Come back, Theresa Rebeck! All is forgiven!

Posted: 2/20/13 at 12:28pm

I hope you're all happy now.

You bitched and bitched about Smash and NBC listened, making every change you obsessed bitter queens demanded- no Ellis, new show runner, less Marc Shaiman songs- and LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE!

"Sure, the first season had its flaws, but the storyline still revolved around people we cared about. And there was actual conflict. Overdramatic plot twists aside, it was enthralling to watch the goings on of getting a show to Broadway, including the jockeying for roles, the sleezeball director who was brilliant at his craft and the search for financing to make it all possible. The criticism was that people were turned off by the side plots (thus the stripping away of significant others and outside distractions) and sick of Marilyn Monroe (thus the introduction of "The Hit List"). But in simplifying the plot, we totally lost the story.

The worst part of it all is that with "Bombshell" in flux for a variety of reasons, we're left to explore the most tedious and least-entertaining part of script-writing: Revision. Really? Half the show is dedicated to the guy brought in to rewrite the book for "Bombshell," or the part of non-musical dialogue that moves the plot along. It's ironic, because that was the weakest part of this episode.

It was also extremely light on the songs, and they were nowhere near the quality we are used to from Smash. Everything is just stagnant, and a few more episodes like this and the show is a goner."

I hope you're happy. I hope you're happy now.
And oh yeah: That's NOT a Dramaturg

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 12:30pm

What went from a hallucinatory experience of disbelief, outrage and pure, giddy joy all mixed together has become the one thing it should never be: dull.

Posted: 2/20/13 at 12:37pm

Also:

dramaturg: a literary adviser on the staff of a theatre, film corporation, etc, whose responsibilities may include selection and editing of texts, liaison with authors, preparation of printed programmes, and public relations work

Script doctor: a highly skilled screenwriter or playwright hired by a film, television or theatre production to rewrite an existing script or polish specific aspects of it, including structure, characterization, dialogue, pacing, theme, and other elements.

Just had to say that.

[Owen22]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 1:25pm

Again...insanity abounds. Not saying SMASH this year is great...but its SO much better than the abomination of Season One.

[elphaba.scares.me]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 1:38pm

Exactly, JoeK...script doctor does not equal dramaturg. Most dramaturgs would walk into their first meeting with a literal suitcase full of research.

The liner notes someone copied from the CD actually make Bombshell sound pretty fascinating. Hopefully they're getting to that exploration of her story, rather than just trying to book a Broadway theater.

Process makes for some dull TV, but the results-only approach (mediocre show makes it to Broadway, the alleged star wants to be famous, but barely seems to put in any work to understand the highly scrutinized legend she's playing, etc) is far from rewarding.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 2:00pm

Oh, Theresa...you were so misunderstood. I can only dream of the dialogue you would have written for the dramaturg/Messing scenes.

[darquegk]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 2:05pm

As a bookwriter and composer myself, I ENJOY the things that so many people pointed out as tedious in this season- the fixing of a promising, but flawed show where the score vastly outshined the original book.

As far as the dramaturg/script doctor approach, it seems to me that they are very consciously trying to do two things at once: evoke, and even reference, the Lynn Thomson controversy where a dramaturg (allegedly) evolved into a full script doctor, and wanted to claim creative rights over the work; and create a New Ellis Figure, the charmingly loathsome theatrical figure we project our love-hate relationship with the show onto.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 2:12pm

AV Club gives it a C- and says some interesting things about how the show is trashing Rebeck in the most passive-aggressive way

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 2:21pm

I sat through Seminar. I'm not forgiving anything.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 2:22pm

I still have flashbacks to a production of "Spike Heels" I saw in college that still haunts me to this day.

[Sauja]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 2:28pm

I have to agree with the original poster: this was bad last season, but it's a trainwreck now. Season 1 brought some shockingly terrible scenes (that Bollywood number is still seared into my memory), but those scenes were at least entertaining. And the songs were wonderful.

Now we have a whole bunch of new characters every bit is irritating as the ones who were shuffled off, but we seem to be getting worse music week by week (although a tip of the hat to "Just Keep Moving the Line"), and the story becomes less interesting with each passing minute. Rather than clarifying and simplifying and bettering the mess of last year, they just threw a whole bunch of **** at the screen to see if anything new stuck. It's a mess still, but an even less entertaining one.

[darquegk]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 2:32pm

Oh! Also, the new book Jeremy Jordan is proposing for "The Hit List" is blatantly "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" with the two transsexuals taken out.

[phan24]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 3:14pm

I agree with the OP, this season is literally not interesting at all. I want to see more of Megan Hilty and Karen, not of Jeremy Jordan and his friend...their characters annoy me.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 6:28pm

I think what should have happened was it should have centered around creating a new musical - meaning new characters, etc. Not a bio musical of a person we all know. It would have been more interesting, to a non-actor audience, to see how an actor explores their character and develops it.

And not every character should have a crazy, dramatic character flaw. I've been working for awhile as an actor, and I don't know anyone who has slept with the director, etc. Keep it simple and realistic. Not a soap opera. But then again her writing has always been cliche.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 6:43pm

I'm really surprised it got a second season. Season 1 was not that great.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 6:50pm

Unless the ratings improve it may not have a Season 3.

At least we have some good songs. Listen to them and ditch the plot.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 6:50pm

IT WAS A SMASH

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 6:57pm

@BorstalBoy -- If Rebeck stayed there would have been no dramaturg/messing scenes...because Debby would be preggers with Will Chase's baby. O_O

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 8:35pm

Bitch all you want, but this show is a wonderful guilty pleasure for theatre fans and since it has sadly tanked even further in the ratings than the premiere, it is bound to be cancelled very soon, which is a shame for many reasons, the least of which is that then you people will have to find a new shiny object to bitch about, until that is canceled or closed too, and then you can move on to the next victim like a serial killer.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 11:01pm

"with a literal suitcase full of research"

"this season is literally not interesting at all"

Okay. STOP.

[OperaBwayLover]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 11:05pm

Oh! Also, the new book Jeremy Jordan is proposing for "The Hit List" is blatantly "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" with the two transsexuals taken out.

THIS. That was my only real complaint with last night's episode.

[beensince1987]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 11:06pm

This show used to be a guilty pleasure, but it's no longer pleasure for me.

This week's my favorite line,
Kyle: "She (Karen) is not a fake!!!" I just LdMAO.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 11:10pm

I thought he said "she's not fake." I don't get why it was so funny, though?

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 11:13pm

Gawd...the only camp moment was when the dramaturg gave his references on a crumpled piece of paper.

[CukorLover]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 11:25pm

What's even worse, is that the choreography (which was one of the saving graces of Season One) is lackluster and uninspired.