MusicalSplaining explained

MusicalSplaining
Format:Audio
Language:English
Updates:Every other Tuesday
Length:~60 minutes
Num Seasons:1
Num Episodes:80
Began:February 4, 2020
Ended:December 26, 2023
Provider:Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, Nebula, Podchaser

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.

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.[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.

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
1CatsFebruary 4, 2020
2FrozenJenny NicholsonFebruary 18, 2020
3HadestownMarch 3, 2020
4BeetlejuiceMarch 17, 2020
5The Phantom of the OperaAngelina MeehanMarch 31, 2020
6SixMay 5, 2020
7RentMay 19, 2020
8The King and IJune 9, 2020
9American IdiotJune 23, 2020
10Love Never DiesAngelina MeehanJuly 14, 2020
11HamiltonHank GreenJuly 28, 2020
12SpongeBob SquarePantsAugust 19, 2020
13Angelina MeehanSeptember 9, 2020
14Ratatouille the MusicalJanuary 5, 2021
15Moulin Rouge!Angelina MeehanJanuary 19, 2021
16Repo! The Genetic OperaFebruary 2, 2021
17The Sound of MusicFebruary 16, 2021
18The Wizard of OzAntonella InserraMarch 2, 2021
19O Brother, Where Art Thou?March 16, 2021
20Om Shanti OmSiddhant AdlakhaApril 20, 2021
21DescendantsJenny NicholsonMay 4, 2021
22Phantom of the ParadiseAngelina MeehanMay 18, 2021
23Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film)
June 1, 2021
24In the HeightsJune 15, 2021
25MoanaPrincess WeekesJune 29, 2021
26Singin' in the RainJuly 13, 2021
27The Greatest ShowmanJenny NicholsonAugust 3, 2021
28Muppet Treasure IslandAugust 17, 2021
29XanaduAugust 31, 2021
30Mamma Mia! (film)
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
Todd in the ShadowsSeptember 14, 2021
31Little Shop of Horrors (musical)Elisa HansenOctober 5, 2021
32\Truth of the Divine (special episode)Abigail ThornOctober 19, 2021
33WickedPrincess WeekesNovember 9, 2021
34ChicagoNovember 23, 2021
35The Lion KingAngelina MeehanDecember 17, 2021
36Tick, Tick... Boom!January 18, 2022
37Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatFebruary 1, 2022
38Into the WoodsFebruary 15, 2022
39Jekyll & HydeMarch 1, 2022
40West Side Story (1961 film)
West Side Story (2021 film)
March 15, 2022
41Rock of AgesMarch 29, 2022
42Jesus Christ SuperstarEmily St. James
Lindsay Ellis
April 12, 2022
43Company (2006 revival)Sarah ZedApril 26, 2022
44All That JazzJosie AzzamMay 10, 2022
45AnnieMay 24, 2022
46HairsprayJune 7, 2022
47Waiting for GuffmanJune 21, 2022
48ElvisJuly 5, 2022
49Sunday in the Park with GeorgeJuly 19, 2022
50The Last Five YearsAugust 2, 2022
51The Phantom of the Opera (2004 film)Lindsay EllisAugust 16, 2022
52Hair (1979 film)August 30, 2022
53Amadeus (1984 film)September 13, 2022
54My Fair Lady (1964 film)September 26, 2022
55Oklahoma! (2019 revival)October 11, 2022
56Hello, Dolly! (1969 film)October 25, 2022
57Mary Poppins (1964 film)November 8, 2022
58Across the UniverseNovember 22, 2022
59The Book of Mormon (musical)Hannah HillamDecember 6, 2022
60The Muppet Christmas CarolDecember 20, 2022
61Diana: The MusicalMarch 7, 2023
62Mean GirlsMarch 21, 2023
63Matilda the Musical (2022 film)April 4, 2023
64Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812Emily St. JamesApril 18, 2023
65Shrek The MusicalBig JoelMay 2, 2023
66Bad CinderellaPrincess WeekesMay 23, 2023
67Rocketman (2019 film)June 6, 2023
68Some Like It Hot (2022 musical)June 20, 2023
69July 18, 2023
70Cyrano (2021 film)August 1, 2023
71Fiddler on the Roof (1971 film)Austin WintoryAugust 15, 2023
72Les MisérablesLindsay EllisSeptember 5, 2023
73Cinderella (1997 film)Princess WeekesSeptember 19, 2023
74Aladdin (touring production)October 3, 2023
75Steven Ray MorrisOctober 17, 2023
76Newsies (2017 pro-shoot)October 31, 2023
77Gypsy (2015 revival)November 14, 2023
78Notre-Dame de ParisAmal El-MohtarNovember 28, 2023
79Hedwig and the Angry Inch (film)Lady EmilyDecember 12, 2023
80Cabaret (musical)Lindsay EllisDecember 26, 2023

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A treat for theatergoers: 'MusicalSplaining' podcast review. live. Shah. Imman. September 30, 2020. The Torch. St. John's University. October 29, 2021. https://archive.today/20211029174156/https://www.torchonline.com/culture/2020/09/30/a-treat-for-theatergoers-musicalsplaining-podcast-review/. October 29, 2021.
  2. Web site: Greg Cochrane's Podcasts For The People #16 – 10 new podcasts for your enduring isolation. live. Cochrane. Greg. April 9, 2020. NME.com. NME. October 29, 2021. https://archive.today/20211029174602/https://www.nme.com/blogs/podcasts-for-the-people-for-isolation-girl-taken-a-little-more-conversation-2643988. October 29, 2021. "Musicalsplaining promises to be a show for people who love musicals… and those who hate them.".
  3. Web site: The Best New Podcasts of 2020 to Get Lost In. live. Nicolaou. Elena. April 7, 2020. Oprahdaily.com. Hearst Magazines. October 29, 2021. https://archive.today/20211029174950/https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/g32051526/best-podcasts-2020/?slide=10. October 29, 2021. "Hosted by one super-fan and one professed musical hater".
  4. Web site: MusicalSplaining – 12 Days of Podmas. live. Walker. Amy. December 16, 2020. Setthetape.com. October 29, 2021. https://archive.today/20211029180005/https://setthetape.com/2020/12/16/musicalsplaining-12-days-of-podmas/. October 29, 2021.
  5. Web site: Lindsey Ellis & Kaveh Taherian on Their New Podcast "Musicalsplaining". live. Golden. Noah. May 12, 2020. Onstageblog.com. October 29, 2021. https://archive.today/20211029181729/https://www.onstageblog.com/profiles/2020/5/12/lindsey-ellis-amp-kaveh-taherian-on-their-new-podcast-musicalsplaining. October 29, 2021.
  6. Web site: Staff picks: These podcasts will help you escape your pod. live. McDevitt. Sinead. August 21, 2020. The Pitt News. University of Pittsburgh. October 29, 2021. https://archive.today/20211029182950/https://pittnews.com/article/159299/arts-and-entertainment/staff-picks-these-podcasts-will-help-you-escape-your-pod/. October 29, 2021.
  7. Web site: The Best Podcasts of 2020. live. Horan. Molly. December 4, 2020. Shondaland. October 29, 2021. https://archive.today/20211029183344/https://www.shondaland.com/inspire/a34864865/the-best-podcasts-of-2020/. October 29, 2021.
  8. Web site: MusicalSplaining Podcast on Amazon Music. live. June 20, 2023. Amazon Music. June 27, 2023. https://archive.today/20230627184018/https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c2a88cd1-e1e7-4b2b-95fd-42d23c0de942/musicalsplaining. June 27, 2023.
  9. Web site: MusicalSplaining on Apple Podcasts. live. February 4, 2020. Apple Podcasts. October 29, 2021. https://archive.today/20211029182135/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/musicalsplaining/id1497762464. October 29, 2021.
  10. Web site: MusicalSplaining Podcast on Spotify. live. February 4, 2020. Spotify. October 29, 2021. https://archive.today/20211029182321/https://open.spotify.com/show/7iRwCh450ZrLeAxuRjyrJo. October 29, 2021.
  11. Web site: MusicalSplaining. live. February 4, 2020. Google Play. October 29, 2021. https://archive.today/20211029182514/https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9tdXNpY2Fsc3BsYWluaW5nLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz. October 29, 2021.
  12. Web site: MusicalSplaining on Stitcher. live. February 4, 2020. Stitcher Radio. October 29, 2021. https://archive.today/20211029182728/https://www.stitcher.com/show/musicalsplaining. October 29, 2021.
  13. Web site: MusicalSplaining Nebula. live. December 27, 2021. Nebula. December 27, 2021. https://archive.today/20211228025132/https://nebula.app/musicalsplaining. December 28, 2021.
  14. Web site: MusicalSplaining – Music Podcast. live. June 6, 2022. Podchaser. June 6, 2022. https://archive.today/20220606150113/https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/musicalsplaining-1009075. June 6, 2022.
  15. Web site: MusicalSplaining: The Lion King on Apple Podcasts. live. December 17, 2021. Apple Podcasts. October 29, 2021. https://archive.today/20211219192624/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lion-king/id1497762464?i=1000545309311. December 19, 2021.
  16. Web site: MusicalSplaining: Tick, Tick... Boom! on Apple Podcasts. live. January 18, 2022. Apple Podcasts. January 18, 2022. https://archive.today/20220118150717/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tick-tick-boom/id1497762464?i=1000548237876. January 18, 2022.
  17. Web site: MusicalSplaining: Gypsy (2015) on Apple Podcasts. live. November 14, 2023. Apple Podcasts. November 28, 2023. https://archive.today/20231128070742/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gypsy-2015/id1497762464?i=1000634757858. November 28, 2023.
  18. Web site: MusicalSplaining: Cabaret (Series Finale!!) on Apple Podcasts. live. December 26, 2023. Apple Podcasts. December 26, 2023. https://archive.today/20231226225707/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cabaret-series-finale/id1497762464?i=1000639716414. December 26, 2023.