WARNING: This story contains spoilers for theSchmigadoon!season 2 finale.
With a dropped chandelier and all that jazz,Schmigadoon!season 2 came to an end on Wednesday.
How did you do that?
The final number of ‘Schmigadoon’ season 2.Apple TV+
CINCO PAUL: Yeah, that was nuts.
And I love so much of it.
I wanted to address it all and I wanted to play in that sandbox.
Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong in ‘Schmigadoon’ season 2.Apple TV+
I got a little carried away, I will admit.
Is there a song or a reference you are proudest of this season?
“The Worst Brats in Town” was really a challenge to write.
Dove Cameron in ‘Schmigadoon’ season 2.Apple TV+
But I’m really happy with how it turned out because I think he would be happy with it.
There are very disparate styles of music in this era.
I brought that up [in the writer’s room].
Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming in season 2 of ‘Schmigadoon’.Apple TV+
Like, “Are we gonna be able to pull this off?
Can we go from Sondheim toJesus Christ Superstarin the same episode?
Is that going to work?”
Octavius Kratt (Patrick Page) in Schmigadoon season 2.Apple TV+
Ultimately we just decided, “Let’s play it up.
Let’s have fun and hopefully people will be along for the ride.”
I think it worked out.
We embraced the craziness of it, and said, “Hey, this is a fantasy show.
We can do whatever we want.”
We went for it.
And we tried to do some separation and establish different worlds.
I love Cecily and she is so incredibly talented and people don’t really know it.
It was a song for Melissa, but it was also for Cecily.
You could see her tentativeness, and it was such a beautiful character moment.
You’ve said you were very eager to take advantage ofJane Krakowskihaving more availability this year.
So, what is that?"
And she said, “Well, I can roller skate fromStarlight Express.”
And I said, “All right, bam, that’s in.”
And then she said, “Well, you have me coming down on this trapeze.
Could I do some tricks up there?”
And I said that would be amazing.
Then she said, “I’m gonna find a place where I can take some lessons.”
And then she did it, and that’s all her.
No body double, it’s all Jane in in that scene.
What was the thought process with the key in of role that each returning performer was taking on?
… Alan’s character in both seasons is tortured by something.
Dove’s characters are both innocent in their own way, innocent yet kind of knowing.
And Aaron’s characters are both focused on themselves.
There’s those sorts of connections.
It’s a function of wanting to mix things up to have enough variety…
I love the music fromPromises, Promises, so I really wanted to include that.
The thing that hurts me most isThe Wiz.
Season 3 hasn’t been green-lit yet, but let’s proceed hoping it will be.
Was that a conscious choice to not do the same trick twice?
Or what was the thinking behind that?
The inspiration behind “Happy Beginning” was really “Rainbow Connection” [fromThe Muppet Movie].
It’s meant to be a little hint about how things could move forward.
That’s the genius of the Muppets and of Paul Williams, who wrote “The Rainbow Connection.”
Was dropping the chandelier on Kratt another wink at a possible transition to a new season?
Yes, it was (laughs).
In the ’80s and ’90s, musicals become more reflective and deconstructive in a lot of ways.
I have a mythology in my head, but in some ways I’m following theGroundhog’s Dayprinciple here.
So, I’m leaning in that direction, although there is a bigger mythology in my head.
But who knows if that’ll ever see the light of day.
Sometimes that stuff bogs things down and overcomplicates something that’s just fun.
Is death permanent in this world?
A.K.A.can Patrick Page return?
I would just answer that it’s a show.
Can we expect a child to play a role in a potential future season?
They’re pregnant right at the end of the episode.
You brought Patrick Page in this season.
Is there another Broadway performer you’re dying to bring on?
Because I love Sondheim so much, it would be Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters.
“Talk to Daddy” has become the breakout hit of the season.
Has that been surprising to you?
It’s a bouncy thing and it just wasn’t good enough.
I threw it out and said, “What could this be?”
Keegan was like, “Oh my gosh, this is my new favorite song from the show.”
And so then I thought,Okay, maybe we have something here.
So I’m excited that people have responded like that.
I don’t know.
It’s a hat on a hat.
Right, and you finished the hat.
Yes, we finished the hat.
We don’t need to put another hat on it.
