Dirty Dancing was a comedy-drama series, loosely based on the original film, that ran on CBS for just eleven half-hour episodes from October 29, 1988, through January 21, 1989. Several episodes are available for streaming through Amazon Prime and internet sites.
The plot centres around Frances "Baby" Kellerman (Melora Hardin), the daughter of divorced resort owner Max Kellerman (McLean Stevenson), home from college for the summer. Amid dancing and drama between the working-class staff and leisurely guests and owners, friendship and then romance blossom between Baby and Johnny (Patrick Cassidy).
Tropes featured in the series:
- Adaptational Expansion: Both the plot and the introduction of many minor characters.
- there was also a half-dozen tie-in novels (all named after Sixties hit songs); the first was a novelisation of the pilot, the others acted as missing episodes of the show.
- Adaptational Jerkass: Neil, who takes on Robbie's creep traits, and Penny, who's portrayed as more of an Alpha Bitch, who hates Baby.
- Adaptation Name Change: Baby's from Houseman to Kellerman, and Penny's from Johnson to Rivera.
- Adapted Out: Most of the main and side characters except for Johnny, Baby, Mr. Kellerman, and Neil (who is a different character) have been removed entirely or placed with Expy characters of the original cast.
- Big Damn Kiss: Happens in the pilot, then Johnny and Baby's relationship cools off.
- Black-and-White Morality: Played with. During the big dance/talent show in the pilot, Penny wears a black dress and Baby wears a white dress. Johnny, wearing a black tuxedo with a white shirt, stands between them, if you didn't know where his morality lies.
- Blatant Lies: Robin trying to cover for Baby, first with Neil and then Mr. Kellerman.
- Borscht Belt: A famous comic comes to Kellerman's, causing Norman to go into fanboy apoplexy.
- Call-Back: Several to the original film, both visually and musically.
- Canon Foreigner: Several minor characters who appear in one episode, but the main one is Baby's cousin Robin, an Expy of her sister Lisa in the film.
- Composite Character: Several. Neil is not the owner's grandson but a creepy composite of Neil and Robbie from the film. Mr. Kellerman, Baby's dad, is a composite of Dr. Houseman and resort owner Max Kellerman. Norman is a composite of Billy from the original film and the comic/emcee.
- Cool Car: Johnny, a mechanic when not dancing, drives a classic convertible.
- Daddy's Girl: Delia calls Baby this, in so many words. It's not a compliment.
- Dance of Romance: In the pilot, when Johnny is driving Baby after she decides to leave early, he asks her to finish the dance they started.
- Dancing Is Serious Business: Quite a lot of the conflict between characters (Johnny and Penny, Johnny and Delia, the "dance people" and the "rich" guests and owners, etc.) happens because one character is less serious than another. Johnny's dancing is also contentious for Mr. Kellerman.
- Double Standard Rape: Female on Male: While it would raise many eyebrows today, Delia and Johnny had a romance many years ago...and she mentions his sixteenth birthday!
- Dude Magnet: Baby attracts the interest of Norman, Neil, and Johnny...all in the first episode!
- Feet-First Introduction: Delia's legs and feet are introduced well before the rest of her.
- Grease Monkey: Johnny works at a garage when he's not dancing.
- Idiosyncratic Episode Naming: All the episodes are named for 1950s and 1960s pop hits.
- Leg Focus: Delia, along with most of the women in the show. They are, after all, dancers, and it's summer so they wear short skirts, shorts, bathing suits, and dancing outfits.
- Literally Falling in Love: While practicing in the woods, Johnny trips and falls on top of Baby. It doesn't help that she's been drinking.
- Mating Dance: Johnny and most of his female partners, to varying degrees.
- Nature Abhors a Virgin: Robin is pretty obsessed with losing her virginity, and constantly asks Baby about it.
- Pelvic Thrust: One of Johnny's signature moves, much to Delia's annoyance.
- Race Lift: The very blonde Penny in the film is Latina in the series.
- Really Gets Around: Johnny, although whether it's truth or rumor is debatable.
- Related in the Adaptation: The Houseman family no longer exists, and Baby is now the daughter of resort owner Max Kellerman.
- Short-Runner: The series only aired 11 episodes before its cancellation.
- Slobs Versus Snobs: There is a lot of tension between the staff and the owners/guests at the resort.
- Switch-Out Move: Played with, as well as a mild version of The Bed Trick. Baby is dancing seductively with Johnny. While her eyes are closed, Penny sneaks up, pulls Johnny away, and replaces him with a stranger. This is upsetting to Baby when she opens her eyes.
- The Bechdel Test: Fails. For a show with a strong lead and a great deal of Female Gaze, most of Baby's conversations with Robin are discussions about boys and losing their virginity. Baby doesn't have many conversations with women, either.
- The '60s: Like the film, the series is set in the summer of 1963. Although more believably Sixties than the film, there are still lots of '80s Hair and wardrobe moments.
- Unresolved Sexual Tension: Plenty to go around, considering the material.
- Your Approval Fills Me with Shame: When Baby tries to get Johnny interested in her world, including golf, he gets a preppy makeover. Neil compliments him because now, he dresses like Neil.
