What do we think of Mandy Moore’s Zoe’s Extraordinary Playlist?

How You Know The ‘Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist’ Cast

Alex Newell takes on the role of Zoey’s friend Mo on “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.” He first appeared on the reality show “The Glee Project” before ultimately recurring on “Glee” as Unique Adams. Newell focused on music for a while, releasing a debut album as well as singles with Clean Bandit and others, before he made his Broadway debut. In 2018, he starred as Asaka in the Broadway revival of “Once on This Island.”

Top knot

The Beatles song must have cost a fortune. They sure mean business. I love Jane Levy (Suburgatory and What/If) and Alex Newell (Glee / The Glee Project). It's a nice show.

Peter Gallagher sees your True Colors.

The trailer for this looked awful. It seems like it wants to be Glee, but with an even more incoherent premise. I cannot see this being successful.

I saw the pilot on YouTube as I was trying to watch a gay short film. I thought it was just an ad but it was the whole episode.

I loved the musical numbers. Skylar Austin is fucking adorable and I usually find him annoying.

The Goop joke was brilliant.

God I hate TV..

Where do you usually find Skylar Austin annoying?

He sings when you fuck him in the asshole. He’s a compulsive singer!

I hate Jane Levy. Her speaking voice is incredibly annoying. Screwy pitch and cadence.

I love the idea but Levy is a dealbreaker.

You’ve fucked Skylar in the asshole before, R9?!

Why is Emma Stone doing this shit? She has an Oscar!

[Quote] The Goop joke was brilliant.

What was the joke?

The joke is in the clip at the OP.

So does Steenburgen, R12. So either:

The show is lots better than the teasers we've seen so far would indicate, or;

MS and ES have REALLY got some bills to pay.

Terrible show. Can't see this lasting.

Did any of you even watch the show? The whole episode is at the OP.

Emma Stone isn't involved with this shit, R12. OP thinks Emma and Jane Levy are the same person! LQTM

I’ve never liked Jane Levy. She completely ruined the show when she got together with Niles.

R19: You are talking about Jane Leeves, dear

[Quote] Why is Emma Stone doing this shit? She has an Oscar!

[Quote] I’ve never liked Jane Levy. She completely ruined the show when she got together with Niles.

I actually liked it - reminded me of Pushing Daisies....but I'm old and what do I know?

Lauren Graham should have come with an expiration date that arrived years ago. Is she known for singing at all, or will they just autotune her into the show?

Didn’t they try this shit before with “Cop Rock”?

I liked the musical reveal that the friendly co-worker is really a snake who is so ready to stab Zoey in the back to get the promotion.

I haven’t watched it, but it looks embarrassing for all involved. Like “High School Musical”, grown up.

It had some charm. I see this working better as a movie rather than a series. Or a very limited 10-episode run then curtain down.

I like the basic premise that Zoey has the gift to know people's problems (revealed to her through personal musical numbers) and help them to solve their problems or issues.

So are they using the Glee launch playbook here? Release the pilot, but then a wide stretch of time before the series actually goes into rotation? What’s the advantage to that? Are the songs on iTunes and they hope to build momentum with sales and interest for it to come back on and have an audience raring to go? Doesn’t sound like a good strategy.

Worked for Glee, didn’t it?

[quote] So are they using the Glee launch playbook here? Release the pilot, but then a wide stretch of time before the series actually goes into rotation? What’s the advantage to that?

They can check out social media what worked and what didn't and use that information to tweak the show.

Episode 2 finally aired Sunday night. I liked it enough, but just like most series it is too soon to tell if it can sustain its premise over the long haul. The novelty could wear off quite quickly. It's interesting that Lauren Graham is listed as "special guest star". Is that a vanity credit or is she really not a series regular? I also noticed the credit "Choreography by Mandy Moore". I didn't notice that on the pilot. Skylar Astin could be the best part of this. He has true charisma. One final note: how does Peter Gallagher not break up the set with those goofy faces he has to make?

Loved it. Cried when Peter Gallagher sang "True Colors" to his daughter.

I never thought the fat hammy guy with the weird hair in Spring Awakening would have a career.

I would watch anything with Skylar....he's so yummy!

I suffered through the first episode. God, what a dreadful show this is. First of all, It tries WAY too hard to be hip and "woke":

- Girl software engineer boss overseeing an all male staff of varying ethnicities - CHECK - Overweight African American drag queen best friend - CHECK - African American big boss guy who could be a potential love interest for the white girl - CHECK - Hanging out at coffee shops and talking about sustainable farming restaurants and Instagram posts - CHECK - Lessons in effective people management - CHECK

On top of that, the actors perform their roles as if they're constantly on the verge of looking at the camera and saying, "Did you like how clever I sounded? Wasn't that funny? Are you enjoying the rapid fire comeback lines as much as I am?"

Then you have poor Peter Gallagher as a victim of some neurological disorder, vegetating in a paralyzed state. Who says advanced neurological disease isn't a real knee slapper?

And worst of all, although the show is set in San Francisco, it's definitely not in San Francisco. The opening outside dance number was filmed somewhere in Vancouver. And the trendy office building Zoe works in isn't even an actual building in San Francisco. Come on, guys! At least TRY to bring some authenticity to the table,

All in all, the show sucks donkey dong. And that's a shame, because I really like Jane Levy. She was terrific in Suburgatory, but in this, she's an annoying little waif.

For someone so above it all, you invested an awful lot of time in critiquing it, r36. But I have to feel sorry for you. It must suck to be such a negative person.

Sorry I didn't like your show, Mandy Moore - er - R37.

I heard some off-key warbling and realized my partner was watching this. If I can sing better than the performers, something ain’t right.

Yeah....I don't know how they're going to last for a season or two without people getting bored.

I’m enjoying it.

Of course the gays will complain about a mainstream TV show for being “too woke.”

Will you ever stop being so miserable?

I don’t think making the lead character so unlikable was a good move for this show.

Why is Alex Newell ok playing a stereotype? He makes Titus in Kimmy Schmidt seem nuanced.

Maybe I was not watching closely enough, but I did not realize that the character was not female and was not played by a woman till reading this.

I’m assuming she has a brain tumor and this turns dark at some point soon?

OP, are you Nick Baga?

I watched the first two episodes online. I also didn't realize that the black neighbor was a man dressed as a woman. His character is fairly amusing. I'm not loving the show, though, and doubt I will even watch the next episode. The dialogue is too stilled and artificial -- especially her conversations with the guy she has a crush on; knocking over his award with a football...really?!? -- and no one is really likable. Crazy Ex Girlfriend had similar moments in which the characters broke into songs, but, in that show, it made sense, because the lead character was imagining musical spectacles in order to create some sort of order in her life, but I don't know why the character is having musical visions here. What is the point, other than to drive the plot forward? It isn't connected enough to her personality or plight for it to make sense. I do admire the cinematography and how the dancing is filmed in long takes, which is nice to see. I learned nothing new about the characters in the second episode than I did in the first, which is not a good thing. The story needs to move forward instead of just being random musical episodes.

The show is like a combination of "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" and "Wonderfalls." Anyone remember that show? It was about the girl who worked at the Niagara Falls gift shop who could hear the souvenirs in the shop talking to her, and they wouldn't shut up until she helped people in her life solve their problems.

I hope people realize that the Mandy Moore involved here is the choreographer and not the actress.

[quote] I hope people realize that the Mandy Moore involved here is the choreographer and not the actress.

Actually I didn't know! LOL. I was thinking the This is Us actress/singer had branched out into producing. They shouldn't be allowed to go by the same name!

[quote]Lauren Graham should have come with an expiration date that arrived years ago. Is she known for singing at all, or will they just autotune her into the show?

Known for singing - no, but Lauren Graham actually sings reasonably well.

It would be better as a movie, rather than a tv show. The premise wears thin after a couple episodes.

I watched the first two episodes last night. I liked it.

I should start watching this show and Katy Keene back to back.

After seeing the latest episode, I think I know why this show isn't working, at least for me. She has access to everyone's deepest thoughts, via the music, but she doesn't do anything with it. She doesn't try to help them, nor does she try to understand their souls are trying to speak to her. No; she sees it as a burden, and it makes her gift pointless,, and it makes her unlikeable. Also, the guy who plays the co worker she is attracted to is a terrible actor, and they have zero chemistry, so all the interactions between them are forced and cringy. Can all they talk about is their fathers?!!? (And why did Peter Gallagher agree to do this? Maybe it's an easy paycheck for not having to remember any lines.)

It's definitely not everyone's cup of tea, but I like my tea sweet (and sentimental, with pretty impressive musical numbers). Three episodes in and I'm enjoying it.

r49 it's more of a "Crazy Ex Girlfriend" and "Eli Stone" imo.

She may have a tumor because this hearing songs ability came to her while she was in an MRI tube but they have not revealed that at this time.

In Eli Stone he also broke into song because he had a brain tumor.

I adored the last episode. I had to rewatch Joan interrupt Zoey’s describing herself as a “colleague” with “subordinate” several times.

Justin Kirk’s entrance to “Jesus Christ Superstar” was very on point and satisfying.

I love this show.

If Lauren Graham were married to Justin Kirk, we know who'd be the top.

Why are there so many non launching threads for this show?

Is Alex Newel vying for the role of Precious in the remake?

Was signing not a part of the audition process for this show?

I thought this Mandy Moore was a choreographer? The movement with the musical segments are horrible and embarrassing.

Did she not get the MRI after the earthquake? When is the Brian tumor diagnosis going to come out to explain the musical segments?

Does traffic not exist in the weird Silicon Valley?

The dialogue can be at very best described as corny, but the writers and actors seemed very pleased with themselves and its delivery. They must deem it ultra cool.

I couldn't make it past the second morning her neighbor's music woke her up. Just not funny to those of us who have lived through it.

Morning has broken, indeed.

[quote] Was signing not a part of the audition process for this show?

Oh, dear.

I thought the third episode was somewhat belabored. I didn't need to hear so much "Satisfaction,' which to me is one of the most overplayed songs of all time. But I enjoy the show. Unlike "Perfect Harmony," which barely has any music at all, this show does have some fun numbers.

Ugh, why do I keep hate watching this show?

Alex Newell had the same kind of "reveal" performance in this as they did in Glee, to not as good effect.

Not everybody in the show needs to sing, with Lauren Graham on the list of people who need to stop.

I have a hard time believing Skyler Astin is straight.

[Quote] I have a hard time believing Skyler Astin is straight.

Well he just got divorced and Anna has gay rumours.

I like Skyler Astin - he's got that same adorable quality that Paul Rudd has - of course, to a much lesser extent.

I want John Clarence Stewart (Simon) in me quite deeply.

r33, MARY!!!!

Skler Astin had a gratuitous shirtless scene last night and he has a decent body. Can't get past the goofy face and gay demeanor, though.

Is no one else hate watching this show with me? Astin’s character knows about her “powers” which is bad because he’s one of the few who can actually sing along with Alex Newell who also knows so doesn’t sing much. Then there’s the rest of the cast who can’t sing or dance, why was there no aptitude audition for these skills? The choreography is so simplistic and herky jerky, yet most of the actors can barely handle it and it looks laughable. And the worst part, Zoey herself is singing too. I assumed she was hired for her bearable comedic acting skills knowing she wouldn’t sing, but opps there it is and it’s terrible.

I think everyone has stopped watching this show.

An interesting idea, poorly executed.

Loved it at first, now barely tolerating it. As an audience member, I hated watching her perform in the board room as much as the people sitting there did. And I really didn't need to hear her groan her way through five songs. I thought she was a better singer than that, but I was wrong.

After seeing the ads, I've come to the conclusion that the premise is just too mind-numbingly stupid for me to waste time watching.

I watched it but I got the feeling I have seen it before. Another interracial couple pushed down our throats. The guy Zoey is lusting after is okay but hardly a dream guy and he seems too old for her plus he has a beard just like 99% of all men today. I didn’t even finish the episode.

[quote] Then there’s the rest of the cast who can’t sing or dance, why was there no aptitude audition for these skills? The choreography is so simplistic and herky jerky, yet most of the actors can barely handle it and it looks laughable.

That is sort of the point, isn't it. It's not supposed to be broadway productions with costumes and perfect choreography. It's supposed to be normal people about whom she gets insights into their psyche based on the songs they sing to her.

[quote]And the worst part, Zoey herself is singing too.

She doesn't normally, does she? I thought it was because it was "glitching" because she was so upset about her father's prognosis and needed to "help" herself deal with the trauma she was avoiding.

The show is really no worse than anything currently on network tv. It's the song and dance version of God Friended Me and a half dozen other feel good shows whose hook is that we're all in this together and need to help each other.

[quote] but opps there it is

Oh, dear.

I don't know how Peter Gallagher can make those silly faces without everyone dropping to their knees in convulsions.

I assumed the actress playing Zoey was some young Tony nominated star making their TV debut No?

I absolutely love this show. I find it sweet, funny, and charming, and I love the musical numbers. It’s so much better than the Spring Awakening-themed show from a year or two ago.

R85, Jane Levy has never even stepped foot on a Broadway stage, let alone be nominated for a Tony.

Lauren Graham was in the last (and ghastly) Guys & Dolls revival and was definitely NOT nominated for a Tony. Oof.

I actually like the show minus the musical numbers. I think the characters and story are interesting enough, but the numbers are very poorly executed and the song choices suck. She has all of the world’s music downloaded into her brain and they’re making us sit through shit like “Firework” and “Wrecking Ball?”

Alex, who was so far over the top in Once on this Island, is actually very winning and I enjoy those plots the most.

I’m actually still enjoying this show and think it’s mostly been improving week to week, though this most recent episode was the best so far imo.

The guy who plays Leif, Michael Thomas Grant, has been an unexpected highlight and definitely has one of the best voices on the show. He also pings but looks like he may be out?

R88 no way in hell he’s straight. Just watch some of the videos of him performing

It should have been a 6 episode mini series. It just doesn’t work beyond that.

I liked th3 first 2 episodes, but then it got on my nerves — actually too much music by too many not-great voices, and the scenes with her dad are excruciating.

There’s no way this gets a renewal.

Is this awful show still on? I could barely make it through the first 3 episodes, then gave up.

Like Glee before it, the premise runs thin after 10-12 episodes.

Fortunately, streaming services, more and more shows are done as a limited run series. That way, it could go all out for those shows and not try to save anything for the future.

Bernadette Peters was amazing!

It is terrible. I watched several episodes in order to give it the benefit of the doubt and for it to find time to find its footing. None of the relationships ring true, and the dialogue is stilted and unconvincing. There is absolutely no joy or point to the series.

R93 Bernadette Peters was fantastic to see in this! I actually loved her role

And for what it’s worth, I actually thought the first three episodes were among the weakest. Episodes 3 and 10 have been the biggest low points imo. In between, I find a lot of the show enjoyable. The straight love triangle is tired, of course, but otherwise a lot of the show is fun if nothing else.

The show also seems to be leading that USA Today poll to save shows on the bubble by a pretty significant margin

I'd only caught a few scenes here and there since the pilot but ran out of other shit to watch so finished catching up this week ahead of the Sunday finale. I actually kind of like it! If they do end up getting renewed, I've seen rumors about possibly Peter Gallagher and/or Lauren Graham not continuing which honestly I think would be to the show's benefit.

That video of the actor who plays Leif above though, holy shit. If they somehow survive to season 2 they need to take advantage of him. He's had some great comic timing especially in the back half. Add in that voice and body and I'd watch.

Skylar Astin has had a number of gay rumors, too. I'd be curious if they've ever hooked up but Astin seems mainly close to the other dude in the dumb love triangle story. Fertile ground for gossip either way

Not a very good show and really just a warmed over Crazy Ex-Girlfriend which was much better. Sad. Could have been good.

Who would of thought Mandy Moore would have a better career than Britney or even Jessica Simpson ( without the purses).

R98 That's a different Mandy Moore.

I love Lauren Graham in this, and Leif has a cute little ass.

Oh Mandy Moore who did the musical numbers for LaLa Land? I really thought NBC let the other Mandy create a TV series. I mean it wasn’t hard to create it has been done many times.

R100 For real

John Clarence Stewart and Michael Thomas Grant, the guys who play Simon and Leif, an IG live a bit ago. Michael talks about being bi in it, mainly around 39 minutes in (says he was one of the top 80 contenders to be in the second season of the glee project but was unwilling to come out on national tv)

R103 "And they were like, 'oh, wait, you don't want to talk about your personal life?' And I was like, no, I'm 19 years old, I don't want to come out on national TV. My dad would kill me."

this sounds about right

He looks 40.

R105 assuming you’re talking about John?

I like the show and characters, but think it really doesn’t need the music gimmick.

Are there really workplaces like the one portrayed on this show?

R108, I burst into song and dance every day in my office. Don’t you?

R109 We’re on DL right now.

Of course we do.

[quote][R108], I burst into song and dance every day in my office. Don’t you?

r109 bursts in song. Bursts into flame.

Tom ay to. To mah to.

R111 Once more, with feeling

If you speak with a vocal fry, you'll probably like this show.

If you've ever said "Bye-eeeeeeeeeeee," you'll probably like this show.

If you have made more than two TikTok videos, you'll probably like this show.

If you thought avocado toast was the greatest meal ever, you'll probably like this show.

If you have a YouTube channel dedicated to make-up styling, you'll probably like this show.

If you;ll think "High School Musical" is the greatest musical ever made, you'll probably like this show.

I mostly liked it, though it was pretty uneven. The finale was sad because of her father and I'm not really interested in exploring more of the love triangle. Did not like Mo stalking the ex but they could have had her perform more. She can certainly belt out a song. Unlike Lauren Graham and Mary Steenburgen, who were hard to listen to.

Still hate watching it and coming here to complain. Yes, the Lief character and actor and his singing has been a big uplift to the show. Sucks that he wasn’t on the Glee project because he wouldn’t come out, Ryan Murphy has something to answer for bulling teens. Bernadette was a lovely addition although they let Mary sing and dance in a funeral home which did her no favors and still let Lauren Graham sing too, they should just have her develop laryngitis for the rest of the series.

What amazes me is what the budget for getting clearance on these songs must be, they go for some very heavy hitters like the Beatles that have got to be costly. Also, it’s been months at this point since the MRI and I get that she’s caught up with the continually more impending death of the father, but when is she going to get her own diagnosis, which I can only assume to be a brain tumor? Does she just drop dead at the end of the series?

[quote] Ryan Murphy has something to answer for bulling teens.

Oh, dear.

That death scene was handled very realistically more than I would have expected given the level of this show. Well done finale.

I thought the finale was incredibly well done, and really the last two episodes both were a major step up.

If they do end up getting the renewal I’d be interested to see if they can keep that momentum going especially as is sounds like Lauren Graham’s involvement will be going down quite a bit, and Peter’s will be all but gone. Especially if they bump up the guys who play Leif and Tobin, I could see the show being a lot more enjoyable going forward.