If you’re a fan of musicals, you’ll love Lorne Michaels’ Schmigadoon! A couple–Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong–stumble into a fairyland where the inhabitants constantly break into song. And yes, plenty of dancing, too! Schmigadoon! is a parody of musicals from the 1940s and 1950s.
When they try to leave Schmigadoon! the couple is told by a leprechaun (Martin Short) that they can’t go back to the Real World until they find their True Love. That requirement causes plenty of plot twists.
The excellent cast includes:
- Dove Cameron as Betsy McDonough, one of Farmer McDonough’s seven daughters, inspired by Ado Annie from Oklahoma!
- Jaime Camil as Doc Jorge Lopez
- Kristin Chenoweth as Margaret/Mildred Layton, the preacher’s wife, based mainly on Mrs. Shinn from The Music Man.
- Alan Cumming as Mayor Aloysius Menlove, the closeted mayor of Schmigadoon.
- Ariana DeBose as Emma Tate, Schmigadoon’s schoolmarm, based on Marian Paroo from The Music Man.
- Ann Harada as Florence Menlove, the mayor’s loyal but frustrated wife.[8]
- Jane Krakowski as Countess Gabriele Von Blerkom, a rich debutante based on the Baroness from The Sound of Music.
- Martin Short,[9] as Leprechaun a magical imp based on Og from Finian’s Rainbow.[8]
- Aaron Tveit as Danny Bailey, the town’s rapscallion, a carnival barker based on Billy Bigelow from Carousel.
Diane and I have watched four episodes of Schmigadoon! and can’t wait to watch the rest! Are you a fan of musicals? GRADE: A
I’m fond of good musicals and of meta-comedic ones that use their archness well…Might join Apple to watch this and TED LASSO (and FOR ALL MANKIND).
Ann Harada was a year ahead of me in high school in Honolulu. Liked her then, though I didn’t know her well, and have enjoyed her performances I’ve seen over the years since.
Todd, Apple TV is worth the $4.99 per month fee (after the FREE enticement to join).
No. Sounds awful.
Steve, SCHMIGADOON! is pure silliness.
Nope, not at all. Lately I’ve mostly been watching movies on the streaming services, sticking to one or two favorite actors or directors at a time. Lately it’s been Jack Nicholson and Quentin Tarantino, but I’m about to throw either Scorsese or Kubrick into the mix.
Michael, that’s a lot of talent: Nicholson, Tarantino, Scorsese, and Kubrick.
Yes, some musicals, but even if we had Apple+, I wouldn’t watch this. I should add that I like BRIGADOON a lot. This sounds like they threw subtlety overboard and took a sledgehammer to it (Aloysius Menlove?). So even though I like the cast it would be a No here. I’d rather rewatch THE MUSIC MAN or even BRIGADOON.
Jeff, if you put BRIGADOON and SNL in a blender, you’d come up with SCHMIGADOON!
I’m not a musical fan …
But is this Lorne Michaels the creator of SNL?
Why does he change to doing musicals?
Wolf, I’m guessing Lorne Michaels wanted to indulge in his love of Broadway musicals. And make some money.
He’s been producing a lot of different things, including a number of NBC’s late-night series, over the last forty or so years. The first notable one outside of SATURDAY NIGHT was SUNDAY NIGHT/NIGHT MUSIC, a jazz- heavy music showcase I thoroughly enjoyed while it lasted.
Or, at least, the most notable one for me!
This does look fun and K. in particular is a huge fan of musicals.
Personally anything is an improvement over Brigadoon, which I consider impossible to watch (sorry, Jeff/Jackie).
Unfortunately, we don’t have Apple+ but, as the cable prices climb, we’re investigating other options.
Beth, Apple TV is offering “Free” introductory offers. But when they expire, you’ll be looking at a $4.99 per month charge.
I like some, but not in episodes, in seasons, etc. why stretch it out? Once and done. I’d rather go listen to my CD of CAMELOT.
93 today. 49 days without rain.
Rick, as of Saturday, July 31, 7.49 inches of rain has fallen at the Buffalo Airport since July 1. This monthly rain total puts July of 2021 as the third wettest July on record in Buffalo. Wish we could ship some of that rain to you!
I could live without it though I do like certain musicals!
Bob, I like musicals, too. My parents took me to see OKLAHOMA! as a kid and I really liked the music! Which musicals do you like?
I have been watching it, but my problem is that although I love musicals this seems slavishly tied to replicating old ones with inferior music rather than doing something new. Maybe if I played the soundtrack of this multiple times it would being to work for me. I just am not sure.
Patti, Diane and I try to figure out which musical each dance routine is supposed to be parodying. Loved the song that made fun of THE SOUND OF MUSIC.