MusicalSplaining

Last updated
MusicalSplaining
MusicalSplaining Cover.jpeg
Presentation
Hosted by
  • Kaveh Taherian (2020–2023)
  • Lindsay Ellis (2020–21)
  • Angelina Meehan (2022–2023)
Genre
  • Discussion
  • music
  • theater
FormatAudio
Created by
  • Lindsay Ellis
  • Kaveh Taherian
LanguageEnglish
UpdatesEvery other Tuesday
Length~60 minutes
Production
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes80
Publication
Original releaseFebruary 4, 2020 
December 26, 2023
Ratings Chartable
ProviderAmazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, Nebula, Podchaser
Related
Website Apple Podcasts

MusicalSplaining is a podcast hosted by filmmaker Kaveh Taherian and writer Angelina Meehan. Each episode, the two hosts are introduced to a different musical and they discuss its plot, themes and production. [1] The podcast was pitched as a show for both musical-lovers and musical-haters. [2] Prior to 2022, the show was hosted by Taherian and Lindsay Ellis.

Contents

Overview

The format of the show leaned into the divisive nature of musicals, with Ellis or Meehan assuming the role of a musicals fan and Taherian a theatre skeptic. [2] [3] The episodes covered a mixture of classic musicals like The Phantom of the Opera and The King and I , and newer musicals including Frozen and SpongeBob SquarePants. [4]

Ellis and Taherian attended film school together at USC. Ellis stated that she chose Taherian as a co-host because he could balance his performative anger at musicals with a critical tone. [5] The two hosts were sometimes joined by a guest host, which have included Hank Green and fellow YouTuber Jenny Nicholson. [6]

Two months into the podcast, theatres in California shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [7] In an interview with OnStage Blog, Ellis described how the hosts had originally planned to tour around the state to see musicals in theatres, but COVID-19 "totally wrecked" those plans. They have since relied on proshoots to watch and review each musical. [5]

The podcast is available via Amazon Music, [8] Apple Podcasts, [9] Spotify, [10] Google Play, [11] Stitcher, [12] Nebula., [13] and Podchaser. [14]

On December 17, 2021, in "The Lion King" episode, it was announced that the show was going on an indefinite hiatus following Ellis's retirement from online content creation. [15] The show returned on January 18, 2022 with an episode on the film Tick, Tick... Boom! with frequent guest and Ellis's former co-writer Angelina Meehan taking over as the podcast's new co-host. [16]

On November 14, 2023, in the "Gypsy" episode, it was announced that the show would end by the end of the year. [17] The show released the final episode on December 26, 2023. [18]

Episodes

Episode no.Musical discussedGuest hostOriginal podcast release date
1 Cats February 4, 2020
2 Frozen Jenny NicholsonFebruary 18, 2020
3 Hadestown March 3, 2020
4 Beetlejuice March 17, 2020
5 The Phantom of the Opera Angelina MeehanMarch 31, 2020
6 Six May 5, 2020
7 Rent May 19, 2020
8 The King and I June 9, 2020
9 American Idiot June 23, 2020
10 Love Never Dies Angelina MeehanJuly 14, 2020
11 Hamilton Hank Green July 28, 2020
12 SpongeBob SquarePants August 19, 2020
13 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Angelina MeehanSeptember 9, 2020
14 Ratatouille the Musical January 5, 2021
15 Moulin Rouge! Angelina MeehanJanuary 19, 2021
16 Repo! The Genetic Opera February 2, 2021
17 The Sound of Music February 16, 2021
18 The Wizard of Oz Antonella InserraMarch 2, 2021
19 O Brother, Where Art Thou? March 16, 2021
20 Om Shanti Om Siddhant AdlakhaApril 20, 2021
21 Descendants Jenny NicholsonMay 4, 2021
22 Phantom of the Paradise Angelina MeehanMay 18, 2021
23 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film)
June 1, 2021
24 In the Heights June 15, 2021
25 Moana Princess WeekesJune 29, 2021
26 Singin' in the Rain July 13, 2021
27 The Greatest Showman Jenny NicholsonAugust 3, 2021
28 Muppet Treasure Island August 17, 2021
29 Xanadu August 31, 2021
30 Mamma Mia! (film)
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
Todd in the Shadows September 14, 2021
31 Little Shop of Horrors (musical) Elisa HansenOctober 5, 2021
32\ Truth of the Divine (special episode) Abigail Thorn October 19, 2021
33 Wicked Princess WeekesNovember 9, 2021
34 Chicago November 23, 2021
35 The Lion King Angelina MeehanDecember 17, 2021
36 Tick, Tick... Boom! (Angelina Meehan became a full-time cohost starting in this episode.)January 18, 2022
37 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat February 1, 2022
38 Into the Woods February 15, 2022
39 Jekyll & Hyde March 1, 2022
40 West Side Story (1961 film)
West Side Story (2021 film)
March 15, 2022
41 Rock of Ages March 29, 2022
42 Jesus Christ Superstar Emily St. James
Lindsay Ellis
April 12, 2022
43 Company (2006 revival) Sarah ZedApril 26, 2022
44 All That Jazz Josie AzzamMay 10, 2022
45 Annie May 24, 2022
46 Hairspray June 7, 2022
47 Waiting for Guffman June 21, 2022
48 Elvis July 5, 2022
49 Sunday in the Park with George July 19, 2022
50 The Last Five Years August 2, 2022
51 The Phantom of the Opera (2004 film) Lindsay Ellis August 16, 2022
52 Hair (1979 film) August 30, 2022
53 Amadeus (1984 film) September 13, 2022
54 My Fair Lady (1964 film) September 26, 2022
55 Oklahoma! (2019 revival) October 11, 2022
56 Hello, Dolly! (1969 film) October 25, 2022
57 Mary Poppins (1964 film) November 8, 2022
58 Across the Universe November 22, 2022
59 The Book of Mormon (musical) Hannah HillamDecember 6, 2022
60 The Muppet Christmas Carol December 20, 2022
61 Diana: The Musical March 7, 2023
62 Mean Girls March 21, 2023
63 Matilda the Musical (2022 film) April 4, 2023
64 Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Emily St. James April 18, 2023
65 Shrek The Musical Big JoelMay 2, 2023
66 Bad Cinderella Princess WeekesMay 23, 2023
67 Rocketman (2019 film) June 6, 2023
68 Some Like It Hot (2022 musical) June 20, 2023
69 Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping July 18, 2023
70 Cyrano (2021 film) August 1, 2023
71 Fiddler on the Roof (1971 film) Austin Wintory August 15, 2023
72 Les Misérables Lindsay Ellis September 5, 2023
73 Cinderella (1997 film) Princess WeekesSeptember 19, 2023
74 Aladdin (touring production) October 3, 2023
75 South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut Steven Ray MorrisOctober 17, 2023
76 Newsies (2017 pro-shoot) October 31, 2023
77 Gypsy (2015 revival) November 14, 2023
78 Notre-Dame de Paris Amal El-Mohtar November 28, 2023
79 Hedwig and the Angry Inch (film) Lady EmilyDecember 12, 2023
80 Cabaret (musical) Lindsay Ellis December 26, 2023

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References

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