Musical TV!

In preparation for tonight’s musical episode of Grey’s Anatomy I decided to reflect on some of the best musical episodes of TV ever. In order to delve into this list, I really have to separate it into two categories, a) original music and b) singing other peoples music

I) Original Music:

1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More with Feeling: This is the standard in my opinion, to which all other musical episodes need to live up to. Yes the idea was silly, a demon who curses everyone into singing out their fears, desires, and basically everything on their minds (see “they got the mustard out”). Yet this musical was silly, fun, and actually had a soundtrack that I listened to repeatedly on my cd player and/or iPod.

2. Daria: Daria!:  I was one of those girls who LOVED Daria when it was on. I was an avid MTV watcher in my teen years. Daria’s sarcastic spirit was something I totally identified with, and also found hilarious. In this episode a hurricane is about to hit Lawndale (the fictional town of Daria), which resident Lawndale haters Daria and Jane would love. What ensues is a lot of silly, irreverent songs, in addition to a lot of talk-singing by Daria.

3. Scrubs: My Musical: Guy Love says it all. This episode which involved a patient hitting her head and imagining everyone singing at Sacred Heart couldn’t have been better. Not only did it involve a touchy-feely love number between JD and Turk, but it also involved a patter song with Dr. Cox and Janitor! I couldn’t ask for more
   
4. The Simpsons: A Fish Called Selma/Marge vs. the Monorail/Homer and Apu ETC: Technically these aren’t really musical episodes but the Simspons has created some really catchy tunes for their shows. Songs like Dr. Zaius (parody of Amadeus), Monorail Song, and Who Needs the Kwik E-Mart from the episodes listed above are particularly hilarious and fun, not to mention catchy!

II) Non-Original Music

1. That 70’s Show: That 70’s Musical: This 100^th episode of That 70’s Show featured Fez day dreaming about him and the rest of the band singing. The episode featured a ton of hit 70’s tunes and is both fun to watch and to sing a long to. I particularly love the group sitting around the table, high, singing Steve Miller Band’s The Joker.
   
2. Xena Warrior Princess: Lyre Lyre Hearts on Fire: This episode is just plain hilarious. I know some people were down on Xena’s campy vibe, but that is what made the show great, and this episode about a battle of the bands is no exception. The episode begins with Xena breaking up a fight between Amazons singing the song War by Edwin Star and it just goes uphill from there.

3. Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Producers: Jason was kind enough to show me this amazing episode this past year. I’m not a huge fan of Curb usually because I always feel extremely awkward during Larry’s awkward encounters. But this broadway themed episode was an actual show within a show performance of the broadway hit The Producers and featured cameos from Mel Brooks and his wife Anne Bancroft.
   
4. Pushing Dasies: Dummy/Pigeon/Comfort Food/Window Dressed to Kill: I basically listed all episodes in which Olive (Kristin Chenowith) sings, because they are just that great. She is such a talented person, it was only a matter of time before the show evolved to let her sing more and more often. In these episodes she sings Hopelessly Devoted to You, Birdhouse in Your Soul, Eternal Flame, and Hello respectively.

Did I miss your favorite episodes? List them below!