# 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:** 7
**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, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/121 "2026-02-28T16:59:39Z")
Wasn’t there an unrelated song C’mon Get Happy by the Partridge Family? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/122 "2026-02-28T18:24:19Z")
What part of “usually non-musical” aren’t you people getting? Simpsons/ Family Guy/ Futurama, etc have frequent musical numbers, it isn’t at all surprising when we see one. And Partridge Family was literally a show about a family performing a musical act in public. There were songs in every episode. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/123 "2026-02-28T18:38:13Z")
My English teacher in high school would show us episodes of “Are You Being Served” sometimes and I honestly thought I imagined this episode! ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/124 "2026-02-28T18:45:24Z")
There was the episode of _Jane the Virgin_ that randomly became a _Grease_ parody for a minute and a half: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NF31mFSAFvY/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AHUBoAC4AOKAgwIABABGFcgXihlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLBzAd2DF3HqNHPAUfZCmB-WrJQI0Q "Jane The Virgin 3x05 (Beauty School Dropout - Grease)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF31mFSAFvY) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/125 "2026-02-28T18:51:36Z")
That doesn’t seem like nearly enough baby to feed all those goblins. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/126 "2026-02-28T18:56:49Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Ray Charles on _Who’s The Boss_, 1987: > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZbmAjUfQ3M&654](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZbmAjUfQ3M&654) > > Harry Nilsson on _The Ghost and Ms Muir_, 1969: > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRiXSxSA\_\_A&863](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRiXSxSA__A&863) Which reminds me of the [Stevie Wonder episode](https://youtu.be/hIm6xmOyO6Q?si=ycGB7BBjE4XeuGns) of “The Cosby Show.” ---
**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, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/127 "2026-02-28T19:08:52Z")
Philomena Cunk is the only one who understands how important Pump Up the Jam is to Western civilization. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-Su287HvJRQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Every 'Pump Up The Jam' Segue - Philomena Cunk") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Su287HvJRQ) ---
**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, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/128 "2026-02-28T19:22:30Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Which reminds me of the [Stevie Wonder episode](https://youtu.be/hIm6xmOyO6Q?si=ycGB7BBjE4XeuGns) of “The Cosby Show.” Ah, shoulda come up with that! _“Jammin’ on the one …”_ ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/129 "2026-02-28T20:08:52Z")
Yes. Agreed.. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/130 "2026-02-28T23:50:37Z")
My favorite song from MASH was the episode where Potter, Hawkeye, and BJ sang “There’s a Long, Long Trail.” ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/BdkbZgTFsg4/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/BdkbZgTFsg4?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=RDBdkbZgTFsg4 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/131 "2026-02-28T23:50:55Z")
**TRIVIA CHALLENGE FOR _GILLIGAN’S ISLAND_ FANS:** Name the big-shot producer the Castaways were hoping to impress with their version of _ **Hamlet** _ and the actor who played him. (If I’m not mistaken, he actually owned a piece of the series.) ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/132 "2026-03-01T00:13:48Z")
I knew it right away, but I looked it up to be sure. I’ll let others have a crack at it. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2026, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/133 "2026-03-01T00:18:44Z")
I knew it as well. One of the daughters of the actor used to hang out on another board I frequent. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2026, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/134 "2026-03-01T00:53:42Z")
I didn’t mention Partridge Family as an example. We were discussing House M.D. Their song has a similar title. 😇 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/135 "2026-03-01T01:03:28Z")
Harold Hecuba played by Phil Silvers. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/136 "2026-03-01T01:06:06Z")
Kee-rect! 👍 ---
**Author:** ![alfonzos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alfonzos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alfonzos)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/137 "2026-03-01T03:00:26Z")
“Community” Season 3 Episode 10 is a parody of “Glee” with practically everyone bursting into song. Annie gives us this little gem: [Annie’s Christmas Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0qEliLbojo&list=RDU0qEliLbojo&start_radio=1) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/138 "2026-03-01T09:58:27Z")
_Touched by an Angel_ did not normally have musical episodes, in spite of having gospel and jazz singer/actress Della Reese as a co-star. There was music in the series, of course, mostly background, but occasionally a church choir plodding along. Ho-hum. The best however, was “Indigo Angel” (S2, E15), where the angels are called upon to rescue a dying jazz club, and to escort its elderly owner to the afterlife. Many jazz greats appeared and played in that episode: Al Jarreau, B.B. King, Dr. John, and Al Hirt. Hal Linden (_Barney Miller_) played a bit on clarinet. And Della Reese got to sing finally. And they all absolutely _nailed_ it. Forget the episode’s plot, this episode is all about the music. ---
**Author:** ![Lizzie1210](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Lizzie1210](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizzie1210)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/139 "2026-03-01T13:31:20Z")
The endless supply of costumes always surprised me. How and why were there ao many costumes aboard the Minnow for a three hour tour? ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026/140 "2026-03-01T16:18:10Z")
Your friend Jenny Piccalo? (Deep Happy Days reference if I just got too obscure) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-musical-moments-on-a-usually-non-musical-television-show/1028026.md?page=8)