Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist

Zoey Clarke is a sharp, ambitious computer coder building a life in San Francisco when a strange incident gives her an impossible ability: she starts hearing the private thoughts and desires of the people around her as pop songs. Those spontaneous musical moments reveal what friends, family and strangers truly want, complicating workplace choices, romantic entanglements and family dynamics. Zoey tries to respond with honesty and care, while scenes shift between everyday dialogue and fully staged musical numbers. The show uses music to reveal character, to create emotional moments, and the origin of her gift remains mysterious.

Created by Austin Winsberg, the series premiered on NBC in 2020 and stars Jane Levy, Skylar Astin and Alex Newell, blending scripted comedy drama with staged musical sequences. It leaned heavily on contemporary pop arrangements and tight ensemble vocals throughout.

It didn't sweep major awards like Emmys or Golden Globes, but cast performances and the show's inventive music staging drew praise from critics and earned attention in critics circles and fan communities for its emotional range. Fans and critics often singled out the soundtrack and Newell's numbers for their energy.

Zoey's musical set pieces and mashups proved highly shareable, sparking social media covers, choreography breakdowns and hashtag trends that helped episodes reach wider audiences, and cast performances fueled campaigns and online discussion. The show helped renew interest in televised musicals and inspired fan edits and covers across streaming platforms.

Overall reception was positive, with a 7.491/10 average from 227 votes. Reviewers praised the blend of humor and heart, the inventive choreography and the way the series treats grief, relationships, identity and empathy through music. Fans praised Jane Levy and the strong ensemble, noting its mix of light moments with serious emotional beats.