Pitch Perfect fans will be thrilled for Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist! As a matter of fact, all fans of the musical series genre will be!
The new gleeful series on NBC hilariously blends music and comedy with a star-studded and musically-gifted cast that is sure to delight the inner singer in all of us. The upcoming one-hour dramedy series, which officially premieres on Sunday, February 16 (but will also debut a special preview already on January 7th), focuses on Zoey Clarke’s newly discovered superpower and singing.
Who’s in charge?
Production companies Universal and Lionsgate Television, along with the NBC network, collaborated with creator Austin Winsberg who both wrote and executive produced Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist. While the pilot episode was directed by Richard Shepard.
Alongside them are executive producers Kim and Eric Tannenbaum (Two and a Half Men, The Odd Couple), the legend Paul Feig (The Office, Nurse Jackie), David Blackman (Flatliners), Daniel Inkeles, and Jessie Henderson (Spy, The Heat).
What’s this show about?
Zoey Clarke is your average Bay Area computer whiz coder. Until one day something super strange happens: she begins to hear the innermost thoughts of her peers. And as if that wasn’t weird enough, she hears them in the form of songs.
Later, after concluding she hasn’t gone completely insane, she realizes she can actually read the minds of the people around her. And that she pictures them singing their deepest thoughts and desires to her in the form of joyous pop songs and captivating ballads.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvQFt1s4Q6Q
Is having everybody sing their thoughts to you a burden? Or is reading people’s minds actually a useful ability? Zoey is about to find out.
Who’s playing who on Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist?
Jane Levy (Suburgatory, What/If) headlines the musical dramedy as Zoey, the woman which the show is named after.
With her are the musical talents of Skylar Astin (Pitch Perfect, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) as Zoey’s best friend Max. Alex Newell (Glee) as Zoey’s neighbor Mo. And Mary Steenburgen (Last Man on Earth) as Zoey’s mom Maggie.
Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls, Parenthood) also gets a comeback to TV in this one as Jane, Levy’s computer coder boss. With fellow TV veteran Peter Gallagher (The O.C., Law & Order: SVU) joining the cast as Zoey’s dad Mitch.
While John Clarence Stewart (Luke Cage) will be playing Simon on Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, a marketing executive at the firm Zoey works at. India de Beaufort (Kevin Probably Saves the World) will portray Simon’s fiancee Jessica. Andrew Leeds (Barry) will star as Zoey’s lawyer brother David. With his wife Emily being portrayed by Alice Lee.
And last but definitely not least, Michael Thomas Grant (Roadies) and Kapil Talwalkar (American Princess) will be plying Zoey’s co-workers Lief and Tobin. While Stephanie Styles will star as Autumn, the barista at Zoey’s favorite coffee shop.
As you can see, we’ll be seeing quite a few familiar faces from popular musical dramas and beyond. Which hopefully means that Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist will live up to its name and be truly extraordinary.
But to see that we’re going to have to wait a while, as the show is just now being filmed in Vancouver.