NBC's SMASH Season 2

[Steve C.]

Posted: 2/27/13 at 3:25pm

Too bad the powers at hand don't really get creative in casting, especially since it is having such a tough time in the ratings. I love SLR but it would take the show to unbelievable highs if Tyler Perry would play JH's (Veronica) mother, maybe even as Medea! The ratings would go through the marquee!!! They've got to do something to stay alive...

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/27/13 at 3:26pm

ffs

[OrdinaryJukebox]

Posted: 2/28/13 at 3:39pm

A huge problem I have with the show is they should know their audience. Not too many people outside of the theatre community (or people who truly love theatre) are watching this; however, they're making things so remarkably unbelievable and unrealistic. The way things happen on this show are NOT how they happen in real life.

Huh, is this how lawyers feel whilst watching "The Good Wife" or surgeons if watching "Grey's Anatomy"? :)

[trixigold]

Posted: 2/28/13 at 4:13pm

It doesn't exactly have the greatest lead-in programming. When you start the evening with "Betty White's Off Their Rockers," you aren't exactly giving your schedule for that night a fighting chance. Followed by Matt Perry's latest bomb show and "The New Normal," which is a niche show. However, I'm not sure it deserves to be successful with what's happened this season so far. I've read the only reason it was kept on the schedule is because the head of NBC's wife is a fan. There's also the fact that NBC is on the bottom of the ratings overall as a network. If the show weren't on NBC, it would have been cancelled long ago. It's sort of a mixed blessing being on NBC. Very few people watch that network, so it's harder for people to know what's on it, since they aren't around to watch the network promos. On the other hand, they can afford to keep a low-rated show on longer than the other networks, because it's not like the ratings are that much worse than other NBC programs. If it weren't so expensive to produce, it could last a long time.

[Theaterfan555]

Posted: 2/28/13 at 10:12pm

Since you mentioned casting, I have to chime in here...are they $^#&%$@ kidding with Jeremy Jordan and Andy Mientus? They are so miscast it's laughable. Really, I laughed out loud when Jordan said he could use some "scotch...weed...cocaine" on this week's episode. Why on earth did they cast the most youthful, wholesome, unhip-, inexperienced-looking actors as gritty, druggie Brooklyn hipsters??? They look like they should be doing 'Mame' at theater camp. Then again, Jordan's character apparently does those kind of hard drugs that basically leave you with the giggles and then you're fine a few minutes later (what happened on this week's episode) so maybe it's believable.
This show has gotten SO stupid. The above poster is absolutely correct: Since it's created and apparently only watched by theater insiders, why is it such an unrealistic depiction of that business?

Updated On: 2/28/13 at 10:12 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/28/13 at 10:37pm

To be fair, isn't Andy meant to be youthful, wholesome and slightly unhip as Kyle--a contrast to Jordan's character? Nonetheless--I get your point.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 1:57pm

I am not in the theate community but I have loved Broadway musicals for many years. I guess I don't get too hung up on it being accurate to real life in the Broadway scene. I often tell my wife jokingly to relax when she finds something inaccurate on a medical show (she is a nurse). Is SMASH the greatest thing on TV, the answer is no but I still enjoy watching it.

Updated On: 3/1/13 at 01:57 PM

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 2:06pm

trixiegold - you are exactly right. The lead in is horrible and I think SMASH should be on earlier, maybe 9PM. They also did not do the show a favor by having a 2 hr premier and letting the episodes be available to watch before it aired. Add the week off due to the State Of The Union speech and it makes it hard for people giving the show a chance to stay with it. Put SMASH on after "The Voice" and see what happens, if the numbers are still horrible than the show is probably history. I have a feeling the next couple of weeks may be better with more emphasis on the actual Broadway shows and Jerry causing trouble.

[broadwayfever]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 2:18pm

Smash was actually fun to watch last year as opposed to this season.
To make Jordan a bad guy was the dumbest thing they could've done. This season needed an underdog to root for and his character could've been the perfect one. Instead, they make him the biggest a-hole of the show. They really screwed the pooch on that one.

The directing and editing is also terrible. And where are all the good numbers? So far I've only liked 2 songs...that's it! And I can't stand the Julia character anymore...it's just ridiculous.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 2:24pm

Broadwayfever - agree with you about Jordan and Julia. I guess they wanted Jordan to be opposite of his song writing partner. I think we may get some decent new songs in upcoming weeks when the show I assume will concentrate on the three different musicals.

[LYLS3637]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 2:48pm

I am by no means a fan of this season, but the season 1 finale was the worst hour of television I have ever had the displeasure of sitting through. Truly infuriating crap...

Now it's just boring... If Sean Hayes can't add some excitement next week, then there is no hope for this show.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 3/2/13 at 12:34pm

Well the show is now officially lousy and boring. That being said I will watch when Liza and Sean Hayes come on.

[Starship]

Posted: 3/2/13 at 1:36pm

This season is so blah. I've tried to like it but after the last episode, I've given up. Last season was honestly 75% better than Season 2. Which is a shame since I wanted Smash to do well so there would be a push for Bombshell on Broadway. The music is just too good to disappear when the show gets cancelled.

[mc1227]

Posted: 3/3/13 at 1:21am

I'm very disappointed with this show. I was hoping for some glimmer of a return to the first season's initial 6 episodes but I'm afraid that will never return. Looking forward to seeing Sean Hayes, but I believe this show is heading out the door soon.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 3/3/13 at 9:17am

Starship - Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I don't think SMASH is perfect in anyway but I still find it entertaining. I don't expect every episode to totally "wow" me and I believe when the focus goes back to the three Broadway shows it will pick up. For example, "Glee" was a big hit the first year but not every episode hit it out of the park.

As for ratings, the lead-in is horrible and SMASH has terrible time slot. NBC could cancel it but do they really have anything that would do better in that time slot? Yes, it is expensive but I believe they already have filmed most of the entire season already so what would be the use of canceling it now.