Smash and Glee aren’t the only TV series that have expressed themselves in song.
"Oz"
The episode: "Variety"
Why they're singing: There's a variety show. But that only accounts for the diegetic songs. The rest are performed in place of the standard narrator segments, just 'cause.
Why it's WTF: Oz is a gritty prison drama, one of TV's first MA-rated series. Also B.D. Wong does Tori Amos' "Leather."
Source: youtube.com
"7th Heaven"
The episode: "Red Socks"
Why they're singing: Because it's Valentine's Day. There's no better way to express your feelings for someone than through song. Even poorly sung song!
Why it's WTF: Aside from the fact that there's not a whole lot of singing talent here, this is another musical episode without any real explanation.
Source: youtube.com
"Scrubs"
The episode: "My Musical"
Why they're singing: The patient has (spoiler alert) a brain aneurysm that makes her imagine the doctors at Sacred Heart are performing a musical for her benefit.
Why it's WTF: Music and medicine generally don't mix. On the other hand, Scrubs' addition to the genre is still less out of place than the subsequent offenders.
Source: youtube.com
"Chicago Hope"
The episode: "Brain Salad Surgery"
Why they're singing: Wouldn't you know it? Another brain aneurysm. Seeing the doctors treating you as musical theater performers must be a standard side effect.
Why it's WTF: At least Scrubs was already a wacky series — Chicago Hope was a more straightforward drama, which makes these musical sequences all the more bizarre.
Source: youtube.com