Letters
Knit to This: Schmigadoon!
I always think it’s peculiar when someone says “I don’t like musicals because people in real life don’t stop and sing their feelings.” And of course, it’s usually the same person who has just finished droning on and on about some movie with a talking dragon who goes to Zumba class or where a guy on a flame-throwing moped lands on one of the rings of Saturn (on his first try!) or, you know: some other everyday ordinary happening.
Anyway, if the thought of someone in a movie breaking into song doesn’t cause you to instantly burst into flames, you might check out Apple TV+’s Schmigadoon!, which is about as loving a tribute (while keeping its tongue firmly in its cheek) to vintage stage and movie musicals as you’re liable to find outside of, well, me alone in my living room after seven full-sugar cherry limeades.
Landing somewhere in the middle of a triangulation of The Music Man, My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and SNL, the plot follows Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key as an on-the-rocks couple trapped in…oh for god’s sake, just as in almost any other musical, the plot doesn’t really matter. Most of it just proves what a strange and lovely genre musicals are in the first place, and it has the added benefit of being able to poke the bear a little when it comes to addressing some of the cringey racial and gender politics of a few classics.
It’s low on logic (but not at all dumb), high on itself, and JAM-PACKED with la-la-la singalonging. The songs are frequently eerily close to ones you already know, without being 100% jokey; they’re funny and sincere in equal parts. The whole thing is really just an excuse to watch extremely talented and clever people be extremely talented and clever.
In the MDK Shop
This show makes me burst into laughter and surprise myself without warning. So fun and smart and I definitely knit faster to it!
And who does not love a song about corn pudding?
“Corn Pudding” is a masterpiece, the Sophie’s Choice of songs about custardy side dishes.
I have loved musicals since I saw Finian’s Rainbow at age 6. Maybe the world would be a better place if people sang out their feelings. It’s fun to watch Schmigadoon and figure out what play the song or storyline comes from.
It looks delightful and I am poised to appreciate some fun!
that self-striping yarn looks great. Does each ball make two short socks or one high sock?
Each ball of Uneek makes one long sock. Sample sock of each colorway is on the side of each box.
NPR had an interview with cinco Paul and Keegan Michael-Key It really peaked my interest. And now with your blog it feels like destiny. Definitely going to watch it.
Argh. Sounds brilliant, but I just cannot add another monthly streaming service fee. Dang.
Wait a couple weeks until it’s finished, then free trial Apple for a week and binge it.
OMG I WANT TO SEE THIS SO MUCH!!!! <3 <3 <3
I was already on board for this. Among other things, doesn’t Aaron Tveit have a great voice?
I just took a look at your Instagram account and I am so envious that I want to go live with you and your white dog who is a Westie if I am correct. My two boys were THE BEST friends ever and I can’t tell you how much they are missed.
Mavis is a mini schnauzer!
This looks delightful to knit to!
I was up at 2am, knitting of course, and started watching this. It is laugh out loud funny.
Agree. And *so* glad my hubs “discovered it first” thru some other thing, so now he thinks I’m doing HIM a favor by watching it with him. There’s a song in there about marriage and letting the other person think things are their idea.
Oh my gosh this show is awesome!! I love the references to the old musicals and the casting is great! I couldn’t keep knitting as I was laughing so much! This is definitely what we need right now!
I just heard an ad about this on a podcast and I’m so glad you mentioned it because I didn’t catch the name! Can’t wait to watch.
UNEEK! UNEEK! UNEEK!