Laidstar Tommy Martinez breaks down why his recreation of “Come Alive” fromThe Greatest Showmanwas so terrifying. The series followsEverything Everywhere All at Oncestar Stephanie Hsu as Ruby, an event planner who discovers that her former flames are suddenly dying.Laidalso featuresZosia Mamet (Girls, The Flight Attendant) and Michael Angarano (Sky High,Oppenheimer).On the show, Martinez’s character Isaac hires Ruby to plan his parents’ anniversary party, and the two bond over her love of musicals.
In an interview withScreen Rant’s Grant Hermanns,Martinez detailed the behind-the-scenes stress of recreating the iconic musical number fromThe Greatest Showman. The actor delved into his initial nerves about the choreography and how the pressures of performing in front ofLaid’s full production crew made the scene where Isaac surprises Ruby with the elaborate dance number even more daunting. Here’s what he had to say:
I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a dancer. [Laughs] I’m definitely not a trained dancer or anything, but I’m Latino, I feel like I could pick [things] up, I have rhythm, so I feel like it’s easy for me to pick things up. And we were working with this choreographer in Vancouver, who was super patient and just incredible at what she did.
So, at first, we would do one-on-one and learn just different segments of the choreography. And then, we would incorporate Stephanie’s role in the dance later on. How long did it take us? Honestly, I feel like I picked it up in like two days, so an hour-and-a-half or two hours each session. But honestly,the worst part was actually doing it and performing it on camera,because it was just so nerve-wracking.
You got so many people, and then I’m like, “God—n it, everyone’s just gonna f—-ng judge me here with this dance.” [Chuckles] But learning to just kind of let go and have fun with it, it was a good time. So, yeah, honestly, it didn’t really take too long. It was a nice little cathartic experience.
Martinez goes on to explain the hardest part ofThe Greatest Showmanchoreography:
There was this one moment where I had to do this double spin on one foot, that I just can’t for the life of me do. I know that they did a couple of takes anyway because of different angles and stuff, but yeah, it was drastically different on set than it was in the rehearsal. Because in the rehearsal, you have this big mirror in front of you where you kind of have a way to balance yourself and where you are in your foot placement and all that.
You didn’t have that there. And on set, I don’t like to wear my contacts, because in the middle of scenes, my eyes can get a little dry, so I just take them out. I normally just wear my glasses, butI’m kind of just blind on set,which kind of helps with the nerves and stuff. But it didn’t help with me trying to find my center of balance. But, yeah, we shot it a few times.
What The Greatest Showman Recreation In Laid Means
Bringing Broadway Dreams To Peacock
In season 1, episode 4 ofLaid,theGreatest Showmansongdelivers a fun touch to the show’s darkly comedic tone. For Ruby, musicals are more than entertainment—they’re an escape and a source of joyamid her distressing intimacy hex. At one point, Ruby joins Isaac as the movie’s bearded lady, with her long hair tied into faux facial hair on her chin. The dance is thus a heartfelt gesture from Isaac as Ruby continues to grapple withLaid’s strange bedroom curse and, more often than not, her own neuroticism and sense of entitlement.
As a romantic comedy with a morbid twist,Laidthrives on these moments of levity to balance its darker themes. Much likethe musical performances onGlee,the Peacock series appeals to a niche but dedicated audience, as seen with its stunning 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, which speaks to the series' subversive yet highly-entertaining view of the modern millennial’s dating life. With his rendition of “Come Alive,” a deeper bond between Ruby and Isaac continues to grow despite her dying sense of romance.
Our Take On Laid’s Greatest Showman Homage
A Showstopper With Heart
Martinez’s honest account of the nerve-wracking experience is a relatable behind-the-scenes look into an amusing moment inLaid. The actor’s dedication to the choreography—even as a self-proclaimed non-dancer—speaks to the care and commitment of the show’s castas they revamp the beloved Australian series of the same name for American audiences.
The recreation also highlights the growing chemistry between Martinez and Hsu, whose infectious energy and mutual appreciation for musical theater elevate the scene. Moments like these are what makeLaidsuch a compelling holiday watch as a mix of humor, heart, and the darkly unexpected. For fans of musicals and unconventional rom-coms, this is just another reason to tune into Peacock’s latest gem.
Laid
Cast
A woman discovers that her former lovers are dying under unusual circumstances. As she navigates her past relationships, she must confront her history in order to move forward, delving into a journey of self-reflection and resolution.
