Simon Morris’ Five Television Shows That Need a Musical Spin-Off

Could a True Blood musical be in the works? That’s the rumour flying around and it got me thinking, there are five shows I really believe, Simon Morris reader, need a musical spin-off!

There’s An Awful Lot of Bloody Good Telly on the Box Right Now

I admit that I’ve been somewhat sceptical of TV shows being revamped for musical theatre before; look at the disaster that was the X-Factor musical. Furthermore, we have to admit that although it’s far more often done for movies, it doesn’t always work even then (cough… Spiderman… cough).

But I’ve got to admit, the news of a True Blood musical does excite me. We aren’t living in the television landscape of ten years ago anymore, when movie production still outstripped its small screen counterpart. Figures show that audiences are deserting the box office in droves and they are turning to television. That’s because, quite frankly, there’s an awful lot of bloody good telly on the box in the year 2014!

These Five TV Shows Would Make a Fantastic Musical!

I’m not a fan of True Blood, so I really don’t care about the actual musical, but the concept excites me and here are five TV shows that I believe would so totally work:

1)      Orange is the New Black: The hottest show around right now, Orange is the New Black has all the essential ingredients for the perfect musical. It’s dramatic, comedic, boasts well rounded characters an audience can identify with, and most of the action takes place in one location, making it really easy to stage! Plus, I see some reinvention of the ‘Cell Block Tango’ coming!

2)      Glee: I had to include this one, it’s a whole show that’s staged like a musical. Of course it’d be of the juke box variety in homage to the TV show, and again, the almost singular setting of the original show would make it a dream to stage. I’m thinking something along the lines of Wicked – you know- social outcast girl forges on through everything her peers can throw at her to become a success!

3)      Revenge: There’s nothing more dramatic than Revenge; the show dedicated to socialite Emily Thorne’s quest to avenge the memory of her late father. The high drama that seeps through Revenge’s very pores would translate beautifully to the stage. As Evita proves, we all love the ‘saint or sinner’ trope.

4)      Friends: How could I not mention what in my opinion is the best comedy of all time? Again, the limited setting of the original works really well for musical theatre, and we’ve seen through RENT that a story based on the relationship of a group of friends, makes for compelling viewing.

5)      The Young Ones: An unusual choice, but in honour of the late, great Rik Mayall, it’s one I had to include. This early 80’s student classic is bonkers enough to work on the stage, would make people crack up and would give us all another chance to moan about Thatcher, which as members of the British population, we never pass up. I’m so thinking an Avenue Q type soundtrack would work here - ‘It Sucks to be me’ could even be Rick’s song!