Quarantine gave us ample time to binge-watch our favorite shows on Netflix, Hulu, and the twenty-thousand other streaming services that are out there today. It feels like everyone was talking about Tiger King or re-watching The Office for the twelfth time, but what about good, old-fashioned cable TV? During quarantine, I came to realise that there’s nothing quite like spending a week looking forward to a new episode of your favorite show, even more so  when you have nothing to do in between that time.

NBC started airing bright-coloured (yes, remember when life was still bright?) and music-filled advertisements for a show titled Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist back in December 2019, before the dark times began. I challenge any other Gilmore Girls fan to resist curiosity at the sight of Lauren Graham (who played Lorelei Gilmore) singing pop songs in a jukebox musical-style TV show that revolves around a twenty-something protagonist, Zoey, with the ability to hear the inner thoughts of those around her through song. Quite a concept, no?

The pilot introduces Zoey, played by actress Jane Levy, as a young woman working in the male-dominated tech industry and explains the acquisition of her musical superpower, setting the scene for the rest of the first season. Zoey gains the ability to hear the feelings of those around her through song. This first episode features an elaborate song and dance number, choreographed by the impeccable Mandy Moore, in which a very confused Zoey watches a crowd of strangers dance down the streets, singing “Help!” by The Beatles, and at the conclusion of the song, go right back to business as usual as if they hadn’t just created their own version of the “Twist and Shout” scene from Ferris Bueller. From that moment on, the Beatlemaniac, dancer, and musical theatre fan in me was hooked. 

In contrast to the undeniable appeal of song and dance, the show also tugs at the heart strings through storylines that grapple with illness, relationships, grief, and much more. The main storyline centers around Zoey’s family’s struggle as her father suffers from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, a rare neurological condition from which the father of the show’s writer also suffered. Supporting Zoey as she comes to terms with her father’s condition and her newfound powers are a cast of endearing characters, including Zoey’s best friend and coworker, Max (Skyler Astin), her neighbour, Moe (Alex Newell), and her boss, Joan (Lauren Graham).

New episodes aired every Sunday night, which I watched enthusiastically with my mom before jumping back into another hectic week of my senior year of high school, dominated by AP test prep and college decisions. Watching Zoey’s became the thing that I looked forward to all week. The fifth episode aired on March 8th and little did I know that it would be the last episode before the weight of COVID-19 uncertainty settled over the world. If watching Zoey’s wasn’t already the highlight of my week, it definitely took on that role by the sixth episode, which aired just two days after what would be  the last time I set foot in my high school. In this episode, Max sings a terrific, heartfelt rendition of everyone’s favourite Scottish rock hit, “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers. During that scene, I sang my heart out along with Max with the biggest smile beaming across my face and for a moment, the rest of the world faded away. 

And so I continued living for Sunday nights, looking forward to being sucked into Zoey’s world, watching her attempts to use her musical, mind-reading powers to help others and of course, watch beautifully choreographed performances of pop classics. Season One features pop singalong favourites ranging from the likes of Billy Joel and The Rolling Stones to the Beastie Boys, Destiny’s Child, and Salt-N-Pepa. 

We’ve all had a moment in our lives that’s made us want to break into song and dance, right? Our favourite songs make us feel good. They have the power to transport us to anywhere or anytime we desire. Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist was my escape from the world that I could rely on every Sunday night until the last episode aired in early May. In June, it was renewed for a second season and I’m ecstatic for more Sunday night adventures into Zoey’s endearing, musical world.