Apple TV+ Series SCHMIGADOON! - News & Discussion Thread- Page 2

[Dolly80]

Posted: 7/18/21 at 2:57pm

I’m so freaked out by Dove Cameron.

She looks 9 years old. And like a doll. And one that had tons of plastic surgery.

Is she even real?

[Owen22]

Posted: 7/18/21 at 3:08pm

I just watched the first episode! It is so freaking funny! Corn Puddin!!

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 7/18/21 at 4:20pm

I'm loving this Apple+ show, created by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, it lovingly celebrates and satirizes musicals at the same time. The parodies, the production values and the performers are pitch perfect. Aaron Tveit is especially stealing the show as a faux Billy Bigelow. It's so gratifying to see Broadway pros do what that they love - sing and dance - and get the wider TV exposure they deserve. That's why I'll happily plunk down $4.99 a month to Apple TV to support a new series like ''Schmigadoon!''

But what I really enjoy most is the show's ethnically diverse cast. ''Schmigadoon!'' makes no attempt to explain it. It simply exists in the same way its citizens burst into song. Traditionally, the classic musicals of '40s and '50s have been all-white affairs. ''Schmigadoon's'' Ann Harada, an Asian-American actress, pointedly and poignantly told the Daily Beast: ''I love all those shows, and I grew up on those movies. But I have not found it—I don’t know how to put this—it hasn’t been so easy, necessarily, for someone that looks like me to be in some of those Golden Age shows.”

Anyway, what a show ''this has been, what a rare mood I'm in.''

Can't wait to return real soon to ''Schmigadoon!''

Updated On: 7/18/21 at 04:20 PM

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 7/18/21 at 4:26pm

I really wanted to like this, but so far it's just okay at best. The production values are good and the songs are solid; I almost immediately recognized everything they were going for. The problem--and the reason why this show doesn't compare to something like Pushing Daisies or Galavant so far--is the characters. The lead characters are boring together and individually; they don't seem like a good couple (and he in particular seems like a jerk) so it's hard to care about their relationship. Meanwhile the townspeople aren't being developed beyond their musical theater stereotypes so they come across as actual human beings embodying those stereotypes, not merely stock figures with no interior life. In Pushing Daisies (whose pilot I rewatched a few weeks ago--it still holds up), Ned, Chuck, Emerson and Olive immediately felt like multifaceted, real people living in these heightened circumstances. In the first two episodes, nothing about the Schmigadoon characters feel like they're real or have any interior life; they're just archetypes. It's like watching a couple of boring "normals" interact with musical theater robots. If that's a future twist--that the townspeople are all robots programmed to behave like musical theater characters--so be it. But so far it's not working for me, watching robot Aaron Tveit and robot Dove Cameron interact with boring Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong (who cares? that thing you're interacting with isn't a person!).

Updated On: 7/18/21 at 04:26 PM

[Dolly80]

Posted: 7/18/21 at 6:23pm

It’s so incredibly niche , I can’t see it finding a very wide audience.
They have also made a mistake by not releasing all episodes at once.



Speaking personally, I would probably sit and binge the whole series if it was out just because nothing else is really interesting me right now, but it’s so forgettable , I won’t be making any extra effort to watch the next episodes. If I remember- then I will. But I’m not rushing to.

[bear88]

Posted: 7/18/21 at 8:43pm

MemorableUserName said: "I really wanted to like this, but so far it's just okay at best. The production values are good and the songs are solid; I almost immediately recognized everything they were going for. The problem--and the reason why this show doesn't compare to something like Pushing Daisies or Galavant so far--is the characters. The lead characters are boring together and individually; they don't seem like a good couple (and he in particular seems like a jerk) so it's hard to care about their relationship. Meanwhile the townspeople aren't being developed beyond their musical theater stereotypes so they come across as actual human beings embodying those stereotypes, not merely stock figures with no interior life. In Pushing Daisies (whose pilot I rewatched a few weeks ago--it still holds up), Ned, Chuck, Emerson and Olive immediately felt like multifaceted, real people living in these heightened circumstances. In the first two episodes, nothing about the Schmigadoon characters feel like they're real or have any interior life; they're just archetypes. It's like watching a couple of boring "normals" interact with musical theater robots. If that's a future twist--that the townspeople are all robots programmed to behave like musical theater characters--so be it. But so far it's not working for me, watching robot Aaron Tveit and robot Dove Cameron interact with boring Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong (who cares? that thing you're interacting with isn't a person!)."

I think you’ve put a finger on what bothered me. The ‘people’ in Schmigadoon don’t seem real - even for magical realism. They’re too busy imitating familiar characters from old musicals to be anything else. Once you catch the obvious references, where else is there to go? Do they even move unless ‘normies’ happen to show up? It doesn’t help that neither of those normies is very interesting thus far. Of the Schmigadoon residents, Tveit in particular seemed stranded playing a Billy Bigelow caricature, and that duet with Strong did neither of them any favors. The only character who stands out is Chenoweth, who has the advantage of playing what passes for the antagonist and also appears to be having a grand time.

It’s always possible things will improve and what feels two-dimensional will deepen or twist in a more interesting way. But as others have noted, this a genre that seems awfully played out. We’ve seen many examples of these sorts of parodies, and I tend to like the idea of them more than the actual thing. Most of these musicals are 70-75 years old, not exactly ripe targets for parody. The involvement of so many Saturday Night Live folks makes me suspect we will get, with a few exceptions, something like a 3-hour comedy sketch.

I didn’t dislike everything and I will watch the rest of it. There are some clever lines and I did appreciate that Sonnenfeld knew how to shoot a musical so you can see everyone sing and dance.

 

[OldTheatreLover]

Posted: 7/18/21 at 9:38pm

bear88 said: "In the first two episodes, nothing about the Schmigadoon characters feel like they're real or have any interior life; they're just archetypes. It's like watching a couple of boring "normals" interact with musical theater robots. If that's a future twist--that the townspeople are all robots programmed to behave like musical theater characters--so be it. But so far it's not working for me, watching robot Aaron Tveit and robot Dove Cameron interact with boring Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong (who cares? that thing you're interacting with isn't a person!)."

I think you’ve put a finger on what bothered me. The ‘people’ in Schmigadoon don’t seem real - even for magical realism.They’re too busy imitating familiar characters from old musicals to be anything else. Once you catch the obvious references, where else is there to go? Do they even move unless ‘normies’ happen to show up? It doesn’t help that neither of those normies is very interesting thus far. Of the Schmigadoon residents,Tveit in particular seemed stranded playing a Billy Bigelow caricature, and that duet with Strong did neither of them any favors.The only character who stands outis Chenoweth, who has the advantage of playing what passes for the antagonist and also appears to be having a grand time."

That’s the point of thIs parody — none of the characters in 40s/50s musicals were real or acted real. Even the backgrounds were phony. I think you’re over-thinking this.  I thought the entire support cast, Tveit, Cameron, Cumming, and Chenoweth were superb (as did The NY Times). 

[Globefan]

Posted: 7/18/21 at 9:42pm

OldTheatreLover said: "bear88 said: "In the first two episodes, nothing about the Schmigadoon characters feel like they're real or have any interior life; they're just archetypes. It's like watching a couple of boring "normals" interact with musical theater robots. If that's a future twist--that the townspeople are all robots programmed to behave like musical theater characters--so be it. But so far it's not working for me, watching robot Aaron Tveit and robot Dove Cameron interact with boring Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong (who cares? that thing you're interacting with isn't a person!)."

I think you’ve put a finger on what bothered me. The ‘people’ in Schmigadoon don’t seem real - even for magical realism.They’re too busy imitating familiar characters from old musicals to be anything else. Once you catch the obvious references, where else is there to go? Do they even move unless ‘normies’ happen to show up? It doesn’t help that neither of those normies is very interesting thus far. Of the Schmigadoon residents,Tveit in particular seemed stranded playing a Billy Bigelow caricature, and that duet with Strong did neither of them any favors.The only character who stands outis Chenoweth, who has the advantage of playing what passes for the antagonist and also appears to be having a grand time."

That’s the point of thIsparody —none of the characters in 40s/50s musicals were real or acted real. Even the backgrounds were phony. I think you’re over-thinking this.I thought the entire support cast, Tveit, Cameron, Cumming, and Chenoweth were superb (as did The NY Times)."

I'm surprised Dove and Kristin aren't playing mother and daughter this time 

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 7/18/21 at 9:42pm

I think I'll wait till when all the episodes are out to start watching.

[bear88]

Posted: 7/18/21 at 11:33pm

OldTheatreLover said: "bear88 said: "In the first two episodes, nothing about the Schmigadoon characters feel like they're real or have any interior life; they're just archetypes. It's like watching a couple of boring "normals" interact with musical theater robots. If that's a future twist--that the townspeople are all robots programmed to behave like musical theater characters--so be it. But so far it's not working for me, watching robot Aaron Tveit and robot Dove Cameron interact with boring Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong (who cares? that thing you're interacting with isn't a person!)."

I think you’ve put a finger on what bothered me. The ‘people’ in Schmigadoon don’t seem real - even for magical realism.They’re too busy imitating familiar characters from old musicals to be anything else. Once you catch the obvious references, where else is there to go? Do they even move unless ‘normies’ happen to show up? It doesn’t help that neither of those normies is very interesting thus far. Of the Schmigadoon residents,Tveit in particular seemed stranded playing a Billy Bigelow caricature, and that duet with Strong did neither of them any favors.The only character who stands outis Chenoweth, who has the advantage of playing what passes for the antagonist and also appears to be having a grand time."

That’s the point of thIsparody —none of the characters in 40s/50s musicals were real or acted real. Even the backgrounds were phony. I think you’re over-thinking this.I thought the entire support cast, Tveit, Cameron, Cumming, and Chenoweth were superb (as did The NY Times)."

I may have been a little harsh, as I didn’t hate the episodes, but if the entire point of the show is to mock musicals from the 1940s and 1950s as phony, that’s an awfully thin and easy premise and it’s been done. It might be a starting point, but that shouldn’t be the whole thing.

There are ways to deconstruct those shows, as suggested in the episodes, but there are also reasons why people still like them even if revivals reinterpret or revise the plots or language.

 

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 7/18/21 at 11:50pm

Watched with a friend who could take or leave musicals and we both enjoyed it however we also don’t care if they get back together.

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 7/18/21 at 11:51pm

I'm enjoying this enough to keep watching and I think the musical numbers are generally charming as a whole, but I agree about the two leads. It's not even that I don't like them individually but more that I don't care about their relationship as a whole so I'm actually kind of hoping they don't end up getting back together (also because I think that would be a more interesting ending anyway). I'm definitely mostly watching for the musical references, but I was surprised to hear that a non-theater friend actually liked it a lot, as I felt the whole show was just a vehicle for a bunch of different in-jokes

[blaxx]

Posted: 7/19/21 at 12:44am

I really can't stand projects where the whole premise stereotypes musicals, their songs and characters. At least not that funny in the long run.

Is this kinda like that? A ten episode running joke of two characters who don't like/get musicals forced to live in a world with musical numbers by the same composer?

[OldTheatreLover]

Posted: 7/19/21 at 2:59am

blaxx said: "I really can't stand projects where the whole premise stereotypes musicals, their songs and characters. At least not that funny in the long run.

Is this kinda like that? A ten episode running joke of two characters who don't like/get musicals forced to live in a world with musical numbers by the same composer?"

Firstly, it’s not stereotyping anything. It’s a parody/homage to classic musicals based on the story of Brigadoon as done by Lerner and Loewe. Secondly, the music is based off of classic songs from a lot of musicals of that era with (slightly) different melodies and new lyrics. Lastly, It’s 6 episodes, not 10. Other than that, you’re spot on lol. 

Updated On: 7/19/21 at 02:59 AM

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 7/19/21 at 3:32am

I've read that upcoming episodes will include flashbacks of Melissa and Josh, the modern-day couple, that show more how they bonded and fell in love. Traditionally, in a Golden Age musical, their relationship would be shown through song, usually a duet. But since the premise of ''Schmigadoon!'' involves Josh, a contemporary guy who hates old musicals, you can't have him singing ... yet. I'm assuming his character's dramatic arc will involve how he comes around and literally finds harmony again with Melissa. 

Since ''Schmigadoon!'' is an affectionate spoof of ''Brigadoon,'' I also imagine that the relationship of Melissa and Josh, a romantic and a cynic, is meant to parallel the contrast between Tommy and Jeff in the 1947 Lerner and Loewe musical. But the difference is that Melissa and Josh are a dating couple. 

Updated On: 7/19/21 at 03:32 AM

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 7/19/21 at 6:05pm

It is a parody. Forbidden Broadway with a skeleton script. I agree with OldTheatreLover. That is what makes it amusing. 

[DonnyJacksonLD]

Posted: 7/19/21 at 8:53pm

Can someone explain why this show is getting shoved down our throats??? Musical doesn't equal Theatre. It's a TV show, yet every theatre page won't shut up about it. Dramas don't get blasted allover theatre pages, and there are more dramatic plays than musical. Why do people always think theatre people only wanna watch brainless musical comedy?

[Owen22]

Posted: 7/19/21 at 9:01pm

DonnyJacksonLD said: "Can someone explain why this show is getting shoved down our throats??? Musical doesn't equal Theatre. It's a TV show, yet every theatre page won't shut up about it. Dramas don't get blasted allover theatre pages, and there are more dramatic plays than musical. Why do people always think theatre people onlywanna watch brainless musical comedy?"

Dude. Calm down.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/20/21 at 1:01am

We just watched the first two eps and loved it. It reminds me of an show you’d go see at Encores that you know will never be performed anywhere else, that they’ve updated a bit. I hope that makes sense. I’m also a little drunk.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/20/21 at 6:31am

Because every third thing on TV IS a drama, you couldn't not see a drama if you tried. Musicals, MADE for tv are a rarity.

[FosseTharp]

Posted: 7/20/21 at 11:08am

Watched the first two episodes (on my phone) and loved it. Ugh, I guess I need to finally get Apple TV 4K since I’m paying for Apple One and can’t utilize ATV+ or the Fitness app. I have all Apple products but I have an Android TV. Apple finally allowed Android and Google TV OS Systems to get the app…. Except Sony. I have two Sony Bravia’s but apparently only the highest end 2020+ OLED models can. It’s bs and I assume the fault of Sony not Apple. But anyway… I digress.

Updated On: 7/20/21 at 11:08 AM

[bear88]

Posted: 7/22/21 at 3:47am

On second thought…

Rewatched the first two episodes last night. OldTheatreLover is right and I was wrong, at least based on the first two episodes. The first episode in particular is a delight. The second episode is more awkward because it has Josh acting like more of a jerk to set up the conflict, but it’s not like classic musicals were above such liberties - though they weren’t usually quite as abrupt about it. And Tveit was fine. I was being too picky.

I remain impressed with Sonnenfeld’s direction. It accomplishes the dual goals of making the series seem more like watching an old musical while showing off the singing and dancing skills of much of the cast. We’ll see how the rest of it goes, but at its best, the show has a knowing charm.

[OldTheatreLover]

Posted: 7/23/21 at 1:54am

bear88 said: "On second thought…

Rewatched the first two episodes last night. OldTheatreLover is right and I was wrong, at least based on the first two episodes. The first episode in particular is a delight. The second episode is more awkward because it has Josh acting like more of a jerk to set up the conflict, but it’s not like classic musicals were above such liberties - though they weren’t usually quite as abrupt about it. And Tveit was fine. I was being too picky."

I’m glad you rewatched and episode 3 does not disappoint. Enjoy!

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 7/23/21 at 2:47am

cecily strong makes this almost unwatchable and every song sounds the same….

a phenomenal misfire

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 7/23/21 at 10:24am

Ann Harada is great and I enjoyed her song.

The Josh character is such a d**k and a real drag on the proceedings.

That's all I got out of this one. Once again, it was...fine.