TV in the Time of Corona (musical edition)

This is a short list of musical TV series that I've enjoyed, in alphabetical order.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015-2019) is the creation of Rachel Bloom in the title role, a mentally ill woman who thinks relationships with men will solve all her problems. It's a comedy and Bloom sings and dances to original songs along with a talented cast. Some of my favorites are Settle for Me and Sex with a Stranger-Please Don't Be a Murderer. Season 1 is the best but I did eagerly watch all 62 episodes in four seasons, which are now on Netflix.

Glee (2009-2015) is about a high school glee club in northern Ohio. Lots of great musical numbers. I didn't get through all six seasons (115 episodes!) but they're all on Netflix.

Fosse/Verdon (2019) explores the relationship between choreographer/actor/director/writer Bob Fosse and actress/dancer/singer Gwen Verdon. Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams are terrific in the title roles, and Williams won the Emmy and Golden Globe. Its one season of eight episodes is on Hulu.

Mozart in the Jungle (2014-2018) isn't totally in this category (there weren't a lot of musical numbers played), though it was about a New York Symphony, its musicians, conductors, and board chair, with Lola Kirke (sister of Jemima Kirke from Girls), Gael Garcia Bernal, Malcolm McDowell, Bernadette Peters, and more. I loved all 40 episodes over four seasons and one of my favorite moments was season 1 episode 6, when the symphony played outdoors between two buildings in New York. An Amazon Prime original, it's still available on that platform.

Rise (2018) is another high school club show, this time the drama department, with Josh Radnor and Rosie Perez as two of the teachers. The students include Auli'i Cravalho (voice of Moana). Its ten episodes in one season can't be watched free anywhere--Amazon Prime Video is charging its subscribers and NBC is charging everyone.

Smash (2012-2013) is about the creation of a Broadway musical and I loved all 32 episodes in two seasons. Starring Debra Messing, Anjelica Huston, Megan Hilty, and more. I thought of it as Glee for grownups and was sad when it was canceled. Watch free at https://www.nbc.com/smash.

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (2020) is now in its first season and episode 10 will be aired this Sunday, April 19. Jane Levy in the title role doesn't sing but nearly everyone else, including Lauren Graham, Alex Newell (a Glee alum), Skylar Astin (a Crazy Ex-Girlfriend alum who is not related to Patty Duke--his birth name is different), and Mary Steenburgen, participates in huge production numbers. It's available on Hulu and https://www.nbc.com/zoeys-extraordinary-playlist.

There are a few more that I did not see listed in this article. Because we subscribe to Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Netflix, those are the platforms I've covered here. Some of the above may be available on other services.