If the title of this advanced review wasn’t dramatic, it would be an utter disservice to what Schmigadoon! actually is—a deliriously delicious spectacle. For starters, if you know anything about me, you know that I will watch whatever Aaron Tveit is in. It’s part of my brand. But that does not always mean the thing is good, and to a degree that’s the case with Schmigadoon!
If you don’t love musicals (or parodies), this isn’t the special for you. As someone who loves musicals with every fiber of her being, there were times where even I cringed, but that could also be due to the fact that I don’t actually like parodies. (I know I know. I just don’t understand the point, okay?) But regardless, Schmigadoon is a lot of fun and that’s something we could all use after the year we’ve had.
Schmigadoon! doesn’t take itself seriously either, which is partly why it works in all that it’s trying to achieve, and it winds up being, as noted in the title, a deliriously delicious spectacle. It poses the tireless question of what on earth is going on and is everyone in this town even okay? At any point is Mary Poppins going to chime in to say hello? Who knows? (Spoiler alert: it does not happen, and I was only little disappointed by this.)
Men should wear high waisted pants again. Who’s in agreement that we bring this classic 1940’s style back?
I started watching Schmigadoon! because of Aaron Tveit, but it is with full conviction that I admit that Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong are the stars of the show. Key shines remarkably as Josh and I found myself rooting for his growth the entire time. I found myself, even at times, a little nervous about what might happen, which added intricately to the plot.
The star-studded cast of Schmigadoon! and its ensemble full of incredibly gifted Broadway performers makes the show what it is. If you’re anything like me and you adore superbly choreographed numbers, then you’ll mostly enjoy the entirety of the show and especially the performances.
Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong rightfully shine as the leads of this story, and they’re largely the only characters whose perspectives will be your eyes and ears into this farcical town. Key and Strong are the the ones you’re going to come out of the series adoring most.
And on the topic of performances, you are not prepared for the absolute treasure of a performer that is Ariana DeBose. DeBose is just getting started and you’re not going to want to take your eyes off of her.
Schmigadoon! features a number of familiar and exemplary faces like Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Jane Krakowski, Fred Armisen, Jamie Camil, and more. The world of Broadway is grand and vast and there’s a lot to appreciate about the show including some ensemble performances you’ll recognize from other shows like Moulin Rouge’s Ericka Hunter.
And the series’ greatest strength? It keeps you on your toes. It’s a musical, it’s a parody, it’s a comedy, you can imagine where it’s going, but the storylines do a spectacular job of making you think that maybe, just maybe you could be surprised still. Schmigadoon! is a whole lot of fun and a whole lot of farcical nonsense and though a lot times, it’s enjoyable nonetheless.
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Schmigadoon! premieres July 16 exclusively on Apple TV.