Apple TV+ Series SCHMIGADOON! - News & Discussion Thread- Page 4

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 8/7/21 at 1:43am

I liked episode 5 quite a bit, though I felt that Kristin Chenoweth's song fell a bit short, especially after all the lead-up to it they did with the previews earlier this week.  The pacing/phrasing seemed off and it lacked the same kind of musicality/progression as the original song (the Crazy Ex-Girlfriend take on it also remains one of my favorites), though Kristin still remains a delight in the role.  Jane Krakowski was definitely a highlight of this episode, if not the whole show, and I liked her song a lot.  I'm enjoying the Josh/Emma stuff, but I feel like I'm still not quite buying the Melissa/Jorge romance, even with the whole musical theater falling in love on a whim rules.

 

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I liked that Melissa mentioned the actual musical being referenced since she's supposed to be well-versed in Broadway musicals but didn't seem to notice the obvious Billy Bigelow portrayal earlier (and I thought this was done nicely without feeling too on the nose).  I'm still hoping that Melissa and Josh will NOT get back together at the end, and maybe finding their own hearts means that they can go off and pursue other people, now that their heart is their own again, so to speak.  And I was happy to see the return of Aaron Tveit again.

I wasn't sure how this show was going to start wrapping up all its loose ends, but I do think this episode puts us in a good place to finish off, and I'm very interested to see what direction they'll take it.

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 8/7/21 at 11:11pm

I am going to finish this because its only six episodes but yeesh it is painfully bad and just getting worse and worse. The meta stuff with Cecily is so obnoxious and grating and all of the songs are a mess, including Chenowiths song this week where she isn't actually singing for 80% of it

 

a phenominally missed oppritunity all around

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 8/8/21 at 5:02am

Kristin was being too robotic in her number and it failed to build. I kept waiting for it to get off the ground. I was kind of surprised because she is such a consummate performer.

Janes’s number worked better (a wink to Kiss Me Kate) but Cecily should have had the fear of god in her when Jane stopped driving the car. Another missed moment on her part. It will be interesting to see what kind of roles Jane gets in the future now that she is up there in years. She may have some of her best years in front of her with new and different possibilities.

Updated On: 8/10/21 at 05:02 AM

[Dolly80]

Posted: 8/8/21 at 4:22pm

KRISTIN.. (damn auto correct)

Janes number was great and she really sold it.
Kristin has been totally wasted in this, and hideously miscast.

The lead 2 are incredibly annoying. I’d be astonished if this gets a second season.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 8/8/21 at 4:39pm

Broadway by Ghostlight has been making a video for each episode of ''Schmigadoon!,'' citing the musical references and Easter eggs. Here's No. 5.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRG5cAHPyd4

Updated On: 8/8/21 at 04:39 PM

[Globefan]

Posted: 8/10/21 at 2:24pm

Ariana and Dove Cameron are the best part of the show for me 

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 8/10/21 at 6:59pm

Usually the prude (Kristin) has a hidden secret  that gives the character another comic layer to work with. I do not think her part is written very well. She could have been a closeted drinker.

Updated On: 8/11/21 at 06:59 PM

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 8/10/21 at 8:40pm

I enjoyed Kristin’s number more after I listened to it on Spotify. I think the elaborate one-shot with all the business, while technically impressive, was distracting.

I also loved Jane and her number was fun, but she seemed to be slightly more modern or less from that world than everyone else. Her song mentioned porn and her pulling the gun on Cecily felt wrong for that universe. I thought the twist would maybe be (and still could be) that she’s another outsider stuck in Schmigadoon. That would explain the desperation.

[NameGreg]

Posted: 8/10/21 at 10:48pm

I’ve enjoyed this show, but I think it was better when it started out, it didn’t really evolve all that well. I still think it’s enjoyable, but I think it could be much better at the same time. I was excited for Chenoweth’s big number, but it didn’t match up with the character all that well. She shows almost no emotion for her other scenes, so it doesn’t really gel that she’d go full blown “Ya Got Trouble”. The fact that her role is otherwise so stiff prevented her from really owning it like Robert Preston. And the moments that she does get into the song feels too at odds with her overall portrayal. They should’ve made the character hammier if that was gonna be her big moment, it would’ve let her pull it off much better.

Feel bad for Keegan Michael Key. He’s good here, but the total lack of singing with only one episode left renders his part much more thankless in comparison to his co-lead. Compare that to leading parts like Nathan Detroit or Tewfiq who have excellent characterizations which makes up for their lack of singing.

Also, I don’t know if others thought so, but I really disliked that Do Re Mi parody. The other parodies are still different enough musically from the original numbers, but this was pretty much just the same exact music and the only joke was just putting risqué words into a famous song.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/11/21 at 11:03am

I think people have set their expectations wildly off for a show so obvious in its tone and sensibilities that it’s called Schmigadoon.

[bear88]

Posted: 8/11/21 at 3:22pm

I agreed with some critiques after watching the first couple of episodes. And then I rewatched them and realized I was being ridiculous. It’s called Schmigadoon! The lead characters’ likeability or whether everything adds up perfectly… Who cares? This isn’t some realistic drama. It’s been fun and a pleasant way to end my weeks this summer. I will miss the show when it’s done.

Updated On: 8/11/21 at 03:22 PM

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 8/12/21 at 12:32am

Kad said: "I think people have set their expectations wildly off for a show so obvious in its tone and sensibilities that it’s called Schmigadoon."

 

lol yeah no, alot of people on this thread think it is garbage and having a wacky show title doesn't negate that, parody is hard to get right and this missing the mark on ALOT of it

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 8/12/21 at 1:13am

I just finished catching up tonight and I love it. I feel like some of the critiques on this thread are trying to make the show more than what it's intended to be, which is a loving and good natured parody of golden age musicals. I think it succeeds at that. Some actors are better than others, some songs are better than others. But I feel like it largely accomplishes what it sets out to do and gives it a whole bunch of heart as well. I look forward to Friday and hope for a Season 2!

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 8/12/21 at 1:32am

Yes but it is a grade B effort and that is not to discredit it. It has A plus possibilities. It’s heart is in the right place and what they are going for is obvious.

[jlindsey865]

Posted: 8/12/21 at 12:45pm

This show’s first season has run into the same problem that one of my favorite shows (Schitt’s Creek) ran into during its first episodes. It’s clever but lacks heart. The former quickly began to write plots that allowed its characters to show their humanity.

I have not yet seen that from the two leads in Schmigadoon. I truly couldn’t care less if the two leads end up together. Maybe that’s the point, but I doubt it.

And as talented as this ensemble cast is, there is no soul to the show.

[RunnyBabbit]

Posted: 8/12/21 at 11:10pm

I really enjoyed it to start, but as the show went on it went a bit downhill.

It very much feels like a first draft of a musical where there are a million characters who don’t really have a necessary role, get one song, and are then largely ignored. There are quite a few songs I like listening to, but overall I think the show needs a few more workshops and maybe an out of town tryout in Chicago.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 8/13/21 at 1:19am

Well, it's over now; the series finale has been released.

It looks like pretty much everyone in this little town with a heart of gold had something to hide, and Episode 6 teaches its viewers that it is never too late to change and accept yourself for who you really are. Throughout the episode, sins are forgiven and decency/honesty wins an election (sound familiar?).

Yes, it's all cliché, but I wiped a tear from my eye after this one. The songs were pedestrian once again, but it felt nice to hear Key sing at last, especially as he was overcome with emotion when working his way back to Strong's character in front of the entire town. 

Also, in an episode dealing with change, I thought the last song was the perfect microcosm of that theme. After hearing old-timey, Golden Age spoofs and pastiches in "Schmigadoon!" for five-and-a-half episodes, we get to hear something newer and more progressive. I love the nod to "Sunday" (from Sunday in the Park With George, a show that also deals with great change) in the underscoring before the song begins and when the ensemble softly sings all in unison. The tune builds to a joyous, celebratory anthem that nods back to the title number from the first episode as our heroes head back home. 

I'll miss these larger-than-life characters - I never thought I would post that after I finished Episode 2. What a sweet summer treat; I'm glad I stuck around waiting for things to improve. 

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 8/13/21 at 1:24am

Loved the finale. I'm not ashamed to admit that I wiped a tear away during the final song. I know it wasn't perfect, but it had a heart of gold and was a very fun and different show to have on TV.

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 8/13/21 at 8:46am

I loved the effort and talent behind it and it had some standout moments and truly hilarious moments. Good god why didn’t they use Jane Krakowski and Kristin Chenoweth MORE?

But I thought Keegan and Cecile Strong didn’t really have chemistry. I wasn’t rooting for them at all. I actually bought the school marm and Keegan’s connection more.

As for the ending it reminded me while I find the film Pleasantville too sanctimonious and on the nose, it at least earned where it ended up. Those characters had a true evolution.

I also felt there was a “game” of the Shmigadoon world that I think they broke the rules of with the “This is how we change” end song. It felt like they SUDDENLY wanted a genuine ending showing the humanity of the town when they frontloaded the season with so much parody and camp- yeah I agree with others. This musical needed another draft.

It was a fun diversion for the summer but I don’t think it stuck the landing and it’s ultimately kinda forgettable

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 8/13/21 at 10:11am

I haven't watched the finale yet, but I thought Vulture raised a good point in its recaps: the show doesn't really feel grounded in actual human relationships (particularly Josh and the schoolmarm and Melissa and the doctor) so there isn't really much of a threat or conflict that the audience feels. I also think that, although the show is done by people who love musicals, it's kind of condescending towards classic musicals and doesn't acknowledge that they tackled some pretty heavy and progressive themes. 

That being said, I enjoy it for what it is and am looking forward to the finale. 

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 8/13/21 at 12:14pm

I feel like Apple said yes to a musical series, but said "hey... only 30-minute episodes" and they had to work with what they were given. And it's a joy regardless.

[Owen22]

Posted: 8/13/21 at 1:57pm

Yeah, I was moved by the finale, though I really loved it all the way through.

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 8/13/21 at 8:42pm

I liked the final number. The tune was rather catchy. As I have said all along, if the 2 leads had been better the series would have appeared more grounded. Wilson and Benanti would have made the characters 3 dimensional. 

Ariana came out smelling like a rose. Her acting was decisive. The camera really liked her. Aaron’s voice never fails. Just an awesome sound. He can sing me to sleep anytime.

Funny how I said Kristin’s character needed a secret and then it turned out she had one.

Updated On: 8/13/21 at 08:42 PM

[Skip23]

Posted: 8/13/21 at 10:40pm

Schmiggy did what it set out to do.  Simply a parody.  With zingy references.  All fine and good.  SOOO much better than the limited Loki series.

 

Should it have a second season?   Don't know how far they can stretch the joke before we all get tired of it.  

 

High points:  Corn Puddin', Dove Cameron's face (hilarious), Do Re Mi Vagina, Cumming's ballad (and Key's), anything the Countess did ("Of COURSE I'm a Nazi!!! - my favorite line of the year! - how come she didn't get a curtain call???).

 

I agree that the 2 leads had little spark between them and Kristen's Tribulation was nothing but trouble.  

 

 

 

 

 

Updated On: 8/13/21 at 10:40 PM

[bear88]

Posted: 8/14/21 at 4:12am

The finale worked for me, better than I expected. It was too neat and tidy, but that was fine. I was struck by DeBose too. She was stuck playing the earnest, saintly character and made it work. Key’s limits as a singer may have fit with the character, but it did make me wish his bland song was shorter. That said, he and Cecily Strong pulled off the acting needed to make their happy ending unexpectedly satisfying.

Nice call, SmoothLover, on predicting a secret for the preacher’s wife.

The final song, with the beginning heavily borrowed from Sunday, was fitting as the characters confront change - and in this case embrace it.

One of the criticisms of the show is that it didn’t do enough with its material and settled for the easy joke without appreciating the sophistication and darkness of many Golden Age musicals or going further into their problems. And that’s fair, as is the critique that Melissa seems to act like she needs to change more than Josh does. But I accepted the show as it was and enjoyed it as such.

One thought on a second season: It doesn’t need one. This season wrapped things up with a bow (even as the last episode ends before Josh and Melissa actually cross the bridge) and has nowhere else it needs to go. I’m sure they could parody musicals closer to the present, but then everything would need to start over or they would have to delve deeper into Josh and Melissa’s problems as a couple, which was not the show’s strength this season. I think that would grow tedious, though I would probably watch it if I still have Apple+.

Updated On: 8/14/21 at 04:12 AM