SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers for American Classic Season 1, Episode 4.

It’s hard to believe American Classic Season 1 is halfway over because watching the MGM+ show feels so effortless. It’s fun and breezy and it never slows down for too long. Episode 4, “Big Spender,” is the tipping point for the narrative—but it also features a great performance by Tony Award nominee Laura Linney that floors everyone.

“Big Spender” feels a lot like the classic The Simpsons episode “Marge vs. the Monorail,” which is ironic since that episode was partly inspired by the iconic musical The Music Man. In American Classic, there’s also a big, showboating pitch for the bad guy to win over the townspeople. Yet evil developer Connor Boyle isn’t doing it himself; it’s Kristen’s idea, and Richard is dragged into being the showman. Aside from being a sort of Broadway riff, this is a glimpse of what the town of Millersburg would look like if Connor got its claws into it, and it is appropriately ridiculous.

After Miranda leads a protest against Connor’s planned casino (with The Music Man alum Mark Linn-Baker guest starring as a city council member), Kristen tries to save face by pitching a “casino night” at the Millersburg Festival Theater. This is where the American Classic production designers and crew deserve some flowers. Of course the event doesn’t look hugely expensive when it’s in a small-town theater, but it also looks garish and slightly over the top, as if to indicate how wrong such a thing feels in this place. But when there’s a big stage (literally and metaphorically), why not use it—so enter Linney to sing her first number in American Classic.

Audiences have already heard Kevin Kline, Jon Tenney and Nell Verlaque perform, so it’s about time Linney gets her shot, even if her character is not expecting it. Her version of the song that gives the episode its title is as sultry and fun as it’s supposed to be, and plot-wise, this is a nice way to remind the audience that Kristen was an actor (a very good one) before she became the mayor. That fact’s been mentioned, but saying it is different from actually seeing her perform. And the musical numbers in American Classic have become a wonderful treat, fitting so well into the show.

The other half of the episode concerns Richard holding auditions for Our Town. Naturally, the townspeople are not actors; this is an easy source of comedy for any show or movie about putting on a show or movie. And the few auditions the audience sees are indeed funny. But American Classic also gets unexpectedly heartwarming when Richard is trying to convince a local doctor to play the part of Dr. Gibbs. He fakes a medical emergency so that the doctor is forced to just be himself, instead of trying to act like a doctor. It’s hilarious thanks to Kevin Kline’s gift for physical comedy, but it’s also charming because there’s a real message in there about the townspeople being embraced for who they are.

That stands in contrast to the act Kristen has to put on as the mayor, as illustrated by her exasperated rants toward Richard. Or even Miranda, who reveals that she was accepted to Penn University and then promptly declares she’s not going. American Classic wears its heart on its sleeve, but that’s what makes it special. By Episode 4, Richard has even found the charm in Nunsense.

The story of small-town theater versus big corporate developer chugs on, especially as Richard accepts his own massive bribe from Connor to put Connor’s girlfriend Nadia (a completely committed to the bit Elise Kibler from The Night Agent) in the play. But what stands out the most are the scenes when the audience can just sit back and enjoy what’s going on in the moment. Whether it’s Laura Linney delivering an A-plus rendition or a small beat of Jon winning at a game of craps, those bursts of joy are the best part.

American Classic airs Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on MGM+. Photo Credit: Courtesy of MGM+.

Article content is (c)2020-2026 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.