NBC's SMASH - Series & Broadway Adaptation Thread- Page 39

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/26/12 at 11:49pm

Sueleen- I never saw Glee, probably the only person on the planet who didn't!

But boy did this episode SUCK to high heaven. I don't know what was worse, the script or the acting. I swear, I could see almost the entire cast acting.

Really bad show now.

[E.Davis]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 12:01am

Yes there were moments that weren't ideal, but I really did not think it was that bad of an episode. The one thing that I like about SMASH is that they really use their guest stars in the episodes and not just give them one scene.

The show needs a lot of retooling.

The bowling alley scene was fun, the editing was the issue. They were just having a good time and singing along with the music, not making it a fantasy sequence.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 12:04am

When Hilty stroked McPhees arm at the end of the show, I wanted Kat to take her hand, break all her fingers and while she's on the ground screaming, stand over her and say "Next time you put your hand on me, I keep the fingers".

[E.Davis]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 12:05am

That would have made for fantastic television, but Katphee cannot open her eyes enough to see what people are doing around her long.

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 12:15am

I actually mildly enjoyed tonight's episode as well, though not as much as previous weeks. I thought that Eileen's daughter was a terrific guest star and also enjoyed her storyline in the episode.

The one problem that I had was with Ivy and Karen. I really hope that their relationship gets fleshed out in the coming episodes. It's always just Ivy barking at Karen and then McPhee staring back with the deer in the headlights look. I want Karen to respond and take a stand and actually go at it with Ivy for a change. They are trying to make Ivy out to be the villain but I feel that she is only seen as the villain because every time she lets out her feelings, Karen just stands there with no response. I want for a change to see how Karen actually feels and have it out with Ivy. Maybe then their interactions will feel a little more complete.

Updated On: 3/27/12 at 12:15 AM

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 12:18am

Judging by Ivy losing it at Karen yet again next week, I have a feeling they're building toward Karen finally giving it back to her.

Like every other episode this season, this one was a bit of a misguided wreck, but to those criticizing the McPhee number, you're aware it wasn't supposed to work, right? That's why all the characters on the show didn't respond to it, and even the director said at the end that his idea was a misfire on all levels.

That bowling number was an embarrassment. They need to cut the "break into song" musical moments and keep only the ones that are rooted within the world of the story.

Updated On: 3/27/12 at 12:18 AM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 12:34am

All posters who are saying this does not work, change that and fire what's his name are obviously wrong since the show was picked-up, which is TV's highest honor.

I thought they wrote a great Lady Gaga song for Marilyn on the bed in the "I don't wanna end up in a mental institution" number.

Just enjoy it...

[bk]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 1:55am

The show's being picked up for a second season was never in doubt. This is Steven Spielberg and it was part of the deal. The show is averaging a rating in the biggest demographic of under 2.7. That is, in two words, not good. I was sitting yesterday with a writer/producer friend of mine who's been doing TV for thirty years. Eight years ago the network cancelled a show of his that was averaging 8.2 in the ratings. My how times have changed. NBC is the silliest of all networks right now. Changing the creative staff this late in the game is not going to help anything.

[sweeneytodd2]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 1:59am

I burst out laughing when Julia's husband said, "let's go get chinese food!" I swear all this guy does is chop salad, invite people over for dinner, and suggest chinese food. Mostly he just seems to chop salad, though. Maybe he has some sort of clinical food obsession that will become a plot point.

[Owen22]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 2:05am

"The show's being picked up for a second season was never in doubt. This is Steven Spielberg and it was part of the deal. The show is averaging a rating in the biggest demographic of under 2.7. That is, in two words, not good. I was sitting yesterday with a writer/producer friend of mine who's been doing TV for thirty years. Eight years ago the network cancelled a show of his that was averaging 8.2 in the ratings. My how times have changed. NBC is the silliest of all networks right now. Changing the creative staff this late in the game is not going to help anything."

Why are you lying? The show NEVER had a guaranteed second season pick up, Spielberg or not. Whether you like it or not it was renewed on its own dubious merits.

I understand not liking something. Believe, me, I get that. But actually rooting for a piece of entertainment to fail is despicable.

[Idiot]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 2:15am

Though I am starting to look forward to this show every week, I don't know if it's out of genuine interest or a morbid curiosity about what it will look like when Angelica's mouth eats her own head.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 3:03am

bk, Spielberg has been an EP and co-creator of other TV shows that didn't last a second season, in fact his TV track record is far from great. Look at his just canceled Terra Nova on Fox. The reason it was picked up was the current head of NBC, Greenblatt, who took the project with him from Showtime loves the show and largely developed it himself, and it's NBC's best performing drama in the all important 18-49 demos and NBC is a network in trouble. The Spielberg thing means zilch, this isn't like the 80s when they kept his Amazing Stories on merely for the prestige name. And while the ratings are far from good, again NBC can't afford to drop their best demo drama and just hope that something does better next year. I don't see a big shelf life for Smash--changes or not--but right now it DOES make sense for them to keep it, no matter what one thinks of the actual show.

(Even just 8-10 years back network tv shows got higher numbers than now. I'm not sure what NBC dropped that was rating in the 8.6 18-49 demo, according to you, and obviously even given the massive rating drops each decade, that's still of course a drop, but it's all relative.

SomethingWicked said "That bowling number was an embarrassment. They need to cut the "break into song" musical moments and keep only the ones that are rooted within the world of the story. "

Totally agreed. This week more than ever they seemed really like after thoughts--the bowling number was so random and Grease 2, and they didn't even bother letting Brian D'Arcy James finish his song, not that I minded.

Meh, this episode made me once again think how Rebeck's scripts seem to be the weakest. I admit I enjoyed it more than not, but that went with a lot of eye rolling. I think one issue is the show just has so many characters, and half fleshed out storylines--add that to some odd pacing and the fact that they don't have all that time for drama with all the musical numbers, that it's hard to get into some of the moments that I think if paced better I would have less issue with.

CurtainPullDowner, not sure if you're eing sarcastic, but they did let go of the headwriter--though I see your point I guess to some extent.

I assume Ryan Tedder actually did write the Touch Me song and it wasn't Marc SHaiman et all--does anyone know?

[Lohania]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 3:32am

The writing on this show reminds me of college undergraduate screenwriting classes, where teens and young adults with no writing or life experience write the most incredibly awkward scripts and read them back and forth to each other. It's odd that Theresa Rebeck is supposedly a produced playwright when everything about her scripts are so amateurish and the other writers seem to be working off her template, most of the time (they're stuck with the way she wrote the characters). It's hard to watch sometimes and I don't watch it until later in the week when I fast-forward through the online version. It amazes me it got renewed with the terrible ratings it gets, but I guess it's good for the people it gives work to, so more power to it. Maybe it will hit its stride eventually. I do enjoy some of the performers, though to me, McPhee is the weak spot. She just is not a very good actress and that's not a good thing to have when she's supposed to be the character the audience roots for.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 4:31am

"Also, a little confused....I thought Christian Borle's character had bad sex with his boyfriend. Is there an explanation as to why they are still together? If there is I definitely did not pick that one up."

This is one of the things about the show. I thought the bad sex was not really meant to show the doom of their relationship (although it seems obvious that Tom doesn't seem all that invested in the relationship and thew show, as it does, ihas been telegraphing him hooking up with the black dancer), but more meant to be a kinda realistic moments where they were both relieved that it wasn't good and could move past it--I assumed afterwards it was meant to be good. Which certainly has rung true with some people I've dated and the first time we had sex was more awkward than anything else. But because the show has so many stories told in quick little scenes going on, most people I know seem confused by the very point of mentioning that, and then never commenting further on it.

I actually hate to admit that I kinda enjoyed how ridiculous Ellis was today--popping up everywhere and people so used to it that they hardly even blink an eye, etc.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 5:08am

McPhee is definitely still green as an actress, but, considering how poorly her character is written, it's a wonder that she doesn't come off a lot worse than she does in her scenes.

[tazber]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 6:33am

Touch Me was Written by Ryan Tedder, Brent Kutzle, Bonnie McKee and Noel Zancanella.

As far as I know, next week we get a Rhiana cover (Cheers (Drink to That)) sung as a duet by Karen and Ivy, and a new Shaiman song (The Higher You Get The Farther You Fall) which is from the fictional show within the show "Heaven On Earth"

Updated On: 3/27/12 at 06:33 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 7:07am

I keep watching in hopes that I will begin to enjoy the show. But that still hasn't happened. I continue to roll my eyes during too many moments.

And I cannot believe Ellis' character in ANY way. No way would he be given the access to the people he has. Ridiculous.

[hyperbole_and_a_half]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 8:37am

The show is an uneven mess, but there are two things that are driving me bonkers:

1) Has anyone in the production staff even heard of Marilyn Monroe? In what universe would this Karen Cartwright chick be considered a front runner for Marilyn Monroe next to someone like Ivy? I get it, Karen is the Norma Jean, Ivy is the Marilyn. Vomit. The problem is I don't believe Karen could ever be a Marilyn, and this is from someone who actually thinks McPhee is talented. The way the authors/producer/director keep insinuating Karen is the dark horse candidate for the role, and the way the show keeps telegraphing that she will inevitably step into the role when Ivy chokes, is EFFING MADDENING. The best proof that SMASH's writers have no clue about Marilyn came last week, when some big names were discussed for the role in a potential Broadway transfer: Scarlet Johansson (nice rack and can sing), Michelle Williams (chosen no doubt because Theresa Rebeck saw Williams' Marilyn biopic in the new releases DVD rack at Target)....and SUTTON FOSTER?!? What, are Jackie Hoffman and Donna Murphy busy? Jesus Christ.

2) The show's treatment of men somehow manages to infuriate both my inner feminist and my outer misogynist. Nobody is allowed to have both a penis and a well-rounded characterization; in SMASH, men are either opportunities or obstacles for the women who make the world go around. Fine, whatever, I voted for Hillary, too, but what I can't abide is the silly way that every single female character (including Tom) has had multiple men prostrate themselves at her feet, desperate for her sex. I haven't seen so many men improbably fling themselves at women so far below their league since I accidentally watched an episode of SEX AND THE CITY. Karen's man is a doormat, Ivy's man is an asshole...yawn. Julia has a loving husband and a son, and apparently neither of these men were good enough for her because she decided to trade them in for an affair with a married coworker and an adopted child from China? If this had been done by a male character, it would've been treated as a sinister mid-life crisis and the focus would've been on the damage caused to the women in his life (see: Eileen), but because it's a woman, it's set to sweeping strings and tinkly piano music. Yeesh, that's a particularly nasty characterization, especially for the character I think is supposed to represent Rebeck herself. Again, I get it: SMASH is emotional porn aimed squarely at the ovary demographic, but I've literally read better portrayals of men in drugstore romance novels.

One good thing I can say: this show has made me fall in love with Megan Hilty. I already liked her going into SMASH, but not even the bad writing for her character can cover up the fact that Hilty is the most talented person in this cast. Watching her transform into Marilyn is so good that it's a little spooky, and of course it's no coincidence that the only musical numbers that don't have me reaching for a railroad spike to hammer into my ears feature her heavily. She even got me to listen to that dreadful "History Is Made At Night" song without fast-forwarding (only once, though). So, for Megan Hilty, SMASH will stay on my TiVO.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 8:47am

My fav scene from last night was the small one between Borle and Hilty. Borle always seems to have good "chemistry" with Leading Ladies, and Hilty is exquisite, EMMY worthy IMO.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 8:52am

The Sutton mention was merely a set up for Tom's reaction of "NO!". I know most of the viewers wouldn't know that Borle and Foster were married but I got a chuckle out of it.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 9:21am

What really gets me is that there is so much real life Broadway drama that could be mixed into the show. It's as if none of the writers have ever worked in theater before.

I'm currently watching the tv series Slings & Arrows which is such a better show about the theater.

Whoever wrote about this being a woman's show is exactly correct. The show needs a shot of male testosterone to make it more interesting.

To fix this show:

Get rid of the Ellis character. He's poorly written and poorly acted and doesn't add anything to the show. At this point, why would anyone keep him around? That whole "Let's dial it back, I'll get you a car" was idiotic.

Ivy needs a real antagonist. There's nothing more interesting than knowing that while Ethel Merman is playing straight out to the audience, her co-star is standing behind her wiping his mouth.

There really needs to be a wisecracking character. McPhee should have been written in an Elaine Stritch or Shelley Winters template. She's understudying Ivy and doing another role at the same time. Of course, it wouldn't be McPhee playing it. To save the show, I would cut McPhee from the show.

If Marilyn needs a "name" bring in two male stars to play DiMaggio and Miller (see: Evita on Broadway). The two male stars can add drama to the show. Make one of them a pompous Nicol Williamson type.

There's really not enough material to make Debra/Christian interesting. I guess the show has to concentrate on their personal lives, but those characters have a short shelf life.

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 9:24am

I'm surprised that they didn't drop in a mention in the promo for next week's episode that "Tony Award Winner Norbert Leo Butz guest stars"

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 9:48am

This show makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Its gone beyond soap opera into pure incomprehension. Why couldn't the director simply discuss with his creatives the direction he wanted to go rather than drag EVERYONE out to Brooklyn to do some music video? Why does Ivy turn into a bitch only when the teleplay finds it convenient?

Yeah, the bowling alley number didn't remind me so much of GLEE as it reminded me of THE ELECTRIC COMPANY. So...odd.

If you are going to do a song called "Touch Me", it better be the Samantha Fox classic!! Missed opportunity.

I still am a bit surprised when I see two gay men kissing on network television. That their relationship, once again, makes no sense made it even more...random.

I loved Debra Messing's "I'm going through a terrible divorce" sunglasses after the presentation fell apart.

There were approximately twenty five seconds of good writing in the Borle/Hilty scene and the Borle/Derek showdown. Derek's comments about the musical looking like a gay man's fantasy of what Marilyn's life was like were both snide and right on the mark. As the only one who seems to be WORKING on the musical, he ought to know! So far, he's coming across as the only consistent character on this program.

The show as a whole just needs more snap and wit and color. A little less FAME and a little more STAGE DOOR.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 9:55am

"I loved Debra Messing's "I'm going through a terrible divorce" sunglasses after the presentation fell apart"

I was going to ask, what is the purpose of her wearing those sunglasses?

[E.Davis]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 10:01am

Messing seems to not like the lighting in that office because she has worn them twice in the office during a meeting.