TV: Schmigadoon (Season 2)

"Oh, no, don’t you dare sing to me, you sicko! I shut down a dream ballet, I will shut down this!"

After leaving Schmigadoon, Josh and Melissa get married and move to the suburbs to start a family. They both miss Schmigadoon, especially as things in their lives do not go as planned. They decide to go back to Schmigadoon, but they can't find it.

Disappointed, they drive back home in the rain and get a flat tire on a bridge. They are surprised to learn that they are in Schmicago, but the town is darker and their friends are in new role. There is also a Narrator (Burgess). Melissa realizes they are in musicals from the 1960s-1970s that are darker and have different tropes. Josh convinces her to stay the night.

Josh stumbles across a dead body and is arrested by Sergeant Rivera (Camil) for murder. The Leprechaun (Short) tells them they can't leave until they find a happy end. Josh befriends his hippy cell mate Topher (Tveit) and gets the best attorney in town Bobby (Krakowski). Melissa takes a job at the Kratt Klub which is owned by Kratt (Page) and run by Madame Frau (Harada). She moves in with the main performer Jenny (Cameron) and befriends butcher Dooley (Cumming) and Miss Codwell (Chenoweth) who runs the orphanage. Can Josh and Melissa find the real culprit and find happiness?

The second season of this Apple TV+ series is based on musicals of the 1960s-1970s.

Every episode features original songs, that are reminiscent of musicals of the era. The characters, costumes, songs, and dancing reminds me of the following musicals:

A Chorus Line. Broadway debut 1975

Annie. Broadway debut 1977

Cabaret. Broadway debut 1966

Chicago. Broadway debut 1975

Company. Broadway debut 1970

Dreamgirls. Broadway debut 1981

Godspell. Broadway debut 1976

Grease. Broadway debut 1971

Hair. Broadway debut 1967

Jesus Christ Superstar. Broadway debut 1970

Pippin. Broadway debut 1972

The Rocky Horror Show. Broadway debut 1975

Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Broadway debut 1979

Sweet Charity. Broadway debut 1966

The Good:

The main cast, other than Fred Armisen, return for season 2. Everyone but Josh and Melissa play a new part. They are joined by Broady vets Tituss Burgess and Patrick Page, who are welcome additions to the cast.  Burgess is great as the Narrator, with a knowing wink and a large helping of sarcasm and sass. Page is a great villain and gets to show off his low register. Also the Tribe, specifically the ones with names (Alex Gullason, Marisa Gold, and Michael Delleva), are fun additions. Gullason previously appeared as one of the singers in the "Cross that Bridge" song in Season 1.

Most of the recurring actors in Season 1 return in new capacities here and it is fun to find them each episode. 

There are also fun references to the composers and writers of the musicals of this time: Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, John Kander and Fred Ebb, etc.

The Bad:

I like Kristin Chenoweth but her character's accent is obnoxious. 

Other Comments:

-Season One focuses on musicals of the 1940s-1950s. 

-"Bells and Whistles" in episode 3 is an incredible showcase for Jane Krakowski

-My favorite song is "Famous as Hell" in episode 5. "Talk to Daddy" in episode 4 is also a standout. 

-I prefer the musicals of the 1940s and 1950s, but I enjoyed this season as much as the first.

-Apple TV+ canceled the show in 2024, which is disappointing. I was looking forward to a third season focused on musicals of the 1980s-1999s.

Schmigadoon (2023, Season 2)

Creator: Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio

Starring: Keegan-Michael Key as Dr. Josh Skinner

Cecily Strong as Dr. Melissa Gimble

Tituss Burgess as the Narrator

Dove Cameron as Jenny Banks

Jaime Camil as Sergeant Rivera

Kristin Chenoweth as Miss Codwell

Alan Cumming as Dooley Blight

Ariana DeBose as Emcee

Ann Harada as Madam Frau

Jane Krakowski as Bobby Flanagan

Patrick Page as Octavius Kratt

Martin Short as Leprechaun

Aaron Tveit as Topher

Alex Gullason as Alex

Marisa Gold as Marisa

Michael Delleva as Michael

Karin Konoval as Female Barfly

TV: Schmigadoon (Season 1)

"We're in a musical, okay? Nobody gets killed in a musical. Except 'Oklahoma!' And 'Carousel'. And 'South Pacific'. Oh, hello, 'West Side Story'."

"That sounds like all the musicals"

Dr. Josh Skinner (Key) and Dr. Melissa Gimble (Strong) are going through a rough patch in their seven-year relationship. They go on a couples retreat to reconnect and, while hiking, end up in the idyllic town of Schmigadoon. The town is bright and happy and the people break into song. Melissa loves musicals and is enchanted, but Josh hates it and wants to go home.

However, when they try to cross the bridge and leave town, they can't.  A Leprechaun (Short) explains that they can't leave until they find true love. They also learn that they are in a Musical. Melissa befriends Mayor Menlove (Cummings) and his wife Florence (Harada), while fending off advances of town rascal Danny (Tveit) and Doc Lopez (Camil). Josh is willing to do anything to leave, including pursuing school teacher Emma (DeBose) and flirty waitress Betsy (Cameron). But not everyone wants to embrace the newcomers, especially Mildred (Chenoweth) Reverned Layton's (Armisen) wife. Will they find love with each other or someone else in town?

The first season of this Apple TV+ series is based on musicals of the 1940s-1950s.

Every episode features original songs, that are reminiscent of musicals of the era. The characters, costumes, songs, and dancing reminds me of the following musicals:

Brigadoon. Broadway debut 1947

Carousel. Broadway debut 1945

Finan's Rainbow. Broadway debut 1947

The King and I. Broadway debut 1951

Kiss Me Kate. Broadway debut 1948

The Music Man. Broadway debut 1957

Oklahoma. Broadway debut 1943

The Pajama Game. Broadway debut 1953

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. 1954 movie

The Sound of Music. Broadway debut 1959

The Good:

The majority of the main cast members (Aaron Tveit, Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Ann Harada, Ariana DeBose,  and Jane Krakowski) are Broadway vets. They command the screen and deliver stellar, Broadway-level performances. The rest of the cast hold their own singing and dancing on the same level as their Broadway co-stars. Dove Cameron, Jaime Camil, Martin Short and Cecily Strong have performed and sang on stage. Keegan-Michael Key and Fred Armisen are not afraid to dive into their roles. As a whole, the entire cast is great!

The scenery and costumes feel like they could be in musicals of the time. And the songs mimic the style of the musicals they are sending up. They aren't mocking the musicals; it feels like a loving tribute while still willing to laugh at their quirks.

The Bad:

I don't love all of the side plots. Liam Quiring-Nkindi's character is grating.

It also feels too short, at only 6 episodes. It's a lot of story to condense into 6 episodes.

Other Comments:

-Won the 2022 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Original Music & Lyrics for Cinco Paul, for the song "Corn Pudding" in episode 1.

-I love "Cross that Bridge" in episode 3. It feels like "Brotherhood of Man" from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (even though it debuted on Broadway in 1961). The song is smart and funny.

-The second season focuses on musicals of the 1960s-1970s.

-I was excited about this show as soon as I heard about it. I watched clips of the songs on YouTube and it was the first show I tried when I got a free trial of Apple TV+... it did not disappoint!

Schmigadoon (2021, Season 1)

Creator: Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio

Starring: Keegan-Michael Key as Dr. Josh Skinner

Cecily Strong as Dr. Melissa Gimble

Fred Armisen as Reverend Howard Layton

Dove Cameron as Betsy McDonough

Jaime Camil as Doc Jorge Lopez

Kristin Chenoweth as Mildred Layton

Alan Cumming as Mayor Aloysius Menlove

Ariana DeBose as Emma Tate

Ann Harada as Florence Menlove

Jane Krakowski as Countess Gabriele Von Blerkom

Martin Short as Leprechaun

Aaron Tveit as Danny Bailey

Liam Quiring-Nkindi as Carson Tate

Genie (2023)

Bernard (Essiedu) is struggling. After missing his daughter Eve's (McIntosh) birthday for work, his wife Julie (Benton) and daughter move out. And then he gets fired. He cleans an old box and releases a genie named Flora (McCarthy).

According to Flora, Bernard is able to make as many wishes as he wants. Together they redecorate his apartment, buy presents for Julie and Eve, and try to figure out what he actually wants in life. Can Bernard and Flora find a way to repair his life?

Remake of the 1991 BBC TV movie, "Bernard and the Genie", written by Richard Curtis. Curtis also wrote this film.

The Good:

This is a funny holiday film. Melissa McCarthy is a charismatic lead and also embraces the physical comedy of the role. She has good chemistry with Paapa Essiedu.

The Bad:

Thr chemistry in Bernard's family (wife and daughter). They are a big point in the film, but aren't memorable.

Other Comments:

-Alan Cumming played Bernard in the TV movie. Here he plays the boss, Mr. Flaxman.

-The scene with Bernard's family was great: 

Ellen Cleghorne as his mother, Oberon Adjepong as his father, Ego Nwodim as his sister Dianna, John Reynolds as Dianna's husband Marvin, and Nyasha Hatendi as his brother Pete.

-Marc Maron is funny as Lenny the doorman.

-This is an enjoyable Christmas film that you can enjoy as a family and laugh at.

Genie (2023) 93 minutes

Director: Sam Boyd

Starring: Melissa McCarthy as Flora

Paapa Essiedu as Bernard

Denée Benton as Julie

Jordyn McIntosh as Eve

Alan Cumming as Flaxman

Marc Maron as Lenny

Live Wires (Bowery Boys): 1100th Review

Seventeen years and 1100 reviews!!

100 Monty Python and the Holy Grail  /  200 Duck Soup  /  300 Super Troopers  /   

400 Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein  /   500 The Odd Couple  /  600 Stir Crazy / 700 Tommy Boy / 800 Jack and the Beanstalk / 900 Caddyshack / 1000 A Night at the Opera

"That's the trouble with you, always jumpin' to seclusions."

Slip Mahoney (Gorcey) can't keep a job. His sister Mary (Blake) helps by putting in a good word with her boss Mr. Sayers (Eldredge), who offers Slip a job. But he loses it when he gets into a fight on the first day.

With no where else to turn, he joins buddy Sach (Hall) working for the DA. His first big job takes him to a swanky club, but things get out of control fast, leaving him in hot water with his date Mabel (Brill) and Mary. Can Slip, with the help of his pals, Sach, Bobby (Jordan), Whitey (Benedict), and Homer (Frambes) serve their summons to the biggest crooks in town?

This is the first film in the Bowery Boys series. The Bowery Boys made a series of 48 films, beginning in 1945. Prior to that, they starred together in 6 films as The Dead End Kids, 12 as The Little Tough Guys, and 21 as The East Side Kids.

The Good:

This film set up the basic premise for the rest of the series: Leo Gorcey's Slip is a fast talking wise guy who misuses words and Huntz Hall's Sach is a lovable goof, with the rest of the gang adding to the mayhem. These characters are new versions of the roles they played in previous series. Gorcey, Hall, and the rest have an easy chemistry from working together for so long.

The best scene is when Slip meets Mazurki's Patsy and the slapstick (and size difference) that follows. Every moment works, including the entrance of Sach, followed by another crook, and then the fight with the rest of the gang.

The Bad:

Despite the short run time (a little over an hour) the film feels too long. The setup to get Slip to the DAs office drags on. And there isn't enough time with the rest of the gang to make them feel useful.

Other Comments:

-Bernard Gorcey, Leo's father, plays Jack Kane here. In future films in the series he plays Louie Dumbrowski.

-Not the best, but not bad.

Live Wires (1946) 64 minutes

Director: Phil Karlson

Starring: Leo Gorcey as Terrance 'Slip' Mahoney

Huntz Hall as Sach

Mike Mazurki as Patsy Clark

Bobby Jordan as Bobby

William Benedict as Whitey

William Frambes as Homer

Pamela Blake as Mary Mahoney

Claudia Drake as Jeannette

Patti Brill as Mabel

John Eldredge as Herbert L. Sayers