes to orchestrate their prank. They stood in front of the band and mooned the audience. Unfortunately, Cynthia's mascot's head fell off, which exposed her identity. She made a distraction while the T-Birds fled the scene.
The student body headed to Frosty Palace afterward, and the Rydell Review asked the T-Birds for a comment about their actions that night. They played it coy until Cynthia arrived having escaped McGee and taken the fall for them. They thanked her and she eagerly asked about her jacket. Gil and Richie explained that the T-Birds just got their respect back and couldn't let a girl in now. Shy Guy insisted they wanted her to pal around with them still, but Cynthia pretended it was fine.
The next day, the student body gathered at the Rydell High auditorium for the student council candidacy assembly. Richie and the T-Birds joked around during Buddy's speech, but paid attention when Jane unexpectedly decided to give a speech. Olivia shouted her endorsement from the side of the auditorium. Susan corrected that Olivia couldn't endorse her if she wasn't running. Cynthia seconded the endorsement as she thought Jane should run for something. Nancy thirded the movement and the four girls stood on stage together. The crowd booed and called them tramps. McGee threatened to give them all detention if they didn't stop. Jane decided to run for president. Most of the crowd booed, except for the theater kids, outcasts, nerds, and Dot, until Susan corrected her, clapped for Jane. Cynthia shouted “Vote for Jane!” and then mooned the audience. Nancy, Olivia, and Jane, followed Cynthia's gesture. Susan shouted it was indecent, a gay student said it was fantastic, Potato developed a sudden interest in politics, and Gil wanted to register. Richie yelled for the boys not to look at his sister and tried to corral them. The girls gave parting words as they fled the stage with everyone in pursuit. Cynthia snagged the keys to the T-Birds car from under the rim and tossed them to Olivia, who drove them away. Gil protested over his stolen car while Richie chuckled as he taught her that.
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Gil asking the Pink Ladies to pay for a new paint job.
In "Too Pure to Be Pink", the T-Birds sarcastically knelt to a hall monitor, then blocked the girls from passing through. Gil demanded which one of them would pay for a new paint job for his car. They laughed him off but he insisted until Olivia said she'd pay for it, and he told her that he'd get it. Shy Guy complimented Cynthia for her headline while Potato mocked the girl gang. Everyone dispersed except Richie and Jane. He acknowledged that what she said took guts - and it wasn't a bad show, either. Gil laughed then led Potato and Shy Guy down the hall to knock books out of people's hands and ran from hall monitors.
Jane practiced her speech in front of her detention mates - the T-Birds. Gil called it shrill, Shy Guy thought she sounded jealous, and Potato wasn't paying attention.
Later that night, the Socs party was crashed by the T-Birds and the four girls. Dot allowed them to stay and gave the house rules to everyone. Neil called for everyone to gather to spin the bottle. When it was Gil's turn to spin the bottle it landed on Olivia, much to his delight. He crawled over to her when Cynthia pantsed him. Gil felt embarrassed and lashed out at Cynthia asking why can't she be a normal girl. He then told the T-Birds that they should leave. The next day at school The Pink Ladies strolled in and walked through the hall as Gil and the T-Birds watched.
In "So This Is Rydell?", Gil went with Richie and Olivia to pick up Jane from her house. Olivia showed Jane the “Vote Pink” pins that she made and kissed with her lipstick. Gil wanted one for personal use, which earned a shove from Olivia and a shout from Richie. After school, the T-Birds and Pink Ladies went to the Frosty Palace where they talked about the dance, though none of them would typically go. After Jane lost the debate, the T-Birds, Pink Ladies, and Hazel approached Buddy and the Socs at the Frosty Palace to demand a rematch. After Buddy fell off the counter everyone left.
In "If You Can't Be an Athlete, Be an Athletic Supporter", Rosemary read her paper for history class when Gil leaned over to ask Olivia what happened to her jacket. She told him not to worry about it and dropped her pencil. When she bent to pick it up, the boys in the class whistled and snickered. Gil smacked Potato with a book as punishment. Olivia volunteered to read her paper next, but Mr. Ford refused as she couldn't present wearing an inappropriate outfit. She pointed out that Polly wore the same one, but Ford claimed Olivia didn't wear it “in the same way” and that it was "distracting to the boys.” Fed up with the sexism, Olivia sang out her frustrations in “Sorry to Distract”. She brought up strong, famous female historical figures that made a difference in the world, then ended her empowerment with the boys in a crumpled heap around the desk.
McGee's feud with the Pink Ladies reached an all-time high and Olivia wrote a scathing response to the sexist standards in The Rydell Review. McGee responded on the intercom that, in the interest of impartiality, they would institute a brand-new dress code for everyone. Boys will be required to wear long-sleeved button-up shirts, no sneakers, no T-shirts, no dungarees. Ladies will be required to wear skirts below the knee and shirts up to the neck. No tight clothing or loud colors. Most importantly, to end divisions, they banned jackets. The class quickly turned on Jane, with even Gil annoyed as he exclaimed "no jackets?".
The next day, Jane found the T-Birds in the stairwell, and Richie tried to hide from her. She thought he made a nice square and they flirted. She offered to cut class so he could teach her how to do nothing. He snapped his fingers and Gil gave him the car keys. The pair snuck out of the school.
During the game, Miss. McGee took the students' jackets, flasks, bullhorns, and whistles. She collected the jackets in a bin. The T-Birds hopped a wall to get into the game and avoid McGee. Everyone chanted Wally's name and Rosemary told the referee who he was. He was tackled shortly after the snap and the Titans scored a touchdown. The T-Birds booed loudly and drank from their flask, while Nancy tried to keep everyone's spirits high as the Rangers lost. McGee helped Nancy escape the pelt of food from the stands and T-Birds.
The Pink Ladies made a scene at the track but no one would listen. Nancy stole a megaphone from the cheerleaders while Cynthia corralled Susan. Olivia was tired of how the administration pitted them against each other, and took a megaphone to rile up the student body in “Pointing Fingers”. The T-Birds and band joined in first, slowly followed by the rest of the students. Gil stole the basket full of jackets and dispersed the jackets out to everyone. They ended their number with a march to Vice Principal McGee and Principal Nicholson and ended with a flip of their middle fingers.
The gang headed to the Frosty Palace after the game and lounged on Gil's car. The Pink Ladies arrived at the restaurant, thrilled with themselves. Richie hurried over to Jane and they both apologized for the day while their friends laughed. A glare from each set them in their places. He liked that she was a dog with a bone, and thought being different was what made it fun. They both needed a little of what the other had. He offered to cut class tomorrow to explore their differences, but she hated missing class. But she has hall monitoring tomorrow and slipped him a hall pass that he could return to her in the broom closet during the second period. He walked away suave and she imitated his signature comb move. He showed off the hall pass to the T-Birds who cheered.
In "You Can't Just Walk Out of a Drive-In", Rydell High School watched a video about what to do when an atomic bomb hits. The T-Birds were excited to light up the sky with the fireworks hidden in Richie's jacket. Olivia scolded them against pranks at the drive-in as she wanted to watch the movie. Gil asked her to watch it next to him. She pushed him back to his seat and agreed. She told Nancy that Gil would give them a ride, so Potato eagerly joined in.
At the drive-in, Cynthia asked Shy Guy about his new bike, while Gil tried to put his arm around Olivia's shoulders. He was interrupted by Nancy who wanted to see the screen. Potato was excited to see the film too and correctly predicted the plot twists. Everyone turned up their radio when Johnny Vavoom gave dedications. Orson asked Polly to be his “ghoul”. A secret admirer gave Nancy a dedication that called her special which shocked Gil, Olivia, and Potato. Potato offered to help her figure it out - he had the goods and suspects to start.
An evil laugh came from the screen. It was Dot and another student advertising a party on Sparrow Lane to show why it would be “Insane to Vote for Jane”. The Pink Ladies hurried over and came up with a plan to crash the Socs party. Cynthia and Shy Guy followed Richie on their bikes, though he was behind because his bike wouldn't start.
Gil drove Olivia, Cynthia, and Potato down Sparrow Lane where they saw how much Buddy's dad built. Olivia saw the one that Mr. Daniels had bought - just before they pulled up to the party. The T-Birds showed off their stock to the Pink Ladies, which included eggs, toilet paper, and a water line through the window, and with enough time, could disassemble Buddy's car and reassemble it on the roof. Jane thought they could get into the party and figure it out from there. Nancy held up the costumes she made as they would serve as disguises for each of them. Richie and the guys wanted to sneak around back, but Jane suggested they stay outside to drive the getaway cars. Potato managed to make a disguise so he joined Nancy indoors.
Richie and Gil lazily egged and TP a car. Richie wanted to egg the school, TP McGee's and set off fireworks at Nicholson's. Gil wanted to do McGee's last for traffic. Shy Guy came over with empty egg cartons and TP rolls. Richie was annoyed as the T-Birds were supposed to be Kings on Halloween, but they missed the girls. Gil took off his jacket and decided to go in. He stole a mask to do just that while Richie snuck around back.
Richie returned later and was upset. He strutted out to Shy Guy and Gil, who were drinking from the liquor Gil stole. Richie planned to end the party just like Jane wanted. They got out the fireworks and he struck his lighter. Everyone inside the party screamed and took cover while the T-Birds stared up at the flashes of color. Jane emerged from the house, scared, and saw Richie through the sparks. She and Richie got into a fight and broke up, so he left with the T-Birds.
The next morning at Rydell High School, the student body lined up to vote for the student council president. Miss. McGee gave them instructions and then let everyone into the booths. The Socs, T-Birds, Thespians, nerds, choir, and Pink Ladies all voted. Olivia approached Gil, who had cast his vote. It was a crazy night last night, and he asked where she went. She lied that she was at the party and he merely gave a small smile as he said “If you say so” before he walked away.
In "Sloppy Seconds Ain't My Style", the T-Birds were in the parking lot of Rydell High. Gil got in the car with the T-Birds and they noisily drove off.
In "Cruisin' for Bruisin'", the day before the play, Gil served food at his family's delicatessen, and a woman tipped him. His mother noticed his yawn and encouraged him to take money from the jar but he turned her down. She was proud of the man he became even if his father was worthless. Gil teased his sister Betty about her makeup until their mother asked her to pour Gil some coffee.
Later that day, Gil filled his car with oil while Potato and Shy Guy watched. They turned their sights on a drowsy Richie, who claimed he spent his nights with the girls from St. Bernadette's. Richie announced his plan to skip school and head to Volcano Island, a desert casino. The boys claimed they had responsibilities but Richie egged them on to go. with Gil saying he could use some "thrills, chills, and dollar bills." They got in Gil's car and left.
The T-Birds drove through the desert as Potato shared his stash of Twinkies, though Shy Guy turned him down as he had to make weight. Richie teased Gil about his slow driving and being slow with girls, but Gil insisted he was doing fine and had his eye on a dime. He quickly covered up his interest as being someone Richie didn't know. He dropped his hands from the wheel so Shy Guy took over for a brief moment. He grilled Richie about how things stalled with Jane, which earned teases from the boys. Richie claimed he cut his losses. Shy Guy worried they couldn't get into the casino, but Richie told them not to worry. He passed around a reefer to help calm their nerves. They skidded into a parking space and put on their jackets. They burst through the doors of the casino as they sang “High Rollin'". They danced with the waitresses, imagined the slot machines came to life and partied. Their song ended when they learned their car was towed.
They rushed to the junkyard only to learn it was $20 to get the car out. Richie tried to talk him into letting it slide, then threatened to turn Shy Guy on him, but the guy was in prison and wasn't fazed. Gil was frustrated so Richie decided they'd earn it back at the casino. They rallied their change, but Potato only had his lucky dollar that saved his father's life in the war. The boys wouldn't let him bet that. Gil remembered the woman who tipped him $5 earlier, which earned cheers.
The T-Birds headed back to Volcano Island where Shy Guy nudged Potato about their competitors, whom they called an older version of themselves. Gil put their money on black as it was the official T-Birds color, and they won. They decided to split up to increase their chances. Potato won at the slots while Gil faced his “older version” at craps, whose advice on making money was true. They had a side bet of $5 while Shy Guy and his older self played the opposite side. Gil lost his side bet while Richie downed his drink, flirted with a waitress, and played craps.
The T-Birds made $35 which made Gil happy, as he could get the car back and bring some home to ma. Shy Guy enjoyed a burger while Richie encouraged Gil to make a move on a fellow patron. He only had eyes for one girl and Richie groaned over it being Olivia, which wasn't going to happen. He didn't want some creep all over his sister and thought he would understand since Gil had five sisters. He bet Gil wouldn't want him near any of his sisters either. He encouraged him to take advantage of the situation, but Potato panicked when he saw it was almost midnight. They wanted to leave and Richie mocked Shy Guy for caring about his “little school play”. He didn't care but promised Cynthia he'd do it, while Gil had to open the deli at five. Richie didn't want to stop, so he ordered more drinks. He snatched the chips and danced with a waitress as the boys pondered what to do. Gil knew there was no fighting him, as Richie had to get it out of his system.
The boys divided up the chips but Richie stole it, as he felt lucky. They went to the craps table where their “older selves” egged Richie into betting more, even though Gil warned against the fleecer and Potato wanted to quit while they were ahead. Richie bet all of the money and lost. Gil angrily told him they were screwed and Shy Guy knew they couldn't beg. Richie decided to fight instead and told their “older selves” to meet them in the parking garage for a winner takes all fight.
Once in the garage, Gil and Potato tried to talk Richie out of the fight as the guys would kill him, but Richie wasn't an idiot and wouldn't fight. He pulled Shy Guy into a fight but he refused to fight for him, so the other party walked away. Richie accused him of leaving them hanging, but Shy Guy lashed out that Richie was the one who lost their money. Richie tried to bribe the men to come back with Potato's lucky dollar bill, which Gil refused to let him use. Shy Guy told him he was acting like an asshole and Richie insulted him back. Angered, Gil sucker punched him, which started Richie's anger-fueled rock song where he egged on the T-Birds to fight him. He also worked out his anger issues and resentment against society. The song tipped to depression when he fell over a ledge. He crawled off the car and sat on the ground, which is when he "got it out of his system" according to Gil.
The T-Birds sat on a ledge as Richie iced his face with ice Shy Guy stole from the seafood tower. Richie apologized to Shy Guy for trying to make him fight, as he just assumed Shy Guy would because he was a boxer. He hated fighting and only did it for his dad, which made his voice crack. He decided to quit as it wasn't what he wanted. His emotional state made Potato admit he wished his dad wanted anything, but he came back differently after the war. Gil thought they were lucky to have dads, as he's been the man of the house since he was eight and is exhausted. Richie broke down as he thought he was in love. But he screwed it all up. The boys blamed the desert air for their cracked voices, allergies for their noses, hay fever, and onions for the tears. Gil saw Richie's sobs and remarked on his “dusty jacket”. He brushed it off with reassuring strokes, and Shy Guy joined in. Potato stood behind him to dust off the back and pat his shoulders. They rested together until they broke apart as the dust was gone. Richie apologized as he dragged them all there but promised to find a way out of the mess. Potato realized they still had his lucky dollar bill left.
Potato and Richie approached the older version of Shy Guy at the casino. They bet one dollar that Potato could tickle his nipple and make him giggle like Shirley Temple. The man took the bet but Potato failed and lost his dollar. Gil and Shy Guy cheered from the bar, as they had bet the guy's friend $21 that he would let them tickle his nipple. Potato swapped out his lucky dollar for the one they'd won from his friend. The gang gleefully leaped out of the casino and ran to the junkyard.
They waved the twenty dollars at the owner, though the fee was upped to twenty-five. Gil stepped forward, but Richie stopped him to tell the guy the truth. They were four kids trying to get home and needed a break. The guy didn't care about the plays or their feelings. He taunted Richie with the keys, so Shy Guy sucker-punched him. They snatched the keys, hopped into the car, and sped through the gate.
On the road, Shy Guy fretted over Gil's shoulder about not making it to the play. Richie offered to run lines with him but Potato took the booklet from him. Richie thanked Gil for always driving them around. If Gil wants to ask Olivia out, he should do it. The boy swerved the car out of shock and asked if he was being messed with. Richie assured him he wasn't, as Gil was a good guy. He should date Olivia instead of some jerk-off whose ass Richie would have to kick later. He thinks Olivia kind of likes him, and Gil wondered if she said something. She hadn't, but she was mean to Gil, which is how he knew.
Back at Rydell High, Buddy knocked on the door of the apothecary who didn't answer. Mr. Vaughan prepared to take the role of apothecary just as Shy Guy raced to the stage. He yanked open the door and wheezed over for a moment before he delivered his line. The T-Birds erupted into cheers and claps for their boy.
In "Or at the High School Dance...", the T-Birds stumbled through the school doors as Gil told them to move their asses or they would get another tardy. Shy Guy shouted for Richie to hurry up.
After school, Gil entered the Frosty Palace and walked over to Olivia. He knocked menus out of people's hands as he walked over to her. He turned on the charm to ask her out for milkshakes Saturday before the dance. She told him bye but he followed her over to the jukebox. He asked if she would ever give him the time of day. She told him it was half past never and asked for a nickel. He looked around for one then hurried over to Hazel and Geraldine's table, where he stole the change on his way past.
Gil passed Jane on the way to Olivia, who was at the jukebox. He dropped to one knee and presented the nickel like an engagement ring. She took it without a word and he insisted they'd be good together. No girl could fire back at him like her. He thought she was funny as hell, smart as hell, and she was a knockout. He gestured up and down wildly to prove his point. But she was more than that. He's more than the dumbass lines he gave her, too. He just talked that way because he was terrified that if he told her how crazy he was about her, and she turned him down, that would be it. She looked at him, paused, then told him seven was the time of the day to meet her for the dance. She grabbed her book and scurried off as he celebrated gleefully. He picked up the rest of his change, spun, and declared his love of nickels. Later, Potato slid into a booth with Gil to celebrate his own date with Nancy.
Shy Guy, Potato, and Gil arrived at the dance in search of their dates. Jane called out for them and, along with Nancy, presented Cynthia to the boys. Cynthia stalked over to Shy Guy, who remarked she looked different. She grabbed the corsage and stormed off. She saw Lydia and stopped, turned away, and walked in a different direction. Potato showed Nancy his suit. She mused that he managed to get the cut, color, and proportion all wrong, but she can't look away. He grinned and gave her the corsage. She swatted his hand away to take the corsage out herself. She called it stunning and they walked off. Jane greeted Gil and began to explain Olivia's absence when the girl swooped in. She apologized as she was finishing setting up. She noted that he looked very handsome and he returned the compliment, then fumbled as he meant to say beautiful. He explained his desire to repress the urge to act like a cartoon wolf. He dropped the corsage, picked it up, then presented it.
The Pink Ladies and T-Birds were next in line for the dance sign-in. Tippy reviewed her clipboard and refused to let them in. They made recent changes to the code of conduct, approved by the PTA earlier, and agreed that dances were a privilege and those with permanent marks on their records were not allowed to attend school functions. Olivia called it convenient and saw Susan inside. Dot pushed past and tried to bargain for her to just let Richie in as they were on a date. Tippy refused as rules were rules. Jane called it unfair as this was their dance. Olivia knew it wasn't anymore and they all walked away.
Susan passed the T-Birds and Pink Ladies on the steps. Olivia scoffed as they spent hours decorating that gym. The night was still young, so Cynthia recommended the drive-in, but Jane just wanted to go home. Shy Guy didn't want to give up since the girls made this dance happen. Richie suggested they have it somewhere else, and smiled at Jane, who realized they didn't need a gym. She asked Nancy about the Frosty Palace. She initially said no as her parents closed on dance nights. She realized after obvious looks from her friends that was what made it perfect. As everyone scattered toward the gym, Gil offered his hand to Olivia and she took it giddily.
The Pink Ladies and T-Birds snuck into the dance through a side door in the gym to pass along their message of a party at Frosty's. Nancy plucked decorations and other students followed suit. News spread quickly and Olivia started to take food and the thespians helped. Tippy came inside with a huff and tried to stop the students, who ignored her. Gil asked her to hold a jello tray which allowed him and Olivia to run out. She shouted they weren't permitted, and nearly everyone vacated the gym. Tippy shouted for the camera crew to stop filming.
The party arrived at the Frosty Palace. Nancy told them not to break anything or ask her to make milkshakes because she was off the clock. Dot told her not to worry as they stopped by her house and got all the refreshments they needed. Richie opened a sack full of liquor, and the T-Birds peeked inside. She had raided her dad's liquor cabinet, which was full of 50-year-old scotch and nothing newer. Richie raised a bottle and shouted for them to get the party started. Gil poured scotch into coffee cups and then took a swig. Gil and Olivia danced together and she pulled him closer with permission.
Once Johnny Vavoom arrived, the music changed to upbeat rock ‘n' roll. Cynthia tried to make her way through the rambunctious crowd which had grown aggressive. Wally asked Hazel if they should go, but she just started to have fun. Nancy remarked this was getting scary and wanted to get some of these people out of there. Hazel cut in that, if she may, they didn't have a capacity problem but a personal radius problem. People needed to dance smaller and Nancy asked how that happened. Wally told her to show the Pink Ladies how she danced, and she did. Jane gushed that she was a lifesaver. Jane adapted it quickly into the hand jive. The song worked as they took control back of the party together. Olivia joined in and danced against Gil, then Nancy on a table with a seated Potato, and Cynthia on the counter. Hazel and Jane climbed on top of the tables to show everyone the dance moves.
The song spilled out into the parking lot and Johnny Vavoom joined in. Potato and Nancy danced in the middle of a circle. She ran over to the Pink Ladies to complain that Potato had her under a spell. Giddy, Olivia reminded her there was only one way to break a spell in a fairy tale. When the song ended, Nancy grabbed Potato and kissed him. On the hood of a car, a breathless Olivia told Gil that was fun. He asked if he could get that nickel back and she chuckled. They leaned in for a kiss when someone shouted that Susan was there.
Susan headed into the Frosty Palace in search of Jane, but the handsy students inside were no help. Olivia confronted her about not letting them into her party, so she couldn't come to theirs. Susan tried to get them in but Olivia didn't believe her. Jane wanted to hear her out. Olivia asked if she forgot this was the same girl who tried to get Richie beat up, who threw an entire party to make sure Jane wasn't elected, and who humiliated Jane at the pep rally. She was a scorpion. Susan saw Rosemary, Dot, and everyone else staring. She blurted out that at least she wasn't a homewrecker like Olivia. She saw Olivia with Mr. Daniels, but Jane butted in that it was last year. Rosemary realized that meant the rumors were true. Susan confirmed it was last year but also today, as she saw them kiss in his classroom before the dance. A hurt Gil questioned the statement, and Olivia turned to look at him. He shook his head and left. After Gil left, a fight broke out between Richie and Buddy. Both boys were dragged away from the restaurant by the police.
In "You're Dropping Out of Rydell?", Potato, Gil, and Shy Guy read their letters from Richie about his leave. Potato wished he would have said goodbye. Gil knew he wasn't gone yet and they would sneak him out tonight to give him one last hurrah before he left. Shy Guy knew the T-Birds would never be the same. Gil half-heartedly knocked books out of Orson's hands and the others pushed him around. Gil told them to let him go as it wouldn't help. Orson was sorry about Richie and Cynthia interrupted in the jacket. She explained that Richie wanted her to have it. Gil apologized as she couldn't wear it. Because that's what they wore and mockingly asked what the society pages would say. He walked over to her, put his arm around her shoulders, and she teased him back. Potato welcomed her to the gang while Gil admitted she should have gotten one a long time ago. He's sorry she had to get it like this. Shy Guy told her to take it off and Gil told him “Down boy” as Richie gave it to her so it's all copacetic. Shy Guy didn't care - he didn't want her in the gang. If she was in, he was out and stormed away. Cynthia chased after him but he ignored her.
Cynthia and Gil got into his car and he handed her a warm glove-box beer for their newest T-Bird. She gleefully celebrated finally being initiated. They tapped beers then took long swigs. She had some great times with the girls but it was Feelings Central over there. It was nice to kick back and have some beers with the guys again. Gil was quiet for a long moment before he agreed. It was just that his best friend was gone, the girl he puppy-dogged for years, who he thought he had a shot with, turned out he didn't. Cynthia thought he still had a shot with Olivia, but he thought she had Mr. Daniels. She assured him that Daniels was old and bald. Gil chuckled as he wasn't bald, but Cynthia knew he would be, she could tell. He sighed and looked over at her. Daniels was tall, and she conceded that he was. She told him to talk to Olivia and tell her how he felt. She then declared there was no more talk about feelings or even saying the word. Gil agreed but then turned to her, as he thinks she hurt Shy Guy's heart. She just didn't like him that way. He didn't know what happened at that dance but she had to make it right. She agreed to talk to Shy Guy about his heart if Gil stopped being a candy ass and talked to Olivia about his. They toasted and downed their beers. They agreed to one more beer first.
Gil found Olivia in the home economics classroom, and knocked on the door. He was looking for her and they stood close together until Potato barged in with a letter from Nancy. Olivia told Gil she would be back and quickly left. Gil turned to Potato and slapped the sides of his face then left.
Later, the T-Birds found the freshly reunited Pink Ladies who looked for Olivia. Gil looked for Olivia too. Jane wanted to find Olivia and Richie. She wanted to find a way to keep Richie at Rydell. Since the adults won't help, they'll have to do it their own way. Gil grinned and offered to drive. As they left, Nancy tried to talk to Potato, but he blew her off.
Gil pulled up to Olivia's house and everyone hurried out and into the house. Olivia pulled them into the other room. She cut off Nancy and pointed to the kitchen, where her parents talked with Mr. Daniels. Her father shook his hand. Gil asked what he was doing there. He was asking for her parents' blessing as they were getting married. Jane asked where Richie was and there was no way he was for this. Olivia thought she already knew. Her parents put him on a bus that afternoon, and he was gone. Gil scoffed and left the house - Shy Guy and Potato followed.
Personality[]
Physical Appearance[]
Gil is a sixteen year old teenager with a tall, muscular stature, broad shoulders, and black hair that is always styled away from his face with gel. He has brown eyes and a wide smile when he shows it. He exclusively wears jeans, sneakers, a t-shirt, and his black leather T-Birds jacket.
Notes and Trivia[]
- Gil is the owner of the iconic T-Birds car, though he lends it to the other gang members when they want it.
- In the episode 7 “Crusin’ for Brusin’, Gil revealed to be the older brother of Betty Rizzo.
Gallery[]
