''Schmigadoon!'' is an American
musical
Musical is the adjective of music.
Musical may also refer to:
* Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance
* Musical film
Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...
comedy
Comedy is a genre of dramatic works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium.
Origins
Comedy originated in ancient Greec ...
television series created by
Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, with all songs written by Paul, who also serves as
showrunner
A showrunner is the top-level executive producer of a television series. The position outranks other creative and management personnel, including episode directors, in contrast to feature films, in which the director has creative control over th ...
.
The
Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is an American subscription over-the-top streaming service owned by Apple. The service launched on November 1, 2019, and it offers a selection of original production film and television series called Apple Originals. The service w ...
series premiered July 16, 2021,
starring an
ensemble cast
In a dramatic production, an ensemble cast is one that comprises many principal actors and performers who are typically assigned roughly equal amounts of screen time.Random House: ensemble acting Linked 2013-07-17
Structure
In contrast to the po ...
led by
Cecily Strong
Cecily Legler Strong (born February 8, 1984) is an American actress and comedian. She was a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'' from 2012 to 2022. She is the longest-tenured female cast member in the show's histor ...
and
Keegan-Michael Key
Keegan-Michael Key (born March 22, 1971) is an American comedian, actor, producer, and writer. He and Jordan Peele co-created and co-starred in the sketch series '' Key & Peele'' (2012–2015) for which he received one Primetime Emmy Award from ...
. The story centers around a couple from New York, both doctors, who become trapped in magical
musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre, theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, ...
settings and learn lessons about love and happiness.
Blending satire and homage, ''Schmigadoon!''
alludes to numerous musicals in a
pastiche
A pastiche () is a work of visual art, literature, theatre, music, or architecture that imitates the style or character of the work of one or more other artists. Unlike parody, pastiche pays homage to the work it imitates, rather than mocking ...
of plots and song styles. The first season, set in the bucolic small town of Schmigadoon, blends elements of various Golden Age musicals of the 1940s and '50s, while the second season relocates the action to the gritty city of Schmicago and incorporates the darker, edgier themes of 1960s and '70s musicals.
Barry Sonnenfeld
Barry Sonnenfeld (born April 1, 1953) is an American filmmaker and television director. He originally worked as a cinematographer for the Coen brothers before directing films such as '' The Addams Family'' (1991) and its sequel '' Addams Family ...
directed the first season, with choreography by
Christopher Gattelli, and Cinco Paul won the
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics is an award presented annually by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. It is awarded to the best original song or score created specifically for a television program.
The a ...
for the song "Corn Puddin'", featured in the pilot episode. The second season premiered April 5, 2023, directed by
Alice Mathias[ and ]Robert Luketic
Robert Luketic ( Croatian: Luketić) is an Australian film director. His films include '' Legally Blonde'' (2001), '' Monster-in-Law'' (2005), '' 21'' (2008), '' Killers'' (2010), and ''Paranoia'' (2013).
Early life and education
Robert Luketi ...
,[ with Gattelli's choreography.]
The series was not renewed for a third season. A stage adaptation premiered at the Kennedy Center
The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, commonly known as the Kennedy Center, is the national cultural center of the United States, located on the eastern bank of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Opened on September 8, ...
on January 31, 2025.
Background
Cinco Paul had the idea for the show over 20 years before the series premiered, that it would be funny if two men, like the backpackers in ''An American Werewolf In London
''An American Werewolf in London'' is a 1981 comedy horror film written and directed by John Landis. An international co-production of the United Kingdom and the United States, the film stars David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, Griffin Dunne and ...
'', stumbled upon a musical, instead of a horror story. According to Paul, the concept only fully came into focus for him when it changed to "a couple who are stuck there until they can find true love". Paul said that even though ''Schmigadoon'''s season 1 musical style, characters and satire are largely based on 1940s and 1950s musicals, the sets and costumes reflect 1910s America, like the setting in ''The Music Man
''The Music Man'' is a musical theatre, musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns a confidence trick, con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and ...
''.[Schwartz, Ryan]
"''Schmigadoon!'' EP Reveals Season 1 Episode Order Was Trimmed – What Was Left on the Cutting Room Floor?"
, TVLine, August 17, 2021
Premise
In the first season, two New York doctors, Melissa and Josh, go on a backpacking trip in an attempt to patch up their failing relationship, only to find themselves still arguing. They get lost and soon discover a magical town called Schmigadoon, which is perpetually trapped in a Golden Age–style musical, and soon learn that they cannot leave the town until they find "true love". The title and concept parody the 1947 musical ''Brigadoon
''Brigadoon'' is a musical with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and score by Frederick Loewe. The plot features two American tourists who stumble upon Brigadoon, a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every 100 years; on ...
''.[Cleal, Sam]
"19 Reasons Why I Recommend You Watch ''Schmigadoon!'' Immediately"
, BuzzFeed, July 27, 2021
In season 2, Melissa and Josh, now married, find their lives monotonous as doctors in New York City; they search for the quaint village of Schmigadoon but instead arrive in Schmicago, a world that pays satirical homage to sexy, dark 1960s and 1970s musicals; to escape, they are told, they must reach a happy ending. The name of the setting, Schmicago, parodies the 1975 musical ''Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
''. As in the first season, the last episode reaches beyond the time period of the rest of season 2 to reference later musical styles.[Amber, Melis]
"''Schmigadoon!'' Season Finale Recap: (S02E06) Over and Done"
GeekGirlAuthority.com, May 3, 2023
Cast and characters
Main
* Keegan-Michael Key
Keegan-Michael Key (born March 22, 1971) is an American comedian, actor, producer, and writer. He and Jordan Peele co-created and co-starred in the sketch series '' Key & Peele'' (2012–2015) for which he received one Primetime Emmy Award from ...
as Josh Skinner, an orthopedic surgeon
Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics (American and British English spelling differences, alternative spelling orthopaedics) is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgic ...
from New York City and Melissa's boyfriend, later husband
* Cecily Strong
Cecily Legler Strong (born February 8, 1984) is an American actress and comedian. She was a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'' from 2012 to 2022. She is the longest-tenured female cast member in the show's histor ...
as Melissa Gimble, an OBGYN doctor from New York and Josh's girlfriend, later wife
* Fred Armisen as Reverend Howard Layton, long-suffering husband of Mildred and leader of the Methodist church in Schmigadoon[Cleal, Sam]
"The Cast of ''Schmigadoon!'' Is Positively Stacked – Here's Where You Know Them From"
, Buzzfeed, July 20, 2021 (season 1)
* Dove Cameron as
**Betsy McDonough, a waitress, one of Farmer McDonough's seven daughters,[ inspired by Ado Annie from '']Oklahoma!
''Oklahoma!'' is the first musical theater, musical written by the duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs's 1931 play, ''Green Grow the Lilacs (play), Green Grow the Lilacs''. Set in farm country outside the town of ...
''[ (season 1)
**Jenny Banks, a cabaret performer inspired by ]Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli ( ; born March 12, 1946) is an American actress, singer, and dancer. Known for her commanding stage presence and powerful alto singing voice, Minnelli has received numerous accolades including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, ...
's portrayal of Sally Bowles
Sally Bowles () is a fictional character created by English-American novelist Christopher Isherwood and based upon 19-year-old cabaret singer Jean Ross. The character debuted in Isherwood's 1937 novella ''Sally Bowles'' published by Hogarth Pre ...
in the film adaptation of ''Cabaret
Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, casino, hotel, restaurant, or nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining or drinking, ...
'', combined with elements of Johanna from '' Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street''[ (season 2)
* ]Jaime Camil
Jaime Federico Said Camil de Saldanha da Gama (born 22 July 1973) is a Mexican actor, singer and television personality. He is best known for his roles as Fernando Mendiola in '' La Fea Más Bella'' and Rogelio de la Vega in '' Jane the Virgin' ...
as
** Doc Jorge Lopez, a judgmental doctor, set in his ways, inspired by Captain von Trapp from ''The Sound of Music
''The Sound of Music'' is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the 1949 memoir of Maria von Trapp, '' The Story of the Trapp Family Singers''. ...
'' (season 1)
**Sergeant Rivera, Schmicago's chief of police, who is the nephew of Octavius Kratt and can be compared to ''Sweeney Todd''s Beadle Bamford;[ he later parodies Dr. Frank-N-Furter from '']The Rocky Horror Show
''The Rocky Horror Show'' is a Musical theatre, musical with music, lyrics and book by Richard O'Brien. A humorous tribute to various B movies associated with the Science fiction film, science fiction and Horror film, horror genres from the 193 ...
''[ (season 2)
* as
**Mildred Layton, preacher's wife and the town's self-appointed moral arbiter, whose great-great-grandfather founded Schmigadoon,] based mainly on Mrs. Shinn from ''The Music Man
''The Music Man'' is a musical theatre, musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns a confidence trick, con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and ...
''[ (season 1)
**Miss Codwell, the owner of an orphanage, combining elements][ of Mrs. Lovett from '' Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street''][Armstrong, Vanessa]
"Alan Cumming Might Bake You into a Pie in Next Season of Schmigadoon!"
, Tor.com, March 7, 2023 and Miss Hannigan from '' Annie''[Murphy, Chris]
"Welcome to Schmicago: An Exclusive Look at Season 2 of ''Schmigadoon!''"
, '' Vanity Fair'', March 21, 2023 (season 2)
* Alan Cumming
Alan Cumming (born 27 January 1965) is a Scottish actor, writer and presenter. Known for his roles on stage and screen, he has received numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award, two Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and an Olivier Award. He re ...
as
** Mayor Aloysius Menlove, the closeted gay mayor of Schmigadoon[ (season 1)
**Dooley Blight, a butcher and Jenny Banks' father; based on the ]title character
The title character in a narrative work is one who is named or referred to in the title of the work. In a performed work such as a play or film, the performer who plays the title character is said to have the title role of the piëce. The title o ...
of '' Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street''[ (season 2)
* ]Ariana DeBose
Ariana DeBose (; born January 25, 1991) is an American actress and singer. She has received List of awards and nominations received by Ariana DeBose, various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Golden Globe ...
as
**Emma Tate, Schmigadoon's schoolmarm, based on Marian Paroo from ''The Music Man''[ (season 1)
**Emcee, Master of Ceremonies at the Kratt Klub, a send up of the same character from '']Cabaret
Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, casino, hotel, restaurant, or nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining or drinking, ...
''[ (season 2)
* ]Ann Harada
Ann Harada is an American actress and singer known for originating the role of Christmas Eve in '' Avenue Q''.
Early life
Harada was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. She attended the Punahou School and was active in theatre in high school. ...
as
**Florence Menlove, the mayor's adoring but sexually frustrated wife[ (season 1)
**Madam Frau, who runs the Hotel Schmicago, a house of prostitution, and the Kratt Klubb; based partly on Fräulein Schneider from '']Cabaret
Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, casino, hotel, restaurant, or nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining or drinking, ...
''[ (season 2)
* ]Jane Krakowski
Jane Krakowski (; ; born October 11, 1968) is an American actress and singer. She starred as Jenna Maroney in the NBC satirical comedy series ''30 Rock'' (2006–2013, 2020), for which she received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Out ...
as
**Countess Gabriele Von Blerkom, Doc Lopez's fiancée,[ a rich, elegant woman, based on the Baroness from '']The Sound of Music
''The Sound of Music'' is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the 1949 memoir of Maria von Trapp, '' The Story of the Trapp Family Singers''. ...
''[ (season 1)
**Bobby Flanagan, a lawyer, based on Billy Flynn from '']Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
''[ and a nod to the female "Bobbie" in the 2018 and 2021 revivals of '']Company
A company, abbreviated as co., is a Legal personality, legal entity representing an association of legal people, whether Natural person, natural, Juridical person, juridical or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members ...
''[ (season 2)
* ]Martin Short
Martin Hayter Short (born March 26, 1950) is a Canadian and American comedian, actor, and writer. Short is known as an energetic comedian who gained prominence for his roles in sketch comedy. He has also acted in numerous films and television ...
as Leprechaun, a magical imp based on Og from '' Finian's Rainbow'';[ Kenrick, John]
"Musicals101.com's Aisle Say: Is ''Schmigadoon'' Worth Watching?"
, Musicals101.com via YouTube, July 28, 2021 Short appears as Leprechaun (Steve), and also his brother (Oscar), in season 2.[
* ]Aaron Tveit
Aaron Kyle Tveit (; born October 21, 1983) is an American actor and singer. Tveit originated the lead role of Christian in the stage adaptation of ''Moulin Rouge! (musical), Moulin Rouge!'' on Broadway theatre, Broadway, a performance for which ...
as
**Danny Bailey, the town's rapscallion, a carnival barker, based on Billy Bigelow from ''Carousel
A carousel or carrousel (mainly North American English), merry-go-round (International English), or galloper (British English) is a type of amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders. The seats are tradit ...
''[ (season 1)
**Topher, leader of a tribe of hippies, combining elements of the leading characters from '' Pippin'', '']Godspell
''Godspell'' is a musical in two acts with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by John-Michael Tebelak. The show is structured as a series of parables, primarily based on the Gospel of Matthew, interspersed with music mostly set t ...
'', ''Jesus Christ Superstar
''Jesus Christ Superstar'' is a sung-through rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Loosely based on the Life of Jesus in the New Testament, Gospels' accounts of Passion of Jesus, the Passion, the work interprets ...
'' and ''Hair
Hair is a protein filament that grows from follicles found in the dermis. Hair is one of the defining characteristics of mammals.
The human body, apart from areas of glabrous skin, is covered in follicles which produce thick terminal and ...
''[ (season 2)
* Tituss Burgess as the Narrator, inspired by The Leading Player from '' Pippin''][ (season 2)
* Patrick Page as Octavius Kratt, the sinister owner of the Kratt Klubb and Schmicago's electric station, reminiscent of Judge Turpin from ''Sweeney Todd'', Caiaphas in ''Jesus Christ Superstar'' and Page's previous villain roles, such as Hades in '']Hadestown
''Hadestown'' is a musical with music, lyrics, and a book by Anaïs Mitchell. It tells a version of the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Eurydice, a young girl looking for something to eat, goes to work in a hellish industrial vers ...
''[ (season 2)
]
Co-starring
* Liam Quiring-Nkindi as Carson, a boy with a lisp, who announces scene changes;[ Emma says that Carson is her kid brother, but it turns out that he is her son. He is based on Winthrop Paroo from ''The Music Man''.][ (season 1)]
Guest
Multiple seasons
* Kevin McNulty as
** Farmer McDonough, Betsy's violent father (season 1)
** Father Flanagan (season 2)
* Darcey Johnson as
** Innkeeper Harvey (season 1)
** Reporter (season 2)
* Scott Patey as
** Larry the Fireman (season 1)
** Reporter (season 2)
* Amitai Marmorstein as
** Pete, the cheerful Milkman, who is often the subject of offscreen violence in a running gag
A running gag, or running joke, is a literary device that takes the form of an amusing joke or a comical reference and appears repeatedly throughout a work of literature or other form of storytelling. Though they are similar, catchphrases are no ...
(season 1);
** Skeet the jury foreman/hot dog man (season 2)
* Timothy Webber as Marv
* Bijou Brattston as
** Tootie McDonough, one of Farmer McDonough's seven daughters (season 1);
** An orphan (season 2)
Season 1
* Peppermint
Peppermint (''Mentha'' × ''piperita'') is a Hybrid (biology), hybrid species of Mentha, mint, a cross between Mentha aquatica, watermint and spearmint. Indigenous to Europe and the Middle East, the plant is now widely spread and cultivated in m ...
as Madam Vina
* Kyra Leroux as Carrie, one of Farmer McDonough's seven daughters
* Pedro Salvin as Old Doc Lopez, Doc Lopez's father
* Michelle Rios as Mrs. Lopez, Doc Lopez's mother
* Garfield Wilson as Henry the Iceman
* Cassandra Consiglio as Nancy, Freddy's pregnant girlfriend; she is later revealed to be the Laytons' daughter.
* Alex Barima as Freddy, a sailor, Nancy's boyfriend
Season 2
* Karin Konoval as Female Barfly, who emphasizes statements with "I'll drink to that!", in reference to Joanne from ''Company
A company, abbreviated as co., is a Legal personality, legal entity representing an association of legal people, whether Natural person, natural, Juridical person, juridical or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members ...
''
*Alex Gullason, Marisa Gold and Michael Delleva, three of Topher's hippie friends (each credited under their own first names); Gullason previously appeared in the first season episode "Cross That Bridge"[
*Isabel Birch, Kairo Ellis, and Milana Wan as the Orphans
* Jacqueline and Joyce Robbins as the Bernstein sisters, performers at the Kratt Klubb. The name may be a reference to ]Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein ( ; born Louis Bernstein; August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. Considered to be one of the most important conductors of his time, he was th ...
.
Episodes
Season 1 (2021)
Season 2 (2023)
Production
It was announced in January 2020 that Cecily Strong
Cecily Legler Strong (born February 8, 1984) is an American actress and comedian. She was a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'' from 2012 to 2022. She is the longest-tenured female cast member in the show's histor ...
was set to star in and produce the series, with a series order at Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is an American subscription over-the-top streaming service owned by Apple. The service launched on November 1, 2019, and it offers a selection of original production film and television series called Apple Originals. The service w ...
close to finalizing. In October, Keegan-Michael Key
Keegan-Michael Key (born March 22, 1971) is an American comedian, actor, producer, and writer. He and Jordan Peele co-created and co-starred in the sketch series '' Key & Peele'' (2012–2015) for which he received one Primetime Emmy Award from ...
, Alan Cumming
Alan Cumming (born 27 January 1965) is a Scottish actor, writer and presenter. Known for his roles on stage and screen, he has received numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award, two Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and an Olivier Award. He re ...
, Fred Armisen, , Aaron Tveit
Aaron Kyle Tveit (; born October 21, 1983) is an American actor and singer. Tveit originated the lead role of Christian in the stage adaptation of ''Moulin Rouge! (musical), Moulin Rouge!'' on Broadway theatre, Broadway, a performance for which ...
, Dove Cameron, Ariana DeBose
Ariana DeBose (; born January 25, 1991) is an American actress and singer. She has received List of awards and nominations received by Ariana DeBose, various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Golden Globe ...
, Jaime Camil
Jaime Federico Said Camil de Saldanha da Gama (born 22 July 1973) is a Mexican actor, singer and television personality. He is best known for his roles as Fernando Mendiola in '' La Fea Más Bella'' and Rogelio de la Vega in '' Jane the Virgin' ...
, Jane Krakowski
Jane Krakowski (; ; born October 11, 1968) is an American actress and singer. She starred as Jenna Maroney in the NBC satirical comedy series ''30 Rock'' (2006–2013, 2020), for which she received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Out ...
and Ann Harada
Ann Harada is an American actress and singer known for originating the role of Christmas Eve in '' Avenue Q''.
Early life
Harada was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. She attended the Punahou School and was active in theatre in high school. ...
were added to the cast.
Barry Sonnenfeld
Barry Sonnenfeld (born April 1, 1953) is an American filmmaker and television director. He originally worked as a cinematographer for the Coen brothers before directing films such as '' The Addams Family'' (1991) and its sequel '' Addams Family ...
directed the season and also executive produced. Besides starring, Cecily Strong served as producer, and Ken Daurio served as consulting producer and writer. Andrew Singer also executive produces with Lorne Michaels
Lorne Michaels (born Lorne David Lipowitz; November 17, 1944) is a Canadian and American television writer and film producer. He created and produced ''Saturday Night Live'' (1975–1980, 1985–present) and produced the ''Late Night (franchise) ...
on behalf of Broadway Video. The musical numbers were choreographed by Christopher Gattelli. In addition to Paul and Daurio, Allison Silverman, Julie Klausner, Kate Gersten and Bowen Yang were writers on the show. The first season was written in the summer of 2019. The season consisted of six episodes, although it was originally planned to be eight episodes.[ ]Bo Welch
Robert W. "Bo" Welch III is an American production designer, art director, film and television director and occasional actor. He is best known for his collaborations with directors such as Tim Burton and Barry Sonnenfeld.
Early life
Welch was b ...
serves as the series' production designer
In film and television, a production designer is the individual responsible for the overall aesthetic of the story. The production design gives the viewers a sense of the time period, the plot location, and character actions and feelings. Work ...
. Filming for season 1 began in Vancouver
Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...
on October 13, 2020, and concluded on December 10, taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
.
The series' second season consists of six episodes, with all of the main cast returning except for Armisen and Quiring-Nkindi; Tituss Burgess and Patrick Page joined the cast. Alice Mathias and Robert Luketic directed.[ By June 2022 filming of season 2 had begun, and it was completed in July 2022. The second season writers included Paul, Josh Lieb, Jonathan Tolins, Raina Morris and Klausner.][
On January 18, 2024, Apple announced that it would not pick up the series for a third season.] Paul posted on his social media that he had written the new season's episodes and songs, and he stated: " e optimist in me is convinced it's not the end of ''Schmigadoon!''". The season would have been titled ''Into the Schmoods'', a play on ''Into the Woods
''Into the Woods'' is a 1986 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine.
The musical intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales, exploring the consequences of the characters' wishes and quests. T ...
'', and would have parodied that musical as well as ''Cats
The cat (''Felis catus''), also referred to as the domestic cat or house cat, is a small domesticated carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species of the family Felidae. Advances in archaeology and genetics have shown that the ...
'', '' Les Miserables'', ''The Phantom of the Opera The Phantom of the Opera may refer to:
Novel
* The Phantom of the Opera (novel), ''The Phantom of the Opera'' (novel), 1910 novel by Gaston Leroux
Characters
* Erik (The Phantom of the Opera), Erik (''The Phantom of the Opera''), the title char ...
'' and other stage and film musicals of the 1980s and 1990s. Paul said that Apple owns the scripts, but he owns the songs to the six episodes written for the third season.
Music
Season 1
Cinco Paul wrote all of the original songs, and the underscore was composed by Christopher Willis
Christopher Willis (born 21 August 1978) is an Australian-born British composer and musicologist.
Career
He is the composer of the 2013 Disney television series ''Mickey Mouse'', and co-composer (with Rupert Gregson-Williams) of the music to th ...
. Soundtrack albums for the first season were released by Milan Records
Milan Records is a record label located in Los Angeles, California specializing in film scores and soundtrack albums. In addition, Milan has an electronic catalog which features down-tempo, chillout, and eclectic electronic releases.
In July 2 ...
as each episode was released.
Season 2
Paul and Willis returned to write the original songs and underscoring, respectively, for season 2. Due to licensing issues, the album was released all at once on May 3, 2023, following the finale, as opposed to weekly releases.
Release
A trailer for the series was released on June 25, 2021. The first two episodes aired on Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is an American subscription over-the-top streaming service owned by Apple. The service launched on November 1, 2019, and it offers a selection of original production film and television series called Apple Originals. The service w ...
on July 16, followed by one new episode each subsequent Friday until season 1 ended with episode 6 on August 13, 2021.
The first two episodes of the second season premiered on April 5, with episodes continuing to be released weekly until May 3, 2023.
Reception
On review aggregator
A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews and ratings of products and services, such as films, books, video games, music, software, hardware, or cars. This system then stores the reviews to be used for supporting a website where user ...
website Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is an American review aggregator, review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee ...
, season 1 of ''Schmigadoon!'' holds an approval rating of 89% based on 79 reviews, with an average rating of 7.4/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "''Schmigadoon!''s clever inside-theater jokes may not be for everyone, but there's no denying the joy of seeing this talented ensemble sing (and dance!) their hearts out." On Metacritic
Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created ...
, which uses a weighted average, the series has a score of 77 out of 100 based on 48 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". In ''The Boston Globe
''The Boston Globe,'' also known locally as ''the Globe'', is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes. ''The Boston Globe'' is the oldest and largest daily new ...
'', Matthew Gilbert noted the show's "underlying affection for musical theater hough itmakes ruthless fun of the conventions of show tunes. ... There is plenty of snark afoot. But the songs are also wittily written, and catchy. The choreography is top-notch and well-shot. And the cast members ... have an infectious enthusiasm."
The second season of ''Schmigadoon!'' was met with critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, the second season holds an approval rating of 97% based on 34 reviews, with an average rating of 8.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "''Schmigadoon!'' returns with more libido, pizzazz, and all the jazz in a sophomore season that improves upon what was already a nifty production." On Metacritic, the second season has a score of 86 out of 100 based on 12 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". Kelly Lawler, writing in ''USA Today
''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...
'', called the season "an even more enjoyable affair with better music and a cheekily absurdist tone that makes the series just silly enough to be serious". In ''The Washington Post
''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
'', Peter Marks wrote, "The cockeyed genius of the series ... is finding profundity in parody."
A review of both seasons in ''Collider
A collider is a type of particle accelerator that brings two opposing particle beams together such that the particles collide. Compared to other particle accelerators in which the moving particles collide with a stationary matter target, collid ...
'' calls it "Apple TV+'s Most Underrated Show". Julia Glassman wrote in '' The Mary Sue'': "The music and storytelling play off each other in perfect balance." Tributes to the show have included a live performance presented at 54 Below titled "54 Sings ''Schmigadoon!''" in September 2023.
Accolades
Among other accolades, the first season of the series was nominated for four Emmy Awards
The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...
, winning one. The soundtrack to Episode 1 was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
The Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media has been awarded since 2000.
History
In 2000 the award was presented as the Grammy Award for Best Soundtrack Album, and from 2001 to 2011 as Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for ...
,[ and Chenoweth was nominated for a .][ The season, its writers, Key, DeBose and Chenoweth were all nominated for Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards. The season was also nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Streaming Fantasy Television Series.
Among accolades for the show's second season were three nominations for Emmy Awards] and three nominations for Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards.[Anderson, Erik]
"''The Boys'', ''Yellowjackets'', ''Abbott Elementary'' lead 2023 HCA TV Awards nominations"
AwardsWatch.com, July 11, 2023 The award ceremonies for these honors were delayed due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes
From May 2 to November 9, 2023, a series of long labor disputes within the Cinema of the United States, film and Television in the United States, television industries of the United States took place, mainly focused on the strikes of the 2023 W ...
, and both organizations plan to present their awards in January 2024. The season was also nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Television Series.
Stage adaptation
A stage adaptation of the first season of ''Schmigadoon!'' with book, music, and lyrics by Cinco Paul premiered in January 2025 at the Kennedy Center
The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, commonly known as the Kennedy Center, is the national cultural center of the United States, located on the eastern bank of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Opened on September 8, ...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
, with direction and choreography by Gattelli. Paul has said that he hopes to adapt all three seasons for the stage.[Culwell-Block, Logan]
"Is ''Schmigadoon!'' Destined to Become a Stage Musical Trilogy?"
''Playbill'', January 29, 2025
See also
* ''Schm''-reduplication, indicating irony or sarcasm
References
External links
*
Official pilot screenplay
"Corn Puddin"
scene from Episode 1, season 1, which won an Emmy Award
Season 2 official trailer
{{Apple TV+
Canadian English-language television shows
2020s American musical comedy television series
2021 American television series debuts
2023 American television series endings
Apple TV+ original programming
Primetime Emmy Award–winning television series
Television series by Broadway Video
Television series by Universal Television
Television shows filmed in Vancouver
Television series set in fictional countries
Television shows set in New York City
Television shows set in orphanages
Works by Barry Sonnenfeld
Magic realism television series