\n\t\t\t
\n Related: <\/span>Non-Musical TV Shows That Aired Musical Episodes<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tLights, camera, music! While some TV shows are known for their musical interludes \u2014 e.g. Empire and Glee \u2014 other series incorporate show-stopping numbers out of nowhere. Transparent, Riverdale and The Flash all have all aired musical episodes, and none of the shows are known for their song and dance. Transparent, for example, wrapped up [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cWe were fantasizing about what kind of cases we would go on and I was like, \u2018Wouldn\u2019t it be amazing \u2014 because we\u2019re both theater people \u2014 if we ended up infiltrating this local theater company and they were doing, like, a production of Hamlet or something?’\u201d Martin recalled. \u201cWe thought Shakespeare and we were not taking a musical. But we sort of casually mentioned it to our showrunner, Arika Mittman<\/strong>, and before you knew it, it came back as we are going to explore a small theater community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n![\"Feature](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Feature-Jesse-L-Martin-and-Karen-David-The-Irrational-Suddenly-Alec.jpg?w=1000&quality=74&strip=all\")
<\/div>
\n Jesse L. Martin and Karen David<\/span> James Dittiger\/NBC<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMartin had only one stipulation when it came to him performing on stage, adding, \u201cIt would have to be crafted as an accident. Like, there\u2019s no world where Alec was ever meant to be there \u2014 but there I was.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before joining The Irrational<\/em><\/a>, which premiered in 2023, Martin originated the role<\/a> of Tom Collins in Broadway\u2019s Rent<\/em>. He continued to do stage work with performances in The Merchant of Venice, The Winter\u2019s Tale, Romeo and Juliet<\/em> and more. David, meanwhile, has a background as a singer in addition to musical roles such as Galavant<\/em>.<\/p>\n\u201cWe all have been wanting Jesse to sing since the first day of the show, but for all the reasons that he mentioned, I totally understand [the wait]. I often get asked to sing for different roles, but it does have to make sense and be integral to the story line,\u201d David explained. \u201cBut I was secretly hoping that \u2014 if the show could orchestrate an opportunity where it made sense to Jesse \u2014 that it was possible. So I was so delighted when everything just fell literally into place for this, like, the stars were truly aligned.\u201d<\/p>\n
David specifically enjoyed how the episode benefits Alec\u2019s relationship<\/a> with her character, Rose.<\/p>\n\u201cHe\u2019s definitely being pulled into Rose\u2019s world. So we see just how supportive he is as a partner and he wants to help Rose solve this case \u2014 even if it means that he might have to throw himself into a role that he never thought he\u2019d end up having to do,\u201d she noted. \u201cI also love that everyone got to learn that much more about Rose including that she is secretly this huge theater darling and loves all things theater and went to drama college and is so deeply passionate about anything on the stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
She continued: \u201cRose living vicariously through Alec having to perform as a plant was just so much fun. We also had a great scene together where she\u2019s trying to help summon up the courage for Alec to go and perform. I just love the roller-coaster of emotions that they took us through in that one scene.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the official synopsis, Alec and Rose \u201cmust go undercover to infiltrate a community theater production\u201d of Little Shop of Horrors<\/em> in order to solve an actor\u2019s murder. However, joining the cast \u201cmay put them right in the killer\u2019s crosshairs.\u201d<\/p>\nMartin and David hinted that Little Shop<\/em> wasn\u2019t necessarily the first choice, but it became the most logical one.<\/p>\n\n![\"Jesse](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Jesse-L-Martin-and-Karen-David-The-Irrational-Suddenly-Alec-2.jpg?w=1000&quality=40&strip=all\")
<\/div>
\n Jesse L. Martin and Karen David<\/span> James Dittiger\/NBC<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cI gave Arika a list of things that I knew that I could jump into right away because we don\u2019t have a whole lot of time to prep for these things. Also we had to deal with the notion of what rights are available to what. I did put Little Shop<\/em> on my list only because I knew I could sing the plant. I knew that role,\u201d Martin recalled. \u201cSo it became the natural choice. It also fit so well in the story, this idea that I end up playing the plant. I\u2019m not on stage, so I can watch what\u2019s going on with the rest of the characters, which is why I am there in the first place. The choice worked out beautifully.\u201d<\/p>\nDespite feeling apprehensive about performing on The Irrational<\/em><\/a>, Martin had a blast. \u201cIt never occurred to me that doing a play within a play on a show would feel exactly the same as it does when you\u2019re doing a play in real life,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s the crew \u2014 the people we love and work with every single day \u2014 who became the audience and they got to see a play, which normally they don\u2019t get to do either. So it became a real play for us.\u201d<\/p>\nThe \u201cbiggest shame\u201d was that they weren\u2019t able to perform for more people. \u201cThat would\u2019ve been amazing to be able to literally do the whole show and invite not only the crew but people from the local theater company here in Vancouver,\u201d Martin added. \u201cBut it felt like a real play [because of that].\u201d<\/p>\n
David admitted that returning to the stage reminded her how much she missed theater.<\/a><\/p>\n\n
<\/div>\n Jesse L. Martin and Karen David<\/span> James Dittiger\/NBC<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Martin had only one stipulation when it came to him performing on stage, adding, \u201cIt would have to be crafted as an accident. Like, there\u2019s no world where Alec was ever meant to be there \u2014 but there I was.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before joining The Irrational<\/em><\/a>, which premiered in 2023, Martin originated the role<\/a> of Tom Collins in Broadway\u2019s Rent<\/em>. He continued to do stage work with performances in The Merchant of Venice, The Winter\u2019s Tale, Romeo and Juliet<\/em> and more. David, meanwhile, has a background as a singer in addition to musical roles such as Galavant<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe all have been wanting Jesse to sing since the first day of the show, but for all the reasons that he mentioned, I totally understand [the wait]. I often get asked to sing for different roles, but it does have to make sense and be integral to the story line,\u201d David explained. \u201cBut I was secretly hoping that \u2014 if the show could orchestrate an opportunity where it made sense to Jesse \u2014 that it was possible. So I was so delighted when everything just fell literally into place for this, like, the stars were truly aligned.\u201d<\/p>\n David specifically enjoyed how the episode benefits Alec\u2019s relationship<\/a> with her character, Rose.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s definitely being pulled into Rose\u2019s world. So we see just how supportive he is as a partner and he wants to help Rose solve this case \u2014 even if it means that he might have to throw himself into a role that he never thought he\u2019d end up having to do,\u201d she noted. \u201cI also love that everyone got to learn that much more about Rose including that she is secretly this huge theater darling and loves all things theater and went to drama college and is so deeply passionate about anything on the stage.\u201d<\/p>\n She continued: \u201cRose living vicariously through Alec having to perform as a plant was just so much fun. We also had a great scene together where she\u2019s trying to help summon up the courage for Alec to go and perform. I just love the roller-coaster of emotions that they took us through in that one scene.\u201d<\/p>\n According to the official synopsis, Alec and Rose \u201cmust go undercover to infiltrate a community theater production\u201d of Little Shop of Horrors<\/em> in order to solve an actor\u2019s murder. However, joining the cast \u201cmay put them right in the killer\u2019s crosshairs.\u201d<\/p>\n Martin and David hinted that Little Shop<\/em> wasn\u2019t necessarily the first choice, but it became the most logical one.<\/p>\n \u201cI gave Arika a list of things that I knew that I could jump into right away because we don\u2019t have a whole lot of time to prep for these things. Also we had to deal with the notion of what rights are available to what. I did put Little Shop<\/em> on my list only because I knew I could sing the plant. I knew that role,\u201d Martin recalled. \u201cSo it became the natural choice. It also fit so well in the story, this idea that I end up playing the plant. I\u2019m not on stage, so I can watch what\u2019s going on with the rest of the characters, which is why I am there in the first place. The choice worked out beautifully.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite feeling apprehensive about performing on The Irrational<\/em><\/a>, Martin had a blast. \u201cIt never occurred to me that doing a play within a play on a show would feel exactly the same as it does when you\u2019re doing a play in real life,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s the crew \u2014 the people we love and work with every single day \u2014 who became the audience and they got to see a play, which normally they don\u2019t get to do either. So it became a real play for us.\u201d<\/p>\n The \u201cbiggest shame\u201d was that they weren\u2019t able to perform for more people. \u201cThat would\u2019ve been amazing to be able to literally do the whole show and invite not only the crew but people from the local theater company here in Vancouver,\u201d Martin added. \u201cBut it felt like a real play [because of that].\u201d<\/p>\n David admitted that returning to the stage reminded her how much she missed theater.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>
\n Jesse L. Martin and Karen David<\/span> James Dittiger\/NBC<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n