The crash of Smash

[tazber]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 7:46am

Great article.

Lots of details as to how things went so awry in season 1.

Apparently season 2 is much stronger:

If you were a Smash viewer, how you'll feel about the rebooted show depends on why you liked it in the first place. If you enjoyed its forehead-slapping journeys into John Waters–adjacent territory, you will probably be sad. NBC sent out the first three hours (the two-hour Monday premiere and the Feb. 12 episode) of Season 2, and Smash has stabilized. Safran, the new showrunner, and an almost all-new writing staff, have ditched the problematic characters (Leo and Ellis aren't alone in the trash heap; Dev is also gone; and Julia's husband, Frank, isn't around long either), and there are new ones (played by musical theater performers Jeremy Jordan and Andy Mientus) who aren't silly. A second musical is added to the plot — one that brings the original music and pop culture references out of Marilyn Monroe's 1950s America to, if not today's Book of Mormon world, at least to Jonathan Larson's Rent era.
How Smash became TV's biggest train wreck

[strummergirl]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 9:28am

Spielberg loved the Ellis character and wanted Hilty out as Ivy? He should lose the Oscar this year just for that.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 9:30am

I still love Ellis.

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 9:32am

I agree with your assessment of Spielberg. Stick to your movies, Steve.

[MotorTink]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 9:40am

Steve's next TV project is "Under the Dome" coming on CBS this summer, based on the book by Stephen King. I really hope "third times a charm" applies here - cause Terra Nova and then S1 Smash not great track record.

[suestorm]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 10:03am

PaL jOEY, are you serious about loving Ellis? Did you love that adoption story
too??

"Spielberg loved the Ellis character and wanted Hilty out as Ivy? He should lose the Oscar this year just for that." AGREED, he should be waterboarded too if this is true.

Updated On: 1/31/13 at 10:03 AM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 10:31am

I too liked Ellis and when I read how "off the rails" the show went I have to stop and say "HUH?" I thought it was fine AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE SEASON 2.

[artscallion]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 10:47am

The first season wasn't even interesting enough to hate watch. So I hope watched it because it had to do with Broadway and I didn't want to miss it if it ended up turning out good. But it sucked all the way through.

I do think it's encouraging that they're willing to retool this midstream. I'll watch the first three shows of season two. But if I'm still just hope watching at that point, I'm cutting bait.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 10:52am

That is some article. Makes me want to give David Marshall Grant a hug.

Who am I kidding? I always want to give David Marshall Grant a hug.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 10:58am

I wanted him to hug me. From behind. Very very close.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 11:16am

I definitely "hope watched" it, too.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 11:23am

Like everybody else, I hated the adoption plot and the kid who played Carpet, Cousin Debbie's son.

But I am coming out of the closet about my love for Ellis. I'm glad to know I'm not alone.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 11:24am

I loved Ellis, too!

Apropos of nothing, that Andy Mientus is just adorable.

[suestorm]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 11:25am

if you FF the Ellis, Dev, Adoption, brooding son and Frank parts it was really good. as i write this i realize how ridiculous this sounds lol

Jooey you are very brave in deed coming out in public like that

Updated On: 1/31/13 at 11:25 AM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 11:40am

I've always liked Ellis, too, and don't fault him one bit for the horrible writing his character had to endure.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 11:42am

Wait...are we saying we like James Cepero or Ellis?

Cause James Cepero is adorable and writes a fun and funky pop song.

But Ellis?

Kill it with fire.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 11:42am

I don't think even fire could kill that.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 11:43am

I liked the character, in the way one likes a villain.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 11:45am

Part of me is happy that this show is getting such a dramatic overhaul but the other part of me wants to curl up in the corner and cry over the fact that I won't be able to hate-watch it anymore.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 11:45am

SonofRobbieJ, I think Jaime Cepero is adorable, plus I wasn't bothered by the character of Ellis either.

[suestorm]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 11:47am

the way he lurked behind doors and curtains? so ridiculous. all that was missing was him twirling his mustache and rubbing his hands together while laughing bwahhh hhaaaa hhaaaa haaaa.

Updated On: 1/31/13 at 11:47 AM

[Wynbish]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 11:48am

He's not a fun villian though, to me.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 12:03pm

It's odd that folks seems eager to kill Ellis with fire while they LOVE LOVE LOVE Ivy who certainly engaged in more than her share of horrid behavior.

[suestorm]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 12:09pm

Ivy has talent, and has paid her dues for years, Ellis is just a little brat

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/31/13 at 12:09pm

I'm vocal every week about my hopes for Ivy to get smashed by a bus, Final Destintion 2 style.