Apple TV+ Series SCHMIGADOON! - News & Discussion Thread

The Golden Age will be back this summer! Apple TV+ just announced that "Schmigadoon!," the six-episode musical comedy series executive produced by Lorne Michaels and starring Emmy Award-nominee Cecily Strong and Emmy Award-winner Keegan-Michael Key, will make its global debut on Friday, July 16. Two episodes will be available at launch followed by one episode weekly every Friday.

"Schmigadoon!," a parody of iconic Golden Age musicals, stars Strong and Key as a couple on a backpacking trip designed to reinvigorate their relationship who discover a magical town living in a 1940s musical. They then learn that they can't leave until they find "true love." The first season also stars Alan Cumming, Kristin Chenoweth, Aaron Tveit, Dove Cameron, Ariana DeBose, Fred Armisen, Jaime Camil, Jane Krakowski and Ann Harada. Martin Short guest stars.

Keegan Michael Key premiered the first clip of the series on Jimmy Fallon last night: https://youtu.be/HorV9ATn4RY

Updated On: 5/14/21 at 01:58 PM

Can't wait!

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/VIDEO-Sing-Along-to-a-Musical-Sneak-Peek-From-SCHMIGADOON-20210712 Video Sneak Peek from the show!  The first two episodes premiere this Friday.

This preview gives off Brigadoon meets Oklahoma! vibes. And oh my God, that CAST!

I will definitely watch the pilot come Friday and offer my thoughts. 

A 5 star review in TV Guide which is rare.

I watched the first 2 episodes and found it to be rather charming. Aaron was in fine form nailing it from the get go. Kristen was very funny, a combo of all of the prudes in musical comedy. Reminiscent of Mrs. Danvers and Mrs. Sowerberry. Cummings had a wonderful number that was very tongue and cheek. And Martin Short was hysterical. 

I like it! It's sweet. 

Some solid songs, good pacing and the production and musical talent is of course fabulous. 

I think it could be funnier. I find it lightly funny. Keegan who I normally love, his character is so far very one note. 

I can't help but feel like-we've milked the musical theatre parody to death. Like it's lovingly done but it's just so DONE. 

Ya know what would be something? A musical television show where it's all 100 percent genuine and the humor came from the situation not the meta ness. 

I think at a certain point there are diminishing returns when we've lampooned broadway so many times. Like- South Park, Book of Mormon, Urinetown, Something Rotten, Crazy Ex Girlfriend, Spamalot, The Muppets- it's the same joke now.

How much longer do we have to keep appealing to the "I Hate Musicals" crowd in this craft?

Updated On: 7/16/21 at 11:22 AM

I'd love them to edit it into a 3 hour movie 

The door is open for a season 2 according to Cecily 

It was great to see Dove Cameron 

I wanted to like this. I really did.

Schmigadoon! unfortunately let me down these first two episodes (and I was super excited for this). Saving graces for me thus far include Martin Short and the lovely Dove Cameron, who has clearly come a long way since the Disney Channel. The always-reliable Kristin Chenoweth gives "wicked" a whole new meaning (ba-dum tish).

The main problem is, the show drags too much these first two episodes. Key and Strong are just so unlikable so far. Key's character - a 180 degree spin from his charming Principal Hawkins in The Prom - is so bland and poorly written. The running gag with DeBose's brother announcing everything is annoying to say the least. 

The musical numbers are serviceable at best. "Corn Pudding" might be stuck in my head for a day or two though. The Golden Age references are tongue-in-cheek (did anyone recognize any of the names being called out during the auction scene in Episode 2?) and I guarantee it made some others on these boards break out a grin.

Four more half-hour episodes left. That's not much time for a show which had so much potential to redeem itself for its initial shortcomings.

 

binau said: "Maybe the problem for me is the show would work better if we just wait for the full series so we can watch the entire arc. Otherwise it’s kind of like we are turning the show off half way through the first act."

That's kind of how TV series work...otherwise they would be movies.