# Surprising musical moments on a usually non-musical television show **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [February 26, 2026, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026 "2026-02-26T18:52:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/101 "2026-02-28T03:26:43Z")
Good thing they had costumes stashed away on the Minnow. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/102 "2026-02-28T03:34:57Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iAE5FxTTZm0/hqdefault.jpg "House 7x15 House-Cuddy singing-dream") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAE5FxTTZm0) ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/103 "2026-02-28T04:36:48Z")
Ray Charles on _Who’s The Boss_, 1987: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mZbmAjUfQ3M/hqdefault.jpg "Always a Friend - Ray Charles") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZbmAjUfQ3M) Harry Nilsson on _The Ghost and Ms Muir_, 1969: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/oRiXSxSA__A/maxresdefault.jpg "Harry Nilsson - Without Her #harrynilsson") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRiXSxSA__A) ---
**Author:** ![SpinyNorma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@SpinyNorma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpinyNorma)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/104 "2026-02-28T06:08:09Z")
I have always, even when I was young enough to actually like Gilligan’s Island, wondered about that. That and why the Howells brought along enough cash to buy Manhattan to go on a 3 hour tour. I might also mention how many people found this uncharted island but I can’t say I was surprised that no one ever sent anyone to rescue them from the island. Not at all related to the topic since it doesn’t involve unrelated musical interludes but talking about Gilligan’s Island reminded me. Sy Fy has been playing Twilight Zone episodes during the wee hours of the morning. I have seen Russell Johnson\* (the Professor) and at least two episodes. \*In addition to random renditions of the musical Hamlet, my brain insists on retaining the real names of the entire cast. It’s things like this that explain why I have no room in my head for multiplication tables. In a message dated 2/27/2026 9:36:45 PM Central Standard Time, [notifications@straightdope.discoursemail.com](mailto:notifications@straightdope.discoursemail.com) writes: ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/105 "2026-02-28T06:43:55Z")
Scully busting out his opera training on _Brooklyn 99_ is always fun. And not exactly singing, but CJ miming _The Jackal_ on _The West Wing_ … ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/106 "2026-02-28T07:08:33Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > Arguable how “non-musical” the show was but Motorhead singing Ace Of Spades on the Young Ones immediately came to mind…. If you didn’t already know this, there was a musical act on eleven of the twelve Young Ones episodes; the twelfth had a lion tamer. The budget for Light Entertainment was slightly higher than whatever TYO would have been without these interludes. And worth it! Besides Motorhead, there was Madness (twice), and a group called Rip Rig and Panic, featuring a very young Neneh Cherry, and Dexy’s Midnight Runners. * * * @ **P-Man** and **SpinyNorma** : The handwave for a lot of unlikely items is that they came out of crates that washed up on shore. That’s shown to happen a few times, such as the episode where they found cases of moviemaking equipment, which included costumes. So shipping crates fall off ships, drift for a while, then inertia takes them to the lagoon. like the FedEx boxes in **Cast Away**. ---
**Author:** ![f.coli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eada6e/32.png) [@f.coli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/f.coli)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/107 "2026-02-28T11:56:10Z")
The Simpsons had some memorable songs, e.g., “Can I Borrow a Feeling” by Kirk Van Houten. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/108 "2026-02-28T12:20:03Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > featuring a very young Neneh Cherry That bit I didn’t know. As I said it is a bit of a stretch calling it “non musical” the music was a pretty integral part of the show. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/109 "2026-02-28T13:16:51Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > How I Met Your Mother had so much music that it almost doesn’t count as “usually non-musical” but the biggest and best moment was about suits. I thought the best musical moment was the end tag of an episode involving time travel, where three different Teds and Barneys, from different points in time, perform an a capella version of Billy Joel’s “The Longest Time.” It was a rather mediocre episode, but I love the musical tag: ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gK5IKEgt7e4/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/gK5IKEgt7e4?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=RDgK5IKEgt7e4 ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/110 "2026-02-28T13:46:59Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > After Resident Alien, I watched an episode of Newsradio. They performed at a talent show. Vicki Lewis (a professional singer) and Dan Hartman (not a professional singer) sang Makin’ Whoopee. I remember an episode of **NewsRadio** where Dave’s old barbershop/acapella group shows up at the station and want him to rejoin the group. IIRC the group was Bob Odenkirk, David Cross, and Brian Posehn. But I don’t remember if they did a musical number. I’ll have to dig out my DVDs. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/111 "2026-02-28T14:04:59Z")
Been watching reruns of **M.A.S.H.** recently and music plays a variety of roles there, from traveling USO performers to Charles Winchester’s classical records to the group breaking out into an impromptu “I Don’t Want No More of Army Life” "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjMqraVAlG8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjMqraVAlG8) And of course the theme song, but that gets into a whole different topic, so I will forbear. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/112 "2026-02-28T14:08:22Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > I remember an episode of **NewsRadio** where Dave’s old barbershop/acapella group shows up at the station It looks like that is Chock. It’s three episodes after the one I mentioned. The DVD is still in my player. I will check it out. And Lucifer might not be considered a “non-nusical” show. Tom Ellis has a lot of musical numbers. They did have a musical episode. My favorite song from that episode is Just the Two of Us, by D.B Woodside and Rachael Harris. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/113 "2026-02-28T14:32:23Z")
A famous (in the UK) example would be the Morecambe and Wise Show: For one Christmas special, they got the usually quite solemn newsreader Angela Rippon (of whom one critic said she read the news as though it was All Your Fault) to do this: https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7282271282228383009 And there was what they did to [Andre Previn](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xds7am) and [Shirley Bassey](https://www.tiktok.com/@eric_ernie_archive/video/7494892218302336278) ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/114 "2026-02-28T14:57:08Z")
Fred, Bubba, and Lamont appeared on the Gong Show; seems like the song they performed was Fats Waller’s “Lulu’s Back in Town”. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/115 "2026-02-28T15:44:20Z")
> [@f.coli](#): > > The Simpsons had some memorable songs, e.g., “Can I Borrow a Feeling” by Kirk Van Houten. My favorite musical number from the Simpsons is Monty Burns breaking into “See My Vest”. _You gotta admit it’s catchy_ [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u8XSbzDlS5U/hqdefault.jpg "Mr Burns' Full Song - See My Vest | Two Dozen and One Greyhounds - Season 6 Episode 20") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8XSbzDlS5U) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/116 "2026-02-28T16:10:11Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Been watching reruns of **M.A.S.H.** recently and music plays a variety of roles there, from traveling USO performers to Charles Winchester’s classical records to the group breaking out into an impromptu “I Don’t Want No More of Army Life” > > "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjMqraVAlG8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjMqraVAlG8) > > And of course the theme song, but that gets into a whole different topic, so I will forbear. With MASH my mind goes directly to Loudan Wainwright III who only lasted a few episodes in the first season. It didn’t fit and somehow did at the same time. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Crehmj8Y1Yo/maxresdefault.jpg "M\*A\*S\*H - Loudon Wainwright III - Oh Tokyo / North Korean Blues") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Crehmj8Y1Yo) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/117 "2026-02-28T16:21:06Z")
This one I never saw myself but discovered while in a rabbit hole. On the UK show _Soldier Soldier_ there was a musical interlude with a young Robson Green long before he solved hundreds of murders on various shows and a young Jerome Flynn before he murdered dozens on _Game of Thrones._ There was such a demand from the audience that they released it as a single and it went to number 1 on the UK charts. Robson & Jerome as they were billed put out 2 full albums that were very successful. Never heard about it in the U.S. Simon Cowell was responsible for the albums. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/U0-hk3OT-kc/maxresdefault.jpg "Soldier Soldier Unchained Melody Robson & Jerome") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0-hk3OT-kc) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/118 "2026-02-28T16:30:36Z")
**Are You Being Served** did a handful of musical episodes. It was never more than 1 in a season. It was always very surprising. The comedy on that show was very English and dry. The effeminate character measuring clients in seams. Or the stuffy old lady with purple hair saying her pussy (cat) was upset that morning. 3 mins, muamsical act starts at 40 secs [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/XC4dr2r147A/maxresdefault.jpg "Mr Spooner and the Staff's Musical Performance | Are You Being Served?") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC4dr2r147A) ---
**Author:** ![Lizzie1210](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Lizzie1210](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizzie1210)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/119 "2026-02-28T16:35:51Z")
YES! ‘Come On Get Happy’ Thank you. It was driving me crazy being able to recall and visualize the coreography but not being able to remember the song. Damn….I forgot all about the ‘As Tears Go By’ scene. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/120 "2026-02-28T16:42:47Z")
_Lucifer_ wasn’t a musical show but they showcased the talents of Tom Ellis several times. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IHb2XooID0M/hqdefault.jpg "Lucifer (Tom Ellis) singing "All Along the Watch Tower" - season 2 episode 1") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHb2XooID0M) To bring up musical episodes, I think the producers sometimes look at who is in the show and say “We have to find a way to get them to sing. _Flash_ and _Supergirl_ had multiple crossovers. The leads were in _Glee._ The cast included musical theater greats Jesse L. Martin, John Barrowman, Victor Garber and Jeremy Jordan. They had to do a musical episode. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8713jEP1Ws8/hqdefault.jpg ""More I Cannot Wish You" by Jesse L. Martin, Victor Garber & John Barrowman - The Flash & Supergirl") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8713jEP1Ws8) When you have Sara Ramirez in the cast you have to have a musical episode. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FUS4OpDbCsE/maxresdefault.jpg "[HD] Song "The Story" by Sara Ramirez (Callie) - Grey's Anatomy S07E18") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUS4OpDbCsE) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026.md?page=7)