5 reasons we need to save Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist

Now that NBC has made a terrible decision, we really need to find a way to save Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist. Let’s discuss just a handful of the seemingly endless reasons why.

Can TV just, like, not right now? It seems like anything a network gets ahold of something truly special, they fail to give the series a chance. The latest in a long line of “WTF” decisions made by the Powers That Be came from the network that used to be all about “Must See TV” but is now about…must cancel good things, apparently.

It’s pretty infuriating, and we’ve been here before—way too many times. See also: FOX’s decision to cancel Lucifer in 2018 and the more recent crime of murdering Prodigal Son, also by FOX. Honestly, this whole Zoey’s Playlist situation is something we’d expect from that other network, but it hits 100 times harder coming from the same decision-makers who have (rightfully, to be honest, because of Mariska Hargitay supremacy) given us 22-plus seasons of Law & Order: SVU.

After Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist Season 2 gave us incredibly mixed feelings, it might seem a little surprising to be upset about the cancellation news. But hear us out here: Even a mediocre year, produced in a pandemic, of this little gem, is better than a good season of many, many other things. Sorry, it’s not yet another reboot or book-to-film adaptation??

Someone, anyone, please save Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist

Probably the number one reason this series needs to be saved is that it has absolutely no match on TV. Not on “traditional” platforms and not on streaming.

It is equal parts heart and hilarity, emotional and exciting. Series creator Austin Winsberg brought us such a beautiful mixture of loss and love, drawing both from personal experience and a crazy, musical fantasy.

We have been taken on such a journey with Zoey Clarke and the rest of the gang. It simply can not be over already. I, personally, refuse to say goodbye.

The TV musical is “in” again

Ever since Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s “Once More With Feeling,” everyone has been all about demanding musical episodes for their favorite TV shows. Throwing it back to Lucifer, which also once needed to be saved—and was, thankfully, by Netflix! —2021 saw one of the best “can’t miss” musicals ever to hit our screens from that series.

Imagine if that 2018 cancellation had stuck. We would have been robbed. The same goes for letting the Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist cancellation stick: We will, without a doubt, be robbed of some of the best songs and dances ever.

There’s no way, on this planet or any other, that choreographer Mandy Moore didn’t have even more of her boundless brilliance waiting for us. And that’s not even getting started on the way this series has taken some of our all-time favorite songs and just completely rejuvenated them.

But sure, NBC, cancel it and add more of the same. Go for it.

There’s so much story left to tell

When Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist Season 2 ended, Max Richman heard his first heart song. After being completely alone in hearing everyone’s thoughts and feelings through song and dance for so long, Zoey was finally set up to be able to navigate the world with a true partner.

But, well. Guess we won’t be seeing how that plays out anytime soon.

We also won’t ever see how Simon’s plan to support smaller technology companies run by people of color will work out. Or if/when Maggie finds love again. Or so, so many other things.

This is what we call being robbed, folks. Robbed.

Saving Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist means saving Mo

Do you mean to tell me we’re never going to see Mo again? Really? No more life lessons from the smartest and best-dressed character on the planet? Seems fake.

This series gave Alex Newell the long-overdue chance to shine—not just as a fictional character but as himself. The voice, the personality, the representation for gender non-conforming people…If we don’t save Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, all of that is gone.

This is just unacceptable. We will forever stan Mo. Maybe it’s just time to start a Mo-centric spinoff?

The series deserves a chance to redeem itself

After a rough second season, one of the worst things that could happen to Zoey’s Playlist would be for the series to go out with a weird taste in viewers’ mouths. By the end of the Season 2 finale, we finally saw what the creative team was trying to do with the (misguided) love “triangle” all along…But so much of the show’s sophomore year was wasted on being upset instead of just being able to enjoy the journey.

We don’t want to say goodbye this way. Honestly, we’re not impressed with the idea of saying goodbye at all, ever, but…just not like this. Season 1 was so perfect from top to bottom, that’s the type of legacy we want this show to leave.

Every cast and crew that had to film during a global pandemic had it so hard. For a show that prided itself on those giant musical numbers, keeping everyone safe had to be especially hard. Isn’t that reason enough to give them one last chance to close up the new loose ends and just…be?

Let’s just wipe the slate clean and have a do-over.

We realize having a streaming service “save” a show is super rare. But, even if Peacock has already turned down the chance to play the hero, we’re really hoping one of their competitors will find a way to save Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.

We’ve lost enough between 2020 and 2021. Let’s not add Mo, Zoey, and all the rest to the list. Please.

Anyone else ready to stand on street corners, demanding for someone—anyone—to save Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist? Hit us up!