Starlight Streaming: Our Top Picks for Marathon-worthy Musical TV Shows
Previously, we put together lists of our favorite family-friendly musicals and Broadway-inspired podcasts. In our third edition of Starlight Streaming—we wanted something that would capture our interest for more than just an hour or two, which is why we turned to streaming television series! Check out this list for our favorite musical and musical-themed series available now and settle in for some serious marathon Netflix watching. We hope you’re as hooked as we are on these musical TV hits!
The Politician
Featuring Broadway icon Ben Platt from Dear Evan Hansen, “The Politician” follows high schooler Peyton Hobart as he navigates the unpredictable high school scene with one thing in mind—to eventually become the President of the United States. You can stream season one on Netflix now, and season two is set to be released June 19 of this year. Don’t be fooled by the high school setting—this show may be set in the main character’s teenage and young adult years, but the series’ themes are much more mature than adolescent.
Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist
Everyone’s dream—everyone bursting into song at random moments in real life. Or is it? After an unexpected event during an MRI, Zoey Clarke (Jane Levy) can read minds—sort of. She can actually hear their innermost thoughts conveyed in song and dance, but that comes with its challenges. Many times, Zoey finds out more than she wants about friends, coworkers, and her family, and they have no idea what they’ve shared. With an extraordinary playlist (hence the title), this show has viewers singing along to every episode.
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Galavant
Although “Galavant” only lasted two seasons, the music was written and composed by two musical greats—composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater—and is well worth the watch. Menken and Slater also worked together on the stage productions of Disney’s The Little Mermaid and Sister Act, as well as the Disney hit animated movie “Tangled.” “Galavant” follows a young knight of the same name on his quest to win back the love of his life from the King. With all of the fantastic elements of both musical comedies and fairy tales, this show is especially great for families with older children.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
While this show didn’t ever draw in the Nielsen ratings, critics loved it—and now it sits at a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” tells the story of Rebecca Bunch (Rachel Bloom), a woman who moves cross-country in hopes she can end up with her high school boyfriend. As you can expect, things don’t go exactly as Rebecca had originally hoped. Her journey of growth is incredibly relatable, and the show ends up bringing a number of feminist topics to the forefront of television. With two to four original songs each episode, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” is a great balance of relevant topics and light-hearted comedy.
Central Park
The only cartoon series and the newest show on our list, “Central Park” just premiered in late May on Apple TV+ and stars some Broadway headliners—including Josh Gad from The Book of Mormon and Disney’s “Frozen” and Leslie Odom Jr. and Daveed Diggs, who were both original cast members in Hamilton. “Central Park” was created by the same team of the hit sitcom “Bob’s Burgers” and tells the story of a family who calls the park home, as the patriarch is the park manager. Each musical-episode features a variety of original songs in a number of genres—so it’s sure to hit a note with everyone!
These are just a few of the many musical-themed television series streaming online. If you breeze through these newer series, you could always re-watch “Glee”—the modern-day original musical television series. With six seasons and 121 episodes total, you’ll be singing along to covers of your favorite Broadway hits for months to come.
Please use your best judgement when determining what content is appropriate for children.