David Bianculli

The second season was called Schmuckago, and it featured the same cast, most of them in new roles, which the Broadway production could blaze a new trail by emulating.

There's no reason Broadway's new hit musical in time shouldn't have a sequel ready and waiting in the wings, with cast members from Schmigadoon ready to sign up for Schmuckago.

Not, for example, with songs like Do We Shock You, in which the ladies at a nightclub line up on stage, as in Bob Fosse's Sweet Charity, to sing some provocative lyrics.

Although Josh and Melissa, in the audience, are anything but outraged.

In time, Schmuckago may make the transition to Broadway, just as Schmigadoon has.

But for now, you can get tickets to Schmigadoon or watch both seasons on Apple TV.

Meanwhile, here's an interview Terry Gross conducted with Cinco Paul when the TV musical first premiered.

Back in 2021, when he spoke with Terry, Paul had written all the songs for the TV version of Schmigadoon and had co-created and co-written the series with his writing partner, Ken Dario.

Previously, the two of them had written the animated films Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets, and the Dr. Seuss adaptations Horton Hears a Who and The Lorax.

In the original TV version of Schmigadoon, the small town of the title looks like a stage or movie set from the early 20th century.

The women are wearing prairie dresses with long petticoats, and the men are dressed like they're in a barbershop quartet.

It turns out that in this town, life is a musical.

Let's pick up on the scene in which Melissa and Josh, played by Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key, first encounter the townspeople of Schmigadoon.

The people start singing about their town, which makes Melissa smile and Josh cringe.

See if you can guess which musical inspired this particular number.

Cinco Paul speaking to Terry Gross in 2021.

Coming up, we'll continue their conversation, and film critic Justin Chang reviews the new film Blue Heron.

I'm David Bianculli, and this is Fresh Air.

Cinco Paul speaking with Terry Gross in 2021.

More after a break.