The 10 best new television shows of 2020

Best new television shows of 2020: Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist

Platform: NBC

Cast: Jane Levy, Alex Newell, Skylar Astin, Peter Gallagher, Lauren Graham, Mary Steenburgen

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist is the best musical comedy-drama we’ve seen since Glee‘s heyday.

The series stars Jane Levy as Zoey Clarke, a genius computer programmer who discovers she has the ability to hear the innermost thoughts of other people as songs after a bad run-in with a MRI machine during an earthquake. As farfetched as this may sound, the show pulls it off without a hitch, with much of that due to the talented supporting cast that includes Glee alum Alex Newell, Skylar Astin (Pitch Perfect), and Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls). Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist is set in San Francisco, so the unorthodox earthquakes, the stylish tech firm Zoey works at, and the minimal apartment sizes all track.

While comparisons to Glee are hard to avoid, the two shows actually have very little in common aside from being musical comedy-dramas. Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist can easily be dismissed as a goofy send up of the hit high school series, but the show’s heart is bigger than anything we ever saw at McKinley High. Zoey’s genderfluid neighbor Mo (Newell) reluctantly tries to help her understand the extent of her power. She attempts to use her ability to help others, while also navigating a tricky romantic and professional life. Zoey and her family are also dealing with her father’s degenerative disease, which has caused him to lose muscular faculties. However, with her new power, he is given a temporary voice for him to sing out what he’s really thinking.

We can’t wait to see what is in store for Zoey and Co. in season two, which is schedule to premiere January 5, 2021 on NBC.