Sha Na Na is a cover band specializing in songs from the 1950s Pop and Rock & Roll eras. Their three biggest claims to fame:
- Appearing at Woodstock. They were sidelined on the playlist due to various difficulties until Jimi Hendrix threatened not to play until they played first.
- In the film Grease they play the band playing at the High-School Dance.
- Their self-titled syndicated show from 1977-1981 ("hey, there, all you greasers!").
Tropes:
- Affectionate Parody: Of 1950s music and Greaser culture.
- Alliterative Name: Screamin' Scott Simon.
- Book on the Head: In an episode where Jocko is trying to make himself less uncouth to impress a girl, he sits with a book on his head while passing the potatoes at a practice dinner. He keeps the book steady but fails at saying "here you go" without saying "youse."
- Carpet of Virility: Tony, the gold laméd singer with the thinning hair, sure makes up for what he lacks on the top.
- Cannibal Cauldron: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" song/sketch takes place in Darkest Africa where a few jungle explorers get put into the pot.
- Every Episode Ending: Every episode of their TV show ends with "Goodnight Sweetheart" and Bowzer (Jon Bauman)'s Catchphrase, "Grease for Peace."
- Flexing Those Non-Biceps: Bowzer flexes his during his bass solo in "Goodnight Sweetheart."
- Greaser Delinquents: Most of the band are portrayed like this.
- Hidden Depths: The original members all went to Columbia University in the late 1960s. Scott Powell (aka Tony Santini) is an orthopedic anthroscopic surgeon. Lampshaded by Donny in one episode opening: he clarifies that while he plays the dumb guy, he isn't really dumb...then he sticks a banana in his ear.
- Long Runner: Began in 1969; that's 45 years (as of 2014).
- Nothing but Hits: As a tribute band, they only play songs that most people into fifties music will have heard of.
- One-Steve Limit: Scott Powell changed his stage name to Tony Santini because the band already had a Scott: Screamin' Scott Simon, the pianist.
- Precision F-Strike: On The Golden Age of Rock and Roll album, one of the lead singers tells the audience: "We've got just one thing to say to you fuckin' hippies, and that is that rock and roll is here to stay!"
- Revolving Door Band: Only two original members left out of 15.
- Special Guest: Most episodes of the show include an appearance by a genuine 1950s singer or group who would sing one of their big hits.
- Spell My Name With An S: Or in this case without one. It's "Bowzer", not "Bowser". He isn't a giant fire breathing turtle.note
- Token Minority: Denny, the only black person in the group. Naturally he's the only one who isn't a street punk, being much more cultured.
- Working on the Chain Gang: Surprisingly not during the song of the same name, but in the "Rock Around the Clock" sketch. The prisoners are hitting rocks with hammers.
