'Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist' Season 2 Cast: Meet Jane Levy, Skylar Astin, Lauren Graham and rest of the stars in NBC’s musical drama
The show's lead character, Zoey Clarke, is a very smart computer coder who lacks confidence and is trying to find success in San Francisco. When she goes in for a regularly scheduled MRI, the equipment malfunctions and Zoey now has the paranormal gift of hearing everyone's innermost thoughts and desires through popular songs.
The first season of ‘Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist’ took viewers down memory lane re-introducing us to Yester year’s music to the very current pop music through a unique concept. Music is after all the best expression of our deepest emotions and not of one moment did the show seem bizarre or out of sync when Zoey heard fellow passengers on the bus singing ‘Help!’ by Beatles or her competitive colleagues singing ‘All I do Is Win’ by Ludacris and DJ Khaled.
The show is back to rock our world once again and will be premiering on January 5 at 8 pm ET on NBC. Here’s a look at the cast to refresh your memory.
Jane Levy
Jane Levy is an actress best known for her roles in 'Suburgatory', 'Shameless', and 'What/If'. In the musical series, she plays the titular role of Zoey Clarke.
Zoey is a computer programmer who lacks the confidence to go for what she wants. When she goes for an MRI that malfunctions, she is gifted with the ability to hear people's innermost thoughts and desires in the form of popular songs.
The 31-year-old actress was born on December 29, 1989, in Los Angeles, California. Levy attended Sir Francis Drake High School, where she was on the hip hop dancing team and was captain of the soccer team, she began playing soccer at age five. Levy attended Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland for one year, where she played on the Division III varsity women's soccer team. She subsequently transferred to the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City where she graduated from the Conservatory.
On March 3, 2011, Levy married actor Jaime Freitas. According to court documents, the couple separated on October 31, 2011. She is now dating actor Thomas McDonell.
Alex Newell
Alex Newell is best known for his role in 'Glee' as Wade "Unique" Adams, the first openly transgender high school student on American television. Newell plays the role of Mo, Zoey's friend and neighbor who is musically gifted unlike Zoey and helps her figure out which classical hit number she heard in order to help her find out other people’s inner thoughts.
The 28-year-old singer and actor was born on August 20, 1992 in Lynn, Massachusetts. Alex’s father, a deacon, died of cancer when he was six years old, at which point his mother raised him as a single parent. He also starred as Asaka in the Broadway revival of ‘Once on This Island’ at the ‘Circle in the Square Theater’ in 2018. As a singer, Newell has released tracks with Clean Bandit, Blonde, and The Knocks.
Skylar Astin
Skylar Astin is an actor best known for his roles in 'Pitch Perfect' and 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend'. He plays the role of Max, Zoey's best friend and colleague who is secretly in love with her.
The 33-year-old was born on September 23, 1987, New York City. Astin's first professional role was a minor role in the original Off-Broadway and Broadway casts ‘Spring Awakening’ as Georg, a male student with a crush on his piano teacher. He has since appeared in films such as ‘Hamlet 2’ (2008), ‘Taking Woodstock’ (2009), ‘Cavemen’ (2013), and ‘21 & Over’ (2013).
Lauren Graham
Lauren Graham is an actor best known for her role in 'Gilmore Girls' and 'Parenthood'. She plays the role of Joan, Zoey's boss. The 53-year-old was born on March 16, 1967, in Honolulu, Hawaii. As a girl, Graham rode horses competitively, but soon switched to acting. Between 1996 and 1997, Graham became a regular guest star on several hit NBC shows. She played a graduate student who caught the eye of Dick on ‘3rd Rock from the Sun’; Richard's overly-optimistic girlfriend on ‘Caroline in the City’, and Jerry's speed-dial ranking girlfriend on ‘Seinfeld’.
She played a Hollywood producer who had a love interest in Detective Rey Curtis in a three-part episode of ‘Law & Order’, where she acted opposite Scott Cohen, who would later play one of Graham's love interests (Max Medina) on ‘Gilmore Girls’. She also portrayed an antagonizing but friendship-starved efficiency expert on ‘NewsRadio’.
The show also stars Peter Gallagher as Mitch, John Clarence Stewart as Simon, and Mary Steenburgen as Maggie.