Jump to content

Smash: Discussion Thread


Toups

Recommended Posts

  • Administrator

Smash: Discussion Thread

<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" id="dmlkZW9faWQ9MTMyNzU0MA" width="512" height="354" align="middle"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.nbc.com/assets/video/5-0/swf/DirectWidget.swf?CXNID=1000004.10045NXC&widID=4727a250e66f9723&configXML=http://www.nbc.com/service/videowidget/params/dmlkZW9faWQ9MTMyNzU0MA==/"/><param'>http://www.nbc.com/assets/video/5-0/swf/DirectWidget.swf?CXNID=1000004.10045NXC&widID=4727a250e66f9723&configXML=http://www.nbc.com/service/videowidget/params/dmlkZW9faWQ9MTMyNzU0MA==/"/><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><embed src="http://www.nbc.com/assets/video/5-0/swf/DirectWidget.swf?CXNID=1000004.10045NXC&widID=4727a250e66f9723&configXML=http://www.nbc.com/service/videowidget/params/dmlkZW9faWQ9MTMyNzU0MA==/" quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" width="512" height="354" align="middle" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 201
  • Created
  • Last Reply
  • Administrator

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”).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 8 months later...
  • Members

I've already seen the pilot, and a few quibbles aside, I think it's really good (even the original songs by the Hairspray guys are morememorable than expected)--my main fear is how long they can keep up the quality, and I wish the project had remained with Showtime (greenblatt took the project with him when he left there to move to NBC) where it would be FAR better suited (swearing and some more adult elements, less episodes a season--though due to costs maybe NBC will do that anyway--etc). That said my basic problem is the overall setup is cliche (aging chorus girl with her last chance at a lead vs midwestern fresh ingenue whose parents hate New york and including a skeevy director who wants to sleep with her) and some of the dialogue sucks--Angelica Houston has to spout some ridiculous divorce cliches, and all too often I could guess the next line... Still...

Anyway iTunes is offering (in the US only) the pilot for free download http://itunes.apple....n-1/id492511667

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Members

Actually, i do not think we are supposed to be more invested in one than the other, and what you see in their characters was established on the show. McPhee's chaacter has little to no experience who comes off kind of timid, but has potential, while Hitly's may not have a star level resume, shes got the experience and power to command the audience.

I loved them both.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrator

I'm a sucker for behind-the-scenes type of shows, and I really like the pilot. I love Katharine McPhee - her voice and her hotness - wearing only a white dress shirt and singing "Happy Birthday, Mr. President...."....WOW!!! :wub: Ever since she was on American Idol, I was hoping she would be make it big. Unfortunately her singing career didn't take off after a few albums. So I really hope Smash is a big hit, or at least big enough for NBC to keep the show. I'm also a Jack Davenport fan ever since 'Coupling' and hopefully he's not a jinx again (Flashfoward, Swingtown). I'm not a fan of "Broadway" songs (like the baseball), so that was about the only negative thing for me. But I'd be happy if there were songs like "Let Me Be Your Star" - isn't wasn't too Broadway-ish.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

You have a very very limited view of Broadway musicals if you think Let Me Be Your Star--which was a camp perfect parody of Broadway power ballads yet also worked as a great number--wasn't "broadway". The Baseball number wa more old school 50s musical theatre (even down to the innuendos which often had to be toned down when those musicals were made into movies). But yes, I'm glad that we'll get "at least two" Marc Shaiman new numbers each week (he's the Hairspray composer who did both songs).

Apparently we learn who get sthe lead in episode two so the focus isn't, thankfully, on "who will win" for the full season.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrator

Yeah, I don't know much about Broadway - never seen a Broadway show and have no intentions to ever see one. When I think of Broadway music, I think of songs like the baseball song.......the "broadway sound."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

That's fair enough--I sounded more insulted than I meant to--sorry. I think the modern Broadway sound is really exactly what "Star" is--that's why I saw it as much as a parody as the other song was--if not more. There's been some fight recently about what Broadway sounds like due to Randy Jackson's comments on AI which have led to even his producer Nigel Lythgoe claiming he would talk to him (the irony being that Randy's *small* non AI related success has been almost all kept to one tiny genre of music).

Shaiman and his partner are brilliant at mimic-ing different types of music (which i one reason they've never had much success on their own with musicals unless copying a sound--they have zero original voice). I hope this is used further on Smash--but the actual so9ngwriting duo is based on Lynn Harens and Stephen Flaherty (who were approcahced to do the music but said they could never write that quickly) and they have a very modern sound, even when doing period pieces like Ragtime.

And the irony really is that apparently they ARE hoping the show is enough of a success that it will lead to Marilyn The Musical being on Broadway (whichg I find iffy--there have been TWO iffy shows based on her that were huge flops, and I don't think the campy take on her life that the Baseball song shows would lead to a hit musical).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

NBC is really banking on this show, or at least are REALLY pushing for it. With most of their lineup flopping this season I think they are really counting on it...

They are replaying it on E, Bravo, Oxygen, and a few others I can't remember. I think they really really really need this to be successful........

I'll give it a shot!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.



  • Recent Posts

    • LOL!! That's funny.  I actually thought he got a little better.

      Please register in order to view this content

    • Oh God, she's back? I thought those first scenes were well-intentioned but hysterical.
    • More Guiding Light 1976 At dinner the next evening, Grainger tells Rita he still can’t understand why she inherited from his father and he’s hired a lawyer to help him discover what her role was in his father’s death. Telling her he knows she lied to him, he again warns that he will destroy her reputation in this town. As Rita insists she’s done nothing wrong, Grainger, growing even more angry, lashes out, “Ill see you charged with m—”. Suddenly he clutches his head and collapses to the floor. As people rush to help him, Rita quickly slips out of the restaurant. Grainger is rushed to Cedars and treated for stroke. Rita is even more frightened and upset when it appears that he’s going to recover under the excellent treatment and care of Ed, who is assigned as his attending physician, and Peggy, who is a fine specialty nurse. Rita, drawn by an unseen force to his door, is further shaken when Peggy, seeing her, presses her into temporarily spelling her so she can take a short break. Ed is determined to come to Rita’s aid, as she did his, and brings a big steak for dinner to her apartment. But Rita is too unnerved and shaky to even be with Ed, and disappoints him by asking him to leave before dinner, explaining that she’s extremely tired. Ed knows it’s more than that, and is doubly determined to help her out of this depression, but when she starts to cry, he leaves her, as she wishes. Roger, remembering how Grainger fired him from the oil fields for- being a friend of Rita’s, is disappointed to learn that Grainger has come out of his coma and that Ed feels Grainger’s paralysis and inability to talk may just be temporary. Rita is pressed to assist Tim with a spinal tap on Grainger, and is frightened when her presence causes Malcolm’s pulse rate to rise rapidly. His doctors are unable to understand his rapid pulse changes. Rita tells Roger why Grainger is so hateful toward her. While she was his father’s special nurse, Malcolm made physical advances toward her and she fought him off. His father noticed her bruises~and instantly guessed his son had manhandled her. The old man then swore to her he’d never forgive Malcolm for this cruelty. Roger again warns Rita that nobody is to know about his connection with her and with the Graingers. He fears that if Peggy learns about it, she will leave him.  Ed continues to press his concern and support on Rita, and while it helps to a certain degree and she’s grateful, Rita can’t bring herself to tell him what the source of her worry is. Each day, as Grainger rallies a bit more, her fear and tension increase. Finally, Grainger is able to barely murmur, “Lie... father ... Rita,” to Peggy and manages to crudely letter “RITA S” on a pad of paper. Peggy, assuming that Rita has somehow managed to get Grainger to respond, summons her to the hospital in the hope that she can further stimulate him and thus hasten his recovery. But a major catastrophe, a train derailment, - has immobilized the entire area, and Cedars, as well as all local hospitals, is being overrun with patients. Even though she’s off duty, having served her full shift, Rita is pressed into distributing the patients’ medication. Peggy, explaining that Grainger has already had an accidental delay of medication, which could have caused a major setback, must receive his dosage exactly on schedule. The sight of Rita again agitates Grainger, but she finishes her extra duty and returns home, drained and oversensitive as well as exhausted. When the regular nurse does her usual check, she finds Grainger lying over the side of his bed, unconscious. She issues a “Code Blue” call for the emergency team, and Steve, there almost immediately, starts resuscitation and then gives adrenalin, right into the heart, but Grainger is dead. As soon as he hears, Ed rushes to Cedars in amazement. This is all impossible to him, as he saw Grainger’s recovery as a certainty. He immediately institutes an investigation to determine the cause of death. Roger, told by Peggy what has happened, notifies a stunned Rita just before Ed arrives to question her about everything she can remember about the last time she was in Grainger’s room. Rita, unable to understand what’s happening around her, breaks down in tears, crying that she could be responsible for his death. Ed comforts her, assuring her that he’s not blaming her, just trying to find out what happened.    
    • Carly, considering Robin's daughter as a possible daughter-in-law .... I think the technical term for it would be "plotz"! Or to put it another way, the top of her head would explode!  

      Please register in order to view this content

    • What AW stories do you think of as DOOLish? I mean AW, in a very positive way was KNOWN for its comedic elements. From Iris's maid, Vivian, to the naming of plants, to highjinks with Cass, Felicia, Wally & even Lily, plus remember Dee Evans & Tony the Tuna? In a way at one time DAYS had similar with Caliope & Eugene. 
    • Were those reasons to do with having younger children on set? Other shows seem to manage. The ageing up of the kids has been one of the mistakes the show has made.
    • I agree.  Lemay was supposed to start in early 88 and we saw some of the writing on the wall with character reference from the past.  Notably, the core families Frames, Cory, Matthews.  The stupid Reginald Love was wrapped up.  Not even a year later Mary was written out of the show along with Vince and the McKinnons who came and left .  The previous writers tried to introduce a new family that never aspired with the viewers.  1988 was focused on the 25th anniversary of show in 1989 and suspect why Lemay was asked to come back in 88.  Prior to 1988, the storylines were so DOOL stupid.
    • That's true. He may have ended up keeping her on a recurring basis, like Dr. Michaels on ATWT. I'm trying to remember if GL had a similar long-running therapist.
    • Oh in terms of ratings I think it would have been in a dicey place probably even before then. I mostly was just thinking of if the show could have carried on creatively. 
    • Even if by some miracle Knots Landing continued, 1994/95 it would have been killed by ER.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy