Apple TV+ today released the trailer for its new musical comedy series “Schmigadoon!,” executive produced by Lorne Michaels and starring Emmy Award nominee Cecily Strong and Emmy Award winner Keegan-Michael Key. The first two episodes will premiere globally on Friday, July 16, 2021 exclusively on Apple TV+, followed by one new episode weekly every Friday.
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.
Hailing from Broadway Video and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, “Schmigadoon!” is co-created by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. Paul serves as showrunner, and wrote all of the original songs for the series. Barry Sonnenfeld directs and executive produces. In addition to starring, Strong serves as producer, and Daurio serves as consulting producer and writer. Andrew Singer executive produces with Lorne Michaels on behalf of Broadway Video.
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MacDailyNews Take: Schmigadoon! Whoever pitched this – Lorne? – and got the green-light is an evil, malpracticing hypnotist.
We find the suspension of disbelief for an ordinary musical is usually quite the tall order, so this seems like a lot of work. Perhaps too much.
We’ll reserve judgement until the premiere, but – despite a stellar cast (which does give us a glimmer of hope) – we currently feel outside the target market on this one.
With a name like Schmigadoon, I thought it might have been a musical about Jill’s first six months in office, but then I read that it was a comedy. Hmm… it might work as a dark comedy. Very dark comedy.
Well, ok….it’s got Fred Armisen so…
Hey man, you’re so cool, TowerT! Fred Armisen, tooo!
Should have been called Hubridoon.
Ok. As a fan of musicals in general as well as SNL’s musical numbers, I probably AM the target audience — and I think it looks hysterical. “Brigadoon” was always too full of itself, so this is a great shot at the original.