March Broadway Madness: Wild Card Round

Let’s start with our “Wild Card” entries. I will evaluate the two musicals and choose one to advance to Round 1.

“Wild Card” Round – Nederlander Conference A

Mary Poppins v. Rent

Well, this is a weird match up – two musicals that probably couldn’t be more different! But I did see both twice, so they do have that in common!

Mary Poppins: It was a Disney production and Disney certainly knows how to pull out the stops. And it was based on one of their most beloved movies though also heavily inspired by the books. In addition to the memorable songs from the movie, new songs were added that rounded out the story and felt like they fit right in. The choreography was truly amazing and “Step in Time” was a true showstopper even before Bert went “over the rooftops.” And of course, it was well known that Mary Poppins took flight – though that was best experienced in the mezzanine rather than the orchestra. My only two quibbles was the elimination of “I Love to Laugh” from the movie and then in between my viewings of it, the song “Temper Temper” was eliminated. I enjoyed the song though I understood it was removed because it was frightening children (in the song, Michael and Jane are shrunk down to the size of their toys, which then put them on trial for being abusive to them due to their own tempers). Overall, it didn’t hurt the production and it was still a fun musical for all ages.

Rent: What a contrast to Mary Poppins – and not just because of the plot! Whereas Disney pulled out the stops with lavish sets and spectacles, Rent was more minimal. A steel structure served as many things and there were only a few other items, the second biggest part of the set a folding table. Someone didn’t fly overhead. Instead, the plot tugs on the heartstrings. It’s a story about found family and the struggles of trying to survive in a world that seems against you. It addressed AIDS though it was one of many projects humanizing the disease. Rent, however, became a cultural phenomenon and really caught the public’s attention. But there is still the lingering doubts about if Rent would’ve blown up so much if creator Jonathan Larson hadn’t tragically died before the first off-Broadway performance. Or would it have only gotten better because he could’ve continued to fine tune it? Because there are some problems with the story and the characters and there is the troubling undercurrent of “true artists suffer and starve for their art” in the plot in addition to “No day but today”. However, Rent continues to live on and continues to inspire new generations to this day with its story and characters.

Winner: It was a tough call but after writing everything down, I think I have to give the win to Rent.

March Broadway Madness

March Madness lives! I know all you sports and betting fanatics missed it terribly last year when COVID cancelled all games. So I’m sure you’re happy it’s back.

I’m not much of a basketball person. I follow my NY Mets during baseball and NY Giants during football but I just never got into basketball (except in college during our girls’ team’s Cinderella run – go Marist Lady Foxes) . Nor am I interested in really doing a proper March Madness bracket.

But you know what I am interested in? Broadway musicals.

You know what I miss? Broadway musicals.

So while everyone follows along on their brackets, I’m going to make one of my own featuring all the Broadway shows I remember seeing – I’m pretty sure I forgot a couple. (And I know it’s a privilege that I could have seen so many that not only did I forget some but I still had enough for a 34 team match up).

Here’s how it will work: I used a bracket generator to randomly assign shows against each other. I will write several posts (hopefully every day) where I go through the different rounds, picking from the brackets until I get to the best show that I’ve seen – in my opinion. I’ve decided that all the shows on the “left” side of the bracket I’ve created will be the “Nederlander Conference” and those on the “right” side of the bracket will be the “Shubert Conference.” The shows have not been divided up by whether they played in a Nederlander or Shubert theatre, it just seems easier to keep track.

Here’s the line up:

“Wild Card” Round – Nederlander Conference

Mary Poppins v. Rent

Hello, Dolly! v. Frozen

“Wild Card” Round – Shubert Conference

The Addams Family v. The Wedding Singer

Gigi v. Spamalot

Round 1 – Nederlander Conference Group A

Memphis v. (Winner of Mary Poppins v. Rent)

Jersey Boys v. White Christmas

Little Shop of Horrors v. Hairspray

Wicked v. Pippin

Round 1 – Nederlander Conference Group B

Anything Goes v. (Winner of Hello, Dolly! v. Frozen)

The Music Man v. The Sound of Music

Beauty and the Beast v. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Les Miserables v. On Your Feet!

Round 1 – Shubert Conference Group A

Spring Awakening v. (Winner of The Addams Family v. The Wedding Singer)

Aladdin v. Cinderella

The Pirate Queen v. Little Women

Newsies v. Avenue Q

Round 1 – Shubert Conference Group B

Moving Out v. (Winner of Gigi v. Spamalot)

The Phantom of the Opera v. Tarzan

Godspell v. A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder

Anastasia v. Jesus Christ Superstar

Make your picks and find out which comes out on top in my opinion. Feel free to play along in the comments below!

WandaVision: Something Wicked This Way Comes…

Last time: Wanda and Vision navigated parenthood as Westview entered the 80s. The twins grew to 5 years old and then aged themselves to 10 in order to keep a dog they found. Vision continued to notice strange happenings in Westview and tried to discuss it with Wanda, falling out of step with her. He then spoke to the real “Norm” and grew more concerned. The twins dealt with their dog dying before Wanda and Vision argued about what was really happening in Westview, with hints that it wasn’t all Wanda.

Outside Westview, or what Darcy dubbed “the hex,” Monica teamed up with Jimmy and Darcy to try to get more answers. She clashed with Hayward, who saw Wanda as a threat to be neutralized while Monica believed they needed to work with Wanda to end whatever was happening in Westview. Hayward tried to kill Wanda and she left the hex to issue a warning before reinforcing her barrier.

And then in a twist, Wanda and Vision get a visitor – it’s Pietro, though this time he’s played by Peter Evans, and he’s there to visit!

I forgot to discuss this last time – I wonder how SWORD ended up with Vision’s body? Even with everyone at Stark Industries no doubt in mourning, I’m sure Bruce would’ve claimed Vision for them. It’s just suspicious why they took Vision into their possession.

So COVID pushed the release of WandaVision back. Apparently it was supposed to come out in September and that’s why this episode has a Halloween theme. It still works but the timing would’ve been better had there been no pandemic.

This is Halloween, everybody make a SPOILER!

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: Fallout

Last time: Zoey decided to have a “live free” day and did drugs with Aiden and Danny Michael Davis. They wandered the neighborhood and then had popsicles at the Clarke House. Zoey then decided to not care so much anymore but then she abandoned it the next day after Max called her out and Danny Michael Davis said he was going to sell the company.

Meanwhile, Max just wanted to get his dad’s approval (and money) but fell short (though he gave the money back), Jenna pulled a prank to punish the contractor who now turned cold toward Maggie after she rejected him and caused Maggie to fire her, and there was a bug with the Chirp that meant it didn’t recognize anyone who wasn’t white. So Danny Michael Davis wanted Simon to smooth things over, leading to an internal battle and a consult with Tatiana and Mo – did he do what his boss asked or did he take a stand?

At the press conference, he kinda did both – he gave the company line and then took a stand.

So this is the last episode until the end of March. Let’s see what they left us on…

Cause baby whether you’re high or low/Whether you’re high or low/You gotta tip on the SPOILERS!

WandaVision: Family Matters

Last time: We got a glimpse of life outside Westview and got some answers. A grown-up Monica Rambeau returned from being snapped (or “blipped”) and went back to work for her (now deceased) mother’s organization SWORD. She met up with Agent Jimmy Woo over a missing person case that turned into a missing town when no one had ever heard of Westview, NJ. When she got sucked into Westview, SWORD called in for reinforcements – including Darcy Lewis, who found the signal to watch the sitcoms Wanda and Vision had been living. They tried to get in touch with Wanda but nothing worked. Monica then got tossed out of Westview and told everyone that it is all Wanda.

But is it? I mean, this is Marvel and they are masters of the twist at this point.

I have feeling this iconic line for All About Eve will be applicable until the show ends:

Everywhere you look/Everywhere/There’s a SPOILER!

(Sorry. Couldn’t resist)

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: I Want to be Sedated

Last time: Zoey struggled to pull herself out of her funk and decided to follow Mo’s example by focusing on being happy. However, she then had to layoff 10% of her staff, including sweet George – who was already having a bad day as it was the anniversary of his abuela’s death. She then decides to just get wasted at the cleanse Mo had for his and Max’s new restaurant, something that caused some turmoil when Max felt Mo wasn’t taking the business as seriously as him. They eventually talked it out and realized they just had different ways of approaching the business, both of which were valid. Zoey accidentally rehired George while drunk and so had to fire him again. She then had a heart-to-heart with Simon, who told her that she needed to lean into her feelings and not try to fight them in order for her to grow and heal.

Also, Simon nailed his first interview as SPRQ Point’s spokesman and befriended the interviewer, Tatiana Morris. And David decided to quit his job to be a stay-at-home dad to Miles. Emily first freaked out but then supported him. And Roger hit on Maggie and she turned him down, saying she wasn’t ready to move on. She and Jenna then bonded more, which made Emily feel a bit put out.

Oh, and Zoey reconnected with her old neighbor, Aiden, who is now an adult and hot.

So we’ve entered the mid-season hiatus. But I’m sure it will be here before we know it. After all, this March isn’t going to last a full year like last March.

Right?

Today is where your book begins/The rest is still SPOILERS!

A Cinderella Christmas: A Modern Fairy Tale

So my holiday movie tradition continues with a Christmas twist on a favorite fairy tale – Cinderella. It also caught my eye because I recognized one of the actors from Once Upon a Time in Wonderland and couldn’t help myself. And it quickly became my favorite holiday movie and I watched it multiple times in one week.

Let’s recap and discuss why I loved it so much!

Bibbity-boppity-SPOILERS!

WandaVision: We Take You Behind the Scenes…

Last time: WandaVision entered the 70s as Wanda’s pregnancy progressed at hyperspeed. Wacky hijinks ensued as she first tried to hide her pregnancy from neighbor Geraldine as well as the fact labor was causing her magic to go haywire. Eventually, Geraldine helped her give birth to her first son Tommy while Vision arrived with the doctor in time to witness the birth of Tommy’s twin brother Billy. Agnes and Herb then tried to warn Vision about the truth of Westview while Geraldine mentioned Ultron when Wanda noted she had a twin brother. That made Wanda suspicious and when Vision returned into the house, Geraldine was gone. As he and Wanda settled down with their twin sons, “Geraldine” was found lying on a grass field as the military closed in around her.

It seems we’ll get some answers this time though knowing Marvel, those will likely be accompanied by more questions. And given that both Paul Bettany and Elizabeth Olsen have been teasing a surprise cameo in future episodes, maybe today will set the stage for that cameo?

Let’s find out!

Flying away on a wing and a prayer/Who could it be?/Believe it or not/It’s just SPOILERS!

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: Put on a Happy Face

(Sorry for the delay. I had a harc deadline for something else and needed to devote more time to that).

Last time: Zoey was plagued by a recurring nightmare in which she sang a heartsong while trying to escape her family home and then her apartment. She tried to reduce her stress by delegating tasks but that blew up in her face, leading to her blowing up at her team. Max kept trying to help put she kept pushing him away until realizing that she was not in a good space to be in a relationship with him. They agreed to a pause and to resume their relationship when she felt ready.

Meanwhile, Maggie struggled with her first job since Mitch’s death but found the spark again when she teamed up with Jenna while Max and Mo rented a place for their restaurant.

Congratulations to Jane Levy on her Golden Globe nomination for this show! It’s Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist’s only nomination but at least our show is getting recognized! (I believe Alex Newell was also nominated for a Critics Choice Award as well – so yay, Alex!)

Also we know now that Zoey will be going on a six week hiatus and returning March 28th, meaning it is going back to Sunday and will be on at 9 PM. So mark your calendars!

Now I’m stronger than yesterday/Now it’s nothing but SPOILERS!

WandaVision: Growing By Leaps and Bounds

Last time: Wanda and Vision participated in a fundraiser performing magic tricks. But when Vision’s gears literally got gummed up, he acted weird and Wanda had to use her powers to keep up the illusion that it was all, well, an illusion. They won over their neighbors and returned home happy. But throughout the day, someone kept trying to reach out to Wanda and it culminates in someone in a beekeeper outfit appearing on their street. She rewound the scene back to when she and Vision discover she’s pregnant. Color started to seep into their lives and they were brought to the sitcoms of the 1970s.

Everyone is intrigued by the show so far. There are so many questions and theories going around the internet as people try to figure out what is going on. And then there are those who no doubt enjoy the callbacks to classic sitcoms.

Or like me, intrigued by both.

Come and knock on our door/We’ve been waiting for SPOILERS!

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: Welcome to My Nightmare

Last time: Zoey took a “grief vacation” with her budding relationship with Max but struggled to have some sexytimes with him. Max and Mo hit a snag in their budding business when he asked Mo to sign a contract. Zoey had her first crisis as director and Leif struggled to manage his team. In the end, Zoey and Leif decided to shake up the team to end the frat-like culture that had developed, Mo and Max had a heart to heart where he decided to trust Max, and Zoey and Max finally had some sexytimes. Also, Emily’s sister Jenna showed up to help with the baby but was more of a nuisance than a help until Maggie took Jenna under her wing.

So far I’ve really been enjoying the second season and it sounds like audiences are responding. I am nervous though as it seems Zoey will go on hiatus after episode six and NBC debuts a new Tuesday lineup. It’s unknown when it will return and where it will be on the schedule. Those aren’t moves that help shows and usually hurt them.

Hopefully, though, Zoey comes out stronger.

Nowhere to run, baby, nowhere to SPOILERS!

WandaVision: Magic to Do

Last time: Wanda and Vision settled into their new house and lives in the quiet town of Westview. They start putting down roots – Vision gets a job and Wanda befriends neighbor Agnes. Hijinks then ensue when Wanda and Vision have to throw together a last minute dinner for his boss and his boss’s wife. But they manage and pass with flying colors. As they bask in marital bliss, someone watches them and takes notes.

The questions continue as our MCU couple heads into another sitcom and further into the 1960s.

Wiggle your nose for SPOILERS!

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: I Wanna Sex You Up!

Last time on Zoey: Zoey re-emerged from her self-imposed exile after losing her father to find that the world had gone on without her. She tried to reintegrate into that world but everything kept changing. Leif had taken over and made a lot of changes, including a new hire named George. Max, Simon and Mo were best friends who hung out without her. Joan wanted to promote Zoey to run the Fourth Floor and ultimately revealed she was leaving for Singapore. And Maggie struggled to enjoy her new grandson while mourning her husband. In the end, a video from Mitch gave them the push they need to move on. Zoey accepted the promotion and gave Leif her old job, Max and Mo decided to start a business together and Zoey chose Max.

Apparently I wasn’t alone in questioning if the show had really wrapped up its love triangle in the first episode. People are worried about Max and Zoey’s relationship and Austin Winsberg says that they have reason to worry. Once again, it seems my feeling that Zoey may (inadvertently) be taking advantage of Max may be correct.

So let’s see how that starts to unfold.

Some people wait a lifetime/for a moment like SPOILERS!

Jingle Jangle: A Fun Christmas Adventure

(Note: Okay, I meant for this to come out before Christmas but that clearly didn’t happen. However, I thought I would then post a review of a Christmas movie on the 25th of each month – you know, to keep the spirit going. I hope you enjoy!)

Who doesn’t love a good Christmas movie? Clearly I do, given how many Hallmark movies I’ve seen over the years.

And let’s be real – 2020 has been awful for many reasons. We’ve tried to cram too much into twelve months and found out what will break when you do that. Right now, we all need the magic of the Christmas season.

Enter David E. Talbert and Netflix.

Talbert wrote and directed the Christmas movie he wanted to see, the movie he wanted his children to see. And he got some amazing musicians – Philip Lawrence, Davy Nathan, Michael Diskint and John Legend – to craft a beautiful soundtrack that invigorates this entire movie.

And it was just what I needed.

So let’s take a look at this fantastical world of whimsy and SPOILERS!

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: Now Podcasting!

Do you love Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist? 

Do you love podcasts? Or just listening to people breakdown episodes of your favorite show? 

Well, do I have good news for you! 

It's called Our Extraordinary Podcast and it's all about Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist! The two people creating this podcast - Clara and Dani - also used to produce a podcast about The Magicians (Physical Kids Weekly) and so I was excited to hear their takes on Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist. So far, I've enjoyed both episodes they've put out. 

Right now, they are focusing on the second season but have promised to go back and make episodes for the first season as well. They discuss the major plot points as well as go over the different songs, giving their own insights and impressions of the episode. I highly recommend it if you want even more Zoey in your life. 

Enjoy! 

WandaVision: The Wanda Van Vision Show

The long anticipated Marvel show starring Elizabeth Olson’s Wanda Maximoff AKA Scarlet Witch and Paul Bettany’s Vision has arrived on Disney+. New episodes will be released on a weekly basis and I can’t wait to see how this plays out.

So here is the first recap of the new show! Second recap should follow shortly and then I’ll hopefully do the rest as they are released.

It’s the Wanda and Vision SPOILERS!

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: Ch-Ch-Changes

Last season on Zoey: Zoey Clarke’s life changed when a magical MRI machine gave her the ability to hear people’s inner thoughts expressed as songs. With the help of her neighbor Mo, she figured out that her gift was meant to help people with difficult problems in their lives. She found herself learning more about people, herself and relationships as she embraced her powers. While all of that happened, she became manager at her tech job and formed a mentorship/friendship with her boss, Joan. She found herself drawn to fellow manager Simon, even though he was engaged, and learned her best friend Max was in love with her. And all through this, she had to come to terms with the fact her father was dying of a degenerative disease that slowly stole him from them.

Simon and his fiancée broke up just as Zoey started to develop feelings for Max, who was promoted then fired by Angelica Schuyler herself. And as she found herself caught between the two, her father died in the most heart-wrenching half hour of television. 

And now the show is back for it’s second season after fans rallied and NBC saw how good its ratings were once digital views were added. So here we are, ready to see what happens to Zoey in her next chapter.

If you’re lost and alone/or you’re sinking like a stone/SPOILERS!

Goodbye 2020, Hello 2021!

One good thing that came out of 2020 for me was the fact that I revitalized this blog and posted more. I hadn't posted as much as I had in 2020 in almost three years! So I hope that 2021 continues on in that vein. 

Because of that, I was able to figure out my Top 5 Posts of 2020! Now, these are only posts that were published during 2020 and are passed on the view counts I have. You can always see my most popular posts on the side of this blog! 

Top 5 Posts of 2020

5. Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: Leap of Faith and Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: Truth Hurts (tied) 

First, Zoey gets some advice as she navigates her new role guiding people as she tries to help Mo when he worries that he would either have to sacrifice his true self or his church. Then Zoey deals with the fallout from Simon and Jessica's engagement party as well as Max's romantic feelings toward her, culminating in her finally telling Max about her powers. 

4. Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: How Do You Solve a Problem Like Unwanted Romance?

Zoey tries to adjust to her new powers, her new position and her best friend's romantic feelings for her in the second episode of the season. 

3. Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: Learning to Let Go

Zoey helps her father's caretaker Howie learn to let go of his daughter Abigail before he loses her by trying to hold on too tightly while she learns to let go of Simon and to let the chips fall where they may when it comes to whether they will only ever be friends/coworkers or more. 

2. Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: Joan's Husband Sucks

Zoey bonds with her boss Joan but ends up way more involved in Joan's failing marriage than she ever wanted to be. But by the end of the episode, Zoey learns that her powers may not be entirely bad after all. 

1. "One Royal Holiday": A Bit of a Flip on a Classic Hallmark Trope

One of Hallmark's many Christmas movies featuring a prince and the American woman who steals his heart. This time, he ends up stuck at her family's bed and breakfast and she knows he's a prince. During their time together, she teaches him to relax and listen to his heart while he teaches her to take chances and be open to love. 

There you go! Yes, there's a lot of Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, but that's not surprising. Recapping that show really jumpstarted things for me in 2020. 

And tonight marks the start of Season 2 for Zoey! So there are more recaps coming! And maybe this year I'll finally finish my Once Upon a Time recaps. Who knows? 

See you all soon! 

A Timeless Christmas: Hallmark’s Kate and Leopold

Another day, another Hallmark Christmas movie! And who knows? There may be many more where this comes from!

I love myself a good time travel story (and one day, I’ll binge watch the rest of Outlander). But it’s almost always the woman going back in time, which kinda sucks for her. So it’s nice when someone travels forward in time as well. And that’s what this movie does!

Time to step out of time and into SPOILERS!

“One Royal Holiday”: A Bit of a Flip on a Classic Hallmark Trope

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Yes – Hallmark is all Christmas, all the time until 2021! We all make fun of them but let’s face it, these movies are like comfort food to us. So much so that not only did Hallmark quickly arranged a weekend marathon when we were all huddled in our houses trying to flatten the curve but I’ve seen plenty of people on my timeline watching the movies as breaks from following the craziness that is the 2020 Presidential Election.

I know I did. And I really wanted to see Laura Osnes’ movie because I absolutely love her.

And I was also excited because this movie included Broadway alums Aaron Tveit and Victoria Clark, who starred in Cinderella with Osnes on Broadway. I got to see the two of them and knew they would be fabulous together in this as well.

So were they? Let’s find out!

And this song of mine/In three-quarter time/Wishes you and yours/SPOILERS!

Cinderella: Bibbity-Bobbity-Boo!

Yes, I know this came out in 2015. So yes, I know I’m really behind in seeing it. But it’s now on Disney+ and I’m not really going anywhere just yet. So I put it on and finally got to see it.

And now you get to hear my thoughts about it because…well…it’s my blog and that’s what I do. So grab your best pair of glass slippers, settle onto your pumpkin and gather your mice friends for the live-action version of Cinderella!

A dream is a wish your heart makes when you’re fast SPOILERS!

Phineas and Ferb: Candace Against the Universe

Hey, Ferb, I know what we’re going to do today!

I love Phineas and Ferb – my whole family does. My dad loves the main characters while my mom absolutely adores both Doofenshmirtz and Perry the Platypus. One year for Christmas, I gave them P&F mugs I found in the Disney store and then another year, I gave my mom a plush Doof she keeps in her office.

The kids in her program aren’t too sure what to make of it.

So I was pumped when it was announced that a new Phineas and Ferb movie was going to premiere on Disney+ and even more excited when it got a release date – August 28th! I pulled up Disney+ on my TV and clicked on it, eager to watch a brand new adventure with all my favorite characters.

Curse you, Perry the SPOILERS!

Hello, Dolly!: I Wish I Could Find a Witty Subtitle for This

I know it’s just an algorithm but I feel bad for my “Recommended For You” list on Disney+. I am all over the board so it’s a strange mish-mosh of National Geographic specials, behind the scenes documentaries and musicals.

I love musicals.

Anyway, I was surprised when I was going through my “Recommended for You” list and Hello, Dolly! popped up. I didn’t realize it was on Disney+ and so I decided to give it a watch.

Now you get to enjoy my thoughts on it!

Put on your Sunday clothes when you feel down and SPOILERS!

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: Season 2 Update!

As we approach an unorthodox TV season (thanks, COVID!), we are starting to get some news about upcoming seasons. Derek Hough is returning to Dancing With the Stars in a mysterious role, Ken Jennings is joining Jeopardy fulltime, etc. And though it’s already slotted to be a midseason replacement, there’s some news regarding our favorite show about a woman who can hear people’s inner most thoughts as songs due to a magical MRI machine!

Four cast members have been promoted to regulars for Season 2!

Andrew Leeds (David), Alice Lee (Emily), Michael Thomas Grant (Leif) and Kapil Talwalkar (Tobin) have all been promoted from recurring cast to regular cast members. Jane Levy (Zoey), Skylar Astin (Max), Alex Newell (Mo), John Clarence Stewart (Simon) and Mary Steenbergen (Maggie) continue as regulars with Lauren Graham (Joan) still billed as “special guest star”.

According to the article, it seems David and Emily will be dealing with parenthood and grief throughout the second season. I am intrigued – coupled with my observations of them in the first season, this will either make them stronger or blow them apart. The article also mentions that Leif will have a new role at SPRQ Point but doesn’t mention what will happen to Tobin. My guess is that Zoey moves into Joan’s role and Leif moves into her role once Joan assumes control of the company while Danny Michael Thomas is lying low.

No mention of Peter Gallagher but I hope he can still come back from time to time as Zoey’s guardian angel of sorts.

Remember how I said it was a shame that Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist wasn’t nominated for an Emmy? I was wrong – it was! Mandy Moore won an Emmy for her choreography! Congratulations, Mandy! It is a well-deserved win!

What do you think of this Zoey season 2 news? What do you want to see for these characters? And what songs do you want Mandy to have to choreograph to next?

Let me know in the comments below!

Once Upon a Time is Coming to Disney+!

You can read about it here!

Of course, the show isn’t a stranger to streaming services as it’s been on Netflix for years – each season was usually released some time after it aired. But this is still exciting news.

Why?

Because I think Disney+ will be the better home for Once Upon a Time than Netflix. Netflix has so many offerings and I feel like it’s less likely you’ll stumble upon Once Upon a Time and decide to watch it given everything on Netflix. That’s more of a show you purposefully have to go looking for if you’re going to watch it.

While Disney+ does have a lot of content too, it’s very narrow and specific. Once Upon a Time has always appealed to Disney lovers and so it’ll reach new audiences who maybe didn’t give it a chance the first time or are more willing to watch something that’s complete rather than something that’s ongoing. Or maybe they were too young when it was on and now they are discovering it for the first time.

Whatever the reason may be, it will be easier for them to find it on Disney+ and for it to be recommended to them.

I’m also glad because I was always surprised that Once Upon a Time never became syndicated. I guess it’s a bit harder to pitch this show as it does have an ongoing storyline and you can’t just jump into an episode without feeling lost, unlike Law and Order or CSI. But I still think it could’ve worked and would’ve helped in expanding the fandom (though we Oncers are still pretty big and mighty). This is probably the best option.

And since I have Disney+, I promise to finally finish my recaps for all the episodes. So stay tuned for those!

What do you think about Once Upon a Time moving to Disney+? Sound off in the comments below!

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: Looking Ahead

I wasn’t expecting to watch Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist but I’m glad I got pulled into it. It’s such a great show and so much more than what it was made out to be. You come for the fun musical numbers and get hit with feels.

And it’s wonderful.

Once again, I just wish it had gotten some Emmy nominations after such a good first season. But I also have a whole other rant about how the Emmy categories are probably outdated for how modern TV is nowadays and that maybe things should be divided up by broadcast, cable and streaming.

Anyway, back to Zoey.

Thankfully, NBC gave a greenlight to the second season of this show. With the pandemic going on, we don’t know when it will even film, let alone air but I’m sure the creatives are hard at work creating the second season so they are ready to go when they can start filming. So what will the second season bring?

I’d like to speculate.

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: This Will Be the Day That I Die

Last time: The Clarke family tried to plan for Mitch’s funeral but Maggie found herself unable to make any decisions about it. Zoey met Bernadette Peters at the cemetery and realized that she was the one who would be able to help Maggie the most. Meanwhile, Zoey got a lot of support from Joan, who understood exactly what she was going through, while Max pretty much ended their friendship. Leif was still pining for Joan and it was revealed that he was essentially spying on the sixth floor in a bid to help the fourth floor win the bake off. Joan put a stop to it and got Ava to agree to a truce, so the two floors would work together. Zoey and Max made up while Mo broke up with Eddie because he was going to be gone for months performing on a cruise ship.

In the end, Maggie finally made some decisions, Max and Zoey made up and then Ava fired Max.

And so here we are – the season finale. You might want some tissues for this one.

Also, this show deserved to pick up at least a couple of Emmy nods. It’s a shame they didn’t get any recognition at all.

I see the bad moon a-rising/I see trouble on the SPOILERS!

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: Understanding and Acceptance

Last time: As Mitch deteriorated to the point that Maggie had to cancel their anniversary tradition, Zoey struggled with the anger it caused in her as other issues popped up. Newly single Simon invited her over for dinner but had fresh family issues to angst about, Leif’s feelings for Joan were stronger than what she wanted, and Ava Price decided to compete with them over the Chirp – and Max chose her over Zoey and Joan. Zoey ended up blowing up at several people – Mo, Simon, Max and Howie – before Mo forced her to dance it out and Simon had a heart to heart with her. In the end, Maggie and Mitch got to have an anniversary dinner at home and Zoey was ready for the next step of grief.

Not much to say heading into this episode except how much I love the fact this episode gives me both Renee Elise Goldsberry AND Bernadette Peters.

Thank you, show (and probably Robert Ulrich. I see his name in the credits and still have some good vibes about him from The Glee Project).

We gotta get out of this place ‘cause girl, there’s a better life for SPOILERS!

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: Shout, Shout, Let it All Out

Last time: Zoey tried to navigate the fallout after singing her emotions, especially with Simon. Mo got involved but realized it was far more complicated and messy and would not be solved easily, so Zoey decided to stop waiting for Simon to make a decision and made one for herself. Max got a job offer to work on another floor in SPRQ Point and Zoey encouraged him to take it. She did all this while helping Howie reconnect with his daughter after a fallout when she wanted to go to Africa to help teach children to code and he was afraid that her deafness would put her in greater danger. They ultimately reconciled while Simon and Jessica broke up at the end of the episode.


Things are about to get interesting!

And here I go again on my own/Goin’ down the only road I’ve ever SPOILERS!

Into the Unknown: The Making of Frozen II (Or How the Sausage is Made)

I loved Frozen II. The fact that Disney made it available on Disney+ after most of us went into lockdowns and shut downs helped me get through those early days of this pandemic. It was comforting and something to entertain me.


Disney released a six part documentary that gave viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the last nine months or so of production on Frozen II. And I must say, I was very intrigued by the process and all the decisions that went into making the movie.

I’m going to warn of SPOILERS for both the movie and this documentary, which I encourage everyone who loved the movie or loves movies to watch.

Hamilton: The Room Where It Happened

Broadway will stay dark due to the pandemic until 2021. That leaves a big gap in the theater and for theater-lovers in the United States, though I hope they find a way to bring live theater to us sooner in a socially-distant way. I already know of one drive-in performance here in NY and Six the Musical’s UK production has announced it will start doing drive-in performances across the country as well.


It was a big deal before this pandemic started when Disney announced that it would be releasing Hamilton in theaters. And that it wasn’t just going to be a movie adaptation but an actual performance of the musical with the original cast. Movie adaptations are great but there is just something so special about sharing the actual performances and the full staging that comes with seeing a Broadway show. Then when the pandemic continued and kept theaters closed, Disney decided to put it on Disney+ in time for the 4th of July, giving everyone a chance to experience Broadway while the theaters stay dark.


So at 3 AM EDT on July 3rd, Hamilton went live on Disney+. And since I had the day off, I stayed up and watched it as soon as it was available.


While I do live in New York City and have access to see Broadway on a more regular basis than most people, Hamilton is still very hard to get tickets for and they are very expensive. So for now, this is the best way for me to see it. And I get to see the original cast too, which is always a plus!


While I’m not really going to do a recap and it’s seems strange to put this warning on a story that involves events from over 200 years ago, I’m still going to warn about SPOILERS!

Naya

This is absolutely heartbreaking to have to write.


On July 8th, Glee star Naya Rivera (Santana Lopez) rented a boat to go swimming with her son Josey. Police were later called to the scene when Josey was found by himself in the boat. He said he and his mother did go swimming but she hadn’t returned to the boat. Rescue efforts were then launched to locate Naya before being called off after night fall.

As someone who lives on an island and is surrounded by several beaches, including the Jersey Shore, our news programs unfortunately have at least three reports about searches for missing swimmers every summer. It is very, very common for searches to be called off after dark. So while I understand why everyone was frustrated and felt as if the police weren’t doing enough (especially as the particular department does have social media posts that reveal a very probable bias and Naya does identify as Afro Latina), ending the search for the night does mean anything either away about how dedicated to finding Naya they were. The search resumed in the morning and more resources were brought in to locate her. They continue to search for her. 


However, the operation has turned into a recovery rather than a rescue, meaning it is very likely that Naya drowned.

And it’s horrible to think that we’ve lost another member of the Glee cast.

Naya was very talented and leaves behind a very impressive body of working, starting from when she was a child. She probably would’ve gotten even more projects as time went by and it’s a shame we’ll never see what else she would’ve done.

My heart goes out to her loved ones, especially her mother and her young son. It was clear from Naya’s social media that he was her entire world and that they were very close. This is going to be an unimaginable loss for him but it seems he has a strong family support system around him.
My condolences also go to her friends and former costars. Even if they weren’t close, this still has to be a loss for them.

Though they haven’t yet found her body, I do hope they can find her and provide some closure for her family.

Rest in peace, Naya. You will be missed.

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: Learning to Let Go

Last time: Zoey was still reeling from seeing Leif and Joan kissing when she learned that SPRQ Point’s founder was coming in so they could pitch the Chirp to him. Zoey had to try to fit their implementation timeline into six months when she got news that her father only had weeks to live. The stress caused her powers to glitch, forcing her to sing her heart songs rather than hear others’. She sang to Leif and Joan, revealing she knew they had kissed. Then she sang to the founder and Max had to save her, which led to her singing a love song to him. But not long after, she sang a song about how she wanted Simon to want her – which Max heard. It led to a fight, though it was somewhat resolved when Zoey told him about her dad. She and Simon also kissed and she ended the episode an emotional wreck, singing to her dying father.


Whew!


That might be my shortest recap so far!

Hello darkness, my old friend/I’ve come to talk with SPOILERS!

Splash Mountain: From Laughing Place to the Bayou

Big news from Disney! Besides the fact that they are pushing back Disneyland’s scheduled reopening on July 17th (and honestly, they should also push back Walt Disney World’s looking at the numbers coming out of Florida). Splash Mountain is getting reimagined, going from its current Song of the South theme to a Princess and the Frog theme.


You can read about it on the Disney Parks Blog.


Usually, I’m one of those Disney fans who doesn’t like when they change things. I still am not over the fact they took out Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. And I would love to know who I have to blackmail to get the original Journey into Imagination ride restored.

(Splash Mountain in Walt Disney World)

But this change? I’m good with it.

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: Zoey’s Turn

Last time: Zoey and Simon agreed to go back to only being colleagues. Max then surprised her with a flash mob song performance that freaked out her, leading to her ultimately telling him about her powers. He didn’t believe her and she tried to prove it to him. Max only believed her after she confessed that she heard him singing love songs to her and then set him up with Autumn to divert his feelings from her. That hurt him and he wondered if they were even friends. Zoey apologized and promised to do better, though she couldn’t sort out her feelings for Max just yet. They agreed to maintain some distance though there did appear to be some hope for their friendship.


Meanwhile, Leif and Joan were eagerly moving forward with the Chirp. Zoey felt out of the loop as manager and Tobin felt as if his best friend was moving on from him, especially when Leif missed their spelliversary (the anniversary of them winning the national spelling bee). Zoey got him to open to Leif, who said he wanted to run SPRQ Point with Tobin and they reconciled. Then that night, she caught Leif and Joan kissing after a late night work session.


And Maggie decided to hire a care giver to help with Mitch. She thought she found the perfect one but Nancy’s cold and clinical approach ultimately was not what they needed. Instead, they hired Howie, who bonded with Mitch and proved himself to be an able care giver.


Thankfully, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist will be coming back for a second season! I can’t wait to see what happens next and what new songs they decide to use this time!

You have to learn to pace yourself/SPOILERS!/You’re just like everyone body else/SPOILERS!

Zoey's Coming Back!

NBC has renewed Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist for a second season! It's gotten a 13 episode order, which is about the same amount the first season had so I wouldn't be surprised if it was another mid-season replacement.

We'll get to see how the Clarke family adjusts to not having Mitch around, if Mitch still appears to Zoey from time to time, what Max does now that he's no longer at SPRQ Point, if Zoey chooses Max or Simon, and what happens with Joan running SPRQ Point. Oh, and hopefully lots more Mo!

I'll see you next week with another recap! For now, let's celebrate that we're getting a second season!

An Apology

I started this blog in 2008 when I was 22. Twelve years have gone fast (some faster than others) and the world, our country and I am so much older and just a little bit more wiser.

I have written over 1,000 posts and recapped several shows. And I am certain that over the course of 12 years and 1000+ posts, I’ve probably written something that was offensive or derogatory. That I made comments that may have been insensitive to someone’s race or gender or sexuality. I may have thought I was being funny but I wasn’t.

I am sorry.

I promise to do better and to really consider my words as I continue to write my posts.

I promise to keep learning and to be open if someone tells me that something is offensive, to educate myself why and to stop doing it.

Thank you.

And That’s What You Missed on Glee!

I know. I’m talking about Glee. It’s been years, right? But there’s a reason.

And, no, it’s not a good one.

It also does involve the current climate of the country. Let me say that I am horrified by the actions of the former officers in Milwaukee and the death of George Floyd at their hands (or rather, knees and inaction). And I am angry that this is just the latest in a series of Black deaths caused by the police. Change needs to happen and America needs to confront and overcome our racial prejudices.

Black. Lives. Matter.

Our Glee saga began a week ago when Lea Michele (Rachel Berry) posted a tweet about George Floyd, much like many other celebrities (and people) had throughout the past couple weeks.

Then on Monday, June 1st, Samantha Ware quote-tweeted Lea’s tweet. Samantha played Jane Haywood during Season 6 of the show. In her tweet, she wrote that Lea made her first TV job a living nightmare, threatened to “shit” in her wig, and committed other microaggressions against Samantha during filming.

(Samantha Ware)

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: The Truth Hurts

Apologies. I didn't mean to skip last week but I'm sure you all understand that there were larger things that I gave my attention to. 

Last time: Zoey and Simon resisted temptation. She decided it was best if she didn’t go to his engagement party but ended up there after getting some drinks with Joan. Things went downhill fast after Jessica overheard Zoey talking with her mother about the night before and confronted Simon and Zoey about it. It ended with the flower wall in flames and Zoey fleeing their house. Her misery was compounded when her father was rushed to the hospital and it was Max who came to her rescue to get her away to the party and to the hospital.


Meanwhile, Max couldn’t comprehend that Autumn might have some hurt feelings after their breakup. Mo decided to give him a makeover and then he helped Mo get together with Jessica’s friend Eddie at the party. And Joan and Leif ended up working together on a new project for SPRQ Point.


Still no news about Zoey’s fate as NBC still has not unveiled its new season yet. Most of what I have seen is hopeful about Zoey. While it’s live numbers aren’t the greatest, it apparently has excellent digital numbers which is always a plus in today’s landscape. So it’s likely NBC will keep Zoey for another season.

Everything means nothing if I can’t have SPOILERS!