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How Did the Dirty Dancing TV Remake Fare With Viewers?

ABC's risky remake of a beloved '80s movie triggers viewers' gag response.

by | May 24, 2017 | Comments

Abigail Breslin in Dirty Dancing (ABC)

(Photo by ABC)

The internet invented a new level of hate on Wednesday when the viewer reactions started rolling in for ABC’s Dirty Dancing remake musical event. And with a 24% Tomatometer score (as of the airdate), it seemed the critics agreed with them.

The event movie starred Abigail Breslin as Baby and Cole Prattes as Johnny, roles made famous by Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze in the beloved 1987 theatrical release. The cast also included Debra Messing, Bruce Greenwood, Sarah Hyland, Katey Sagal, Nicole Scherzinger, and J. Quinton Johnson, who stood out in a smaller role as a bright spot in an otherwise dim production.

We here in the Rotten Tomatoes offices decided to take the TV movie musical for a spin to decide for ourselves — we even took a stab at a drinking game. Below are a few viewer posts along with some of our RT Viewing Panel observations.


On Twitter:

The RT Viewing Panel:

“I love it. It’s bad — not like Michael Jackson ‘Bad.”

“Like, Joe Jackson bad?”


On Twitter:

The RT Viewing Panel: “Drink every time you miss Patrick Swayze.”


On Twitter:

The RT Viewing Panel:

“You guys ever seen a local theater production? That’s what this is.”

“Regional theater alert!”


On Twitter:

The RT Viewing Panel:

“She’s dressed like it’s ‘Peter Pan.'”

“Wendy!”

“I was going to say, ‘Where have I seen that costume before?'”


On Twitter: 

The RT Viewing Panel: “This is ABC — shouldn’t there be, like, some Dancing With the Stars people in this?”


On Twitter:

The RT Viewing Panel: “I don’t even know when to drink — keep drinking. Waterfall that sh–.”


On Twitter:

The RT Viewing Panel: “Drink a double-shot for every body roll.”


On Twitter:

The RT Viewing Panel: 

“I kinda want to download the soundtrack, though.”

“Don’t say anything good about this!”

“Aw — think of the poor music supervisor!”


On Twitter: 

The RT Viewing Panel (about Nicole Nicole Scherzinger’s big dramatic moment):

“She’s going so hard at it — I mean, it’s bad, but you gotta respect it.”


On Twitter: 

The RT Viewing Panel (about the reveal that Baby’s name is Frances):

“Nobody puts Frank in a corner!”


More Viewer Reactions: