NBC's SMASH - Series & Broadway Adaptation Thread — Page 74

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#1826

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 12:30pm

'On another subject, what happened to Julia's original conception for the show's opening where it's "Let Me Be Your Star" but the girls surrounding Norma Jean are taunting her? I liked that and it made sense, not the current conception where they just stand around her and stay silent.'

That was actually a plot point addressed (last week, i think?). Rebecca felt the 'Shadow Marilyns' (why is that not the name instead of BOMBSHELL???) shouldn't sing. They were then rendered mute.

#1827

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 12:37pm

Oh, Goth, of course I have seen soap operas. I gave up watching them because the story lines started hitting a bit too close to home for me. I just couldn't take it.
Thankfully, with SMASH, I have none of the terrible problems that these people face and so I can watch with a much more objective outlook.

And I call dibs on going as Eileen for Halloween.

PEACE.

#1828

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 12:37pm

Sporkgoddess, you completely missed the point of Thurman's character. That she looked or sounded like Monroe is incidental (though I would argue that she looked and sounded no less like the real Marilyn than either Hilty or McPhee).

The point is that a reality of the business is that you have to have a star to put butts in the seats and you have to be able to tailor your show to showcase a star's attributes. That angle of the series has so far been just about the only realistic depiction of commercial production.

#1829

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 1:09pm

Regarding the problem with the ending of "Bombshell" and Rebecca's dismay that no one applauded: I don't think a lack of applause at the end of a musical is *necessarily* a death sentence. Look at "West Side Story." The two principal characters die, and from what I've read, the audience response was sobbing, shocked silence, etc., followed after a few minutes by applause during the curtain calls. Yes, having Marilyn die at the end is not an upbeat ending, but I thought it was actually more relevant that Ellis said that "she wasn't landing any of her numbers" - implying that she was subpar throughout the whole show. It's hard to judge when we're only seeing snippets of it, but it seemed that the numbers that didn't feature Marilyn got the biggest applause.
Anyway, it will be interesting to see how Tom & Julia change the ending.
I enjoyed this episode overall, because it focused almost exclusively on the actual show, and we didn't have to hear about Dev's work problems or Julia's son's issues. My least favorite scene was probably the church number. I thought it was just a plot mechanism to get Tom and Julia to apologize to one another - although neither of them seemed particularly moved by religious fervor.

Maggie-the-schnoodle

#1830

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 1:09pm

So the question begs to be asked:
Who's body is this?
Smash - Series Discussion

I say based off out the shaped and musculature, it is Ivy. But the chin has be thin inking otherwise.

Also it could have nothing to do with who gets the role.

"I think lying to children is really important, it sets them off on the right track" -Sherie Rene Scott-

#1831

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 1:16pm

I think if the writers (of SMASH) had meant us to believe Rebecca was giving a sub-par performance, they would have more blatantly illustrated that during the 'on-stage' moments or had it addressed by the other characters (Ellis's opinion doesn't count for much).

Rebecca's disdain at the lack of applause I found in a way charming as it completely evidenced her lack of nerve in participating in a musical on stage.

Probably the most realistic exchange of the entire series has been when she told Karen appearing on stage was the 'singular most terrifying experience' of her life and that she wasn't going back because she didn't have too.

Rebecca is a movie star who is self admitting she isn't up to the rigors and terror of creating a new musical. I found that admission really refreshing. It reminded me a little of Brook Shield's comments about why she left LEAP OF FAITH.

I think its completely ironic that Thurman (to quote EW) seems not only to have been the only actor on the show to realize the camp of the material, she's also the one to ultimately have been given the only really realistic character on the show

Updated On: 5/8/12 at 01:16 PM

#1832

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 1:26pm

"So the question begs to be asked:
Who's body is this?"

The armpits are definitely Patti LuPone, Evita circa 1979

If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

#1833

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 1:32pm

Arms over head is Karen's move. My bets are on McAfee.

PEACE.

#1834

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 1:53pm

Ya know...I think I'm going to disagree with Michael Bennett just a little bit here. Not about Thurman's character (it's the gem of the show). But about the hypothesis that shows need stars to get butts in seats.

I think that's true of revivals. But not of new musicals. I will agree that, in many respects, new musicals are 'star-driven,' I just think the star is not an actor. It's either based on a popular pre-existing source (be it the movie Ghost, or the Mamma Mia catalogue or the Wizard of Oz tie-in with Wicked) or that it's created by someone 'important' (Bono, The South Park guys, Mel Brooks).

I think the last decade or so has proven that producers of new musicals want a show where the show is the star...and recasting can happen easily. My guess is that's where SMASH is going to end up.

#1835

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 1:53pm

That photo looks like Ivy to me.

Ivy will go on as Marilyn, and then she will take too many pills again, and that will require Karen to go on, who will eat a bad crab salad at Legal Sea Food, and then Jessica will go on, and she'll win the Tony.

#1836

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 2:03pm

SonofRobbie: But the shadow Marilyns didn't sing, they talked. Oh well, that was probably Smash's way of addressing it.

Michael Bennett: I knew that was the point of her character, but if I were an audience member I would have preferred a nobody who could sing. I usually feel that way about stunt casting. I know that the rest of America probably doesn't.

Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!

#1837

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 2:06pm

Dang, if the producers of this show missed this photo op they are nucking futs! Check it out!
Marilyn Comes Down

PEACE.

#1838

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 2:11pm

I also thought that Thorsten/bartender/Ian was going out to whack Ellis off.

He's obviously a hit-man/rough-em up man, thus the arm injury.

#1839

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 2:28pm

Oh Robbie, I definitely agree with you in terms of historical accuracy and musical theory. Definitely most of the major hits of the last 25 years have not been star driven, and there isn't any reason why a show like BOMBSHELL couldn't be a hit without a star.

I was merely applauding the writers (of SMASH) for at least treating the subject matter (once Anjelica Houston's character decided the show 'needed' a star) realistically and am applauding Thurman for creating a realistic depiction of a movie star giving perhaps a more credible than electric performance at the heart of it.

All that said, I don't think a musical announced out of town with a major movie star in the lead would likely ever come into Broadway with an unknown replacement (Can you imagine Hugh Jackman's understudy replacing him in previews of BOY FROM OZ? I think not...)

But such is the soap opera treatment of the show, so we can't get caught up too much in the reality of it.

Unless of course they just want to drag this Marilyn-musical on forever and spend next season bringing in a host of guest stars to be potential stars they are trying for the central role.

#1840

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 2:33pm

I can't wait to see Sarah Silverman's guest arc!

And yes...then we are in total agreement. The issues brought up by the search for a star and how it was handled was the one ounce of realistic sanity in the whirling Tazmanian devil that is SMASH.

#1841

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 3:15pm

I'm sorry, but after that church scene, I thought, 'Karen is the worst at lip-synching. I never believe she's ever singing one note live'

"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>> “I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>> -whatever2

#1842

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 3:55pm

Prediction for an upcoming episode: Heeding his perpetual need to have sex with women other than his wife, Michael Swift does the horizontal mambo with Ivy/Karen/pretty-much-any-female-cast-member-take-your-pick, driving Julia into an insane fit of jealousy, much to Frank's chagrin.

On another note: Wonder if Eileen's boyfriend got into a fight with Eileen's ex-husband. Hence the sling.

#1843

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 4:37pm

"I love church!" was such a bad line, both in writing and delivery. I mean, really -- who would chirp, "I'm so glad you organized this! I love church!"?

I only wish Karen had said "I love church!" over and over again so it could have become the new "I'm in TECH!"

I'm going to miss Uma Thurman. She did a great job in what could have been a nothing part. I had no trouble believing Rebecca had star presence and knew it.

"What was the name of that cheese that I like?" "you can't run away forever...but there's nothing wrong with getting a good head start" "well I hope and I pray, that maybe someday, you'll walk in the room with my heart"

#1844

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 4:39pm

The "I love church" line made me think of when Harry said "I love magic" in Goblet of Fire, and the whole world cried a little then.

"I think lying to children is really important, it sets them off on the right track" -Sherie Rene Scott-

#1845

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 4:40pm

I only wish Karen had said "I love church!" over and over again so it could have become the new "I'm in TECH!"

Me too, because that one's gotten really tired.

#1846

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 4:42pm

All that said, I don't think a musical announced out of town with a major movie star in the lead would likely ever come into Broadway with an unknown replacement (Can you imagine Hugh Jackman's understudy replacing him in previews of BOY FROM OZ? I think not...)

Isn't that kind of what happened with Leap of Faith?

#1847

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 4:49pm

I'm interested to see where they go with the finale. Hopefully from now until July they'll start reworking alot.

#1848

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 5:13pm

... first order of business would be to give Ellis the heave-ho. from RC in Austin, Texas

"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

#1849

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 6:09pm

Why did Anjelica Huston say "I'LL SEE YOU AT INTERVAL" to Tom and Julia before the first performance? She's a Broadway producer and from the United States. Only in Europe is it called "interval" and not "intermission". I know it was deliberately written that way by the writers and was not just a mistake, but it's just annoying.

Any thoughts?

#1850

Smash - Series Discussion

Posted: 5/8/12 at 6:27pm

I'm just wondering for season two if they'll simply move the show back into a "workshop" mode and maybe do another out-of-town try-out. I can't imagine season two heading straight to Broadway.

A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

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