Schmigadoon is back — bolder, brighter, and more charming than ever before. This time around, the series takes its references from more modern musicals, like gay faves Cabaret and Chicago, along with being grittier and sexier in its sophomore season.
While the references may have changed, the show has thankfully brought back many of its familiar faces, including the charismatic Jaime Camil and Ann Harada, who return as the scheming henchmen of season two’s big bad Mr. Kratt.
Courtesy of Apple TV+
Sure, Madam Frau (Harada) and Sergeant Rivera (Camil) lurk around the edges generally causing mischief, but they prove to be more complex than that as the season continues. Season two proves to be much more interested in delving deeper into its ensemble, offering the opportunity to show us what lurks behind all the scowls and mustache twirling. The storytelling is better for that fact, but also it means more screen time for two wildly charismatic performers, who even share one of the show’s most charming duets. PRIDE sat down with the actors to talk about sharing that moment on screen, and how they created their memorable and diabolically endearing characters.
PRIDE: Congratulations on season two of Schmigadoon. I know it pulls from darker musicals this time around, but I just felt so much joy watching it. One of the reasons for that is how rich the characterization is this time around, for example with your characters Madam Frau and Sergeant Rivera, you even get an “I want” song. Can you tell me about shooting that duet?
JAIME CAMIL: Well, it is the best number of the show. It is and we’re gonna say it because it needs to be said. And you know, there are other numbers that are okay. [Laughs]
ANN HARADA: You know they said to me, ‘You have a duet this year. It’s with Jaime’ and I was like, ‘Oh, God’. [Both laugh] No, it was thrilling. Of course, what wouldn’t be fun about that? It was just so much fun to be able to go back to shoot a season two…and to know I’m going back to my family. We were all so enthralled with each other during season one. But it was hard because we couldn’t hang out because of the pandemic. We were so isolated so much of the time. And then season two is like, ‘Hi!’
Courtesy of Apple TV+
I love all the references to other musicals in Schmigadoon, can you each tell me a little bit about who and what you drew on to create yours?
ANN: People might think that my character is like Fräulein Schneider from Cabaret. In a way she is, because she runs the hotel, but she also runs so many other things. And I think of her more like Fräulein Kost from Cabaret, you know, the other [whispers] prostitute who’s a little more worldly, a little more practical.
JAIME: Seasoned.
ANN: Seasoned! That’s my reference. My internal references for my voice and everything else were Lili Von Shtupp from Blazing Saddles and Frau Blücher from Young Frankenstein. Basically, all these Teutonic dames that I just love
JAIME: I think I’m the only character who doesn’t have any reference from that era. Listen, we need a cop, and the village needs a cop. So period. No, but it was super fun. Even though it’s ourselves in season two, we are playing new characters. Both Ann’s character and mine, we live under this pressure of this great amazing villain, Mr. Kratt, who’s always stepping on us and not letting us find our true selves or our true potential because it’s threatening to him, to his power.
Courtesy of Apple TV+
Speaking of finding your true selves, I won’t spoil anything but in the end, there’s a moment that hints at a solo number for you Jaime. Was there ever a version of the show where we got to see you perform the whole thing?
JAIME: The shooting schedule and the shot list is so precise, that...the number you were referring to is only going to [be one] verse and that’s it. Boom, because we’re doing the recap...at the end so we don’t have time for a full number. Though I would have loved to perform it!
ANN: I wanted to watch more of that. Let me tell you, maybe my favorite day on set, just sitting there at the table getting to watch Jaime do that little bit. That was great.
JAIME: I almost killed myself with those heels. Oops! Spoilers.
ANN: I have so many pictures on my phone that I can’t show anybody!JAIME: The shooting schedule and the shot list is so precise, that...the number you were referring to is only going to [be one] verse and that’s it. Boom, because we’re doing the recap...at the end so we don’t have time for a full number. Though I would have loved to perform it!
ANN: I wanted to watch more of that. Let me tell you, maybe my favorite day on set, just sitting there at the table getting to watch Jaime do that little bit. That was great.
JAIME: I almost killed myself with those heels.
ANN: I have so many pictures on my phone that I can’t show anybody!
