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The Weeknd's The Idol will have its world premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival on May 22. The show, created by The Weeknd, Reza Fahim, and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson, has been hyped and anticipated by fans since its announcement. Expected to be a darker version of the hit series Euphoria, The Idol has been named one of the most anticipated releases of 2023.
The Idol revolves around Jocelyn, an aspiring pop idol who undergoes a nervous breakdown, which ends in the cancellation of her last tour. To get back on track, Jocelyn gets into a complicated relationship with Tedros, a self-help guru and the leader of a cult.
The Idol features a star-studded ensemble cast, including Lily-Rose Depp, The Weeknd, Troye Sivan, Dan Levy, and Jennie Ruby Jane, among others. After its Cannes 2023 premiere, The Idol will be available to stream on HBO Max starting June 4.
Here are five popular musical TV shows to watch before The Idol releases, that deal with similar themes of fame, addiction, the challenges in the music industry, complicated relationships and personal struggles.
Daisy Jones & The Six, Smash, Nashville, and 2 other TV series to watch while awaiting The Idol's release
1) Fosse/Verdon (2009)
Fosse/Verdon is a biographical drama that explores the personal and professional relationship between director-choreographer Bob Fosse (Sam Rockwell) and the talented Broadway dancer and actress Gwen Verdon (Michelle Williams).
The series delves into the intertwined lives of Fosse and Verdon, and chronicles their tumultuous partnership, while offering an intimate look at their creative collaborations, successes, and struggles.
Fosse/Verdon explores the complexities of their relationship and the challenges the pair faced both personally and professionally. It features recreations of iconic musical numbers and showcases the behind-the-scenes process of bringing a production to life.
Fosse/Verdon is available to stream on Hulu.
2) Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies (2023)
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies serves as a prequel to the film Grease (1978), and takes place in 1954, four years before the film's events. The musical series follows a group of four misfits who band together to form Rydell High's first girl gang called The Pink Ladies.
Starring Marisa Davila, Cheyenne Isabel Wells, Ari Notartomaso, and Tricia Fukuhara in lead roles, the show explores the formation of The Pink Ladies while tackling a range of themes, from friendship and high school romances to social hierarchies and ruined reputations. The show also comments on racism, discrimination, ethnicity, culture clashes, and other relevant social problems.
The show also features a number of catchy original songs written by Justin Tranter, that serve to resemble the vibe of the original movie and its time period.
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies is available to stream on Paramount+.
3) Daisy Jones & The Six (2023)
Daisy Jones & the Six revolves around a fictional band of the same name and its rise and fall in the Los Angeles music scene during the 1970s. Based on the novel of the same name by Taylor Jenkins Reid, the show traces the band's popularity as they become one of the world's biggest bands and their eventual split at the height of their stardom.
Starring Riley Keough and Sam Claflin, the show is presented in a documentary-style series of interviews and concert footage. Similar to The Idol, the show explores the personal and professional challenges faced by artists and famous people, while also commenting on the misogyny present in the music industry. The show also deals with mature themes like infidelity, addiction, and childhood trauma, among others.
One of the highlights of the show is its music. Riley Keough and Sam Claflin performed the lead vocals for the songs on the show, which were compiled and released as an independent album recently.
Daisy Jones & the Six is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
4) Nashville (2012)
Nashville revolves around the rivalry between Rayna Jaymes (Connie Britton), an iconic country music artist whose popularity is beginning to wane, and Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere), a young and ambitious rising star. Their paths intersect as they navigate the challenges of the music industry, fame, relationships, and personal struggles.
Nashville explores the complexities of the music business, while touching on themes such as addiction, infidelity, ambition, and the sacrifices required to achieve success in the entertainment world. The series features original music written specifically for the show, showcasing a mix of country, pop, and Americana genres.
Beyond the music, the show also delves into the personal lives of the characters, exploring their relationships, love affairs, and family dynamics.
Nashville is available to stream on Hulu.
5) Smash (2012)
Smash follows the creation and production of a fictional Broadway musical called Bombshell, based on the life of Marilyn Monroe. The series explores the behind-the-scenes drama, conflicts, and ambitions of the cast and crew involved in bringing the show to the stage.
The story revolves around two aspiring actresses, Karen Cartwright (Katharine McPhee) and Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty), who compete for the lead role of Marilyn in the musical. While the show focuses on the theater industry at large, it also explores the unseen challenges and pressures faced by artists in general, including financial problems, scandals, affairs, addictions, and other issues.
Smash also delves into the personal lives of the characters, exploring their relationships, romantic entanglements, the sacrifices they make in pursuit of their dreams.
The show incorporates original music as well as musical numbers and performances from the characters themselves. The songs cover a variety of genres, reflecting the diverse styles found in Broadway musicals.
Smash is available to purchase or rent on iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play, and Vudu.
The Idol will have its world premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival on May 22. Viewers can stream The Idol on HBO Max on June 4, 2023.
