Smash on NBC

[Sawyer]

VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:

'SMASH' -- "Smash" is a musical drama that celebrates the beauty and heartbreak of the Broadway theater as it follows a cross-section of dreamers and schemers who all have one common desire -- to be a "Smash." The series centers on a desire to create a Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe -- written by the successful songwriting duo of Tom (Tony Award nominee Christian Borle, "Legally Blonde: The Musical") and Julia (Emmy Award winner Debra Messing, "Will & Grace"). Julia recently began the process of adopting a child with her husband of many years, but her focus is torn when she has the opportunity to write another Broadway hit. A rivalry soon forms for the lead role between a youthful, inexperienced Midwestern beauty (Katharine McPhee, "American Idol") -- who is trying to find fame in the big city against all odds -- and stage veteran (Megan Hilty, "9 to 5: The Musical"), who's determined to leave the chorus line and finally get her big break. A tenacious producer Eileen (Oscar winner, Anjelica Huston, "Prizzi's Honor") discovers the "Marilyn" project and jumps on board with a brilliant director (Jack Davenport, "Pirates of the Caribbean" films) -- whose talent is matched by his cunning and egocentric amorality. The series stemmed from an idea of executive producer and multiple Emmy and Oscar winner Steven Spielberg ("ER," "Schindler's List"). The pilot was written by acclaimed playwright/screenwriter Theresa Rebeck ("Mauritius," "NYPD Blue"). Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Oscar-winning "Chicago," "Hairspray") and Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey ("United States of Tara," "The Borgias") will also serve as executive producers. Original songs are written by Tony and Grammy Award winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman ("Hairspray," "Catch Me If You Can"), who also serve as executive producers. "Smash" is a production of Universal Media Studios in association with DreamWorks. The pilot was directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer ("Spring Awakening," "American Idiot").

Set to begin February 6th.

[LibidoLoca]

Sounds awesome.

[Sawyer]

http://www.tvline.com/2011/12/smash-uma-thurman-nbc/

NBC's Smash Lures Uma Thurman For Major Arc

NBC’s midseason musical drama Smash is adding some major starpower.

In what marks her first significant TV gig, Uma Thurman is joining the already-impressive cast as a famous and somewhat difficult movie star who flirts with the idea of starring in Marilyn, the musical within the musical.

The Broadway-themed Smash, which stars Katharine McPhee, Debra Messing and Anjelica Huston, makes its debut on Monday, February 6 at 10/9c.

Uma Thurman, huh?

[LibidoLoca]

Oh NBC is clever one I'll give them that.

[Prison Mike]

I'm really looking forward to this. The commercials have me pretty excited.

[Sawyer]

Pilot episode:

VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:

[Sawyer]

Starts tomorrow night, folks. 10 PM.

[flickchick85]

I thought the pilot was alright, but I agree with Entertainment Weekly's review in that it has one potentially fatal flaw - Megan Hilty demonstrates more personality and talent than Katharine McPhee, yet the show is clearly setting us up to root for the latter to become the star.

That said, I love that we'll be getting new, original Broadway-esque songs from the team that did Hairspray and Catch Me If You Can (which I saw last year and positively adored the music to). That fact alone could keep me watching for quite some time. It certainly helps that I love the supporting cast as well.

[Sawyer]

I also found Hilty's character more likable than I expected to. From the previews, I figured they'd end up making her the *****, but she really wasn't.

[Mogwai]

I'm going to check this one out.

[Dr. Evil]

I'm interested enough to check it out.

[echostation]

this was a pretty sweet show... I'm not really into musicals, plays or broadways... I just don't find them very appealing but this show has a very interesting spin on things.

[WorthyStevens]

I watched the pilot on OnDemand last month and I really enjoyed it. As an actor just starting out, it resonated well.

[LibidoLoca]

I really liked the pilot. This better be a big hit.

[Call Me Darkman]

Katherine McPhee is hot. That's my contribution to this thread.

[Mogwai]

I enjoyed it. Definitely coming back for more. Katherine's bf on the show is gorgeous.

[LibidoLoca]

Originally Posted by Call Me Darkman

Katherine McPhee is hot. That's my contribution to this thread.

Originally Posted by Mogwai

I enjoyed it. Definitely coming back for more. Katherine's bf on the show is gorgeous.

I agree.

[Mogwai]

^i have a thing for brits of indian descent.

love the catwoman avatar, btw.

[Gold Samurai]

Originally Posted by Mogwai

^i have a thing for brits of indian descent.

I recognized him from "Spooks"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnXPX3BuYDg

[LibidoLoca]

Thank you.

[obin_gam]

Sounds like nothing more than Glee for adults. Is it that, or is it actually worth my time?

[LibidoLoca]

I found it more enjoyable than Glee, but yeah they're similarities. If you're interested you should give it a chance.

[Sawyer]

Characters singing =/= Glee

Like one of the people behind the show has said, Glee being the success it was kind of paved the way for a show like this to exist, but there are really more differences than similarities.

[<(o_o)>]

Katherine McPhee is hot, loved her so much on American Idol & then her singing was good also.: I wish the show well but it probably won't do any better than The Playboy Club did. Do you think NBC would keep it around longer just because it is executive produced by Stephen Speilberg?

[Shifty]

Originally Posted by <(o_o)>

Katherine McPhee is hot, loved her so much on American Idol & then her singing was good also.: I wish the show well but it probably won't do any better than The Playboy Club did. Do you think NBC would keep it around longer just because it is executive produced by Stephen Speilberg?

They'll keep it around as long as the ratings are good! TPC had a terrible lead in as well, while Smash has The Voice. Showtime canceled United States of Tara and that had Senor Speilbergo as a producer.

And the ratings were good!

Smash

At 10, "Smash" (3/8/10 I 18-49, 11.5 million viewers overall at 10 p.m.) scored the highest 18-49 rating for any episode of a regular 10 p.m. drama on ABC, CBS or NBC on any night of the week so far this season.

"Smash" delivered NBC's top in-season 18-49 and total-viewer results in the time period since November 3, 2008 (SNL election special).

"Smash" nearly quadrupled NBC's season average in the slot (1.0).

This is NBC's first 18-49 win in the slot vs. regular, original in-season competition on ABC and CBS, excluding Olympics, since November 3, 2008 (SNL election special)

Not sure what impact having the pilot available online for a few days made, we'll see if there will be growth or decline next week.

The regular-slot debut of "The Voice" (6.6/16 in 18-49, 17.7 million viewers overall from 8-10) is NBC's highest 18-49 rating in slot excluding Olympics since Feb. 16, 2004

This is a jump of 29% versus last year's 5.1 for the "Voice" series debut.

There was major growth through the half-hours…5.3, 6.2, 7.3, 7.7

It's NBC's first 18-49 win over regular, original in-season competition on ABC and CBS in this slot, excluding Olympics, since November 3, 2008 (Deal or No Deal, SNL special).

"The Voice" held up very well relative to other shows that had post-Super Bowl time periods.

First regular-slot telecasts after post-Super Bowl editions, last three years…
Program…Date…a1849…total viewers
Undercover Boss…2/14/10...5.2/13…15.446 million
Glee…………….…2/8/11…4.6/13…11.577 million
The Voice………...2/6/12…6.6/16…17.686 million