Buzz
Catchy tunes aren’t picky. Often, the song stuck in your head might just be a brief snippet from a TV show, yet it feels more impactful than entire Broadway productions.
Here’s a compilation of unforgettable musical moments, songs, and nods from TV, movies, and even other musicals.
10. Lease: The Musical
Team America: World Police introduced “Lease: The Musical” as a clever spoof of Rent. While many have referenced Jonathon Larson’s work, this parody stands out as the most memorable.
Rent follows a group of friends navigating life in 1990s New York City. Each character has aspirations, but their struggles with poverty, infidelity, and substance abuse—particularly the AIDS crisis—hold them back.
Team America humorously references this with their song “Everyone Has AIDS.”
It’s not the most sensitive approach, but neither is dodging rent payments.
9. The Trial of Captain Hook
Just give this one a chance.
In Arrested Development, Michael Bluth reminisces about playing a lawyer version of Peter Pan in elementary school, with lyrics like “You’re a crook, Captain Hook.” While not the most sophisticated, it’s undeniably memorable.
It’s no Sondheim masterpiece.
Let’s be honest: Another middle school production of Peter Pan isn’t exactly thrilling. The story is overdone, and parents with multiple kids have likely endured it more times than they can count.
Why not shake things up? A full-fledged “The Trial of Captain Hook” could revolutionize school performances, giving parents something fresh to endure—where they only need to applaud after a mediocre song instead of pretending to believe in fairies.
8. Freud!
Over Friends’ ten seasons, Joey Tribbiani takes on roles in films, TV series, and theater productions. From his iconic role as Dr. Drake Ramoray in Days of Our Lives to quirky projects like “Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E.” and even serving as Al Pacino’s butt double, Joey’s career is unforgettable.
However, the focus here is on his one musical venture: “Freud!”
Joey portrays the famous psychiatrist, energetically moving around the stage while his patient waits for a diagnosis. Though only snippets are shown, the lines hint at a musical heavily focused on—you guessed it—penises.
7. Rochelle, Rochelle
While Seinfeld dedicates three episodes to “Rochelle, Rochelle,” the plot remains a mystery, described only as “a young girl’s strange, erotic journey from Milan to Minsk.” The title first appears when Jerry and his friends walk out of the movie halfway through.
Later, George mentions the title again after failing to rewind the film tape before returning it, refusing to pay the late fee. Two seasons later, Bette Midler is announced to star in the musical adaptation of this enigmatic film.
Only two lines from the musical are revealed, and they’re not particularly striking. But let’s be real—it’s Bette Midler! I’d gladly watch her recite her shopping list.
6. Stop the Planet of the Apes: I Want to Get Off!
The Simpsons has been crafting musical parodies since its inception. From “Springfield, Springfield” to “Oh, Streetcar!”, each parody brings its own flair and often gets its own dedicated episode.
Among the most memorable is their take on Planet of the Apes, titled “Stop the Planet of the Apes: I Want to Get Off!”—a nod to the 1960s musical Stop the World—I Want to Get Off.
Two songs from this fictional musical are featured on the show, including the memorable line: “I hate every ape I see / From chimpan-A to chimpan-Z.”
If adapted for Broadway, they could reuse the massive monkey puppet from the unsuccessful King Kong musical that ended in 2020.
5. Bombshell
Smash spanned 32 episodes, chronicling the lives and behind-the-scenes drama of actors involved in a Broadway production called “Bombshell,” which dramatized the life of Marilyn Monroe.
Given Marilyn Monroe’s status as an American cultural icon, a musical about her life would undoubtedly attract audiences nationwide. “Bombshell” stands out as one of the most polished fictional musicals ever conceived.
Since the TV series focuses on the lives of those involved, viewers get an in-depth look at the musical, far beyond a fleeting joke or reference. The show features complete versions of numerous songs, spanning genres from jazz to pop.
The stage production “Bombshell” has been brought to life in a way. Writers have pieced together scattered scenes and songs to stage a special benefit performance for one night only.
4. Topsy
I’ll admit it: I’m drawn to musicals inspired by obscure historical events. While the electrocution of Topsy the elephant was significant in its time, it hasn’t remained a widely recognized story.
In Bob’s Burgers, Louise Belcher is assigned a school project about her teacher’s idol, Thomas Edison. She and her brother decide to create a musical centered on Topsy, an elephant famously electrocuted on Edison’s command.
The musical concludes with Topsy and Edison falling in love, performing a duet titled “Electric Love.” My favorite lines include the clever “They’ll sing aw, Topsy / At my autopsy.” Despite being elementary schoolers, Louise and Gene have crafted a song that’s endlessly catchy. Imagine its potential with professional songwriters at the helm.
Someone should reach out to Andrew Lloyd Webber! It’s not such a leap—cats, elephants… they’re practically in the same category.
3. Springtime for Hitler
In the 1967 film (and its 2005 remake) The Producers, Broadway producers Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom aim to create the worst musical ever. They land on “Springtime for Hitler: A Gay Romp with Adolf and Eva at Berchtesgaden.”
The musical is exactly what the title implies: a portrayal of Hitler as the protagonist, with Eva as his loyal sidekick. The opening number dazzles with elaborate German-themed costumes, including a woman adorned solely in pretzels. As the cast introduces Hitler, the production escalates in spectacle.
The scene is packed with details, but the highlight is a goose-stepping chorus line. Midway through, a massive mirror lowers from above, revealing the dancers have formed a giant swastika with their movements.
The sheer absurdity and production quality of “Springtime for Hitler” make its opening number—the only song featured in The Producers—arguably the greatest fictional musical ever created.
2. The Nightman Cometh
This musical originates from the enduring sitcom It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Unlike many others on this list, we’re treated to nearly the entire performance of “The Nightman Cometh.”
The musical is part of an elaborate scheme to propose to a woman he’s been obsessing over, but the show itself is wildly entertaining. Its plot is bizarre, featuring a barista princess who falls for a boy and a troll reminiscent of “Billy Goat Gruff,” leading to equally outrageous songs. Adding to the oddity, the romantic leads are played by siblings, resulting in a sexually charged hug instead of a kiss at the end of their duet.
The writers intentionally crafted some of the most absurd lyrics imaginable, which we hear in the finale. “Dayman, fighter of the nightman, champion of the sun / He’s a master of karate and friendship for everyone.” Notably, the show never explains what a nightman or dayman actually is.
Other songs feature a spontaneous encore from the barista princess, declaring she’s not a pedophile, and the troll detailing how to pay a toll to enter a little boy’s hole.
1. Alabama!
Netflix’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt has produced numerous fictional musicals, but none are as hilarious as “Alabama!,” an all-black reinterpretation of Oklahoma!
To fully appreciate the humor in “Alabama!,” some familiarity with Oklahoma! is helpful. In the original, the Act 2 opener, “The Farmer and the Cowman,” features Old Aunt Eller trying to mediate between feuding farmers and cowboys, urging them to coexist.
“Alabama!” humorously mimics this with the line, “Oh, the cropper and the Klansmen should be friends / Run!”
When Oklahoma! debuted in 1946, it was groundbreaking. Who’s to say “Alabama!” couldn’t rope in a fresh wave of Broadway enthusiasts?
