Everybody knows that NBC needs a Smash badly.
Yeah, I know... that was a bad pun.
But seriously, NBC had fallen behind when it comes to the competitive drama TV series category, especially when you compare it with fellow networks CBS, FOX and ABC. Add that to the weird status of NBC comedies, with some reaching critical acclaim but suffering through bad commercial ratings.
Which is why there was a lot of anticipation for mid-season replacement Smash, especially when critics started raving about the first episode leading into its premiere. The network banked on the eventual comparisons to FOX's Glee, but made sure to point out that while the competition's musical series focuses on high school show choir competitions, their creation uses professional theater as its setting. The network also decided to make the first episode available for a pre-air online, and the audience reception was very favorable and reflected what the critics thought.
Smash revolves around the creation of a musical based on the life of screen legend Marilyn Monroe. Writing partners Julia Houston (Debra Messing) and Tom Levitt (Christian Borle) are inspired to write a song about Marilyn Monroe after hearing a chance comment from assistant Ellis Boyd (Jaime Cepero). They ask veteran chorus girl Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty) to sing the song for them and the video of her singing was uploaded by Ellis's mother without their permission. The song received positive reviews, prompting theater producer Eileen Rand (Anjelica Huston), who is going through a bad divorce, to take interest in developing the play. Eileen brings in director Derek Wills (Jack Davenport) to help with the musical, despite his bad working relationship with Tom. Ivy, encouraged by Tom, tries out for the part of Marilyn, hoping to finally be recognized as a star after years of being part of the ensemble. Meanwhile, Karen Cartwright (Katharine McPhee) also auditions for the role in hopes of getting her big break in the industry.
What ensues is a plethora of challenges that are supposed to teach the audience about how difficult it is to get a musical to the stage on the famed Broadway strip of theaters. Tom and Julia are continually pressured to come up with story and song materials for the rapidly developing musical. Eileen tries to secure financing, since her ex-husband took all of their money with him. Ellis becomes progressively annoying, manipulative, sly and somebody you just want to hate. Karen and Ivy fight for the role of a lifetime.
Add that to the personal problems of the characters and you know that something is bound to explode at some point. Whether it's an argument, the production itself or somebody's blood vessel is anybody's guess.
Smash aims to create drama set amidst a flurry of theatrical activity and dialogue peppered with theater terms, which it is able to do well. Provided that they stick to the theater related drama. What I didn't care for as much are some of the "big" personal dramas that the series writers injected throughout the series. I can deal with Ivy's troubles with trying to hold on to the idea of stardom and Eileen's journey post divorce. What I couldn't deal with were the contrived instances that led to Julia having an affair (again) with old flame Michael Swift (Will Chase) and the spectacular fallout of Karen's relationship with her boyfriend Dev Sundaram (Raza Jaffrey). I have to acknowledge that the two plot points had the potential to be relevant to the series, but the way they unfolded made them seem unnecessary. I know that theatricality thrives in exaggeration, but the supposed real life plot lines required the characters to come across as real people, which is something that they weren't able to convey. Only Rebecca Duvall (Uma Thurman) could have gotten away with that, because she's a celebrity who relies on tabloid worthy drama. And possibly Derek, whose personal life isn't really all that separated from his work as a director.
The big bad of the series are the challenges that the production of Bombshell face, but Smash does attempt to create actual villains. Eileen's ex husband Jerry Rand (Michael Cristofer) could have been one, but he was relegated to a running gag of getting a drink thrown in his face every time he meets Eileen. The other is Ellis, who is probably the most hated character from all of the 2011-2012 TV season. Unfortunately, his villainy doesn't come off as relevant to the series, thus the clamor to kill the character in the most inhumane way possible.
While it might seem that I'm about ready to drop the series when it returns sometime in the late fall or winter, there are good things about Smash that justify why it's part of my must-watch list. First of all, the cast is spectacular, even if some of them ended up with poorly written characters. Second, the original music by composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman are awesome and very theater newbie friendly. I hum (or attempt to belt out) "Let Me Be Your Star" to myself on occasion, which is what I'm currently doing while typing this post. Third, like I previously mentioned, Smash is great when it focuses on the theater aspect of the show, which can be exciting and engaging for viewers, even if it's their first time finding out about tech or what makes a performer a good member of an ensemble. Fourth, the rivalry between Karen and Ivy is a driving factor in the show, with some members of the audience unsure of who to root for. Karen, with her wide-eyed sense of wonder at her new experiences, make a very distinct contrast against Ivy, whose years in the industry is apparent in her approach to fighting for the role of Marilyn Monroe. Fifth, I ended up becoming a fan of Derek, who originally came off as an arrogant jerk, but is actually the only character who isn't distracted from his vision for the musical. Despite the fact that he really is a jerk, I ended up enjoying Jack Davenport's portrayal and appreciated how his character resolved the ultimate challenge of picking who gets to play Marilyn.
And lastly, they gave the show a season finale episode that it deserved. The episode was rife with conflict, nail biting suspense regarding the musical's outcome, and an ending marked with a well deserved turn at the spotlight for the girl who would play Marilyn. It was a finale worthy of the pilot episode that caught everyone's attention in the first place.
By the time the last few episodes of Smash aired, I had forgiven most of its faults (I still hate Ellis with a passion) and was looking forward to what will happen next. So, if you're planning to watch the first season of Smash, I warn you that there will by annoying moments. But I can also tell you enduring those moments will be well worth it in the end.
Happy viewing!!Labels: Drama, Musical, Must-Watch, NBC, Smash, TV, TV Series
