So This Is Rydell?

Episode Information

Season	Episode
1	3

Airdate

April 14, 2023

Written by

Auriel Rudnick and Kay Rich

Directed by

Diego Velasco

Episode Guide

Synopsis[]

The school election approaches and both sides re-examine what they stand for. New girl Hazel starts her first day at Rydell and tries to stay impartial… and invisible.

Plot[]

The morning Olivia sauntered into Rydell in her new outfit was the same day Hazel Robertson arrived at the school. Jane's speech at the auditorium was impactful for Hazel, who struggled to find a group of friends at the Frosty Palace that night. She went home and talked to her old friends about not having time for new friends. She talked about her classes, and the boy she sat next to in geometry named Wally, but then her friends abruptly hung up to deal with matters at home. Hazel stared out at the constellations and sang “Same Sky” about her life.

The Facciano's hosted a fancy dinner party at their house. One of the guests Jim Johnson liked Jane's run for student council president and thought it would make a good story for his show. He wanted to show a changing Rydell, though a drunk woman could look outside her door to see the town changed - three new Mexican families with their “god-awful music” moved onto her street. Ethel didn't think Kitty looked like her girl's mother at all, being of a darker complexion. She assumed it was from being Italian and from a different region than Vincent. Fran tried to correct Ethel, but Kitty and Vincent interrupted her to ask about Jim's show. The Johnsons suggested the Faccianos join their Athletic Club. Fran gagged from the corner when her appetizer looked like cake but was meat.

The next morning, Kitty reprimanded Fran as she needed to be seen but not heard. She tried to explain why she didn't want to explain she was Puerto Rican, but Fran didn't understand. Jane insisted mother knew best and left the house to get a ride from the T-Birds. Cynthia was on her motorbike as she waited for Jane. Jane grabbed her Pink Ladies jacket from the bushes. 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. Jane asked her to be a campaign manager and Olivia agreed. They handed out the buttons at school with help from Cynthia, until Nancy arrived in a black leather jumper as part of her stance to stop being pushed around. Buddy and the Socs announced that, if he was elected, the Fall Ball would take place at the Rydell Athletic Club again. After a brief jig, they threw candy to the masses. Olivia told Jane to focus on the debate as a regional debate champion, but Cynthia shared that Mr. Aldridge hired a professional debate coach for Buddy. Ms. McGee strolled over and reprimanded them for being in the halls. She sent Olivia to her office to file papers with help from Nancy and grabbed Cynthia for her thespian debut.

Cynthia arrived at the theater where the thespians warmed up in eccentric dances and warm-ups. Lydia scolded her for soliciting in the theater, until Mr. Vaughan greeted Cynthia. He gave Cynthia a scenario to act out - a Martian who discovered a chair for the first time. She gave an on-the-nose performance that disappointed the thespians. Meanwhile, Jane attended debate club where she brought up the negotiations she made with the Athletic Club for the Fall Ball. Hazel, prompted by Jane, offered a new perspective about how not everyone shared her vision of what fun was. She also didn't want to attend the Athletic Club on any other day of the year, they wouldn't let someone like her inside. 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. Jane asked Richie if anything would make him go, and he said better tunes. She ran to the radio and offered to throw a dance that even Richie Valdovinos would go to.

In the morning, Olivia told Ms. McGee that a coyote was in the parking lot again to get her to leave the office. Jane snuck into the office while Nancy guarded the door. Wally greeted Hazel in their math class. Jane announced her brand new Fall Ball over the intercom with the possibility of getting DJ Johnny Vavoom. Meanwhile, the Thespians did a Meisner exercise in which Lydia and Cynthia were paired together. Lydia called her scared, but Cynthia couldn't repeat the sentiment or own up to her fear. Mr. Vaughan praised Lydia for making her classmate uncomfortable.

The student body went to Frosty Palace where the students appealed to Jane about their issues. Cynthia and Nancy announced they were out of buttons which made Susan scowl. Jane approached Hazel and thanked her for what she said earlier, as it made her change her campaign. She sympathized with Hazel's difficulty to fit in and invited her inside, but she had to study. Dot screamed when Jim Johnson arrived. He was there to see Jane as he wanted to do a broadcast about the Rydell High School student election. The show would star Buddy and Jane. Susan and Olivia quickly agreed on behalf of their fellow campaigners. Jane was overwhelmed and Richie noticed, so he offered to get Gil's wheels for them. Olivia interrupted and pulled Jane to the car.

The trio drove home as the Valdovinos siblings pitched their ideas for things Jane could implement. Richie learned Jane was Puerto Rican, but she clarified that she was half, then told Richie to drop her off at the curb. He refused as he offered door-to-door service and followed her to the porch while Olivia watched from the car. He admitted he would like to go to her dance but with her. She smiled but Kitty interrupted before Jane could answer. Once inside, Vincent was excited for the television star, but sensed he had missed something. Jane explained to Kitty that the kids just gave her a ride home. Kitty told her to get ready as the Johnsons organized a tour of the Athletic Club for them.

The Facciano's were greeted by the club's director and a Hispanic maid, whom the director insisted Kitty give her coat. He ushered them along on a tour and assured them that they would fit in as they welcomed Italians into the club for five years. Jane noticed how many of the employees were Hispanic, then joined her family in the Founders Room. Fran noticed her sister's discomfort, and Jane masked it as not feeling well. She wanted a minute alone. They cleared the room and Jane sat but heard voices when she did. The founders in the painting emerged to sing about being “In The Club”. After the song, they slipped back into the painting and Jane's family returned.

The Facciano's returned home where Vincent wasn't sold on the expensive and stuffy nature of the club. Jane thought they shouldn't join and knew that the club wouldn't allow Kitty inside if they knew what part of Italy she was really from. Jane already promised that she wouldn't have the Fall Ball there because of their prejudice, but Kitty refused to let her say that on television. They left New York, and everything they knew, because they had the chance to build something in California. She told Jane not to ruin it and pressed that Jane had no idea what it was like to be Kitty and to think about that tomorrow when everyone watched her on television.

At the debate, Miss. McGee stopped Susan who bothered the lighting man, while Dick Aldridge reminded his son of what the debate coach said. He didn't want Buddy to align himself with Jane in any way, as she was about change and in a girl gang, while Buddy wanted tradition. Olivia encouraged Jane to speak her mind, Cynthia told her she was a Pink Lady, while Nancy called her the rebel candidate and fixed her jacket collar. Jane saw her parents arrive and removed her jacket before she went on set. Richie turned the television on and shushed his rowdy family. Hazel watched from her spot on the couch while Buddy began his speech, rooted on by Susan and Wally. As the debate continued, Olivia realized that Jane chickened out, and Buddy questioned if this was a reversal of the policy her girl gang proposed. He asked what she was saying, but she didn't know, which disappointed everyone on her side except her parents. The show ended and Jane walked off stage and apologized to the girls on her way out. Olivia grabbed Jane's jacket as she left.

The Facciano's arrived home and Vincent went to get ice cream, while Kitty was proud of Jane. Jane was saddened as she didn't say anything and disappointed everyone except her mother. Olivia read her book on her house steps while Jane lay in bed. She heard clinking on the window and opened it to see Olivia, Richie, Cynthia, and Nancy on her lawn with the T-Birds car. The girls didn't have to give the jacket back as Jane knew she let them down, which wasn't in question. Olivia called an emergency campaign meeting which meant Jane would have to sneak out. Richie shouted up that it was their tia's birthday so there was a party, and asked if she would leave him hanging again.

They arrived at the Valdovinos' home which was filled with family. Irene was thrilled to meet Jane, Rydell's first female president who was also Mexican, though Richie clarified she was half Puerto Rican. Jane fumbled over Spanish as she didn't know much, then rambled until Richie invited her to dance. Olivia pulled Jane aside to talk first while Nancy and Cynthia went to find food. They were upset that Jane made them look like cowards. Nancy found mezcal and chugged it, then tried to bait Cynthia to drink it and laughed at her, though Cynthia snapped as she didn't like being laughed at or called afraid. Cynthia opened up about the thespians who were waiting for her to be an idiot, though Nancy suggested she be stupid with them so they couldn't laugh at her. Cynthia noticed the worm was gone from the bottle and then chugged it.

Olivia talked to Jane about the campaign, though Jane wasn't sure what kind of campaign she wanted to run. She opened up about being puzzle pieces that didn't fit together, but Olivia knew she was enough and cheered her up. Jane started this so if she was going to run, she had to run as herself. Richie interrupted and pulled Jane out to dance. He encouraged her to not worry about how she was supposed to do it and just go for it, so she did. Cynthia and Nancy stumbled out, drunk. Everyone danced happily to the music and laughed together. Jane danced with Richie then pulled him into the hall where she kissed him twice.

The next day, Jane strutted the halls and handed out pins. Hazel went to class where Wally and Fred mocked Jane. Hazel knew she was a good debater and just froze up because she was on live TV. He didn't want her to get involved with the Pink Ladies as they got into trouble that would hit her differently. She didn't think his friends were any different and asked if he liked going to the dance at the Athletic Club, but he didn't answer. Meanwhile, Cynthia redid her skit for the thespians and approached the chair with fear, and curiosity, beeped, and then sat next to it. She rested her head on the chair and closed her eyes. The thespians and Mr. Vaughan clapped while he praised her. The students shared their praise on the way out, while Lydia sarcastically clapped. Cynthia gave her the middle finger with a “boop” sound and then skipped out of the room.

Jane closed lockers and saw her pins in the trash, though Hazel wanted one because she still liked Jane's platform. There was still time for Jane to fix it as the official debate was the only one over. Jane, the T-Birds, Pink Ladies, and Hazel approached Buddy and the Socs at the Frosty Palace to demand a rematch. Susan refused on his behalf as there was no point, he had already won. It would have to be now as Nancy convinced her parents to close early. Kitty arrived and asked what was going on, and Jane admitted she wanted a second chance at the debate. She was grateful to her mom but had to be herself. She approached Buddy and asked for the debate, and he agreed. They sang their debate in “Take The Wheel” until Buddy fell off the counter and broke his arm. Jane rushed to his side until Susan pushed her away, and Olivia pulled her to the door. Jane offered Hazel a ride, but the girl refused. The T-Birds and Pink Ladies hurried out of the Frosty Palace.

That night, Hazel sat on her roof to look at the stars when Buddy greeted her from his window next door. He recognized her from the Frosty Palace, and she asked if he believed what he said, and he didn't. She wondered why he said it then, since when he said it everyone else thought it was okay. She hated it here, while he didn't think he could feel worse that night. He knew she was right and called her out for not being shy, but she believed she was. He was sorry she hated it there, and she messed with her telescope. He realized they hadn't officially met, and she introduced herself as Hazel.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Marisa Davila as Jane Facciano
Cheyenne Isabel Wells as Olivia Valdovinos
Ari Notartomaso as Cynthia Zdunowski
Tricia Fukuhara as Nancy Nakagawa
Shanel Bailey as Hazel Robertson
Johnathan Nieves as Richie Valdovinos
Jason Schmidt as Buddy Aldridge
Maxwell Whittington-Cooper as Wally
Jackie Hoffman Assistant Principal McGee
Madison Thompson as Susan St. Clair

Guest Starring[]

Danny Burstein as Johnny Vavoom
Nicholas McDonough as Gil
Maximo Salas Shy Guy
Alexis Sides as Potato
Josette Halpert as Dot
Charlotte Kavanagh as Rosemary
Niamh Wilson as Lydia
Marc Senior as Mr. Vaughan
Todd Thomson as Dick Aldridge
Madison Elizabeth Lagares as Fran Facciano
Vivian Marie Lamolli as Kitty Facciano
David Alpay as Vincent Facciano
Juana Lerma Juarez as Irene Valdovinos
Michael Scholar, Jr. as Raul Valdovinos

Co-Starring[]

Benjamin Wilkinson as Jim Johnson
Eliza Norbury as Ethel Johnson
Matthew James Dowden as Warren
Anthony F. Ingram as Rick
Anita Wittenberg as Tipsy Housewife
Iseah Diaz as Luis Valdovinos
Taliya Evans as Camila Valdovinos
Arlina Rodriguez as Ximena
Abbygale Chung as Lucille
Lola Clare as Pearl
Zane Clifford as Fred
Summer Lynn Gillespie as Polly
Kallie Hu as Peg
CJ Damaso as Maria
Victor Lau as Floyd
Matt Kennedy as Orson
Julien Naud as Arthur
Emilee Nimetz as Alice
Sam Scherzer as Gus
Aidan Springle as Ernie
Zac Vran as Irving
Rachael Withers as Geraldine
Melena Rounis as Cha Cha Dancer #1
Gustavo Ferman as Cha Cha Dancer #2
Taylor James as Club Founder #1
Taylor Boschman as Club Founder #2
Kieran Bohay as Club Founder #3
Michael Culp as Club Founder #4
Kevin Tookey as Club Founder #5
James Hibbard as Club Founder #6
Kane Nelson as Star Dancer #1
Evan Morash as Star Dancer #2
Britt Good as Star Dancer #3
Amelie Lavoie as Star Dancer #4
Shane Simpson as Star Dancer #5
Zachary Burke as Star Dancer #6

Soundtrack[]

Title	Performer	Scene
Same Sky	Shanel Bailey	Hazel reminisced about her old friends and the new changes in her life
Sh-Boom	The Chords	The Socs invited the student body to the Fall Ball at the Athletic Club
Oop Shoop	Shirley Gunter & The Queens	The Pink Ladies hand out buttons outside Frosty Palace
In The Club		The founding members of the Athletic Club came out of the painting and sang to Jane.
Take The Wheel	Marisa Davila & Jason Schmidt ft. cast ensemble	Jane and Buddy had a redo of their debate in the Frosty Palace

Notes and Trivia[]

So this is Rydell? is a quote by Sandy to Frenchy in the beginning of the 1978 film, Grease.
Nancy arriving to school and surprising her friends with a black leather outfit is a parallel to Grease, when Sandy changed her appearance and attitude to be with Danny. In Rise of the Pink Ladies, Nancy's wardrobe and attitude change is for herself and wasn't prompted by a romantic relationship.

Gallery[]

Promotional[]

Screencaps[]

All Screenshots are courtesy of Screencapped.net. For a complete image set, see their gallery.