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
Spielberg loved the Ellis character and wanted Hilty out as Ivy? He should lose the Oscar this year just for that.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/28/04
I agree with your assessment of Spielberg. Stick to your movies, Steve.
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.
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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
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.
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.
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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
I wanted him to hug me. From behind. Very very close.
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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
I loved Ellis, too!
Apropos of nothing, that Andy Mientus is just adorable.
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
I've always liked Ellis, too, and don't fault him one bit for the horrible writing his character had to endure.
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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
I liked the character, in the way one likes a villain.
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.
SonofRobbieJ, I think Jaime Cepero is adorable, plus I wasn't bothered by the character of Ellis either.
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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
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.
Ivy has talent, and has paid her dues for years, Ellis is just a little brat
I'm vocal every week about my hopes for Ivy to get smashed by a bus, Final Destintion 2 style.
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