By Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
Musical lovers, old and new will rejoice with the new Musical Comedy from Apple TV, Schmigadoon! Audiences will fall in love with the magic of the ’40s and ’50s again through reinterpreted classics and parodies on the shows that brought so much love and joy to their hearts. Schmigadoon! is one for the books, that will leave audiences with that underlying sense of happiness and joy.
The Series focuses on the couple of Josh (Keegan-Michael Key) and Melissa (Cecily Strong) as their relationship is unfortunately on the rocks, and they stumble across a bridge called Schmigadoon while hiking on their couples retreat. As they cross the bridge everything turns from bleak to vibrant life, and full of colour and dropped into a different time. Cue the first big musical number with our Principal Cast. After the first musical number, we start to meet some of the members of Schmigadoon, Reverend Layton (Fred Armisen) who is under the thumb of his rather hostile wife, Mildred (Kristen Chenoweth). Then all chaos seems to break out.
There are two stories that are the focal point of the Show, the first being that Josh and Melissa need to work on their relationship and figure out if they can work. This is another serious issue, because to escape Schmigadoon, and return to reality, they can only do so by crossing the bridge with their loved one. The second story is that within the town of Schmigadoon, where there is conflict between the very aggressive, wretched Mildred and the rest of the town specifically against Mayor Menlove (Alan Cumming). There are several characters that pose at obstacles to either the townspeople of Schmigadoon now that Josh and Melissa are new forces they have to contend with, or for Josh and Melissa themselves, with possible love interests appearing Betsy (Dove Cameron), Emma (Ariana DeBose), Danny (Aaron Tveit), and Doc Lopez (Jamie Camil). With Josh and Melissa’s relationship already on the rocks, being transported to a new world that Josh simply hates and Melissa is falling in love with their rocky relationship and possible faster way home seems to be fading.
What makes Schmigadoon! so great is how meta it is. It makes fun of itself, with Josh constantly calling out the musical nuisances and songs with modern takes. The music itself though is what shines throughout the Series, as they’re changing songs from mainly Rodgers and Hammerstein with the towns problems. However, even with a great premise and incredible music, it would fall short if the cast was unable to deliver. The chemistry between Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong just glows, audiences can sense that dwindling flame between them but knowing it came from a candle that burned at both sides previously, they are believable as a couple whose going through a rough patch. Then you have the Broadway royalty between Alan Cumming, Aaron Tviet, Kristen Chenoweth, and the explosive Ariana DeBose who all shine and dazzle with their performances, whether they be playing ecstatic over the top closeted mayors, outcast and misunderstood, someone truly evil, or someone who just wants best for themselves, they all shine and excel in their performances bringing life and depth to Schmigadoon!
Everyone gives their all in these performances, ensuring that Schmigadoon! succeeds as a Musical Comedy that appeals both to fans of Broadway and Comedy.
SCHMIGADOON! arrives on Apple TV+ on Friday July 16th, 2021 with episodes airing following Fridays!
Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key star in upcoming Musical Comedy Series, SCHMIGADOON! Here’s a first look.
Synopsis:
A parody of iconic Golden Age musicals, “Schmigadoon!” 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 six-episode 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.
SCHMIGADOON! arrives July 16, 2021 on Apple TV+.
(Photo/video credit: Apple TV+)
Despite filling hosting duties on Saturday Night Live last night, former Alumni Jimmy Fallon may have gotten help from a few Friends – but it is those few Buddies who helped deliver huge laughs on a memorable Christmas episode of Comedy-Sketch Series, now in its 39th Season!
In addition to Madonna, Sir Paul McCartney, Barry Gibb and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Fallon got a major boost from his Pal and Musical Guest and multi-time Host, Justin Timberlake!
Sir Paul McCartney would kick-off the star-studded Affair in the Evening’s Opening Monologue which would have Fallon doing his best impressions of David Bowie, Bob Dylan and Sir Paul McCartney, only for the latter to appear suddenly on-stage!
See Fallon and McCartney perform Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas:
Timberlake brought back his popular Musical Liquorville Sketch, this time in Holiday Spirit and with the help of Fallon, competing with a Charity Gift Wrapper in Cast Member Aidy Bryant. Bring it on down to Wrappinville! Adorbs!
See The Wrap-Off below!
Madonna and the real Gibb himself on The Barry Gibb Show!
Perhaps one of the Highlights of the Evening was the Musical Sketch Let’s Do It in my Twin Bed featuring Fallon and the Ladies of SNL, a bit of an Homage to The Pussycat Dolls with Sisters singing about a little wild surprise for their Boyfriends, “getting wild in a bed for a child!” at their Mom and Dad’s!
Watch Let’s Do It in my Twin Bed below:
One thing that never ceases to make me laugh are imaginary Music Compilation Sketches and here is SNL‘s take on NOW That’s What I Call Christmas featuring impressions of Alanis Morissette, Andrea Bocelli and Alan Rickman:
My favourite Sketch though was the super-sweet Baby, It’s Cold Outside Sketch with Weekend Update‘s Cecily Strong, with her as the clingy One-Night-Stand who manages to win Fallon over amidst a Blizzard in NYC:
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