Alexis Sides on the Impact of Minority Voices in ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ [Interview]

Rydell High is getting a modern facelift with the new series, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies. On the series, we return to a time before the film but with a new lens. 

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies doesn’t try to paint the 1950s as this idyllic moment in time. Viewers are privy to the perspectives of people often silenced during that time — women and people of color. One such character is Potato, a Mexican-American member of the T-Birds played by Alexis Sides.

I recently spoke with Alexis Sides to discuss what being a part of this show means to him and the impact he feels these characters have.

“We’re hoping to leave our own mark in history in terms of the story that we’re telling, how we are telling it, and the way that we’re bringing to light so many things that in the original Grease were not talked about,” Sides began.

“[The show focuses on] diversity, discrimination, racism, and white supremacy. All of these things, themes, prevailed back in 1954, but they still seem fresh today,” he continued.

While the original film had these concepts floating around in the background, they were never talked about front and center like Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies does.

“People forget that not all greasers [in the ’50s] were white or Italian. Some were Mexican or Latino,” Sides said. “I’m so happy that they’re bringing back, that they’re touching upon those important parts of history that nobody knows about. All these things we talk about on the show happened back in 1954.”

While this show does take from its source materials, one of the interesting things about these groups — the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies — is their ability to be a unit while remaining individuals.

Sides said he has noticed his character wears a different kind of leather jacket from Richie, the ring leader, but that he has yet to have an opportunity to explore the thought behind that.

However, he suspects it has something to do with ensuring each character gets their individual focus vs. being constantly lumped into one unit (as the movie did quite often).

“To [Potato], the jacket is a symbol of identity. He’s really struggled with being part of a community in Rydell. So, the fact that the T-Birds actually let him be part of the group — like they saw his good nature and all the good things about him. He’s really happy and felt like he has to do a lot of things that he doesn’t necessarily [need to] in order to be part of the group.”

“He definitely wants to show off any way he can. I mean, Potato’s a very lovable guy. He’s an entertaining guy. He’s a very quirky guy. But he feels he must follow Richie to be part of the group,” Sides added.

Sides pointed out that most of what we see in Potato’s personality onscreen wasn’t written down. He brings most of what makes Potato quirky and silly to life.

“On paper, it said that he was a super positive guy. So I [decided] he was going to be positive, quirky, and more energetic than expected.”

As we dived a little deeper into who Potato is, Sides was quick to talk about how the second half of the season will be where Potato comes out of the woodwork.

“In Episode 5, we really see him shining through. And during Episodes 7 and 9, we get to find out more about who he is.”

With Richie’s interest in Jane being a major C-plot of the show, we asked Alexis Sides if Potato will ever show an interest in one of the girls. Especially considering the moment he shares with Dot in the hallway during Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies Season 1 Episode 3, “So This is Rydell?”

“He’s into girls, but he’s at a point right now where his whole family situation is. He’s really focused on that, and there’s a lot of scenes where we don’t see Potato, where you only see Gil and Shy Guy together. And that’s because Potato is working or doing something else. He has to take care of the family and everything,” Sides said.

“There’s a lot of things that happen on Episode 7 that you’ll get to see, and you’ll understand why he’s the way he is.”

As for Sides himself, he was what he considered the “class clown with a side of theatre.”

After all, high school is when he first started getting involved in acting.

“I’m from Guadalajara but grew up in Cabo San Lucas. It’s in Cabo San Lucas where I started acting. Cabo San Lucas is a small place, and there wasn’t really a lot of development in terms of arts and especially acting, singing, and dancing. So, when I got this audition, I was nervous because I know the talent that exists in Vancouver,” Sides said.

“I originally auditioned for Richie, but they called me back for Potato. Now, here I am, and the rest, as they say, is history.”

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Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies airs Thursdays on Paramount+.

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