# What's your favorite musical numbers from non-musical TV shows? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 18, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498 "2009-04-18T03:09:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498/1 "2009-04-18T03:09:10Z")
By non-musical TV shows I mean you can’t count the musical guests on SNL or the Tonight Show or other variety shows that regularly have musical guests as themselves. _Once More With Feeling_ is the all time great musical episode in my opinion, but there are others as well. _The Drew Carey Show_ had lots of good musical moments. One of my favorite was [Five o’Clock World](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vovq5vV5gMw), if only for Mimi’s cage dancing. There was also a great _Viva Las Vegas_ number not on YouTube in a Drew Carey/Coach crossover. _Third Rock from the Sun_ had a great moment when Dick (John Lithgow), Mary (Jane Curtin), Don (Wayne Knight), and (can’t remember the character- a slightly closeted lesbian professor who was a semi-regular) coming out of a Riverdance type show[at 8:00](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWNig_m_RNw). WKRP in Cincinatti had a great moment (can’t find it on YouTube) of the cast singing a cheery upbeat mortuary commercial (“Ferryman, Ferryman, he’s the man with the heart, he’s the man with the plan…”). Fred and friends singing WHAM! (the jazz song- no relation to George Michael) on _Sanford and Son_ ([YouTube- 7:05](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-RoEUkqi6g)). What are some of yours? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498/2 "2009-04-18T03:26:19Z")
SNL has musical numbers independent of its musical guests, some of which beat the pants off of stuff like “Once More with Feeling.” Off the top of my head: –“We’re Not Stuffy Anymore,” the PBS fundraiser extravaganza circa 1983 –“Santa’s My Boyfriend” from a couple Christmases ago –“The Penis Song” (Matthew Broderick hosts, featuring Kevin Nealon, circa 1994) –Any music history bit, esp. “Cowbell” (C. Walken) and “I Say a Little Prayer for You” (Val Kilmer) –Any of several Andy Samberg digital shorts ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498/3 "2009-04-18T03:28:53Z")
[See My Vest!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsFHEK_o9U8) ---
**Author:** ![Alastair\_Moonsong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3e96dc/32.png) [@Alastair\_Moonsong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alastair_Moonsong)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498/4 "2009-04-18T04:20:38Z")
[Not](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snO68aJTOpM) [quite](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgDvRi3h_0w&feature=related) [as classy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADCv-n9f_bU&feature=related) [as yours](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL-hNMJvcyI) [but](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De7HSUAzRg4&feature=PlayList&p=E8D38FE77BF79013&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=7) [they](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF8rbncy7-U&feature=PlayList&p=E8D38FE77BF79013&index=8) [make](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QgOApBU9eU&feature=PlayList&p=E8D38FE77BF79013&index=9) [me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oILqStnOgPk&feature=PlayList&p=E8D38FE77BF79013&index=10) [laugh](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ-0nOnkISA&feature=PlayList&p=E8D38FE77BF79013&index=11). Yes, I still watch kid’s cartoons at 21. What about it? ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498/5 "2009-04-18T04:33:30Z")
This is my absolute favorite of all time. I love the way she sings the song in her chest voice instead of her beautiful soprano range. [Hopelessly Devoted to You](http://www.videosift.com/video/Olive-Snook-Hopelessly-Devoted-To-You-on-Pushing-Daisies), from Pushing Daisies. Enjoy, Roddy ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498/6 "2009-04-18T04:55:11Z")
The “[Planet of the Apes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVr1n1ha-LA)” musical from _The Simpsons_. 14 carat comedy gold. “I hate every ape I see, from chimpan-A to chimpan-Z!” ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498/7 "2009-04-18T05:29:23Z")
Probably something from **SpongeBob Squarepants**. That closing number from the episode where Squidward tries to make Bikini Bottom citizens into a band merely to impress Squilliam Fancypants is one of the funniest things I’ve seen, and the music was such a perfect send-up of 80s pop rock that I spent a few moments wondering who the original artist was. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498/8 "2009-04-18T05:42:37Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > This is my absolute favorite of all time. I love the way she sings the song in her chest voice instead of her beautiful soprano range. > > [Hopelessly Devoted to You](http://www.videosift.com/video/Olive-Snook-Hopelessly-Devoted-To-You-on-Pushing-Daisies), from Pushing Daisies. > > Enjoy, > Roddy Seconded. That show was criminally lacking in Kristin singing. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498/9 "2009-04-18T12:36:54Z")
Drew Carey also had “Sweet Transvestite” vs. “Priscilla.” In terms of using a song as background music, my favorite is Seinfeld’s use of Green Day’s “Good Riddance (The Time of Your Life).” I first heard that song on the show and how I love its message–live life forward and you’ll understand it backwards. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498/10 "2009-04-18T12:44:57Z")
I recently started watching _Breaking Bad_. I think it was episode 2 that ended with the Glen Phillip’s song _The Hole_. I tracked down what the song was and grabbed a copy. I am now addicted and play it several times a day. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498/11 "2009-04-18T12:45:56Z")
Seconded _See My Vest_. From Futurama: Fry’s opera from _The Devil’s Hands are Idle Playthings_. The New Justice Team theme song from _Less Than Hero_. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498/12 "2009-04-18T12:48:40Z")
Head of the Class did a wonderful take on “Little Shop of Horrors” Cosby’s “Nighttime is the Right Time” is well remembered. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498/13 "2009-04-18T12:51:14Z")
My favorite is still the [Big Man on Mulberry Street](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ML3Xp1rK-8)number from _Moonlighting_. Stanley Donen directed, and while Bruce Willis can’t really dance, he has good presence and the other dancers cover for him pretty well. Plus, it’s a great song. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498/14 "2009-04-18T12:53:46Z")
> [@GameHat](#): > > The “[Planet of the Apes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVr1n1ha-LA)” musical from _The Simpsons_. > > 14 carat comedy gold. > > “I hate every ape I see, from chimpan-A to chimpan-Z!” Surfing around related links, I found this video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0QUD0ZDKvQ&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0QUD0ZDKvQ&feature=related) Holy shit, it’s the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498/15 "2009-04-18T13:38:57Z")
Scrubs has a number of musical moments with the last minute or two of an episode basically turning into a music video. [Ted sang an acoustic version of “Hey Ya” last week that I really liked](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEYcfHoWm2s); [JD singing Africa](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ3MSCLBpaM&feature=related); [Turk, Janitor, Lloyd, and Ted (who has a solo) playing air-band to “More than a Feeling”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZAgT8KOLF8); [Turk dancing to Bel Biv Devo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc8V0vGwDrU); [JD beiong woken up by the Sugarhill Gang](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtAlZB2iqCU); [Turk doing the Safety Dance](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-bIhCBSrzU&NR=1); and [Turk and The Todd doing kung fu to Kung Fu Fighting](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl9ZZsUX00s). I do not like the musical episode, though. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498/16 "2009-04-18T16:11:25Z")
The Christmas song from Futurama The bit in Scrubs where Turk sings a song to Carla to the melody of the Sanford and Son opening theme. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498/17 "2009-04-18T16:20:21Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > The Christmas song from Futurama > The bit in Scrubs where Turk sings a song to Carla to the melody of the Sanford and Son opening theme. I happen to find Scrubs’ “Check the Poo” musical number nothing short of genius, but for raw hilarity I have to go with “Muffintop,” Jenna’s single (it was a dance hit in Israel!) in “30 Rock.” They’ve trotted it out a few times yet kept the joke fresh. Most recently it was sung ballad-style with cello accompaniment. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498/18 "2009-04-18T16:31:28Z")
> [@Justin\_Credible](#): > > Surfing around related links, I found this video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0QUD0ZDKvQ&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0QUD0ZDKvQ&feature=related) > > Holy shit, it’s the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time. If you liked that, see [this version of “The Song of the Count”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AXPnH0C9UA) from _Sesame Street_. That Count is one horny vampire! ---
**Author:** ![Laalune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/977dab/32.png) [@Laalune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laalune)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498/19 "2009-04-18T16:36:16Z")
Also from Scrubs, [Waiting For My Real Life To Begin](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcsrnT7Tv1o). ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498/20 "2009-04-18T16:37:02Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > If you liked that, see [this version of “The Song of the Count”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AXPnH0C9UA) from _Sesame Street_. That Count is one horny vampire! Bwahahaha! _“When I’m alone, I bleep myself!”_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-musical-numbers-from-non-musical-tv-shows/493498.md?page=2)