Apple TV+’s globally-acclaimed hit series Schmigadoon! is back with more grand performances and original musical numbers for its second season. Josh (Keegan-Michael Key) and Melissa’s (Cecily Strong) season 1 adventures will pale in comparison to the journey the couple will embark on throughout the forthcoming six-episode season. Ahead of Schmigadoon!’s global premiere on April 5, Apple TV+ released the official season 2 trailer which drops our rekindled couple into a new musical realm that’s drastically different from the vibrant, upbeat Schmigadoon village.
The first season focused on the mending of Josh and Melissa’s relationship in a Golden Age musical entrapment where their release was contingent upon finding true love. However, this season, the pair longs to return to the mystical town after humdrum settles into their lives upon their return to New York City. The trailer opens in a repeated loop of scenes where the duo is performing their jobs as doctors, though dissatisfaction in their personal lives is evident. “It feels like we should be happier,” mentions Melissa before expressing that she misses Schmigadoon. Consensual monotony leads the pair on a hunt for the quaint village, but instead, the couple stumbles upon “Schmicago” — the musical parody backdrop for this season. Upon their arrival, they’re greeted with a satirical musical number parodying the 1975 acclaimed musical, Chicago.
It doesn’t take long for the couple to understand that they’ve stumbled into a new musical world derived from 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s musicals. Throughout the trailer, audiences will see nods to a variety of musicals from those periods including Chicago, Hair, and Sweeney Todd. “These musicals are darker, with more sex and violence,” explains Melissa right before Josh is nailed for the murder of a showgirl. Amidst the kooky characters and outlandish situations that the couple encounters during their time in Schmicago, they must find a way to navigate the debaucherous world to find their happy ending.
Schmigadoon! season two features brand new original musical numbers from co-creator, executive producer, and showrunner Cinco Paul. As the trailer displays, season 1’s entire ensemble cast will be reimagined as new characters in Schmicago. Returning cast includes Ariana DeBose, Martin Short, Dove Cameron, Jaime Camil, Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Ann Harada, Jane Krakowski, and Aaron Tveit. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s Tituss Burgess and Patrick Page have joined the cast for season two.
Check out the official season 2 trailer below!
Schmigadoon’s Co-Creator Cinco Paul Reveals Season 1’s Trickiest Relationship
The concept for Schmigadoon! brewed for over 25 years before Cinco Paul could actualize his idea in the form of a television series. Now his satirical, musical love letter has achieved worldwide acclaim with Paul earning an Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for his song Corn Pudding. In the first season, Melissa and Josh are headed towards a path of estrangement before magically being transported to Schmigadoon. And amid their relationship crossroad, Emma (Ariana DeBose) connects with Josh which introduces a love triangle into the mix. Last year, Paul revealed in an interview with Gold Derby that Emma and Josh’s budding relationship was a tricky one to navigate for season 1.
“I was like I’m seeing [Emma and Josh] fall in love. I was like, ‘Oh, no, is she too likable? Because Ariana just shines in the role,” Paul explained. He additionally revealed that the Emma-Josh connection is why the show included flashbacks of Melissa and Josh’s relationship during their idyllic moments. Ultimately, the goal was to demonstrate the deepness of Melissa and Josh’s bond. “We really wanted to establish that this is a real couple that you should root for – they really do love and care about each other.”