schmicago | every musical reference in episode 3 | season 2 of Schmigadoon! review + analysis

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OHMYGOD HEY!
The Apple TV+ series SCHMIGADOON is back with a new season set in the darker world of SCHMICAGO!
In today's vlog I'm recapping, reviewing and analysing the third episode of season 2 and talking you through the many musical theatre references I noticed...
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#schmicago #Broadway #schmigadoon

[@maximumoverdrive6755]

Now I’m waiting for Season 3 of Schmigadoon where they do the mega musicals of the 80s and see if they incorporate more of Jane Krakowski in roller skates.

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

I absolutely need a human character who insists they are a train.

[@audramcdonaldapologist3676]

And 90s musicals I want to see a RENT pastiche

[@sweeney60]

@@MickeyJoTheatre my theory is that Josh and Melissa will adopt two orphans, one resembling Oliver and one resembling Annie but in the next season they will become Jack and Red Riding Hood from Into the Woods.

[@etherealtb6021]

Theories: Will Season 3 be called Schmats? Schmaphantom? 😂😂😂

[@PurpleBiscuit]

​@@etherealtb6021 Le Schmisserables

[@ebrozo]

I love that Melissa never saw the end of Sweeney Todd because she was traumatized by the violence and left early, so she doesn't realize that pairing up Dooley and Miss Codwell will start a bloodbath.

[@JackieWarner13]

If Sweeney Todd producers are looking to cast someone after Josh Groban leaves the revival they should look at Alan 😂 He was so good. I wish the soundtrack would come out weekly I don't want to watch another few weeks.

[@Sharpe1502]

When Patrick Page left Hadestown, I totally thought that he was gonna play Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd. I was wrong. But I like the fact that I was kinda right. 😂

[@lexterminate]

Also Aaron was Danny in grease live and when they name dropped “zuko and kenicke” he did the hair comb motion to his Afro.

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

BODY LANGUAGE EASTER EGGS?! This is a next level observation!

[@lexterminate]

@@MickeyJoTheatre literally everyone in the Aaron Tveit fandom giffed it immediately

[@stephaniereeves2669]

There is even some hand jive hand movements after we have just mentioned the characters from grease

[@lexterminate]

@@stephaniereeves2669 yeah and some greased lightning too I think. When hair and grease collide.

[@AnnelisR]

PEEPED THAT!

[@SM-BSW]

In the Sweeney Todd bit, Melissa says "First of all...Oh NO!" Which is a callback to the first episode, when she talks about being traumatized by a Sweeney Todd production when she was 8.

[@UranusHz420]

It’s also a callback to Josh in season one when Betsy points out the tree her pa planted when she was born

[@SM-BSW]

@@UranusHz420 I think Broadway by Ghostlight pointed that out. But yes that too!

[@handybowis7150]

Popping out my theory here that the ‘I’ll drink to that’ lady is going to turn out to be the sweeney Todd beggar woman counterpart 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@brittanyfischer1786]

This is so interesting! But is she too old?

[@julezyme]

Same

[@auntlala3]

Perfect!!!!! Didn’t even think of that but I 100% agree!!!!

[@CindersSpot]

Ah I just commented this, I see you beat me to it! I'm glad someone else agrees because I feel like I'm going a little insane from theorising

[@coreyliston624]

Not from Company? Ladies who lunch?

[@AmyClareTasker]

I had to pause the TV when Alan Cumming reprised “the worst brats in town” meaning sausages. Absolutely brilliant. 😂

[@callalily3994]

The "Worst Brats in Town" song also has a couple of lines that pretty closely mirror the "I'd like a man to nibble on my ear. But I'll admit, no man has bit, so how come I'm the mother of the year?" bit from "Little Girls" from Annie.

[@SM-BSW]

"Flowers don't wear pants" is my favorite stupid line of anything ever! Also, while I love Jane Krakowski's number, Patrick Page as a Caiaphas/Terpin mashup was my favorite number!

[@MusicalMiranda82]

I think, the reason there's no happiness is because of the narrator. I have a feeling they're going to pull an Into the Woods and kill the narrator... lol I love this show and am not too familiar with this Era of musicals. I'm like Melissa lol. I have seen Chicago, Sweeney Todd, and Annie though! :-) Thank you for the breakdown! Can't wait until you get to episode 4.

[@laurenharris9197]

Cinco Paul said in an interview that he wanted Cecily to wear every Barbara Streisand outfit from Funny Girl. I hadn't noticed when I watched it so that is a great catch!

[@jurney3478]

I think Herman's Hummable tunes was a tribute to Jerry Herman, but also a deep cut reference to his 1984 Tony win for best score over Sondheim. Apparently it was quite the scandal back in the day.

[@graymoreghost]

I remember watching the Tony's that night and seeing Herman accept the award where he made a little dig at Sondheim saying something like the "hummable" musical is still alive at the theater where La Cage aux Folles was playing It totally made me dislike Jerry Herman for good. There was no need for that comment If you don't get the reference, back in the day Sondheim was picked on for writing scores where you couldn't hum any of his songs Sondheim made a brilliant response to that saying that if you walk out of the Theatre humming a song from the show, it means that you've heard that melody before. The song isn't very new in other words And he's absolutely right as always!

[@theprincessblog]

I'm only halfway through the video now, but I think you missed the reference to Sweeney Todd where the squeaky door keeps freaking out Melissa because the Sweeney Todd play has a very loud squeaking sound every time someone dies that freaked out my husband the first time I played the soundtrack.

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

Amazing 😂

[@graymoreghost]

It was a loud whistle sound like the ones you would hear from a factory typically signifying the beginning or end of a shift

[@ameliaretter8120]

Bells and Whistles made my litigator heart so happy! Can’t say I’ve ever thought about roller skating in court but thinking of trying it out…but no way I’d look as good as Jane Krakowski doing it. Usually you’d refer to the public watching a trial or hearing in the collective just as “the public gallery”. And this is a bit of nit picking, but a jury never delivers an innocent verdict. It’s not guilty which is functionally different: it’s not saying someone definitively didn’t do something, it is just saying that the prosecution failed discharge the burden of proof by proving their case to the required standard. So very annoyed that they got that wrong (especially since Bobby used the right wording on the handkerchief). And yeah, definitely not allowed to drink anything except water in court (and usually only counsel and court staff can have water).

[@lisa-lisa-lisa]

"Jane Krakowski is the most talented person on the planet" so much truth this should be merch

[@alicejp1231]

I’m not sure if the ages of the characters match up but I suspect the “I’ll drink to that!” lady is going to be the butcher’s wife like on Sweeney Todd 🧐

[@ljspivak9447]

Daisy Gamble. Lead character of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. Barbara Harris on B'way, Barbra Streisand on film.

[@waymanwong6899]

Congrats on another delightful breakdown of the tunes in ''Schmigadoon!'' Cinco Paul won an Emmy for ''Corn Pudding'' from Season 1, and I hope he wins another for ''Bells and Whistles'' from Season 2. Genius! And speaking of geniuses, let's also applaud the clever choreography of Christopher Gattelli, the orchestrations of Doug Besterman and the score of Christopher Wells, too. Bravo!

[@wavidavi539]

my prediction is that the little black girl orphan will be the annie character and their own take on the annie musical with the race swap of the 2014 film version and that melissa and josh will adopt her instead of conceiving on their own thus finding happiness in a different way

[@joeshlabotnik5764]

My guess is that Alan Cummings' character is called Dooley Flint so that there can be something akin to a "Hello Dooley" number later in the season.

[@maurinet2291]

That would be GREAT.

[@theironix8119]

FOr me the wife being called Daisy somewhat comes off as a Sidesow reference. I may be wrong though.

[@joshuaklein8465]

Also when they’re singing the grease names in the hair sequence, they do the hand jive

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

At this point I'm questioning if I was even paying attention.

[@PianoDisneygal10]

I noticed this right away, especially since Aaron played Danny Zuko once upon a time.

[@hannahfagan9904]

I’m calling it - Duly’s wife Daisy will be revealed to be the ‘I’ll drink to that’ lady who’s been hanging around

[@ryno1509]

I bet I’ll drink to that lady turns out doing the butchers wife, always in the background and that’s all she can say it would be a great parody of the wife from Sweeney Todd

[@corgilover2319]

I think we are going to have a end of "Phantom" triangle with Kratt, Melissa, and Josh. Give Jane K an EMMY!!!!!!! Bells and Whistles was incredible.

[@elizabethheyn5365]

My favourite scene was when everyone got naked and Josh immediately clocked on some odd looking moles 😆 I’m alright with the weekly episode drops - gives me something to look forward to, but I do wish I had the soundtrack or that they’d do weekly drops of that as well.

[@ceilidancr]

I immediately clocked the hippie wearing the jacket that looks like Enjolras' xylophone vest- but it also reminded me a little of the jacket John the Baptist wears in the Godspell movie, which, while mostly blue, has two red stripes with gold/yellow circles/buttons down them. His yellow sleeves also look like the yellow striped shirt John the Baptist wears under his jacket (I googled JtB's outfit from Godspell bc it was tickling my memory.) It's definitely mostly the Enjolras jacket, but since part of the parody the hippies are there for is Godspell, maybe a double-duty reference. The chain-link fence around the hippie commune is also definitely giving Godspell set design.

[@CindersSpot]

My latest insane theories are 1. The "I'll drink to that" woman is Daisy (Dooley's wife and Jenna's mother) because she most closely resembles the beggar woman in Sweeney Todd 2. Dooley seems way more nice and redeemable than his Sweeney Todd counterpart, because he smiles more and is genuinely affected by Melissa's concern for him. But then again, (episode 4 spoilers) he is also gonna (attempt to) murder literal children so. That is not great. 3. THERE IS SOMEONE SPYING ON MELISSA AND JENNY IN THEIR APARTMENT THERE ARE MOST DEFINITELY POV-SHOTS IN THERE WHO COULD IT BE IT'S DRIVING ME INSANE I took notes of the lines where they cut to the POV-shots so that I could make sense of it but I'm really not can anybody please help me. The lines are: - when Jenny says Melissa would definitely fit into Elsie's old clothes (could be symbolic, the line is "everything here has lots of stretch in it") - when Jenny says "Kratt is gonna make me a star" (something he promised to Elsie before) - When Josh and Melissa are looking at everyone's lives and say "What did we miss? What did everyone here miss?" - When Melissa mentions Jenny's father to her and makes everything awkward My thoughts are possibly - Either Kratt or Agent Rivera is spying on them (probably Kratt since it seems to be related to Jenny's backstory) - Or either Elsie or Daisy is still alive and hiding in the apartment (Daisy would make sense because we haven't seen her dead body and we have seen Elsie's, also backstory stuff. But it would make more sense for Elsie to be hiding in her own apartment than for Daisy to). So if anybody could help me figure out what is going on that would be great because I may be going slightly mad. ((Probably will copy this comment to your episode 4 video once it's out since this is actually about episode 4))

[@sweeney60]

I have a feeling that Krat is going to end up killing Topher, tying together Jesus Christ Super Star and Godspell.

[@MaddieFLevine]

I think the “I’ll drink to that!” lady will be the Beggar Woman/Lucy of the story!

[@agould8705]

the blonde hippie messenger girl on roller skates is definitely a reference to the girl in the godspell ensemble who sing day by day (i think)

[@christopherbutler1980]

Daisy is Daisy Gamble- Clear Day. Cecily's hat and outfit that you thought was Fanny is also Babs as Daisy. Fun breakdown!

[@jeanniedalton9489]

It also reminds me of Lili

[@robwilliamson5082]

Can we talk about the fact that Bobby’s patter section is also very similar melodically to War is a Science from pippin.

[@macrinanewhouse]

Also “I am the very model of a modern major general”

[@eandttruelove]

Titus Burgess is giving my LIFE! Love him this season ❤

[@philipbear]

Jane Krakowski sings “Looks 10, Dance 3” and “Let Me Dance For You" from Chorus Line in Ally McBeal Season 5 Episode 20 and that was 20 years ago. She belted them out back then and she has not aged.

[@petecoogan]

Worst brats in town made into the worst brats in town!

[@LPM12]

Just a hunch, but could the butcher's wife's name, Daisy, be a reference to the song "Wait"? "gillyflowers, maybe? Stead of Daisies."

[@bethsellars3036]

Katie Hanley played a waitress in Godspell who wore roller skates when she joined the group and changed. She also had the painted yellow lines near her eye similar to Topher. The costume of the actor wearing the roller skates resembles the character played by Robin Lamont with flowers in her hair, the striped shirt and suspenders. Robin Lamont performed “Day By Day.”

[@julezyme]

I also thought the military jacket guy was styled like John the Baptist from the Godspell film.

[@hannahland7863]

My conspiracy theory is that the Ladies Who Lunch lady is Dooley’s missing/presumed dead wife, because she’s the closest to the beggar woman that we’ve met so far 😅

[@Paul_Ernst]

Yes, there has to be a twist. Of course, Topher is Kratt's son.

[@TonyRandza]

Yes. I was just coming on her to say I believe she is also the Homeless Beggar Woman from Sweeney Todd. She looks like the woman in the picture as well.

[@hannahland7863]

@@Paul_Ernst Brilliant!

[@SM-BSW]

2:37 notice that Herman's Humable Tunes is boarded up? I think that's a subtle dig at Herman, and an indication of how the showrunners feel about his swipe at Sondheim. And also perhaps a hint that Jerry Herman is not welcome in Schmicago?

[@SalemEverett]

Loving this season so far, that Jane Krakowski number was life-changing she's such an icon

[@1995milo]

Most of the hippy costumes are very similar to the costumes from Godspell movie especially the girl with striped shirt and flower crown, also the hippies are in a junk yard because that is where Godspell is set

[@notsoyellowbrickroad]

Patrick Page's number is also a reference to Judge Turpin's self-flagellation number!

[@jc_jc_jc_jc_jc]

When they sang the Grease names, they were doing a similar hand jive choreo too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bX64ooqwmLGql9E

[@arleyberryhill4606]

Love your channel. The chest decoration on the military vest of the Godspell hippy is simply called "gold braid", or sometimes "gold loops" (as the purpose of the braid is just fancy button-holes/loops.) "Epaulets" are the shoulder decoration. It was funny, because as you were saying it looks like the vest in Les Miz, your Les Miz pillow, with the design you were talking about, was right behind you.

[@PS-DLMA]

Krakowski's court number is full of original HOT HONEY RAG choreography

[@fundifferent1]

The melody for "Gotta Gotta Gotta Gotta Get Naked" is the opening and closing riff to "I Gotcha" from "Liza With A Z". In fact just before the "Gotta Gotta Get Naked" bridge starts you hear the I Gotcha riff pretty clearly for a couple seconds. The palms when they got naked was a reference to Jesus Christ Superstar's Hosanna. Melissa's courtroom outfit is a reference to Sweet Charity. In the film Charity wears the same outfit during Rhythm of Life

[@allisonbergh4429]

Oh, good catch on Quick/Fleet/Easy! I hadn’t spotted that 😅

[@xphiler0656]

I also felt like the butcher scene songs, though very Sweeney Todd, also reminded me of Les Mis; when you mentioned the military styling of the jacket, I was wondering if that reference would lead to you also getting that vibe. The wronged man plot is similar enough, I was thinking it was just me, but with the intentional costuming...

[@in7his7eyes7]

9:15 Daisy Mae Scragg from Lil' Abner?

[@etherealtb6021]

"That's a theatrical red flag!" 😂😂😂 Noted!

[@mstarmm]

Melissa's outfit looks more like "That Girl" opening outfit than "Funny Girl" audition except for the hair... the hair is total funny girl... & I know that "That Girl" is Not a musical but it is a musical# for the show opening & I know that probably does not make a difference... just look.. the hat is right out of "That Girl"

[@witchywoman2008]

The SOUND I made when Patrick Page started doing This Jesus Must Die. I couldn’t believe it

[@stephaniereeves2669]

I am loving Schmigadoon series 2 the only way I can get through is by listening to all of the songs from the first series and then watching every episode from the beginning. 💗💗💗💗 I'll probably be in tears if they do not make a third series.

[@nardo218]

Enjelorous is wearing a Sgt Pepper's jacket, which is itself a yellow submarine reference. sorry, i can't spell in french. Epaulettes are flat loops on the shoulders that you attach insignia to; the jacket details in this is just gold braid detailing. This ep is my new favorite tv musical comedy thing. it's a blender of all my favorite 'dark triad broadway' shows.

[@tenkitty]

Is it me or does Alan Cumming’s character have the outfit of George Hern from the stage show of Sweeney but his delivery is giving Johnny Depp from the Tim Burton film ?

[@lindsaycutter2834]

One thing I haven't seen discussed are the sock puppets used by the hippies. I wonder if it may be an Avenue Q reference, even though that didn't come out until the early aughts.

[@markbeck8384]

Some Starlight Express would be fun..

[@LubeeLu1]

The fact that they combined Patrick Page’s buttery bass with JCS, especially ‘Jesus Must die’ made my week and I think I can now die happy ❤

[@LubeeLu1]

The fast it at the end of the song in court was also giving strong “War is a Science” from Pippin vibes when the king had to go through the plan super fast since Pippin kept interrupting

[@hrizonsdebbie]

I thought the courtroom patter was like Modern Major General.

[@audramcdonaldapologist3676]

4:22 the military jacket Michael is wearing is very Judas from Godspell too

[@borealissys]

Love the "What's that in the bread, it's gone to my head" reference.

[@julezyme]

Omg, I just got "All I wish is" Menlove. 😂

[@cocojustino3783]

I also felt like Bells and Whistles had elements of A Little Brains a Little Talent

[@fabrisseterbrugghe8567]

I can't be your 50,000th. I'm already subscribed.

[@fabrisseterbrugghe8567]

I saw Alan Cumming's version of the Scottish play. He was brilliant in all the roles.

[@fabrisseterbrugghe8567]

I also saw Jane Krakowski in the Boston tryouts for Grand Hotel. Her big solo as Flaemmchen was stunning and got an ovation.

[@glennmartin6492]

I wonder if Randy Rainbow could show up?

[@julezyme]

Lots of Superstar references in the Get Naked segment, specifically the Simon Zealot dance sequence with the high kicks and freeze frame. So the was definitely a what's that in this bread last supper reference!

[@julezyme]

Looking ahead to the orphans, we've got Annie (obvs) plus Oliver, but I'm also wondering if we'll see some Gypsy references for the kids. There's clearly an Orphanage To Cabaret pipeline here.

[@societycrumbles]

If they get season 3 and 4 I hope they will do the musicals of 80s, 90s, 2000s and 2010s!

[@petecoogan]

I want to see Hadestown, something rotten, and Hamilton in season 4

[@Erni3K]

JUDY!

[@linus1703]

I was unimpressed with season 1 of Schmiagdoo, it felt like a genre of musicals I've never really been exposed to and it didn't quite land. This season though oh my gods I am in love, there are some real bangers.

[@jaybryant-green585]

I've never heard of Schmigadoon. Apparently I've been living under a rock 😮 Where can I find it? Seems I have a lot of catching up to do!

[@jeeperscreeperscos]

Apple TV+!!

[@thisdayisbananas]

do you know adam hattan? i weirdly ship the two of you.. sorry super random, but you're both adorable UK-based, niche-subject youtubers lol