Musical Smash on NBC

[Lily Adler]

Enjoyed this episode. The number for the original song was pretty well done. I DO NOT LIKE the the affair storyline.

 

[Shifty]

Has this got any chance of getting a second season?

Yeah pretty good chance of a second season, it's on NBC. It patches a hole, not a permanent fix but allows NBC to concentrate on Tuesdays-Thursdays for next season.

 

[Prison Mike]

The son has to be mentally challenged. Either that or high. That kid is just a terrible actor. I'm really liking the Ivy and Karen competition. Everything else I don't care for.

 

[Rowsdower!]

Didn't watch it yesterday but I have to agree... I really don't like that kid either. Really, I can't stand Debra Messing's family in general. Her husband just seems like a boring loser and the kid really needs a good beating.

And yeah, the Ivy/Karen competition is what drives the show, though I think they went a little overboard making Ivy suddenly transform into a raving b**ch. I get that she's insecure and all that, but I liked that the show wasn't all one-sided at the beginning; after last week's episode it was pretty clear who the writers want us to root for.

You know what bugs me the most about the show though? I hate that this show felt the need to include the TV/movie stereotype of a gay character with an over-the-top vendetta against another character. It's fine that Tom hates Derek for being a sleaze. But every time anyone even mentions Derek's name to him, it seems like he goes into a tirade about how he's a horrible person and the spawn of Satan or whatever. I almost expect him to go full Corky and scream "AND I HATE YOUR ASS FACE!!!!" Seriously, I've worked in theater, with a number of gay directors, choreographers, etc. I've met a few who acted like that, but so many movies and TV shows act like they all do. It's annoying.

 

[TheComicbookKid]

And yeah, the Ivy/Karen competition is what drives the show, though I think they went a little overboard making Ivy suddenly transform into a raving b**ch. I get that she's insecure and all that, but I liked that the show wasn't all one-sided at the beginning; after last week's episode it was pretty clear who the writers want us to root for.

Perhaps they will have a good redemption arc for her to work through.

 

[Primal Slayer]

You know what bugs me the most about the show though? I hate that this show felt the need to include the TV/movie stereotype of a gay character with an over-the-top vendetta against another character. It's fine that Tom hates Derek for being a sleaze. But every time anyone even mentions Derek's name to him, it seems like he goes into a tirade about how he's a horrible person and the spawn of Satan or whatever. I almost expect him to go full Corky and scream "AND I HATE YOUR ASS FACE!!!!" Seriously, I've worked in theater, with a number of gay directors, choreographers, etc. I've met a few who acted like that, but so many movies and TV shows act like they all do. It's annoying.

Funny enough they just showed another gay character yesterday who didnt want to be a stereotype and wear it on his chest.

 

[Rowsdower!]

Cool, well, like I said, I haven't seen that episode yet, so I'll catch it On Demand tonight while I'm waiting for Justified to start.

Anyway, I do think this show has a lot of potential, I just hope it finds an audience while they work out the kinks.

 

[DACrowe]

I enjoyed the new original song that Ivy sang. If you remove the plot of the show, she's clearly the much better choice for playing Marilyn Monroe, it's not even funny.

As for the rest of the episode...meh. Ivy vs. Karen is entertaining, but while I think Messing's character is one of the most likable on the show, her storylines are painfully awful--whether they be the brain damaged "rebellious" son who can't act or the contrived affair with a supposed newlywed starting a new family acting like he's in high school.

This show needs some much better writing and plotting, in my opinion.

 

[flickchick85]

I enjoyed the new original song that Ivy sang. If you remove the plot of the show, she's clearly the much better choice for playing Marilyn Monroe, it's not even funny.

As for the rest of the episode...meh. Ivy vs. Karen is entertaining, but while I think Messing's character is one of the most likable on the show, her storylines are painfully awful--whether they be the brain damaged "rebellious" son who can't act or the contrived affair with a supposed newlywed starting a new family acting like he's in high school.

This show needs some much better writing and plotting, in my opinion.

Agreed. The music/talent involved is really the only thing keeping me watching at this point.

 

[Sawyer]

I do find myself wanting to like the show more than I actually like it. Say what you will about Glee, at least there's an element of fun there. This has just been hum-drum.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Can't say I agree with ya DACrowe as I don't find Ivy very attractive, where as Monroe was a stunner in her prime. The show is going along in a relaxed and entertaining enough way for me but it could improve a lot with some tweaks.

The Messing drama is stupid, they are acting like two kids and it makes no sense when the guy was introduced as a happy family man with a new son, and yet all of a sudden he sees Messing again and just has to have a slice?

The crux of the shows issue is it has two female leads and all the non-gay guys are *****e's, so all either have to invest in is the battle for the part.

Yeah pretty good chance of a second season, it's on NBC. It patches a hole, not a permanent fix but allows NBC to concentrate on Tuesdays-Thursdays for next season.

Cool, I guess with NBC's problems getting anything to stick this is a less expensive option despite mediocre ratings.

 

[DACrowe]

Can't say I agree with ya DACrowe as I don't find Ivy very attractive, where as Monroe was a stunner in her prime. The show is going along in a relaxed and entertaining enough way for me but it could improve a lot with some tweaks.

I agree Monroe was a stunner and a knock out and Megan Hilty is not even in the same ballpark...but most women aren't (including Michelle Williams who still was excellent in the movie last year). However, exact physical similarities are far less important on stage than they are on film or television. I know we're watching her with a camera, but most people will never get a close look at her face and those who do will still not have the intimacy that close-ups provide.

What Ivy/Hilty does have is electrifying stage charisma that eats up all the oxygen in the show and would likely do the same on a Broadway stage. She has presence, captures the ticks and quirks of Monroe better and from a distance does look more like her--curvy as opposed to very thin.

I like Katherine McPhee fine and she has a good voice, but her presence seems more suited for a role like Christine Daée than creating Marilyn Monroe for the stage. Just my opinion.

 

[The Squirrel]

This show is a headache. The affair plot line is dumb, but then most of the plot lines that don't actually deal with the making of the musical have failed to interest me. This last episode was a chore to get through. I might end up dropping this show.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

This show is a headache. The affair plot line is dumb, but then most of the plot lines that don't actually deal with the making of the musical have failed to interest me. This last episode was a chore to get through. I might end up dropping this show.

I've already decided to drop it.

 

[Hunter Rider]

I agree Monroe was a stunner and a knock out and Megan Hilty is not even in the same ballpark...but most women aren't (including Michelle Williams who still was excellent in the movie last year). However, exact physical similarities are far less important on stage than they are on film or television. I know we're watching her with a camera, but most people will never get a close look at her face and those who do will still not have the intimacy that close-ups provide.

What Ivy/Hilty does have is electrifying stage charisma that eats up all the oxygen in the show and would likely do the same on a Broadway stage. She has presence, captures the ticks and quirks of Monroe better and from a distance does look more like her--curvy as opposed to very thin.

I like Katherine McPhee fine and she has a good voice, but her presence seems more suited for a role like Christine Daée than creating Marilyn Monroe for the stage. Just my opinion.

I have to say you make a good argument, I just think when McPhee gets the wig on and gets the numbers to showcase herself, she will bring more from under the surface which I think is what the two writing the musical also want. Ivy does a good caricature of Monroe IMO.

 

[Hunter Rider]

So the point of this weeks episode was to make us hate Michael and Jules? If so; mission accomplished.

 

[Shifty]

Karen is the only likeable character but not by much, she has talent but it seems she's mostly been lucky so far in picking up gigs and probably eventually getting the role.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Michael's *****e levels rose higher this week, I think they introduced Angelica Huston's new barman friend as a full character and even made Derek more likable in order to balance things out.

Ivy's mother didn't sound as good as Ivy and I couldn't figure out how Derek felt she was off her game, and the Tom/Jules friendship is getting irritating, Tom has no objectivity over Ivy and both are sabotaging the show because Jules can't keep her legs shut.

 

[Prison Mike]

I want to see more Karen and less Ivy.

 

[DACrowe]

I thought this week's episode was quite good. Glad the affair crap may finally be over and the episode being entirely focused on the workshop was unsurprisingly good, because "putting on a show" is by far the best aspect of this show. They even managed to make Ivy sympathetic with her annoying mother who was played by the lovely, and wasted, Bernadette Peters.

I also liked how their workshop had problems and the show wasn't pitch-perfect like on Glee. All in all a solid episode. But Karen is crazy for choosing to do the workshop over seeing a potentially career-making agent this week.

 

[Spider-Man Luvr28]

Early word is that Smash got picked up for a second season.

http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/03/22/smash-renewed/

 

[Primal Slayer]

Thats good. Ive been enjoying the show. Interesting to see where it goes next season.

 

[Sawyer]

Let's hope that the writers will actually learn how to write by the time S2 rolls in.

 

[Sawyer]

Deadline:

‘Smash’ Creator Theresa Rebeck To Depart
By NELLIE ANDREEVA

EXCLUSIVE: Smash, which was just renewed for a second season, will return next fall without its creator/executive producer/showrunner Theresa Rebeck. I’ve learned that Rebeck is stepping down as showrunner of the musical drama after its maiden season. Details about her future involvement with Smash are still being worked out. Rebeck will keep her executive producer title and may write scripts but will not be involved in the day-to-day running of series, returning to her theater career. While the pilot of Smash was universally praised, there have been some qualms about the creative direction of the series, chronicling the creation of a Marilyn Monroe Broadway musical, which became increasingly soapy. Additionally, Smash, which started off big and broad, sometimes meandered into niche territory by focusing too much on the insider Broadway stuff over the human drama of the two singers, played by Megan Hilty and Katharine McPhee, battling it out for the role of their career. Word is NBC will bring in a new showrunner for Season 2. It is unclear how that would affect writing executive producer David Marshall Grant, who joined the series after the pilot. Rebeck, a playwright in addition to being a screenwriter, will have a continuing presence on Smash — the female lead on the show, Julia (Debra Messing), half of a successful Broadway writing team, was based on her.

That's a start.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Caught up on the last two episodes, I hope they have written Frank and Michael out as it's a dull subplot, however I imagine they haven't. Ellis continued attempts to manipulate everyone remains awkward but Karen and Ivy's semi-flash mob duet was ok.

Hopefully more focus back on the production next week.