Save One Show: Zoey’s Extrordinary Playlist

Back on January 7 – when our world was still “normal” – a new drama debuted on NBC. That show was Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.

Skylar Astin and Jane Levy

A combination of Glee and the short-lived FOX drama Wonderfalls, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist focused on what happened to whip-smart engineering manager Zoey Clarke (the charming Jane Levy, who folks will recognize from Suburgatory and the anthology series What/If) after an unusual event (that being an earthquake that took place while she was getting an MRI) magically allowed her to hear people’s innermost wants and desires acted out through popular songs. It didn’t matter whether it was strangers, friends, co-workers or even her family; they unknowingly sang their feelings only to Zoey.

Alex Newell

Of course, Zoey questioned her sanity, but thanks to her musically attuned neighbor Mo (the magnificent powerhouse singer, gender-fluid actor Alex Newell, best known for Glee), who was her lyrical guide, she began to accept that her unwanted curse just might be an amazing gift especially when it allowed her to connect with her ailing father Mitch (box office star and The O.C. dad Peter Gallagher), who has a rare neurological disease known as progressive supranuclear palsy.

Guest Star Renee Elise Goldsberry and Lauren Graham

John Clarence Stewart

Zoey and her best friend Max (Skylar Astin, best known for his Broadway role in the original cast of Spring Awakening and the Pitch Perfect movie franchise) [who has feelings for Zoey] work alongside each other at the San Francisco-based tech company SPRQPoint, that specializes in smart devices and apps. Their boss is Joan (Lauren Graham of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood fame), who is, or more recently was, married to high-profile and demanding husband Charlie (Emmy-nominated actor Justin Kirk, Angels in America and the soon-to-be-released Perry Mason HBO series); and their new co-worker Simon (theatre actor John Clarence Stewart, who has appeared in Luke Cage and What/If), who bonded with Zoey over their shared experiences of tragedy [he with the death of his father and her with the stunning health circumstances of her father), who later breaks up with his fiancee (more on her shortly) and ends up almost having a fling with Zoey.

Alice Lee, Andrew Leeds, Jane Levy, Peter Gallagher and Mary Steenburgen

Zoey’s family consists of veteran actress and Oscar winner Mary Steenburgen as her mom Maggie – her husband’s main caregiver; Andrew Leeds (Cristela and Bones) as her brother David, a public defender who is married to Emily (Alice Lee from the short-lived Take Two and Switched at Birth), a corporate lawyer and soon-to-be mom.

Michael Thomas Grant and Kapil Talwalkar

Other cast members include stage actor Michael Thomas Grant as Leif, a coder at SPRQPoint and rival to Zoey; theatre actor Kapil Talwalkar as Tobin, another coder at SPRQPoint and best friend to Leif; India de Beaufort (Callan’s sister on NCIS: Los Angeles as well as Kevin Probably Saves the World, Younger and Jane By Design) as Jessica, Simon’s (former) fiancee and Zak Orth (Revolution and Falling Water) as Howie, Mitch’s home health aide.

India de Beaufort

The show also featured appearances by Hamilton alum Renee Elise Goldsberry (also from Netflix’s Altered Carbon) and Broadway veteran Bernadette Peters.

Zak Orth

While Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist isn’t among the lowest rated shows on TV [that “honor” goes to all of the shows featured on The CW, sorry CW fans!], it is – sadly – very close to the bottom despite its universal appeal, critical acclaim and quick fan favorite status – especially when the pandemic hit the United States. I know that we here at NiceGirlsTV sure flocked to the show and enjoyed it very much.

RELATED: Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist Roundtables

Given the fact that it only averaged 2 million viewers each week (in immediate overnight ratings) and approximately 3.1 million viewers (when delayed DVR viewing is added in), the show isn’t in complete jeopardy, but it certainly is close to the chopping block and it deserves so much more.

Case in point: Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist won – hands down – in USA Today’s 23rd Annual Save Our Shows poll, garnering 67% of the votes that amounts to more than 62,000 votes, far outdistancing the second place show Stumptown and third place Manifest. [Source: USA Today]

Deadline also shared that Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist is a “digital phenom with a huge online and social media following whose very modest Live+Same Day linear ratings are dwarfed by its delayed multi-platform numbers. Because digital breakouts of that caliber don’t come along often, NBC, Lionsgate TV and Universal TV (the latter two are the united production companies behind the show) will likely find a business framework to make a renewal on the linear network feasible, including possibly pursuing a full-season streaming pact somewhere.”

The show is obviously a female-driven series, combining drama and comedy with elaborately choreographed musical numbers by Mandy Moore, the renowned choreographer known for her work on So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With the Stars; and is created and executive produced by Austin Winsberg (whose father’s illness was the genesis of Mitch Clarke’s fatal malady), who has worked on shows like Jake in Progress and Gossip Girl as well as the upcoming Disney+ original movie Secret Society of Second-Born Royals, which is set to debut on July 17 and will (ironic or not) include Skylar Astin as one of its cast.

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist consisted of 12 episodes, which can be seen on NBC.

Let’s hope that NBC does the right thing by renewing Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist for a second season, as it deserves to be the one show to be saved out of this very rocky TV season, and will provide a little bit of light-hearted fun, feel-good moments and exuberant dance numbers for all of us viewers to enjoy!

UPDATE (June 11): NBC has given the show a second season order!!!!!