Smash Recap: Pilot (Series Premiere)

February 6, 2012  |   Filed under: Reviews  |   Posted by:

By: Deej Barens

I love this show

Even though I have been doing musical theatre for the last 12 years this was no guarantee that I would like this. All the ingredients are there from the actors to the music writers and as least from this pilot, it all works impeccably.

It all starts with an offhanded idea from the newly hired assistant to co-writer Tom about doing a musical about Marilyn Monroe. Tom’s writing partner Julia is supposed to be taking a break from any theatre projects in order to concentrate on adopting a new child. They compose and record “just one song” with Ivy, an actress always stuck in the ensemble, never the lead. A video is leaked online after Tom’s assistant Ellis sends it to his mother. This catches the attention of producer Eileen Rand who is in the middle of a messy divorce.

Eileen wants Derek Wills to direct and choreograph the project but there is apparently a lot of bad blood between him and Tom. Derek puts together a routine one of the songs (The National Pastime), once again using Ivy. The production team is now set but now they have to go onto the crucial step; finding their Marilyn.

The newest contender is Karen who is living the typical actress life with auditions and working as a waitress. Her parents of course are concerned, thinking her Broadway dream is unrealistic, but her boyfriend Dev believes in her talent.

After her audition singing Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful she catches the eye of everyone, in particular Derek. Tom wants to use Ivy and she auditions as well. Both ladies get a call back with Ivy taking the dress up as Marilyn road and Karen just dressed sexily, but just as herself.

There are reasons to root for both ladies. I’ve been in Ivy’s situation for years, always stuck in the ensemble and never getting a chance to shine on her own. Then we have Karen, new to New York with a light resume but the talent is unmistakeable. Both of the real actresses behind both, Megan Hilty as Ivy and Katherine McPhee (from American Idol season 5) are undeniably talented. It’s nice to see Katherine show more of an acting range than her part in the House Bunny allowed her to. Megan is a veteran musical performer having been in such shows as Wicked and 9-5. As with the show within the show having the right person in each part is crucial and they fit what is needed perfectly.

I’ve always been a fan of Jack Davenport, who plays Derek as both a effective and creative director, but also a bit of a sleaze as he calls Karen for a private meeting at his luxury apartment before the call backs. Such is the case in real life theatre, often the most brilliant creative people are the biggest assholes you’d ever meet.

Angelica Houston as the producer is an actress that can really do no wrong having to mix being a strong business woman trying to protect not only her reputation as a Producer, but her own financial security in the divorce. Both Debra Messing and Christian Borle mesh as the writing team. How they interact with each other you instantly get the feeling they really have been working together for years.

This being a show about a musical, the right songs for the original pieces can’t be any less than amazing. The writing team Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman (Hairspray, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut) are absolutely perfect for this show, with Shaiman also serving as an Executive Producer.  I’m making a prediction that “Let Me Be Your Star” is going to become the audition song of the moment.

There are some things I personally am less interested in, such as the adoption storyline, as I am all about the musical. Despite that one sub-plot, Smash has me hooked. There have been endless comparisons to Glee in some of the press for the show, but really the only thing even vaguely Glee-ish is the use of some popular music which I hope is not too much of a focus.

I look forward to more.

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Posted by on February 6, 2012. Filed under Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
  • http://twitter.com/bstolemyremote bitchstolemyremote

    Also a fan of Davenport – good to see he’s breaking out of “that guy” roles and into something bigger. Worried about the cliches – hope they don’t go too obvious with some of these storylines.