Posted: 2/13/16 at 12:08pm
I thought it would be fun to see who people think has done the best career wise after they left SMASH. Your choices are below.
A) Megan Hilty
B) Katharine McPhee
C) Jeremy Jordan
D) Brian d' Arcy James
E) Christian Borle
F) Leslie Odoms Jr
Updated On: 2/13/16 at 12:08 PM
Posted: 2/13/16 at 12:16pm
Kind of a dumb pointless question...but I'll bite. They're all finding major success in one way or another.
Megan Hilty has received raves for her performances in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN and NOISES OFF within the last year.
Katharine McPhee found success on CBS in SCORPION, which averages about 10 million viewers.
Jeremy Jordan stars on CBS's SUPERGIRL, which came in with huge buzz and now has found some comfortable ratings.
Brian a'Arcy James originated King George in HAMILTON and nabbed another Tony nomination for SOMETHING ROTTEN. Also casually won a SAG award for Best Ensemble for the (potential best picture winner) SPOTLIGHT.
Christian Borle won (another) Tony for SOMETHING ROTTEN.
Leslie Odoms Jr. originated the role of Aaron Burr in HAMILTON and is an early favorite to win the Tony this year.
So yeah....I'd say they're all doing just fine.
Posted: 2/13/16 at 12:27pm
Also of mention though not included on this list is multi-Emmy Award winning Debra Messing with her hit NBC series THE MYSTERIES OF LAURA now in its 2nd season.
Posted: 2/13/16 at 12:29pm
Annaleigh Ashford. Lisa McMann, we miss you!
Posted: 2/13/16 at 12:32pm
What about Ann Harada and her "let's take an equity break" character?
Posted: 2/13/16 at 12:32pm
Leslie Odoms Jr. originated the role of Aaron Burr in HAMILTON and is an early favorite to win the Tony this year.
Where the hell is all this buzz on Leslie Odom, Jr. being the favorite to win the Tony coming from? The only place I've seen it has been on these boards.
Posted: 2/13/16 at 12:37pm
Also people like Andy Mientus and Krysta Rodriguez, who have gone on to successful Broadway careers.
Posted: 2/13/16 at 12:41pm
pupscotch said: "Also people like Andy Mientus and Krysta Rodriguez, who have gone on to successful Broadway careers."
Well...one had a successful Broadway career pre-"Smash", and one sorta....well you know what, I'm not going to go there. I love Krysta.
Posted: 2/13/16 at 12:48pm
There is no "after Smash." There was Before Smash and there was Smash. As long as there are little kids with showbiz dreams and stars in their eyes, Smash is real.
Posted: 2/13/16 at 12:51pm
"Kind of a dumb pointless question...but I'll bite"
The intention of thread was to have some fun and see how people measured success. If it was so dumb and pointless why did you respond with an in depth answer - lol.
Posted: 2/13/16 at 12:51pm
"Also of mention though not included on this list is multi-Emmy Award winning Debra Messing with her hit NBC series THE MYSTERIES OF LAURA now in its 2nd season. "
Yep, forgot about her.
Posted: 2/13/16 at 1:01pm
I feel like a lot of them had successful careers pre-Smash. I certainly was a fan of almost everyone involved beforehand. Specifically Brian D'Arcy James (Shrek), Christian Borle (Legally Blonde), Megan Hilty (Wicked / 9 to 5), Jeremy Jordan (Rock of Ages / Bonnie & Clyde). I didn't watch Smash, but, I tuned into the pilot specifically because "Broadway people" were involved.
Posted: 2/13/16 at 2:09pm
I think McPhee got the biggest bump back into relevance and now she's making that CBS procedural money even though Scorpion is paralyzingly stupid. Outside of that, I think Leslie Odom Jr. is doing the best (not because of Smash specifically) because unlike the others, I think he's on a different accelerated trajectory after the show.
Posted: 2/13/16 at 2:20pm
Debra got her own show, so I'm pretty sure she wins.
What's Ellis up to?!
Posted: 2/13/16 at 2:34pm
that show Debra Messing is on is terrible (at least the first two episodes were...I couldn't bother trying after that).
Posted: 2/13/16 at 2:35pm
Leslie is definitely the favorite to win the Tony, however Danny B could win out of sympathy.
Posted: 2/13/16 at 2:43pm
Pretty sure they all have pretty terrific careers. Every consistent working actor has a terrific career.
Posted: 2/13/16 at 2:49pm
Even if Leslie wins the Tony in a few months, Christian Borle would still out rank him in that field as a now two time Tony winner.
Posted: 2/13/16 at 2:52pm
"WHY must EV-ery thing be a CON-Test?" --Faye Dunaway, Mommie Dearest
Posted: 2/13/16 at 3:06pm
Besides Debra and Katherine, the subsequent success is on stage, not national. Debra is the star of a crappy show likely to be cancelled and Katherine is in an ensemble of a decently viewed show. I guess Katherine?
Posted: 2/13/16 at 3:11pm
"Katherine is in an ensemble of a decently viewed show. "
Also, her latest CD (Hysteria) made not have been a commercial hit but it got pretty solid critical reviews.
Posted: 2/13/16 at 3:13pm
"Pretty sure they all have pretty terrific careers. Every consistent working actor has a terrific career."
Very true and when you see all of this talent it just makes you wish SMASH had been written better !!
Posted: 2/13/16 at 3:17pm
"I think McPhee got the biggest bump back into relevance and now she's making that CBS procedural money even though Scorpion is paralyzingly stupid"
I think the biggest thing for McPhee is that she got slammed for her acting (especially on this board) on SMASH and she has gotten better from what I have seen on "Scorpion".
Posted: 2/13/16 at 3:19pm
I remember how much s*** was thrown at Kathrine for whatever reason during Smash so I am glad that she is doing well in her career.
