HAIRSPRAY (2007): From Cult Classic to Broadway Legacy | John Waters: Divine Filth

After wrapping up our look at John Waters’ early filmography, we’re back for one final spin around the block — this time with HAIRSPRAY (2007), the glossy, big-budget remake of Waters’ most mainstream hit.

Adapted from the Broadway musical (which was itself adapted from the 1988 original), this version of HAIRSPRAY featured an all-star cast, splashy production numbers, and a budget big enough to make Divine spin in her grave. And yet, the film was a box office smash and earned the blessing of the Pope of Trash himself — who even shows up for a cameo.

In this epilogue episode, we explore how HAIRSPRAY became a franchise, what this big-screen remake kept (and lost) from Waters’ original vision, and how the once-subversive Baltimore story found its way to the center of mainstream American pop culture.

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Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.

This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop, and Todd A. Davis.

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