While it seems that many television shows are trying to find ways to sing and dance, is it worth it? And once they’ve done it, is it something to be proud of?
A solid “musical episode” can do many things. And once you know what you’re looking for, these elements can be used in the classroom to teach many skills.
Using examples from musical episodes of some of television’s most popular shows, we’ll be able to discuss and deconstruct content analysis, character adaptation, collective cultural identity and behaviors, social norms and stereotypes, as well as human behavior paradigms.
The Musical Episode is also a way to break down the Story Spine – allowing for the opportunity to explore from “Once upon a time” to “And the moral of the story is….”
We’ll also ask the questions, “Did it work?”, and why or why not? Did the musical aspect help the Grey’s Anatomy, Scrubs, and Royal Pains legacies, and why were they, more so than others, able to pull it off? What’s the difference in Buffy singing, and Sam Becket in Quantum Leap singing? They sang in an episode of Fringe, but is that the same thing? What did The Flash and Once Upon A Time have that others did not? Which ones were Jukebox musicals, and which were original? And which were a combination of both? And why then was Riverdale able to take the genre in a different direction? And finally, why do Glee, Galavant, and My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend not count?
As each new musical episode appears, television shows are getting savvier – employing Broadway composers and lyricists, adding TONY-nominated guest stars, and upping the game. Or are they really just trying to outdo their competition?
About the presenterMelissa Whitis
Missy Whitis taught public and private school music and drama for over 15 years. She is a four-time honoree into Who’s Who Among American High School Teachers, recognized in Who’s Who Among American Professional Women, and has even served as the principal of a charter school. A sought-after speaker and writer, Missy is on faculty at the University of Cincinnati, where she teaches Improv, Screenwriting, and Television.