The sound of music is within the air — or extra exactly, throughout TV.
With the latest releases of Prime Video’s Daisy Jones & the Six, Hulu’s Up Right here and Paramount+’s Grease: Rise of the Pink Girls, musical exhibits have taken over the small display screen with catchy melodies. However the aforementioned sequence are hardly the one ones to have their casts belt out excessive notes, as evidenced by TVLine’s rating of musical exhibits, from worst to greatest.
The under listing contains present entries (Excessive College Musical: The Musical: The Collection) and previous ones (The Monkees), and ranges from high quality musical exhibits (Flight of the Conchords) to ones that missed the mark (we’re you, Cop Rock).
Notice: To make our rankings, the present’s characters needed to have commonly damaged out into music in musical numbers that had been both actual (Empire, Nashville) or imagined (Eli Stone, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist), be they unique tunes or covers à la Glee. The sequence will need to have additionally aired not less than one season, so Rise of the Pink Girls, which remains to be within the midst of unspooling its freshman run, didn’t make the reduce. Lastly, academic/kids’s programming like Sesame Avenue was not included.
Assessment TVLine’s rating of musical exhibits to search out out which sequence was No. 1 on the Billboard charts in our hearts, then hit the feedback together with your favorites!
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DREAMS
Picture Credit score: CBS / Courtesy of Everett Assortment This Invoice Bixby-directed 1984 fever dream a couple of pop act on the rise was so crummy that CBS couldn’t convey itself to air greater than half of its dozen episodes. However the musical sitcom did mark John Stamos’ first post-Normal Hospital function, and the tunes had been pitch-perfect for MTV’s Golden Age. One among them even went on to change into a No. 1 smash — though not till it was lined by Coronary heart three years later. (Press PLAY on the video above to have a hear.)
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VIVA LAUGHLIN
Picture Credit score: Sony Footage Tv / Courtesy of Everett Assortment If not dealt with excellent, musical TV exhibits can simply veer into campy self-parody, and that was sadly the case with this glitzy CBS misfire, that includes Hugh Jackman as a swaggering (and singing!) on line casino mogul. Based mostly on a vastly superior British present, Laughlin had its solid sing alongside to standard rock hits, however the numbers had been jarring, and critics and viewers weren’t applauding. CBS swiftly dropped the axe after simply two episodes. Although in the event you wished to see Jackman strut his manner by means of a canopy of the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Satan,” this was the present for you!
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COP ROCK
Picture Credit score: twentieth Century Fox Tv / Courtesy of Everett Assortment This notorious 1990 crime drama/musical hybrid, hailing from Steven Bochco, was formidable, to make sure, punctuating its procedural elements with rock, blues, gospel and pop numbers. The Nielsen numbers, nevertheless, delivered solely low notes — the sequence ranked No. 80 out of 101 applications that season — and then-ABC chief Bob Iger pulled the plug. A genial Bochco harbored no sick will, acknowledging that ABC had been “terrific” by retaining the present on, despite the fact that its dismal scores triggered make-goods for advertisers.
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THE HEIGHTS
Picture Credit score: Aaron Spelling Prod. / Courtesy of Everett Assortment This short-lived Fox drama in regards to the titular band gave us the No. 1 Billboard hit “How Do You Speak to an Angel,” and a post-Days of Our Lives/pre-NYPD Blue Charlotte Ross, however little else throughout its 12-episode run.
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MONARCH
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Fox/Everett Assortment Have you ever ever felt deceived by a tv present? That’s how most viewers in all probability look again at this bait-and-switch nation music drama, which featured Susan Sarandon on the forefront of its advertising and marketing… solely to kill her off within the first episode. The present’s uninspired homicide thriller didn’t assist, nor did its limitless parade of covers masquerading as unique songs.
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SOUNDTRACK
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Netflix/Everett Assortment Audiences (or not less than a Netflix-sized viewers) didn’t fairly heat as much as this formidable, dance-heavy sequence a couple of group of interconnected love tales in Los Angeles. Earlier than phrase of mouth even started to get round about this under-appreciated sequence, the lip-syncing drama had already been sunk.
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STAR
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Fox Little doubt impressed by the runaway success of Empire, Fox partnered with creator Lee Daniels for one more musical sequence, this one centered round three younger singers chasing the American dream. However despite the fact that it shared the identical auspices as Empire and even crossed over with the hit drama, Star couldn’t seize the magic of its predecessor and was cancelled after one way or the other managing to eke out three seasons.
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RISE
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of NBC Expectations had been excessive for the NBC musical drama. In spite of everything, a sequence from Parenthood and Friday Night time Lights showrunner Jason Katims a couple of highschool drama membership placing on a manufacturing of the beloved musical Spring Awakening appeared to have “winner” written throughout it. However whereas the younger solid, led by powerhouse Auli’i Cravalho, was genuinely spectacular, the present’s self-serious tone and a few unlucky characters, like Josh Radnor’s English trainer/drama membership director, overshadowed what did work.
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BIG TIME RUSH
Picture Credit score: Nickelodeon screenshot For those who weren’t a tween someplace within the neighborhood of 2009-13, this Nickelodeon comedy in all probability wasn’t for you. (Foolish wasn’t simply its center identify, it was additionally its first and final.) However for 74 episodes (in addition to a big-screen function), kids thrilled to the misadventures of the quartet of hockey-playing buddies thrown collectively to kind the boy band that gave the present its title. And if it had little else going for it in addition to cute guys with questionable hairdos, it did not less than boast a gentle move of slammin’ power-pop songs. (Press PLAY above to rock out.)
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AUSTIN & ALLY
Picture Credit score: Disney Channel / Getty Pictures Created for the kiddies, Disney Channel’s candy-coated 2011-16 musical comedy was something however excessive artwork. Nonetheless, because it instructed the love story of wannabe pop idol Austin Moon and introverted songwriter Ally Dawson, it wove within the duos’ collaborations with ease and gave a tantalizing style of what a badass rock star a pre-Teen Seaside Film, pre-Driver Period Ross Lynch was going to change into. (Test him out above within the Season 3 premiere.)
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CALIFORNIA DREAMS
Picture Credit score: NBC/Everett Assortment A 12 months after Saved by the Bell blessed us with its basic “Rockumentary” episode (#FriendsForever), TNBC sitcom generator Peter Engel launched these lovable surf dudes with attitudes. It was Saved by the Bell on the seashore, full with tacky unique songs each week. Was it good? No. Will we nonetheless discover ourselves buzzing the theme music every so often? Sure. And we’d fortunately queue it up on Peacock if the Powers That Be ever do the proper factor and make the whole run of California Goals obtainable to stream.
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UP HERE
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Hulu Penned by Oscar-winning songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez — who’re answerable for earworms like Frozen‘s “Let It Go” and WandaVision‘s “Agatha All Alongside” — the ditties in Hulu’s musical rom-com had been expectedly intelligent. We’re not constructive, although, that the present wanted them. As Lindsay and Miguel tried to navigate romance and profession ambitions in New York Metropolis, we had been charmed sufficient by Mae Whitman and Carlos Valdes’ straightforward, plausible chemistry — and so far as kooky conceits go, the present already had one within the type of Lindsay and Miguel’s respective interior voices, who solely they may see and listen to. The addition of songs usually made the present really feel overstuffed, and we admit we haven’t been buzzing ’em within the weeks since Up Right here dropped its first season.
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QUEENS
Picture Credit score: ABC / Getty Pictures Confession: We in all probability would’ve ridden exhausting for any music-based TV present starring Brandy and Eve. However ABC’s single-season drama a couple of reunited ’90s lady group was impressed by Verzuz and had music producer Swizz Beatz as its govt music producer, so the tunes had been tight. And look, if the entire storylines — like an up-and-coming artist having a diamond unicorn horn surgically sewn into her brow — weren’t winners, all we needed to do was look ahead to the subsequent rehearsal montage, music video or Nasty Bitches efficiency, when Queens was on its most regal footing.
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HANNAH MONTANA
Picture Credit score: Disney Channel / Getty Pictures Miley Cyrus’ 2006-11 Disney Channel smash could have tended to lean closely towards over-the-top goofiness. OK, not “could have,” flat-out “did”; nuanced, it wasn’t. However week after week, everyteen Miley Stewart’s famous person alter ego reliably churned out kid-pop bangers that had been such earworms, the sequence’ first two soundtracks each went triple platinum. Typically the songs had been even adequate to make you overlook the wig that stored Miley’s secret id a secret. Properly, typically.
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VICTORIOUS
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Nickelodeon/Everett Assortment Tweens within the early 2010s didn’t respect how blessed they had been to have the likes of Victoria Justice, Liz Gillies and Ariana Grande pop-rocking out on a weekly foundation, serving up earworms whereas additionally retaining audiences laughing with that signature Nickelodeon nonsense humor. From 2010 to 2013, all of us wished to enroll at Hollywood Arts Excessive College.
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INSTANT STAR
Picture Credit score: Everett Assortment This Canadian musical dramedy (which aired Stateside on The N) earns excessive marks for its catchy soundtrack, that includes tunes like “Waste My Time,” “Liar Liar” and so many extra. Followers adopted alongside for 4 seasons as singer/songwriter Jude Harrison (performed by Alexz Johnson) assembled her latest album, which was then made obtainable for buy in actual life. Whereas we totally loved the sequence and its featured tracks, although, we will’t overlook the troubling will-they-won’t-they love story on the middle of it: Tommy, in his mid-twenties, falling for and even kissing Jude whereas she was nonetheless a young person.
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THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY
Picture Credit score: Everett Assortment Loosely primarily based on the Cowsills, a household pop group of the late Sixties, this ABC sitcom adopted widow Shirley Partridge (performed by musical vet Shirley Jones) as she will get nudged to hitch her 5 children in an upstart band. Episodes featured the household on tour or rehearsing/performing elsewhere, although solely Jones, and ultimately eldest TV son/real-life stepson David Cassidy, did their very own singing. In its four-season run, the sequence was twice nominated for a Golden Globe for greatest musical/comedy.
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THE MONKEES
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Everett Assortment Impressed by the Beatles’ movie A Laborious Day’s Night time, this 1966 NBC comedy served up far-out eventualities that thrust the titular, struggling rock ‘n’ roll quartet (performed by Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork) into comedic capers, whereas at all times discovering time for a montage set to one of many group’s tunes. Within the wake of some Season 1 backlash (because it received out that the actors weren’t writing or performing, however solely lending vocals for the songs), Season 2 rejiggered issues to accommodate the foursome’s precise ranges of expertise.
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JULIE AND THE PHANTOMS
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Netflix Positive, the Netflix sequence’ premise was ridiculously out-there (teen lady performs with the ghosts of a ’90s band, however performs it off as holograms) and a number of the storylines veered towards foolish (the fellows died of meals poisoning from… dangerous scorching canines). However the solid was charismatic, the songs had been legit bops, and the present’s sweetness was inspiring relatively than saccharine. Plus, Charlie’s music for his mom, “Unsaid Emily,” was an emotional showstopper.
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ELI STONE
Picture Credit score: Touchstone Tv / Courtesy of Everett Assortment The underrated ABC sequence, created by future Arrow showrunners Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim, elevated itself past mere authorized procedural with a enjoyable twist: Jonny Lee Miller’s titular lawyer skilled visions that usually manifested as pleasant musical numbers carried out by the present’s solid, which included vocal powerhouses Victor Garber and Loretta Devine. Or typically, George Michael himself serenaded Eli (see above). Quirky and thought-provoking — is Eli experiencing a mind aneurysm, or is he a prophet? — Eli Stone deserved extra than simply two seasons.
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FAME
Picture Credit score: NBCU Picture Financial institution / Getty Pictures Set on the New York Metropolis Excessive College for the Performing Arts, this 1982-87 adaptation of the film of the identical identify hit most of the proper notes. Not solely was the Golden Globe-winning sequence anchored by the estimable Debbie Allen, certainly one of a number of actors to reprise their roles from the movie, however its manufacturing numbers gave off an vitality that was infectious. (Not for nothing, the present bagged Emmys for Allen, directing, choreography, costuming and cinematography.) Thoughts you, the clip above — that includes a pre-Management Janet Jackson — in all probability doesn’t rank as one of many sequence’ all-time highs.
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SMASH
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of NBC/Everett Assortment The music? Perfection. The present itself? Form of a multitude. NBC’s two-season drama adopted the making of a Broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe’s life, and whereas that completed product (Bombshell) was an unmitigated work of genius, it nonetheless couldn’t make up for Smash‘s unlikable characters, uninteresting storylines and limitless theatrical clichés. (“I’m in tech,” anybody?) Nonetheless, the present’s cult following can’t be denied. In reality, it’s not being denied! An unique musical primarily based on Smash is at present within the works for the 2024–2025 Broadway season.
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HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE MUSICAL: THE SERIES
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Disney+/Everett Assortment Greater than merely a contender for longest present title in historical past, this Disney+ mockumentary is a particularly correct — and typically too actual — portrayal of theater children of their pure habitat, efficiently channeling loads of the magic that made Excessive College Musical a runaway phenomenon again within the day. Plus, the present is a confirmed star manufacturing facility, introducing the world to names like Olivia Rodrigo, Joshua Bassett and Julia Lester.
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GLEE
Picture Credit score: Fox / Courtesy of Everett Assortment Whereas many TV musicals develop small-but-loyal fanbases and perpetually wrestle within the scores, Fox’s coming-of-age dramedy exploded into the cultural dialog like a slushie to the face. The songs dominated iTunes charts (rightfully so, given the abilities of Lea Michele, Amber Riley and different powerhouse solid members), and the present was a secure haven for anybody who felt like an outcast. However in its later seasons — significantly after Cory Monteith’s tragic loss of life in 2013 — the present fell aside in fever-dream trend, introducing weird character arcs and much more weird music covers. It’s exhausting to disclaim the impression Glee had on popular culture and the way forward for musical tv… nevertheless it’s greatest to faux the present ended with Season 4.
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EMPIRE
Picture Credit score: Fox / Courtesy of Everett Assortment There’s no denying that the Fox sequence was a cultural and scores phenomenon proper out of the gate, due to its spectacular soundtrack of unique songs and a dynamic ensemble. (Taraji P. Henson’s Cookie Lyon will perpetually go down as certainly one of TV’s most indelible characters.) However what began out as an addictive King Lear-esque drama filled with difficult household energy struggles and musical prowess finally received slowed down by its soapy plotlines.
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CENTAURWORLD
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Netflix/Everett Assortment One among Netflix’s most underrated gems, this one-season masterpiece follows a struggle horse’s journey to reunite along with her rider and save two worlds from an unspeakable darkish power. Powerhouse Broadway voices like Megan Hilty, Lea Salonga, Jessie Mueller and Kimiko Glenn present extra gravitas to this inspiring (and infrequently heartbreaking) story of perseverance, friendship and — after all — horses in thigh-high leather-based boots belting for the gods.
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ZOEY’S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of NBC The NBC dramedy understood that music is emotion, and as Zoey struggled along with her newfound means to listen to individuals’s innermost ideas by means of music covers, the sequence imbued a lot feeling into its musical numbers. (Any efficiency having to do with the deteriorating well being of Zoey’s father, Mitch, was reliably heart-wrenching.) Whereas the present misplaced a few of its focus following Mitch’s loss of life and received twisted up in a irritating love triangle in Season 2, its coronary heart remained intact. Plus, we’re nonetheless marveling at that “one-shot,” full-cast efficiency of Don McLean’s “American Pie,” Skylar Astin’s splendidly manic intercourse medley and something sung by Alex Newell.
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DAISY JONES & THE SIX
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Prime Video The Prime Video drama chronicled the rise and premature fall of a Nineteen Seventies rock band with a Fleetwood Mac-level of romantic turmoil fueling its music. Whether or not you thought the difference of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel was splendidly trustworthy or missed the mark, the sequence really sang when its lead singers, Daisy and Billy, put their conflicted emotions into their songs. And with a bevy of official music business producers/songwriters contributing to the present’s soundtrack, and stars Riley Keough and Sam Claflin’s surprisingly spectacular vocal chemistry, the catchy unique tracks greater than made up for any plot misfires.
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WE ARE LADY PARTS
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Peacock Peacock’s criminally under-watched comedy facilities round a British punk-rock band made up solely of Muslim girls, and rock they did with biting wit and unique jams like “Voldemort Underneath My Headband” (press PLAY above) and “Bashir With the Good Beard.” The one factor that would make the present higher is that if it will hurry up with the long-awaited launch of Season 2.
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SCHMIGADOON!
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Apple TV+ One needn’t be a musical junkie to admire simply how a lot effort goes into Apple TV+’s exuberant sendup, which manages to strike simply the proper steadiness of parody and homage. It’s each a becoming tribute to the exhibits it’s satirizing (starting with Forties musicals in Season 1, earlier than transitioning to Sixties and ’70s musicals in Season 2) and a deliciously meta commentary on the style’s many clichés. It’s no marvel govt producer Cinco Paul managed to draw such Broadway expertise as Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Ariana DeBose, Jane Krakowski and Aaron Tveit to come back play.
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GIRLS5EVA
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Peacock The TRL nostalgia is robust with this quippy comedy a couple of ’90s lady group reuniting many years later for one more shot at fame. The jokes are sharp — creator Meredith Scardino labored on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Tina Fey is an govt producer — and the solid is incredible, highlighted by Renée Elise Goldsberry as licensed diva Wickie. However the most effective half could be the proper parodies of Y2K-era hits, together with the catchy theme music “Well-known 5eva” and the ode to chastity “Can’t Wait 2 Wait.” It flew underneath the radar for 2 seasons on Peacock, however Netflix choosing it up for Season 3 may simply enhance it to the highest of the charts.
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NASHVILLE
Picture Credit score: Disney Normal Leisure Content material / Getty Pictures With a solid filled with actors enjoying nation musicians, and a setting of Music Metropolis itself, ABC’s primetime cleaning soap effortlessly combined its very catchy tunes into the weekly motion. As a result of what was extra pure than Rayna and Juliette headlining a nationwide tour, or Deacon taking the stage on the Opry? Even when the plot grew unbelievably far-fetched (later seasons, we’re you), Nashville‘s music at all times made for a life that was good.
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GALAVANT
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of ABC Manner again in days of outdated (properly, January 2015), there was a (hilarious) legend instructed about Galavant (performed by Joshua Sasse) and his conflict with King Richard (Timothy Omundson) over the beautiful Madalena (Mallory Jansen). ABC’s brilliantly solid, two-season fantasy comedy, hailing from Dan Fogelman and with songs penned by a minimum of Alan Menken and Glenn Slater, served up such gems as “Perhaps You’re Not the Worst Factor Ever,” “Oy, What a Knight” and “Hey, Hey, We’re the Monks.”
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FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS
Picture Credit score: HBO screenshot This HBO gem from 2007 follows New Zealand’s fourth hottest guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folks duo as its members — Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie — search fame in New York Metropolis. Its writing is whip-smart, with laughs which are quirky, off-kilter and bordering surrealism. The group’s songs and parodies show to be cathartic for its characters, permitting for some critical expression that’s jam-packed with silliness and intelligent visuals. Having produced simply two seasons, the band left the highlight properly earlier than overstaying its welcome. Right here’s to hoping they return sometime for a correct encore.
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CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of The CW The CW’s colorfully quirky musical rom-com took us contained in the thoughts of Rebecca Bunch, a very hopeless romantic who ditched her life to maneuver throughout the nation and pursue her childhood camp crush. That pursuit was accompanied by an explosion of elaborate musical numbers that ranged from doo-wop to hip-hop and all the things in between. The unique songs had been a marvel of creativity and rattling humorous besides, serving to as an example Rebecca’s interior struggles and placing a contented face on some very darkish materials. This present was so splendidly bizarre, we’re actually amazed it ran for 4 seasons on a broadcast community… however we’re so glad it did.
