Top 10 TV Musical Numbers That Didn't Have to Go THAT Hard

Everyone loves a musical episode, but we have to admit, we didn’t think we’d catch one on “Grey's Anatomy” of all shows. The medical drama’s rendition of a musical episode aired back in 2011 during the show’s seventh season. And was chock full of the most “Grey’s Anatomy” -eque songs you could possibly imagine - Think Snow Patrol and The Fray. A lot of this episode did come across kind of silly, but there were some strong moments too – particularly Sara Ramirez’s rendition of “The Story” by Brandi Carlile. Ramirez was by far the strongest singer in the cast, having starred in a number of Broadway productions, and they really nailed the emotion necessary to make “The Story” work.

Holiday episodes of sitcoms are always special, and “Community” definitely nailed theirs. There is, of course, the unforgettable animated song in “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas,” but we think this next pick just slightly edges it out. In the episode “Regional Holiday Music,” Troy and Abed employ a clever, decade hopping musical trick to rope Pierce into the Glee Club’s holiday pageant. A proud Baby Boomer himself, Pierce is only too enthusiastic once he’s been convinced that he and Santa share their generational status. And, perhaps, a few former recreational habits from the 1970s as well.

Yes, Lea Michele might have been the “star” of “Glee,” but some of the Glee Club’s best performances come with none other than Naya Rivera at the helm. Not only does she have a stellar duet with Amber Riley on “River Deep, Mountain High,” in the show’s second season, but she absolutely nails “Valerie” in the episode “Special Education”. The performance takes place at the Glee Club’s Sectionals performance, spotlighting Santana and other members of the cast in a way the show didn’t usually do at that point. Brittany and Mike bring out some stellar dance moves, but nothing beats Santana’s smokey, sultry tone on this classic tune.

If you’re a “How I Met Your Mother” fan, you’re more than used to the ways of Barney Stinson. He’s a master of hijinks, a high-level womanizer, and of course – a lover of suits. No moment of the beloved sitcom better expressed Barney’s love for a suit better than his rousing rendition of “Nothing Suits Me Like a Suit.” The song takes place entirely in Barney’s head as he contemplates whether he would rather give up his entire suit collection or keep dating a hot bartender. If you know Barney, the answer is obvious. The song shows off Neil Patrick Harris’ musical chops, has great choreography, and allows the rest of the gang to get in on the fun too.

When it comes to “Smash,” we had a hard time picking our favorite show-stopping number from “Bombshell,” the fictional musical based on Marilyn Monroe, on which the show centers. We almost went with “Don’t Forget Me” – after all, who doesn’t love a big finale – but there’s just something hypnotically catchy about “I Never Met a Wolf Who Didn’t Love to Howl.” Ivy Lynn, played by Megan Hilty, is asked to perform it at a party. The casual setting makes the sly and winking nature of the song that much more fun, and the proof is in the crowd’s laughter and engagement with Ivy as she works some Monroe magic.

“Julie and the Phantoms” is one of those shows you just can’t believe Netflix canceled after only one season. The story of a teenage musician and her ghostly bandmates has no shortage of great performances. But it’s “The Other Side of Hollywood,” that really shows us the definition of spirit. Led by the perfectly-cast Cheyenne Jackson as Caleb Covington, the owner of The Hollywood Ghost Club, this song has everything to get even a grave crowd up out of their seats. Jackson’s smooth voice and impressive range are on display are the definition of invigorating. Combined with the costumes and choreography, these specters make one heck of a spectacle. It truly is a number to die for.

While the production of “Bombshell” took up the majority of the show’s runtime, fans will remember – and love – the other fictional show that “Smash” creators came up with. “Hit List” was the cool kids’ “Smash” musical, literally described as “Rent” meets “Spring Awakening,” and it gave us some pretty awesome songs during its time on the show. Still, our favorite has to be “I Heard Your Voice in a Dream.” The song features the dulcet tones of Jeremy Jordan with a lovely back-up from Katharine McPhee, but its strongest hook is its interesting choreography and interpretative dance feel. The differences in design set it apart from the more traditional “Bombshell” numbers, and really drew audiences into the story.

Too many musical shows are short-lived in nature, and “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” is no exception. The show, which follows a girl who figures out she has the ability to hear people’s secret thoughts through song, featured a plethora of amazing performances during its run. We could have gone with the hilarious choreography of Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now,” or the romantic idealism of “I Melt With You,” but there’s just no beating the power of “Fight Song.” The song is performed by a character on the show named Abigail, who is deaf, and it comes at a moment when she’s been told she can’t do something. The song is performed completely in sign language, and it’s a really moving and beautiful moment in the show.

If you’ve seen “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” then you’ll know how hard it was for us to choose our favorite musical moment from this hilarious show. From hysterical riffs on friendship in “Friendtopia” to the laugh-out-loud funny “Let’s Generalize About Men,” to the ironic “Sexy Getting Ready Song,” this show just gives us so much to choose from. But in the end, we went with “The Math of Love Triangles.” In this Marilyn Monroe-esque parody, Rachel Bloom’s character uses math to try and figure her way out of a love triangle with Josh and Greg. From the colorful background to the over-the-top costumes, this one just can’t be beat.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

The Moon Song, “Even Stevens” (2000-03)
Sorry, What Year Did We Go to the Moon, Again?

“Long Live the Hart,” “Hart of Dixie” (2011-15)
This Show Had All the ‘Hart’

“The Best Things in Life Are Free,” “Mad Men” (2007-15)
Bert Dancing in a Dream Sequence is All We Think About

“I’m Going Down,” “Sister, Sister” (1994-99)
Tamera Mowry Slays This Performance
Tamera Mowry = https://youtu.be/WMrnIbI9VIk?t=279

“Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Glee” (2009-15)
Jonathan Groff or the Second Coming of Freddie Mercury?

Okay. So we might be cheating a bit on this one – it is an entire episode after all. But there’s no way we could choose just one moment from the extravaganza that is “Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s” musical episode. The show revolves around a demon who Buffy and the gang have to fight, and this particular demon compels one to break out in song and reveal their secrets. The episode was a big risk and involved extra rehearsal for everyone involved, but by staying true to “Buffy’s” signature wit, the musical episode quickly became one of the most beloved of the series. Thanks for giving us something to sing about!