SkimIt
As with many TV shows, the first season usually involves the cast and crew finding out what works and what doesn't. NBC's hit show Smash will return Tuesday, February 5 with a two-hour opener. Loyal fans of Smash hope for more music and less scarves. Along with a new showrunner, season two will bring multiple changes. Actors Brian d’Arcy James, Raza Jaffrey, Jaime Cepero, and Will Chase will not return to the show. Joining the cast are Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, “Hairspray” actress Nikki Blonsky, Will and Grace star Sean Hayes, Jeremy Jordan, and British actor Julian Ovenden. Although intrinsically it is all about the entertainment, translating Broadway to television is a daunting task. Ultimately it will be in the hands of the audience whether Smash flourishes.
Smash starring Jennifer Hudson, Debra Messing and Katharine McPhee premieres on NBC Tuesday, February 5 at 9:00 pm ET.
SMASH Gets New Showrunner
Getting a new showrunner can be a hit or miss in Hollywood. The show will either benefit from the fresh ideas or it will lose its way in all of the changes. The new boss is Gossip Girl writer and executive producer Josh Safran. Theresa Rebeck has stepped down due to viewer criticism about the creative direction of the show. She stays at the helm as executive producer on the project. He has been busy making some major changes to the show, including cast members.
Bye Bye to Marilyn Monroe?
Bombshell, the backbone of season one, will have some changes this season. Although there will be some new music written for the Marilyn Monroe musical, additional unrelated songs are expected in the second season. To keep things fresh, a new musical per season would be ideal. So far, however, all they've promised is an increase in original music and performances to enhance the season.
Who is Best Equipped to Be Marilyn?
Karen’s (Katharine McPhee’s) big break doesn’t come easily as she is tasked with not only learning the rewrites and last-minute changes, but also contending with disgruntled Ivy (Megan Hilty). Loyal viewer, Mandie Reese, is torn. Ivy really did everything she could for the part and gave herself heart and soul. She likes Karen as the “underdog” but finds her to be just as sneaky and underhanded and nasty as Ivy. Overall she is happy to see Karen get the part because of the whole “underdog gets the part” angle, but she would have been okay with the twist of Ivy getting the role.
Messing's Real Life Divorce
Debra Messing plays Julia Houston, one of the two show creators who are involved in writing a Broadway musical based around the life of Marilyn Monroe. Julia is a character mixed with strength and weakness. She is determined and stubborn, very intelligent, yet seems to easily give in to a guy she has a thing for. Married with one son she ends up having a brief affair with a previous lover. Her son discovers this and eventually her husband finds out. There is a brief separation from her husband and she is contemplating quitting the show. Interestingly enough, Messing announced her divorce from actor/producer Daniel Zelman back in May of 2012. She told Ladies' Home Journal that the couple had talked about separating prior to moving to New York to film “Smash.” Messing and Zelman, who met as graduate students at New York University, married in 2000 and have an 8-year-old son, Roman.
Julia's Wardrobe Implosion
Debra Messing plays a wise and beautiful woman who knows her craft. Unfortunately her wardrobe resembles something a 70 year old would wear. Wise does not need to mean old. Messing's big scarves and sweater coats combined with bulky layering need to be re-thought this season. These were not cute and colorful summer scarves; they are wool with depressingly grey colors. The viewers hope for a wardrobe revamp.
Jennifer Hudson May Eclipse Her Fellow Cast Mates
Oscar Winning actress/singer Jennifer Hudson joins the cast of Smash for a multiple episode arc with Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty. She will be introduced as a brand new character named Veronica “Ronnie” Moore who is an established Broadway star. Possibly part of the storyline will be an overbearing mother at her side. Although Hudson is a voice powerhouse, Katherine McPhee can really sing and I can’t wait to see what Jennifer Hudson brings to the show. According to Hudson in an interview with Parade Magazine, “I’ll be singing and dancing since I play a Broadway star so Broadway stars do it all! If I’m doing it all, everybody better get ready!”
Season one left off with the final Marilyn chosen. According to loyal show follower Mandie Reese, the character of Karen, played by Katharine McPhee, is newly single, while Ivy, played by Megan Hilty, is distraught. She was dramatically eying pills as if she intended to make some sort of statement about how she’s 100% Marilyn and should have been chosen. At the end of season one the Marilyn show had a debut, and was well received.
