MusicalSplaining
{{Short description|American podcast about musicals}}
{{Infobox podcast
| title = MusicalSplaining
| image = MusicalSplaining Cover.jpeg
| host = {{hlist | Kaveh Taherian {{small|(2020–2023)}}| Lindsay Ellis {{small|(2020–21)}} | Angelina Meehan {{small|(2022–2023)}} }}
| genre = {{hlist | Discussion | music | theater}}
| format = Audio
| creator = {{hlist | Lindsay Ellis | Kaveh Taherian}}
| language = English
| updates = Every other Tuesday
| length = ~60 minutes
| production =
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| audio format =
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 80
| list_episodes =
| began = February 4, 2020
| ended = December 26, 2023
| ratings = {{URL|https://chartable.com/podcasts/musicalsplaining|Chartable}}
| provider = Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, Nebula, Podchaser
| website = {{URL|https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/musicalsplaining/id1497762464|Apple Podcasts}}
}}
MusicalSplaining is a podcast hosted by filmmaker Kaveh Taherian and writer Angelina Meehan. Each episode, the two hosts are introduced to a different musical and they discuss its plot, themes and production.{{Cite web |url=https://www.torchonline.com/culture/2020/09/30/a-treat-for-theatergoers-musicalsplaining-podcast-review|url-status=live|title=A treat for theatergoers: 'MusicalSplaining' podcast review|last=Shah|first=Imman|date=September 30, 2020|website=The Torch|publisher=St. John's University|access-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211029174156/https://www.torchonline.com/culture/2020/09/30/a-treat-for-theatergoers-musicalsplaining-podcast-review/|archive-date=October 29, 2021}} The podcast was pitched as a show for both musical-lovers and musical-haters.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/podcasts-for-the-people-for-isolation-girl-taken-a-little-more-conversation-2643988|url-status=live|title=Greg Cochrane's Podcasts For The People #16 – 10 new podcasts for your enduring isolation|last=Cochrane|first=Greg|date=April 9, 2020|website=NME.com|publisher=NME|access-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211029174602/https://www.nme.com/blogs/podcasts-for-the-people-for-isolation-girl-taken-a-little-more-conversation-2643988|archive-date=October 29, 2021|quote="Musicalsplaining promises to be a show for people who love musicals… and those who hate them."}} Prior to 2022, the show was hosted by Taherian and Lindsay Ellis.
Overview
The format of the show leaned into the divisive nature of musicals, with Ellis or Meehan assuming the role of a musicals fan and Taherian a theatre skeptic.{{Cite web |url=https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/g32051526/best-podcasts-2020/?slide=10|url-status=live|title=The Best New Podcasts of 2020 to Get Lost In|last=Nicolaou|first=Elena|date=April 7, 2020|website=Oprahdaily.com|publisher=Hearst Magazines|access-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211029174950/https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/g32051526/best-podcasts-2020/?slide=10|archive-date=October 29, 2021|quote="Hosted by one super-fan and one professed musical hater"}} The episodes covered a mixture of classic musicals like The Phantom of the Opera and The King and I, and newer musicals including Frozen and SpongeBob SquarePants.{{Cite web |url=https://setthetape.com/2020/12/16/musicalsplaining-12-days-of-podmas|url-status=live|title=MusicalSplaining – 12 Days of Podmas|last=Walker|first=Amy|date=December 16, 2020|website=Setthetape.com|access-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211029180005/https://setthetape.com/2020/12/16/musicalsplaining-12-days-of-podmas/|archive-date=October 29, 2021}}
Ellis and Taherian attended film school together at USC. Ellis stated that she chose Taherian as a co-host because he could balance his performative anger at musicals with a critical tone.{{Cite web |url=https://www.onstageblog.com/profiles/2020/5/12/lindsey-ellis-amp-kaveh-taherian-on-their-new-podcast-musicalsplaining|url-status=live|title=Lindsey Ellis & Kaveh Taherian on Their New Podcast "Musicalsplaining"|last=Golden|first=Noah|date=May 12, 2020|website=Onstageblog.com|access-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211029181729/https://www.onstageblog.com/profiles/2020/5/12/lindsey-ellis-amp-kaveh-taherian-on-their-new-podcast-musicalsplaining|archive-date=October 29, 2021}} The two hosts were sometimes joined by a guest host, which have included Hank Green and fellow YouTuber Jenny Nicholson.{{Cite web |url=https://pittnews.com/article/159299/arts-and-entertainment/staff-picks-these-podcasts-will-help-you-escape-your-pod|url-status=live|title=Staff picks: These podcasts will help you escape your pod|last=McDevitt|first=Sinead|date=August 21, 2020|website=The Pitt News|publisher=University of Pittsburgh|access-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211029182950/https://pittnews.com/article/159299/arts-and-entertainment/staff-picks-these-podcasts-will-help-you-escape-your-pod/|archive-date=October 29, 2021}}
Two months into the podcast, theatres in California shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |url=https://www.shondaland.com/inspire/a34864865/the-best-podcasts-of-2020|url-status=live|title=The Best Podcasts of 2020|last=Horan|first=Molly|date=December 4, 2020|website=Shondaland|access-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211029183344/https://www.shondaland.com/inspire/a34864865/the-best-podcasts-of-2020/|archive-date=October 29, 2021}} In an interview with OnStage Blog, Ellis described how the hosts had originally planned to tour around the state to see musicals in theatres, but COVID-19 "totally wrecked" those plans. They have since relied on proshoots to watch and review each musical.
The podcast is available via Amazon Music,{{Cite web |url=https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c2a88cd1-e1e7-4b2b-95fd-42d23c0de942/musicalsplaining|url-status=live|title=MusicalSplaining Podcast on Amazon Music|last= |first= |date=June 20, 2023|website=Amazon Music|access-date=June 27, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230627184018/https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c2a88cd1-e1e7-4b2b-95fd-42d23c0de942/musicalsplaining|archive-date=June 27, 2023}} Apple Podcasts,{{Cite web |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/musicalsplaining/id1497762464|url-status=live|title=MusicalSplaining on Apple Podcasts|last= |first= |date=February 4, 2020|website=Apple Podcasts|access-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211029182135/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/musicalsplaining/id1497762464|archive-date=October 29, 2021}} Spotify,{{Cite web |url=https://open.spotify.com/show/7iRwCh450ZrLeAxuRjyrJo|url-status=live|title=MusicalSplaining {{!}} Podcast on Spotify|last= |first= |date=February 4, 2020|website=Spotify|access-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211029182321/https://open.spotify.com/show/7iRwCh450ZrLeAxuRjyrJo|archive-date=October 29, 2021}} Google Play,{{Cite web |url=https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9tdXNpY2Fsc3BsYWluaW5nLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz|url-status=live|title=MusicalSplaining|last= |first= |date=February 4, 2020|website=Google Play|access-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211029182514/https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9tdXNpY2Fsc3BsYWluaW5nLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz|archive-date=October 29, 2021}} Stitcher,{{Cite web |url=https://www.stitcher.com/show/musicalsplaining|url-status=live|title=MusicalSplaining on Stitcher|last= |first= |date=February 4, 2020|website=Stitcher Radio|access-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211029182728/https://www.stitcher.com/show/musicalsplaining|archive-date=October 29, 2021}} Nebula.,{{Cite web |url=https://nebula.app/musicalsplaining|url-status=live|title=MusicalSplaining Nebula|last=|first=|date=December 27, 2021|website=Nebula|access-date=December 27, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211228025132/https://nebula.app/musicalsplaining|archive-date=December 28, 2021}} and Podchaser.{{Cite web |url=https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/musicalsplaining-1009075|url-status=live|title=MusicalSplaining – Music Podcast|last=|first=|date=June 6, 2022|website=Podchaser|access-date=June 6, 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220606150113/https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/musicalsplaining-1009075|archive-date=June 6, 2022}}
On December 17, 2021, in "The Lion King" episode, it was announced that the show was going on an indefinite hiatus following Ellis's retirement from online content creation.{{Cite web |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lion-king/id1497762464?i=1000545309311|url-status=live|title=MusicalSplaining: The Lion King on Apple Podcasts|last= |first= |date=December 17, 2021|website=Apple Podcasts|access-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211219192624/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lion-king/id1497762464?i=1000545309311|archive-date=December 19, 2021}} The show returned on January 18, 2022 with an episode on the film Tick, Tick... Boom! with frequent guest and Ellis's former co-writer Angelina Meehan taking over as the podcast's new co-host.{{Cite web |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tick-tick-boom/id1497762464?i=1000548237876|url-status=live|title=MusicalSplaining: Tick, Tick... Boom! on Apple Podcasts|last= |first= |date=January 18, 2022|website=Apple Podcasts|access-date=January 18, 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220118150717/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tick-tick-boom/id1497762464?i=1000548237876|archive-date=January 18, 2022}}
On November 14, 2023, in the "Gypsy" episode, it was announced that the show would end by the end of the year.{{Cite web |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lion-king/id1497762464?i=1000545309311|url-status=live|title=MusicalSplaining: Gypsy (2015) on Apple Podcasts|last= |first= |date=November 14, 2023|website=Apple Podcasts|access-date=November 28, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20231128070742/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gypsy-2015/id1497762464?i=1000634757858|archive-date=November 28, 2023}} The show released the final episode on December 26, 2023.{{Cite web |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cabaret-series-finale/id1497762464?i=1000639716414|url-status=live|title=MusicalSplaining: Cabaret (Series Finale!!) on Apple Podcasts|last= |first= |date=December 26, 2023|website=Apple Podcasts|access-date=December 26, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20231226225707/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cabaret-series-finale/id1497762464?i=1000639716414|archive-date=December 26, 2023}}
Episodes
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width: 75%"
!Episode no. !Musical discussed !Guest host !Original podcast release date |
| 1
|Cats |{{n/a}} |February 4, 2020 |
| 2
|February 18, 2020 |
| 3
|{{n/a}} |March 3, 2020 |
| 4
|{{n/a}} |March 17, 2020 |
| 5
|Angelina Meehan |March 31, 2020 |
| 6
|Six |{{n/a}} |May 5, 2020 |
| 7
|Rent |{{n/a}} |May 19, 2020 |
| 8
|{{n/a}} |June 9, 2020 |
| 9
|{{n/a}} |June 23, 2020 |
| 10
|Angelina Meehan |July 14, 2020 |
| 11
|July 28, 2020 |
| 12
|{{n/a}} |August 19, 2020 |
| 13
|Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street |Angelina Meehan |September 9, 2020 |
| 14
|{{n/a}} |January 5, 2021 |
| 15
|Angelina Meehan |January 19, 2021 |
| 16
|{{n/a}} |February 2, 2021 |
| 17
|{{n/a}} |February 16, 2021 |
| 18
|Antonella Inserra |March 2, 2021 |
| 19
|{{n/a}} |March 16, 2021 |
| 20
|Siddhant Adlakha |April 20, 2021 |
| 21
|May 4, 2021 |
| 22
|Angelina Meehan |May 18, 2021 |
| 23
|Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory |{{n/a}} |June 1, 2021 |
| 24
|{{n/a}} |June 15, 2021 |
| 25
|Princess Weekes |June 29, 2021 |
| 26
|{{n/a}} |July 13, 2021 |
| 27
|August 3, 2021 |
| 28
|{{n/a}} |August 17, 2021 |
| 29
|{{n/a}} |August 31, 2021 |
| 30
|Mamma Mia! (film) |September 14, 2021 |
| 31
|Little Shop of Horrors (musical) |Elisa Hansen |October 5, 2021 |
| 32\
|Truth of the Divine (special episode) |October 19, 2021 |
| 33
|Princess Weekes |November 9, 2021 |
| 34
|{{n/a}} |November 23, 2021 |
| 35
|Angelina Meehan |December 17, 2021 |
| 36
|{{small|(Angelina Meehan became a full-time cohost starting in this episode.)}} |January 18, 2022 |
| 37
|Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat |{{n/a}} |February 1, 2022 |
| 38
|{{n/a}} |February 15, 2022 |
| 39
|{{n/a}} |March 1, 2022 |
| 40
|West Side Story (1961 film) |{{n/a}} |March 15, 2022 |
| 41
|{{n/a}} |March 29, 2022 |
| 42
|April 12, 2022 |
| 43
|Sarah Zed |April 26, 2022 |
| 44
|Josie Azzam |May 10, 2022 |
| 45
|{{n/a}} |May 24, 2022 |
| 46
|{{n/a}} |June 7, 2022 |
| 47
|{{n/a}} |June 21, 2022 |
| 48
|{{n/a}} |July 5, 2022 |
| 49
|Sunday in the Park with George |{{n/a}} |July 19, 2022 |
| 50
|{{n/a}} |August 2, 2022 |
| 51
|The Phantom of the Opera (2004 film) |August 16, 2022 |
| 52
|{{n/a}} |August 30, 2022 |
| 53
|{{n/a}} |September 13, 2022 |
| 54
|{{n/a}} |September 26, 2022 |
| 55
|{{n/a}} |October 11, 2022 |
| 56
|{{n/a}} |October 25, 2022 |
| 57
|{{n/a}} |November 8, 2022 |
| 58
|{{n/a}} |November 22, 2022 |
| 59
|Hannah Hillam |December 6, 2022 |
| 60
|{{n/a}} |December 20, 2022 |
| 61
|{{n/a}} |March 7, 2023 |
| 62
|{{n/a}} |March 21, 2023 |
| 63
|Matilda the Musical (2022 film) |{{n/a}} |April 4, 2023 |
| 64
|Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 |April 18, 2023 |
| 65
|Big Joel |May 2, 2023 |
| 66
|Princess Weekes |May 23, 2023 |
| 67
|{{n/a}} |June 6, 2023 |
| 68
|Some Like It Hot (2022 musical) |{{n/a}} |June 20, 2023 |
| 69
|Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping |{{n/a}} |July 18, 2023 |
| 70
|{{n/a}} |August 1, 2023 |
| 71
|Fiddler on the Roof (1971 film) |August 15, 2023 |
| 72
|September 5, 2023 |
| 73
|Princess Weekes |September 19, 2023 |
| 74
|{{n/a}} |October 3, 2023 |
| 75
|South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut |Steven Ray Morris |October 17, 2023 |
| 76
|{{n/a}} |October 31, 2023 |
| 77
|{{n/a}} |November 14, 2023 |
| 78
|November 28, 2023 |
| 79
|Hedwig and the Angry Inch (film) |Lady Emily |December 12, 2023 |
| 80
|December 26, 2023 |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2022}}