Thirty-five years after its short-lived run, the 1988 Dirty Dancing TV show remains a curious footnote in the franchise’s history. While fans eagerly anticipate new Dirty Dancing content, it’s worth looking back at CBS’s attempt to bring the magic of Kellerman’s to the small screen in the late 80s. Starring Melora Hardin as Baby Houseman, this series offered a different take on the beloved story, but failed to capture the same widespread adoration as the iconic 1987 film.
The Dirty Dancing TV series premiered on October 29, 1988, just over a year after the theatrical release of the Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey movie. This time, Baby was Frances “Baby” Kellerman, the 18-year-old daughter of Kellerman’s resort owner Max Kellerman (McLean Stevenson). Set in the summer of 1963, the premise mirrored the movie in some ways, but with key differences. Baby returns to Kellerman’s before heading to Mount Holyoke College, hoping to reconnect with her father after years of separation following his divorce. Instead of a waitress job, Max appoints her as the talent coordinator, taking over from dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Cassidy). This Johnny is a 23-year-old from New Jersey who works as a mechanic during the off-season.
Melora Hardin, known later for roles in Transparent and The Office, landed the lead role. Reflecting three decades later, Hardin recalls producer Steve Tisch casting her after working together on Soul Man. Her background as a serious dancer, having attended the Joffrey Ballet at a young age, made her a natural fit for the dance-centric role. Intriguingly, Hardin had a past connection with Patrick Swayze himself. As a young ballet student in Toluca Lake, California, a pre-fame Swayze taught her jazz class. She remembers him vividly as “so sexy and so warm and sweet,” noting his dance talent and charisma even then.
Patrick Cassidy as Johnny Castle and Melora Hardin as Frances
Baby begins to learn (Photo: CBS)
Kenny Ortega, the choreographer from the original Dirty Dancing film, also worked on the TV series, which excited Hardin. However, her extensive dance background presented a unique challenge. Hardin confessed to being a more skilled dancer than Patrick Cassidy, making it initially difficult to portray Baby’s initial awkwardness. In the pilot episode, a scene where Johnny throws Baby into a staff dance rehearsal highlights this. Hardin had to intentionally dance off-rhythm to convincingly portray Baby’s learning curve, a fun acting challenge for a seasoned dancer. She explained the acting technique: “Just like anything in acting, you have to think the way the character thinks and believe what the character believes.”
The network did have concerns about maintaining the “dirty” in Dirty Dancing for television. Hardin recalled the network’s slight anxieties about the sensuality of the dance sequences, particularly the first dance scene between Baby and Johnny. Despite these concerns, Hardin remembers some genuinely “raunchy” and “sexy” dance moments, even with network television limitations in 1988.
The series explored the romantic tension between Baby and Johnny, including a kiss in the second episode after a conflict with her father. However, Baby initially resists a deeper relationship, telling Johnny her focus is solely on learning to dance. One memorable scene for Hardin is when Baby, feeling confident after a dance performance, performs a high kick, causing her dress to fly up. Despite the chemistry, Hardin clarified that she and Cassidy never performed the iconic lift from the movie in the series. This move was reserved for Johnny’s dance partner Penny, played by Constance Marie. Interestingly, Cassidy and Marie dated in real life after the show.
Melora Hardin as Frances
Baby celebrates (Photo: CBS)
Despite high anticipation, the Dirty Dancing TV show only lasted one season. Hardin speculates on potential reasons for its cancellation. She recalls one critic’s comment about her not appearing “Jewish-looking” enough for the role, as Baby was supposed to be Jewish. However, Hardin believes the show itself was “good,” and the reasons for its failure remain unclear. She compared it to another short-lived but well-received series she starred in, The Family Tree, highlighting the unpredictable nature of television success, especially in a pre-streaming era where viewership was more time-dependent.
Paul Feig as Norman Bryant in CBS
Paul Feig as bellboy Norman Bryant (Photo: CBS)
Looking back, Hardin cherishes her experience on the Dirty Dancing series, remembering the talented cast and crew, including Paul Feig (later known for Freaks and Geeks and Bridesmaids) who played bellboy Norman Bryant. She fondly recalls bringing her kitten to set daily, highlighting the positive and fun atmosphere.
While the 1988 Dirty Dancing TV show didn’t achieve lasting fame, it remains an interesting chapter in the Dirty Dancing story. It offered Melora Hardin an early leading role and a chance to revisit the beloved world of Kellerman’s. For fans curious about this lesser-known iteration, the series provides a glimpse into a different take on the iconic story, even if it ultimately couldn’t recreate the movie’s magic. As of now, the 1988-89 Dirty Dancing TV series is not available on DVD in the U.S., making it a somewhat elusive piece of Dirty Dancing history.
