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"Why Is Everybody Singing?" is the twenty-second episode of the seventeenth season of Murdoch Mysteries and the two hundred eighty-fifth episode of the series (not including the three stand-alone holiday specials). It first aired on March 25, 2024.

Summary

While pursuing a missing man now presumed dead, Murdoch takes a call that alters his perception of the world. After heading into a lively alley, he is shot in the head and left for dead. Could this be the end of the prim and proper lawman and inventor? Of course not, this is a musical (the first-time musical episode of the series).

Crabtree and Higgins find him with the faintest pulse clinging to life. As Brackenreid, Ogden, Watts and Hart rush to the scene and the constables question a newsboy, a beggar, various vendors and other witnesses, Murdoch hears their inquiries in song.These musical accounts swoop and soar, confounding the detective who can't understand why everyone around him is singing instead of focusing on who shot him.

Character Revelations

Continuity

Historical References

  • This episode takes place in TorontoGeorge V is King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936 (see Error note below).

Trivia

  • MM cast members have expressed wanting to do a musical version for several seasons but Bisson wasn’t convinced it was a good idea thus resisted – until now, making this the first musical episode of the series.
  • According to writer and executive producer Paul Aitken, the seed for a musical mystery was planted by Buffy the Vampire Slayer (episode: Once More, With Feeling, on November 6, 2001) and has been gestating ever since. He had written an earlier version in 2016-17. The essential concept was insufficient then, thus the music itself needed to be a clue. "Having the singing be his injured brain’s way of processing what was actually being said over his bed solved two problems. It made the music an integral feature of the plot and allowed for the introduction of new information— always handy when telling a mystery.”
  • The lyrics are by Aitken, with music arranged and produced by Jono Grant. It features 15 songs, including a music hall-style number, “Bloody Hell,” sung by Inspector Brackenreid (Thomas Craig) — one of the two to survive from that first version Aitken brought to the set during Season 10 — the other is a tender ballad, “The Sum of You and Me,” sung by Detective Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) and his wife, Dr. Julia Ogden (Hélène Joy).
  • Elaine Overholt served as the vocal coach for the cast.
  • The Murdoch Mysteries theme with a phalanx of voices performing Robert Carli’s unmistakable composition set against a movie screen in a vintage theatre opens this episode. Eagle-eyed Murdochians may catch a familiar name in the opening credits: first give-away clue.
  • According to director Laurie Lynd, “The great joy of the episode, of course, is seeing— and hearing— our favourite Murdoch characters sing! All of the cast did their own singing, beautifully elevating the emotions of what their characters were expressing." Choreographer Tim French and director Lynd have been best friends since high school in Stratford, Ontario, Canada.
  • Earlier in Season 17, Tim French choreographed a small scene with George and Effie dancing the tango in Spirits in the Night.
  • Recast actress Sharron Matthews (Frankie Drake Mysteries) returns, last seen in Clean Hands.
  • Preserving the integrity of the show has always been super important to me, so when there was talk of doing a musical episode, it was no secret that I had reservations,” Bisson shared with Greg David of TV,eh?, “Having Paul Aitken, our writer, as an ally for so many years and having been in the musical trenches before with Laurie as a director, I felt confident to proceed. All my worrying was for nothing though— the end result is nothing short of spectacular!
  • This musical version was a large undertaking for everyone involved and the cast balanced all the work that went into it along with the other episodes for the 17th season; That meant stealing away a few hours here and there, in between other rehearsals and scenes. A musical episode was also an aspiration behind-the-scenes, with executive producer Christina Jennings being a big proponent in getting it made, “...we're in a period where we're looking for joy and we all hope this episode does bring joy to the viewers.”
  • There was a screening of the episode at the Royal Cinema in Toronto, along with the cast, crew, and 100 lucky fans. The official soundtrack will be released on April 8, 2024 across all major music streaming platforms.
  • Free digital download Sing-A-Long Book available at The MM Official Store.
  • Needless to say, this episode pays homage to legendary musicals from both stage and screen (too numerous to list here).
  • Showrunner Peter Mitchell considers this episode a canon "unlike the Christmas and Halloween episodes", without further explanation.

Errors

  • Please note: While a newspaper in this episode is dated 1911, the season timeline of episodes have not been consistent, let alone chronologically accurate for the past since Season 15. The Christmas 1911 episode (ep.1709) occurred eight episodes ago this season, clearly it is well into 1912 by now.
  • When this episode (#22) is first aired on AcornTV in June 2024, it is released out of correct sequence, four episodes too soon.

Cast

Main Cast

Yannick Bisson as Detective William Murdoch
Hélène Joy as Dr. Julia Ogden
Thomas Craig as Inspector Thomas Brackenreid
Jonny Harris as Constable George Crabtree

Recurring Cast

Lachlan Murdoch as Constable Henry Higgins-Newsome
Daniel Maslany as Detective Llewellyn Watts
Shanice Banton as Violet Hart
Arwen Humphreys as Margaret Brackenreid
Colin Mochrie as Ralph Fellows

Guest Cast

Sharron Matthews as Maisy Mack
Larry Mannell as Beggar
Brenda Robins as Rose Hoskins
Drew Davis as Newsboy
Heather Bambrick as Flower Lady
Damien Broomes as Street Food Vendor

Non-Credited Cast

Gallery


Murdoch Mysteries Season 17
Do the Right Thing Part 1Do the Right Thing Part 2Murdoch and the Mona LisaBottom of the BarrelStation House of HorrorsDying to be EnlightenedCool MillionThe Cottage in the WoodsThe Christmas ListMrs. Crabtree's NeighborhoodA Heavy EventWheel of Bad FortuneTrain to NowhereThe Smell of AlarmMurdoch and the Treasure of LimaPreacher Jimmy WildeThe Fantastic Mr. FawkesSpirits in the NightA Most Surprising BondRhapsody in BloodEngaged to be MurderedWhy Is Everybody Singing?Smoke Gets In Your EyesFor the Greater Good
Season 1Season 2Season 3Season 4Season 5Season 6Season 7Season 8Season 9Season 10Season 11Season 12Season 13Season 14Season 15Season 16
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