The 20 best musical episodes in non-musical TV shows

For the most part, Fringe is a very serious sci-fi show, particularly since it focuses on strange occurrences and parallel universes. Oddly enough, however, it’s the show’s very focus on these things that makes the episode “Brown Betty” a reasonable enough fit, focusing as it does on Walter’s marijuana-induced delusions. While the musical idea was originally part of a gimmick from network Fox, it works remarkably well, and as such it’s a reminder of just how flexible the musical form can be when it comes to television storytelling.

There was always something quirky about the show Ally McBeal, so it was probably inevitable that the show would end up doing a musical episode. In the aptly titled “Ally McBeal: The Musical, Almost,” viewers get a bit of everything. Not only are there references to The Music Man, but even Randy Newman puts in an appearance. Fortunately, this episode also has a good story, as Ally ends up making peace with her father.

Oz is perhaps the strangest of all the non-musical series to feature a musical episode. After all, this series was primarily focused on the horrors that happen behind the walls of prison. However, somehow, this show once again shows its brilliance by giving audiences an episode that manages to bring the musical form into the brutal and ugly world so often on exhibit in Oz. This gives the entire episode the aura of a black comedy, and it works.

“Regional Holiday Music” is one of those episodes of Community that demonstrate why the show was always so beloved by its fans (even if it never achieved the enormous popularity it deserved). After all, it combines all of the elements one could ask from an episode of the show, with a Christmas theme, original songs, and even a bit of philosophy thrown into the mix. Most importantly, it’s also a magnificently funny episode that sent the series out on a high note before it entered its midseason hiatus.

Only Murders in the Building was an undeniable hit from the beginning, thanks to the stellar performances from leads Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. Its third season took the show into new territory, and it was notable for the inclusion of an in-universe musical. Of particular note was the episode “Stizprobe.” The episode became one of the very best of the show, mostly because of Martin’s masterful performance of the song “Pickwick Triplets,” in which he shows, once again, why he remains one of the most talented comedic actors of his generation.

Many Gen-Xers and older millennials have a special place in their heart for the animated series Daria, which perfectly captured the ennui of many late ‘90s teens. Given that its main character is a notorious downer and cynic, the episode “Daria!” feels a bit odd since it is, as one might gather, a musical. Nevertheless, there’s still something uniquely charming about the episode, particularly since it gives the characters a chance to express in song that they wouldn’t normally say. It somehow manages to be both a traditional episode of Daria and yet something else, and therein lies its brilliance.

Gilligan’s Island was always one of those sitcoms that leaned into the ridiculousness of its premise, and it was very much in the vein of the sillier TV shows of the 1960s. One of the more outlandish episodes was “The Producer,” which sees a film producer come ashore, after which the castaways end up putting on a musical production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The whole premise is, of course, ridiculous from beginning to end, but the whole episode has that charm that the series as a whole never possessed. It also deserves points for turning one of Shakespeare’s most noted tragedies into a full-on Broadway show. 

The episode of The Flash entitled “Duet” is truly an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the talent involved. In addition to the show’s regulars, it manages to pull in such musical heavy-hitters as Darren Criss and Jeremy Jordan (it’s also worth pointing out that series regular Jesse L. Martin is himself no stranger to musical theater). There’s certainly a lot going on in this episode — since it’s a crossover with the series Supergirl — but somehow, it pulls it all off, managing to be both goofy and endearing at the same time.

Given that it’s based on various Disney properties, one would have expected music to play more of a role in the series Once Upon a Time. As it turns out, the series didn’t have a full-on musical episode until the sixth season, when fans were treated to “The Song in Your Heart.” This episode features no fewer than eight songs, and it manages to be one of the stronger episodes from the series’ later seasons (which were notably weaker than the earlier ones), and it comes very close to capturing that old-fashioned Disney magic.

The golden age of The Simpsons was known for producing a number of fantastic episodes, one of the most memorable of which is “A Fish Called Selma.” Arguably, the best thing about this entire episode is the in-universe musical, “Stop the Planet of the Apes I Want to Get Off.” Of all of the movies one could make a musical out of, Planet of the Apes is perhaps the most unlikely candidate, but somehow, The Simpsons makes it seem as if such an idea is not just plausible but desirable. The fact that neither Hollywood nor Broadway has seen fit to give this sci-fi classic the musical treatment is nothing short of an oversight.

Few sitcoms have been more beloved or influential than I Love Lucy. It makes sense that it would also feature a musical episode, in this case aptly titled “The Operetta.” As one might imagine, the entire episode revolves around Ethel’s and Lucy’s efforts to put on an operetta, only for everything to go awry. It’s one of those episodes that demonstrates Lucille Ball’s tremendous talents as a comedic actress, and one can’t help but admire her steadfast willingness to do anything to get the laugh.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was beloved throughout its run, thanks in no small part to Joss Whedon’s ability to write quippy dialogue. The series also earned rave reviews for its feminist ethos. The episode “Once More with Feeling” is one of the show’s best since it focuses on a demon whose powers force the people of Sunnydale to suddenly break into song to speak about things they would rather keep hidden. It’s a brilliant take on the traditional form of the musical, and it manages to both spoof the genre and be a part of it simultaneously. 

One of the long-running storylines in the animated series Futurama is the love that the main character, Fry, feels for Leela. In the masterful “The Devil’s Hands are Idle Playthings,” he ends up making a deal with the Robot Devil to gain the latter’s hands and, in the process, play the holophonor and hopefully express his love for Leela in music in a way he cannot with words. There are quite a few twists and turns in this episode, and it expertly weaves together the hilarious and the tragic with a bittersweet ending that is sure to leave a tear in the eye.

For most of its run, Scrubs  was one of the funniest shows on network TV, thanks in no small part to the performance from Zach Braff. One of the best episodes is, of course, a musical one, in this case aptly titled “My Musical.” Not only does it focus on a patient who hears all speech as song, but it is also structured like a traditional stage musical. It’s one of those rare musical episodes where all of the pieces fall into place, and far from feeling forced or silly, it all works in the way one would expect from a series that was already zany.

Xena: Warrior Princess might not seem at first blush like the kind of show that would feature a musical episode, but this dichotomy makes the episode “The Bitter Suite” such a delight. Furthermore, this is an episode with actual stakes since the plot itself focuses on Xena and Gabrielle working through their issues and finding a way to come back together. The fact that it features a number of musical numbers makes it that much more special, particularly since they end up reconciling.

Grey’s Anatomy might seem like the type of show that would be an unlikely fit for a musical episode, but this is precisely what makes “Song Beneath the Song” such a brave choice. As fans know, the episode featured the members of the cast singing a number of songs that had already appeared during the show. It might not have landed quite as effectively as some might have wished — and it certainly polarized the critics — but there’s no question that it also injected much-needed fresh air into a show that can sometimes get stuck in its own patterns.

Schitt’s Creek is well-known and beloved, establishing itself as many people’s go-to feel-good show. One of the series’ most beloved episodes also happens to be its musical homage to Cabaret, in which Moira Rose puts on a production of the show, with Patrick as the Master of Ceremonies and Stevie as Sally Bowles. The latter’s performance of the song “Maybe This Time” is a true highlight of the series and remains a testament to Emily Hampshire’s remarkable talent as an actress. 

If there’s one show that has made being inappropriate its signature, it would have to be It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Even so, the episode “The Nightman Cometh” focuses on the Gang’s efforts to put on a musical. What seems relatively benign at first soon becomes something much more depressing, as it’s clear that Charlie, the author of said musical, is really just trying to work through his childhood trauma. It’s an episode that manages to be both disturbing and funny at the same time, a balance that only It’s Always Sunny could pull off.

Given that Fez was always the strangest character on That ‘70s Show, it made sense that the fourth season’s musical episode, appropriately titled “That ‘70s Musical,” would focus primarily on his various reveries. There’s no doubt that this episode leans into the cheese, but it’s also quite funny and charming in its own right. What’s more, it shows how multi-talented the cast members were. Just as importantly, it also gives Fez more depth than he is usually given as a character.

The Golden Girls remains a beloved series, even thirty years after it left the air. Among fans, one of the most celebrated episodes is “Henny Penny Straight, No Chaser,” in which the girls put on a show of Henny Penny once Dorothy’s students have to be quarantined. It’s obviously hilarious to see Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia in various costumes, but it also has to be said that the episode has some pretty catchy numbers. It’s an episode that allows the cast to show off their various talents, so it’s easy to see why it maintains a special place in every fan’s heart.