BLOGS
After countless agonizing months of waiting, the first new episode of Glee since its May premiere is finally close at hand, and since next week's kickoff is likely to take television musical conventions into outer space, it made us nostalgic for some of our favorite past musical moments on other shows. After all, it's not like Glee invented music. The concept of "auditioning for the role of kicker," sure, but music's been around at least since these other shows aired. Here are our all-time favorite people-bustin'-out-singin'-on-TV moments.
Robin Sparkles, "Sandcastles in the Sand" (How I Met Your Mother)
This might be a controversial choice, but although "Let's Go to the Mall" was the original Robin Sparkles triumph, "Sandcastles in the Sand" is far superior for four reasons: Dawson, Tiffany, Alan Thicke and the concept of traveling the globe "from Alberta to Ontario." And it sounds more like a song that would have actually existed a opposed to "Let's Go to the Mall," which, awesome as it is, is really straight-up SNL sketch from beginning to end. "Sandcastles" is a move toward joke-song refinement.
"Freedom '90" (Eli Stone)
Spydaddy performing the hell out of a George Michael song? It was weird, it was hilarious and, honestly, it made us a little uncomfortable, but all in a good way. Mostly.
Pete and Trudy Are Possessed By Flappers (Mad Men)
Much has been made over how musical the past couple Mad Men episodes have been -- Peggy's Ann-Margret impression, Joan's sad French accordion show, Kinsey's Tiger Tones, Roger's blackface -- and those were indeed amazing moments, but I will never, as long as I live, forget Pete and Trudy Campbell inexplicably busting into 1920s fad dances to the delight and awe of everyone at the company party. In fact, it's such a perfect WTF moment that I hope it's never explained.
"One Way or Another" (Veronica Mars)
It's every karaoke fanatic's dream to tell their enemies off via carefully selected pop song, and with 90 seconds of Broadway-style Blondie, Ms. Mars did just that. She later went on to ruin her enemies properly of course, Veronica-style, but the pointed Blondie rendition was like her opening war cry.
"The Nightman Cometh" (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia)
Charlie's illiterate vision of a Nightman who pays a troll toll to come into a young boy's room while he's sleeping, becomes him and is then defeated by the Dayman isn't a perverted glorification of rape -- it's beautiful music. And a perfectly reasonable excuse for Mac to apply cat eyes and do karate.
"Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" (30 Rock)
Personally, it's a toss-up between this and Jenna and Kenneth's "Midnight Train to Georgia," but I know "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" is the crowd favorite, and, really, I can't fault that. Boys becoming men. Men becoming wolves. It's spooky scary. Hard to top, even if you do have Grizz and Dot Com for back-up dancers, Jenna.
"My Musical" (Scrubs)
Memorable only because of how unflinchingly bad it was. No one could sing, the songs were uninspired and I cringe every time I catch a second of it in reruns. This originally aired back when I still loved this show, and even then I had a difficult time making it all the way to the end.
"Once More With Feeling" (Buffy)
This is everybody's favorite. You probably clicked on the link just hoping we didn't forget it. Nobody worry, we fully acknowledge its greatness. From Tara's sweet "Under Your Spell" to Spike's intense "Rest in Peace," "Once More With Feeling" hit all the right notes, even ending with a swoony classic movie kiss.
Your favorites? That's what the comments are for!
This might be a controversial choice, but although "Let's Go to the Mall" was the original Robin Sparkles triumph, "Sandcastles in the Sand" is far superior for four reasons: Dawson, Tiffany, Alan Thicke and the concept of traveling the globe "from Alberta to Ontario." And it sounds more like a song that would have actually existed a opposed to "Let's Go to the Mall," which, awesome as it is, is really straight-up SNL sketch from beginning to end. "Sandcastles" is a move toward joke-song refinement.
"Freedom '90" (Eli Stone)
Spydaddy performing the hell out of a George Michael song? It was weird, it was hilarious and, honestly, it made us a little uncomfortable, but all in a good way. Mostly.
Pete and Trudy Are Possessed By Flappers (Mad Men)
Much has been made over how musical the past couple Mad Men episodes have been -- Peggy's Ann-Margret impression, Joan's sad French accordion show, Kinsey's Tiger Tones, Roger's blackface -- and those were indeed amazing moments, but I will never, as long as I live, forget Pete and Trudy Campbell inexplicably busting into 1920s fad dances to the delight and awe of everyone at the company party. In fact, it's such a perfect WTF moment that I hope it's never explained.
"One Way or Another" (Veronica Mars)
It's every karaoke fanatic's dream to tell their enemies off via carefully selected pop song, and with 90 seconds of Broadway-style Blondie, Ms. Mars did just that. She later went on to ruin her enemies properly of course, Veronica-style, but the pointed Blondie rendition was like her opening war cry.
"The Nightman Cometh" (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia)
Charlie's illiterate vision of a Nightman who pays a troll toll to come into a young boy's room while he's sleeping, becomes him and is then defeated by the Dayman isn't a perverted glorification of rape -- it's beautiful music. And a perfectly reasonable excuse for Mac to apply cat eyes and do karate.
"Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" (30 Rock)
Personally, it's a toss-up between this and Jenna and Kenneth's "Midnight Train to Georgia," but I know "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" is the crowd favorite, and, really, I can't fault that. Boys becoming men. Men becoming wolves. It's spooky scary. Hard to top, even if you do have Grizz and Dot Com for back-up dancers, Jenna.
"My Musical" (Scrubs)
Memorable only because of how unflinchingly bad it was. No one could sing, the songs were uninspired and I cringe every time I catch a second of it in reruns. This originally aired back when I still loved this show, and even then I had a difficult time making it all the way to the end.
"Once More With Feeling" (Buffy)
This is everybody's favorite. You probably clicked on the link just hoping we didn't forget it. Nobody worry, we fully acknowledge its greatness. From Tara's sweet "Under Your Spell" to Spike's intense "Rest in Peace," "Once More With Feeling" hit all the right notes, even ending with a swoony classic movie kiss.
Your favorites? That's what the comments are for!
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What? The Scrubs musical was fabulous! All of them were great singers, except Eliott and J.D. and he at least is on pitch and she didn't really sing. J.D. and Turk's "Guy Love" is one of my favourite tv musical moments.
My favorite Eli Stone song was "Feeling Good" in the S1 finale.
How can you disregard Data and Dr. Crusher's tap dance number on Star Trek!?
Great list but I'm saddened to not see Pushing Daisies on the list there. Kristen Chenowith's rendition of "Hopelessly Devoted to You" is definitely a classic.
(I do agree with Sandcastle in the Sand over Let's Go to the Mall, though mainly because of the Robin/Barney hook-up that followed it.)
The Scrubs musical episode was great. Sure some of them were not exactly world class singers, but it was solid and pretty funny.
Buffy did have the advantage of a greater number of genuinely good singers, and it was generally better, but to praise it so high and condemn the Scrubs effort so low I find a little surprising.
Then again, that was always my opinion of Buffy generally. Usually pretty good, even bordering on great on occasion, but still elevated to absurd proportions from what it was.
Pushing Daisies "Morning Has Broken" is definitely on the top for me.
Also, 30 Rock's "Midnight Train to Georgia" is vastly superior to Werewolf. Grizz & DotCom as Pips???? Awesome.
So glad to see Whedon's Once More with Feeling acknowledged. I have a hard time imagining anything topping it, even in the future. The whole thing is so cleverly done: it stands on its own but is also integral to the main arc of the Buffy storyline.
Nice to see the Veronica Mars number mentioned, too--a great scene!
I definitely agree that Pushing Daisies should have a mention for all its musical numbers--the aforementioned "Hopelessly Devoted to You" and "Morning Has Broken," but also Olive and Vivian's "Birdhouse in your Soul," and my personal favorite, Olive's lovely rendition of "Eternal Flame." I really hated the Bangles' version and loved it when Kristin Chenoweth managed to make it dreamy and sweet.
Also, going waaaay back to the 80's, Moonlighting had a great musical number in which David and Maddie danced in Maddie's dream sequence--with Sandahl Bergman, no less--to Billy Joel's "Big Man on Mulberry Street." I nearly killed myself trying to do some of the choreography.
This list should be "greatest RECENT TV musical moments". There is nothing in here about the great musical numbers from various 80's TV show.
As someone much older than 25, I have a clear memory of great TV musical numbers before there was even MTV. I am talking about Fame, Magnum PI, Moonlighting, Remington Steele (nothing says crazy 80's sex symbol like Stephanie Zimblast singing a torch song) and the biggest of them all: The Partridge Family.
While these newer shows are admittingly very good, nothing can really top Gilligan's Island's musical Hamlet. Dude, it's Hamlet! And musical! And Gilligan!!!
Okay, so the Scrubs actors weren't the most talented singers out there but "unflinchingly bad" and "uninspired"? Harsh. I thought it was totally in the spirit of the show and was incredibly entertaining. So they weren't Broadway class singers, it's not like they were equivalent to the kind of singers you get late night in a bar on karaoke night. Except Sarah Chalke. I'll give you that one, she was glaringly bad.
I agree with others though that basically everything from Eli Stone and Pushing Daisies should have made it in. Kristin Chenoweth made painful songs beautiful.
How about Angel's rendition of "Mandy"? It was so bad, it was good.
Bitter Suite from Xena was pretty awesome... and total agreement on the Pushing Daisies thing, although I would nominate the Birdhouse in your Soul part because, uh duh They Might Be Giants.
"Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" is good; "Muffin Top" by Jenna Maroney is better.
Also, it's a short version but the a Capella rain slicker singers + Kristen Chenoweth doing "Candle on the Water" on PD ranks way up there. Mostly because I loved that song/Pete's Dragon so much as a kid.
Okay, since someone mentioned Fame. I know it's hard to pick, because there are so, so many, but first season's "Desdemona"? With the cotton candy-coloured costumes, the horse people, the frantic leaping and the musicians with mustaches?
Desde! Desde! Desdemona!
VERONICA MARS!!!!
Elliot on Law and Order SVU sings part of Elvis Costello's "Allison" to a little girl.
Fame's 'Desdemona' is an inspired choice! I remember that so well.
Throwing a vote too for 'Pushing Daisies' Birdhouse in Your Soul and Eternal Flame, but in the end, BtVS 'Once More, with Feeling' has to win hands down, not because of the singing, but because the entire episode made sense within the concept of the series, advanced the Season's plot arc in a vital manner, featured lesbian porn in a way that was too subtle(!?) for UPN to catch, and featured Anthony Stewart Head doing what he does best.
the Scrubs musical = pure awesomeness. and pushing daisies definitely should have been included.
Yes, you're right...I did click on this link just to make sure Once More with Feeling got it due. It's brilliant because it's not gimmicky at all, and the songs are actually enjoyable, catchy, sometimes beautiful pieces with clever lyrics to boot.
And yay Veronica Mars. I love that scene!
Yes, you're right...I did click on this link just to make sure Once More with Feeling got it due. It's brilliant because it's not gimmicky at all, and the songs are actually enjoyable, catchy, sometimes beautiful pieces with clever lyrics to boot.
And yay Veronica Mars. I love that scene!
The British Office! Free Love on the Freelove Freeway!
Can still sing the Gilligan Shakespeare musical. So good.
I'd agree with others that Sarah Chalke was the only truly bad singer in the Scrubs cast, and to be fair, she does know that. IIRC on either the 1st or second season DVDs she comments on an episode there was a little musical bit and explained why she had been nowhere near it.
The characters from "Six Feet Under" were always bursting into song. I fondly remember Claire's "What A Little Moonlight Can Do," and David's "I've Got A Lot Of Living To Do" and "Blow, Gabriel, Blow."
Once More, With Feeling is definately my favourite Buffy episode. I'm surprised my disk still works with the amount of times I've watched it. It's rather unfair to compare Scrubs to Buffy. Scrubs was okay, nothing special. I too think that Olive's Hopelessly Devoted To You should have been included. Loved the Veronica Mars bit.
Drew Carey show had a few, although it was more dancing than singing (thankfully). Not as high-quality (hello choppy editing) but certainly memorable. That '70s Show had an entire musical episode, but it set the "unwatchable" bar pretty high.
What about the Jeffster performances on Chuck, so great.
Now, I know you didn't completely miss the Showtime musical Reefer Madness, featuring the above referenced Kristen Bell, Alan Cummings, Steven Webber, and Anna Gasner. Best music I've ever seen, period, and Kristen Bell has a voice to die for.
Lorelai Gilmore singing "I Will Always Love You" originally to Rory, and then Luke entering and the object of the song changing... Lauren Graham nailed it. So this was snubbed why?
LOVE that you included the WTF Pete and Trudy moment!!!! And such an accurate assessment, too. Also am inclined to agree re: Sandcastles in the Sand, although it's a little boring compared to Let's Go To The Mall.
As for the Scrubs musical, wasn't Sarah Chalke opposed to doing it because she knows she's a bad singer? It hardly seems fair to fault her for it when she had to do it and was open about her lack of talent.
What, not mention of the 80's classic musical show, "Rags to Riches"?
Not sure if this counts, as it's technically an outtake (though it WAS aired along with the actual episode, so...), but Jensen Ackles' awesome leg-guitar-strumming, lip-synched performance of "Eye of the Tiger" on Supernatural was CLASSIC! But on another note, I wholeheartedly endorse the inclusion of Once More With Feeling - one of the best episodes of any TV show ever!
I don't usually quibble with lists such as this, but "All-Time" favorite musical numbers should have at least one Cosby Show mention. The whole family performing "(Night Time Is) The Right Time" is classic.
Thank you, readwitch, for adding Xena: Warrior Princess's "Bitter Suite". Like, Buffy's "Once More, With Feeling" this musical episode not only featured great (or at least humourous) singing and catchy songs but also explored a meaty story arc in a gasp-inducing way.
Woody Harrelson's ode to his rich girlfriend on Cheers: The Kelly Song./ The Best TV Musical Moment ever. www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hJjx7jTHA8
Robert Downey Jr. singing The River on Ally McBeal.
Pushing daisies, of course!!! That hoplessly devoted was sooo amazing! And Eternal Flame... so moving...
A few I feel sad that have been missed:
1. The aforementioned Pushing Daisies and anything performed on there
2. Anything from "The Simpsons" in its heyday - The Monorail Song, Lisa's protest "They have the plant, but we have the power" song, "Who Needs the Kwik-E-Mart?," etc.
3. The classic Michael and Maeby singing "Afternoon Delight" inappropriately on "Arrested Development"
4. Bonnie singing "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" at the end of the Mother's Day episode on "Roseanne"
5. For sheer unflinchingly bad, instead of "Scrubs" (which I actually liked that episode), I would have gone with the hot mess that was James, Donna, and Maddy singing "Just You and I" on "Twin Peaks" for no apparent reason when they had a killer to catch instead.
5. For sheer WTF?, I'd vote for the cast of "Nip/Tuck" lip-synching "Brighter Discontent" Magnolia-style during the Season 4 finale.
Btw, I think "Midnight Train to Georgia" is really the best music moment in 30 rock
Worst musical TV moment ever? Katie Holmes sings 'On My Own' on Dawson's Creek. EAR-CRINGING.
I loved the "You probably clicked on the link just hoping we didn't forget it." So true. Although I also wanted to see what you had to say about Robin Sparkles.
That 70s show musical, Red singing best thing ever.
Props for mentioning "The Nightman Cometh." Dee's solo and her aside about how "my character likes young boys, I do not" made it art.
That 70s show musical, Red singing best thing ever.
agree wholeheartedly on "scrubs". The only thing more painful was the"that 70s show" "musical" episode. 30 minutes of fingernails on a chalkboard would've been less painful.
While I love "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah," I actually think my favorite "30 Rock" musical moments are either Jenna's "Muffin Top" or her amazing "Take Another Piece of My Lung" in the Janey Jormp-Jomp Story.
On 30 Rock: How about Jenna's Mystic Pizza musical. "When life hands you some anchovies,just order some extra cheese"-- fabulous!
How about "Perfection" from "Cop Rock"? :-)
The Love Boat musical episode. Bar none.
When I read the title of this list, my mind immediately went to "Saved By The Bell". Either Jessie and Slater singing "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" as Zack and Kelly tearfully broke up at the dance, or the girls singing "I'm So Excited" in the episode where Jessie gets addicted to diet pills. I saw those shows when I was 10, and I'll never forget them!
Last duet - Beecher and Verne?
How could you leave that off?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbojFBvCUe4
One of my fave recent musical moments has to be the Skins season finale where out of no where they cast busts into "Wild World". It was so random.
The fact The Simpsons isn't on here at all is a tad egregious, but their performance of Streetcar! would be the one I'd pick. Ned Flanders singing, "Stell-aaaaa! Can't you here me yell-aaaaaa???" is quite simply brilliant. As is their pronunciation of "New Or-le-anns!" I'd also give some love to Pushing Daisies, but no one apparently watched that show so I'll let it slide.
While I'll agree that [i]My Musical[/i] was no [i]Once More With Feeling[/i], not all the songs from [i]OMWF[/i] were gems. If memory serves, even the recapper of that episode admitted that James Marsters didn't do a great job of "Rest in Peace" (ironic, considering his musical background).
Personally, I find that singing a few bars of "Everything Comes Down to Poo" or "Welcome to Sacred Heart" always brightens my day.
What about the scene on Veronica Mars when Vinnie sang, "Veronica Mars, I'm watching you!" into her pen-microphone to the tune of Private Eyes? That moment sticks with me.
I measure these by how long they were stuck in my head
"I missed it! (He missed it!) I missed that midnight train to Georgia (he missed that midnight train...ooh-ooh) It was an 11:45, and I was mis-informed about the time! (Misinformed about the time, didn't get a chance to stand in line...)"
"Sandcastles in the Sand......... (I'm on the pill now! Let's do it!)"
Dayman is far superior to Troll Toll, of course.
And finally, my favorite, Buffy. The standard against all else will be measured. I had "I'll Never Tell" in my head for a full month.
Another older addition: the Brady Bunch. Those silver Platters had some gems, with my personal favorite being When It's Time to Change (with Peter's voice cracking). Like a judy Blume novel, in musical form, and on TV.
I have to vote for "Midnight Train to Georgia" on 30 Rock as well, although "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" was great. That's the one I came here to see if you included.
How about Seinfeld Season 8 'The Susie' where we hear George's answering machine message? 'Believe it or not George isn't at home.....'!? Classic!
I agree that there should be a Simpsons song on this list: I'd go with "See My Vest" (Be Our Guest) or "The Stonecutters' Song" (or just the whole Musical Episode, which features most of the songs mentioned).
As I'm more a fan of clever lyrics than awesome singing, I loved both "Once More with Feeling" ("Saving lives is my endevour"/"How can I repay -" "Whatever!") and "My Musical" ("Well thank you for that glimpse into the workings of the inner man"/"Let's talk about your job and not the fact that you're" "- Dominican!"
How could you leave off Olive Snook (Kristen Chenowith) singing "Hopelessly Devoted to You" or "Eternal Flame" on Pushing Daisies? That is a crime!
I nominate the song Joan sang in Queen of the Zombies.
I didn't enjoy all of the Scrubs musical but at least 'Guy Love' was very enjoyable.
And Oh HELL no for not including anything involving Olive Snook breaking out into song pining for Ned.
Yeah, KChen singing "Candle on the water is one of my favorite all time pushing daisies moments. Also, build a little birdhouse in your soul, that was amazing. (ALSO, Kristin's guest starring on glee which is going to be AMAZING!)
And, I enjoyed the scrubs musical episode. I loved the guest star in it, Stephanie De'Abruzzo (I know that's not the right last name, but it's close) of Avenue Q fame. She was perfect for that!
At the end of one "Taxi" episode where the drivers are talking about their fantasies/ambitions, they ask Elaine (Marilu Henner) about hers, she then bursts into a full-blown musical number as the garage transforms into a Broadway stage (and Devito runs out playing a sax).
Craig Ferguson's karaoke with puppets is the funniest thing on late night TV.
Scrubs' musical was terrible, but they've done some other musical bits before, and some of them are very good singers. Ted's band, and Turk singing Neil Diamond, are both classics.
I bought the soundtrack for Once More With Feeling and it was totally worth it, not only for the fact that there is an extended version of The Parking Ticket which includes the line "Hey, I'm not wearing underwear..."
I would also add the song Lindsey MacDonald sings in Lorne's club on Angel.
While I did enjoy the "Bitter Suite" musical episode of Xena, "Lyre, Lyre" had my favorite version ever of "Always Something There to Remind Me." So I'd have been happy to see either one of those in the list.
I'm showing my age but Fame's "Life is a Celebration" and Danny's "And then there was one". I was a big Danny fan.
I loved anytime Donald Faison got to sing on Scrubs especially his "Give a Little Respect" on that episode when the song kept getting passed around. And yes, Ted's group was amazing, especially singing "Wayward Son".
Xena's 'Bitter Suite's' a must. Pretty much tied with Buffy's 'Once More With Feeling' in awesomeness.
No CJ doing The Jackal on the West Wing?
I loved all of Eli Stone, a pox on ABC for not renewing that excellent show. Once more with feelings was so much fun, loved James singing Rest in Peace and glad to see Veronica Mars was included. Supernatural's Eye of the Tiger was a hoot, happy it was in the eps.
Yeah, you can't be allowed to have a list like this without at least one of the amazing musical numbers from Pushing Daisies. The Morning Has Broken scene was beautiful on so many levels, and Kristin Chenowith made Eternal Flame so much better than it had ever been before. I'd also give a nod to the Blue Moon episode of Moonlighting, and the scene back when ER was something worth watching, when Susan sang Blackbird to her sister's baby. Oh, and what about when Devo was on Square Pegs?!
Another nod to Kristin Chenowith - her version of 'Eternal Flame' was heart-rending.
Don't know how to say this but I ... didn't care for 'Once more with feeling'. Enough that I wonder why everyone else seems to have really liked it.
Not quite what you were looking for, but applicable as far as I am concerned, is simply the "Firefly" theme song. Best. Theme Song. Ever.
You might have to make room on this list in a couple of months. NPH will be the guest villain on an all-musical episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold. From what was shown at the San Diego ComiCon, it's nothing short of amazing.
Agree - CJ's jackal should have been on the list.
Loved Buffy. Set a new standard for all future musical episodes.
Oh, and the Gilbert and Sullivan number in the West Wing when the guys are all trying to welcome Ainsley to her new 'office'
Nice list. I enjoyed the Scrubs one, but really nothing could beat OMWF. There were some great musical moments in Angel that were worthy of a mention, Ally Mcbeal too!
For any British folks, I'd nominate Amanda singing 'Downtown' to Bingly and Darcy in 'Lost in Austen' and my all time favorite is Nessa and Bryn in 'Gavin and Stacey'!
The list was pretty good. Totally agree with "Once More with Feeling" being so beloved (most brilliant TV episode ever!!!!), although I think Scrubs "My Musical" is better than the writer gave it credit. However, they left off a some good musical moments.
1. Any time Murphy Brown sang. Candice Bergin made bad singing good somehow. Or at least funny.But the sweetest was when she sang to her son after she delivered him.
2. When Colleen Dewhurst guest starred as Murphy's mother and sang. She did a good impression of Candice.
3. Anthony Stewart Head singing "Behind Blue Eyes" on Buffy. It was our first opportunity to hear how amazing his voice is, and he nailed it.
4. All the musical sequences on Ally McBeal. If there ever was a show that wanted to be a musical, Ally was. It had some nice monents such as Calista Flockhart doing a sexy "Santa Baby", Robert Downey Jr. crooning, and anytime the actress who played Elaine whose name I am blanking on sang.
4. Jesse L. Martin guest starring on The X Files in "The Unnatural." They took adavantage of his Broadway caliber voice and had him sing.
5. How could you forget Lorne singing 'Lady Marmelade" on Angel?!?!?!? RIP Andy Hallett.
6. Frasier and Lillith dueting to "Our House" on Cheers. Bebe Neuwrth should sing and dance every time she appears on TV.
7. Although I've never actually seen it, I heard there was a musical episode of Oz, the HBO prison show. For sheer weirdness, it should be included.
8. All the Head of the Class musical episodes. They did their own versions of Grease, Little Shop of Horrors, and Hair. I looked forward to those episodes so much when I was growing up.
I normally don't watch Scrubs, but I caught the musical due to some buzz over it and was so glad I did. Really cool stuff.
I'd nominate either of the Jeffster! live performances from Chuck. Just sublime.
You forgot the song Marshall and Barney sang during the slap bet episode! Grrr!!
This list is missing "The Hero of Canton (The man they call Jayne)" from Firefly! That was amazing, right there...
And yes, Jeffster rocks. Literally.
Thank you, Laurie, for mentioning Ally McBeal! There are so many great musical moments from that show, but for me the all-time best is The Biscuit's birthday with Barry White. Effing fabulous.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpirPIEAFIs&feature=related
So many comments, and no South Park. I know it's been a while since Chef was on the show, but singing about prostitutes to the children, with the great excuse - "These children tricked me!" is classic. And that's just the first one that popped into my head.
"You Are My Sunshine" by Seven of Nine and the Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager. It summed up their relationship and also managed to summarize Seven's worldview in just two minutes.
Yes to the Head of the Class musical episodes! I still remember all of those vividly.
I don't know if cartoons count, but the episode of Hey Arnold where Mr. Hyunh became a country singer. I haven't seen that episode in years, and sometimes I still catch myself humming his Simple Things" song.
my musical was incredible.
I can't believe no one thought to mention the 7th Heaven musical...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSnjAE2LQk0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFp_U-CFga8&feature=related
The opera in Malcolm in the Middle.
Gotta say I'm so happy you put in OMWF, I don't think that any single show will ever do a musical episode that good. Scrubs tried and while I think it was pretty good it was nowhere near as good as Buffy
My add ons
1) Fry's Opera at the end of Futurama, everyone was top notch and any time Katey Segal get's to sing is instantly awesome.
2) Fran Fine singing Memories at the ice skating rink
3) Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiali(annoyed grunt)docious... the Mary Poppins parody on Simpsons
4) Lady Marmalade on Angel
5) Fella's at the Freakin FCC or Shapoopi from Family Guy
6) Kyle's mom's a bitch... seriously how could that one not be on the liest somewhere
Scrubs musical was awesome except for JD and Elliott's "Friends Forever." The rest was musical gold.
Angel: Anything sung by Lorne (RIP Andy Hallett).
Also, Julia Sugarbaker (Dixie Carter) singing "How Great Thou Art" on Designing Women.
Tell me that's not a messed up combo.
Remember everyone this is a list of the best musical moments not just best songs in a T.V. show.
I too put in a vote for including 'Bitter Suite' from Xena. Though not entirely original, it had some wonderful moments.
Maybe this is only my obsession coming through, but Lorelai's karaoke serenade to Luke in season 7 of Gilmore Girls???? Granted, I was probably one of the few who liked that show enough to sit through its HORRENDOUS final season, but Lorelai singing Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" was by far the best moment of that season. And Lauren Graham can SING!!!!
Anyone remember "Boogie Shoes" from "Sports Night"?
I loved the musical theatre episode of Joan of Arcadia. (It involved zombies, and it was awesome.) Amber Tamblyn knocked her solo out of the park. Natch.
Can't believe no mention of the air band from Scrubs! I can't hear Poison or More Than a Feeling without indulging in a little air band action.
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A definite great read...:)
-Bill-Bartmann
Hey good stuff...keep up the good work! I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say I'm glad I found your blog. Thanks,)
A definite great read.. :)
-Bill-Bartmann
Excellent site, keep up the good work