The musical series’ sophomore season picks up with Josh (Keegan-Michael Key) and Melissa (Cecily Strong) after they found love in Schmigadoon in Season 1 (you can read my review here). In this second part of their story, Josh and Melissa find in Schmicago, the “reimagined world” of ’60s and ’70s musicals.
Returning cast include Cecily Strong, Keegan-Michael Key, Ariana DeBose, Martin Short, Dove Cameron, Jaime Camil, Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Ann Harada, Jane Krakowski, and Aaron Tveit. New cast members include actors Tituss Burgess and Patrick Page.
If you’re a fan of Broadway musicals, this series of six episodes features plenty of songs and dancing and fun! GRADE: INCOMPLETE but trending towards an A
I had no memory of this until I clicked on the link to your review of the first season and thought, “Oh, yeah.” Then I noticed this was from almost two years ago. Almost two years for six episodes. God, television has changed. Even considering extra time to do a musical show this is a stretch. There have been plenty of perfectly fine shows that cranked out 20 episodes or more a season like clockwork with a fraction of the budget (and most of them cost nothing to watch).
There are streaming shows out there that have been on for half a decade now and they barely have enough episodes to syndicate a month’s worth of viewing (though I doubt we’ll ever go back to the old syndication model which is funny considering a lot of shows generated over a billion dollars in syndication). Oh brave new world…
Byron, I think SCHMIGADOON 2 might have been delayed by the Covid-19 Pandemic. I know many of the MARVEL movies were delayed for that reason, too. I am enjoying this new, more edgy Season 2!
Also, streamers and the corporations which own them are whining about belt-tightening (of course, mostly around the waists of the hired help…We Need Our Megayachts! Mine mine mine!) and, oddly enough, diminishing returns. Hence a surge in the likes of “true crime” programming on Showtime cable and Warner Discovery channels/streams not already wasted thus, or on Bigfoot sitings.
Love the production numbers but the in-between stuff is less enjoyable–not quite sharp enough. At least in the first season. But I will watch it.
Patti, I’m enjoying the music, dancing, and silliness in Season 2. I wish there were more than just six episodes.
Never have had Apple’s thing, but do like the cast and other “creatives”…as someone who’s never been to a Broadway show (last tempted by Mary Louis Parker starring in PROOF), though do like live theater done well, I can still appreciate the satirical aspects.
Or even Louise.
Todd, Apple TV+ features TED LASSO and SCHMIGADOON.
I was in high school with Ann Harada.
Todd, you know a whole lot of people!
A slightly odd assortment at times. Didn’t know Harada well, but enough to say Hi to, friend of friends…she was graduated a year before me.
Todd, you would enjoy SCHMIGADOON!
Well, this disrupted a day of rest:
Greg Ketter
2h
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One of my oldest friends died this morning. Denny Lien was a book collector supreme and he probably knew more about SF/Fantasy, Humor, and Wrestling than any ten people. His droll sense of humor could make you laugh while his puns could be as painful as anything. He had recently watched the MnStF parody play, Midwestside Story in which he had a large hand in writing, including the song “Dear Editor Bova” to the tune of “Dear Officer Krupke”. He expressed great pride in its creation.
He was the first person I met in the Minnesota Science Fiction Society at my first meeting which took place in his apartment. I recognized him from his large mutton shop whiskers from a caricature by Ken Fletcher I saw in the fanzine Rune. Denny was a reference librarian and was a great resource for nearly any subject. He was also a great friend and I’m going to miss him greatly.
Todd, I’m sorry to hear this, too.