NBC's SMASH - Series & Broadway Adaptation Thread- Page 75
NBC's SMASH - Series & Broadway Adaptation Thread
Smash - Series Discussion #1851
Posted: 5/8/12 at 8:34pmThey'll probably bring the show back to a "workshop" mode considering it is much cheaper to shoot production numbers in the workshop setting than it is on the stage.
Smash - Series Discussion #1852
Posted: 5/8/12 at 8:37pmThis might be a dumb question but why aren't the same people writing every script?
Smash - Series Discussion #1853
Posted: 5/8/12 at 8:44pmDoes anyone know if season 2 starts this fall or next Jan?
Smash - Series Discussion #1854
Posted: 5/8/12 at 9:02pmThey go back in July if that helps answer anything?
Smash - Series Discussion #1855
Posted: 5/8/12 at 9:09pm
They haven't announced if it will be a 22 episode or 15 episode season yet, but we will find out if it will be back in the fall season or midseason next week at the NBC Upfronts on Monday.
And @ucjrdude902---They have different writers for each episode because usually TV shows have a group of writers who work together to plan storylines and character arcs with the EPs but then usually each episode is specifically designated to one or two writers to complete. However, usually the group of writers that exist for a TV show share a similar voice and style in writing to keep the show's storytelling and dialogue consistent from episode to episode.
Smash - Series Discussion #1856
Posted: 5/8/12 at 9:25pmWell it seems to me that you would think they'd say "Hey ________, has clearly written good episodes. Lets see if he can take on more".
Smash - Series Discussion #1857
Posted: 5/8/12 at 11:47pmSorry if this was posted-I don't feel like scanning the thread- but who else caught "Butter Outta Cream" from Catch Me If You Can playing last night in the restaurant scene? Loved it.
Smash - Series Discussion #1858
Posted: 5/8/12 at 11:56pm
WithoutATrace and Eris noticed.
Also, the forearms in the Marilyn picture for next week's episode are Hilty's, the chin is McPhee's and the rest of the body is Tom Hewitt in Rocky Horror.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/27/12
Smash - Series Discussion #1859
Posted: 5/9/12 at 12:00amThey should have a Drag Marilyn for the lead!
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/27/12
Smash - Series Discussion #1861
Posted: 5/9/12 at 12:23am
YES! Bobby as Drag Marilyn.
You can be my star, Wesley Taylor!
Smash - Series Discussion #1862
Posted: 5/9/12 at 1:28amWas anyone else really bothered by the idea that the understudy for the LEAD ROLE would be so wildly unprepared by the time performances started? Or that the production would just eat thousands of dollars worth of tickets for two preview performances because the lead was sick?
Smash - Series Discussion #1863
Posted: 5/9/12 at 1:47amThe understudy not being ready during previews, especially for the second preview, is not entirely uncommon. At that point everyone has been in tech (I know, I know) and the focus has been on getting the show up. There would have been very few, if any, understudy rehearsals at that point. I have worked on several shows at the LORT level where previews have been cancelled due to a sick star and the understudy not being ready.
Smash - Series Discussion #1864
Posted: 5/9/12 at 3:29am
ucJR the showrunner/headwriter (who also is inevitably an exec producer) is the one who dictates the overall story and tone, and episode breakdown. Depending on the show he/she also often does uncredited script revisions even on episodes they don't script (Matt Wiener who is creator and showrunner for Mad Men scripts or co-scripts a majority ofepisodes himself but is notorious for rewriting other scripts too as he's such a control freak--to the benefit of his show and cable sows tend to give a showrunner more control without network say as well) I have no idea if Theresa Rebeck did that, but the episodes she scripted tended to have the worst dialogue.
The creator/exec producer isn't always the showrunner--Joss Whedon created Angel, the Buffy spin off, but David Greenwalt and later Tim Fury were the showrunners, for example, partly as Whedon takes on so many propjects at once, though he would approve and help with the overall story.
I liked most of David Marshall Grant's--and he has a huge history in theatre and tv as an actor (original productions of Bent, Angels in America, the first major gay network role on thirtysomething etc) and as a writer and was hoping he'd be promoted to showrunner, but maybe he didn't want the job, it's a huge responsibility and a ton more work than just being on the writing team. Still, I wonder what made them choose this new showrunner whose only credit seems to be a writer and producer at Gossip Girl (maybe he has some theatre background I don't know).
Smash - Series Discussion #1865
Posted: 5/9/12 at 3:30am
"There would have been very few, if any, understudy rehearsals at that point."
Right and to their credit they pretty clearly, and accurately, explained that on the show.
Smash - Series Discussion #1866
Posted: 5/9/12 at 3:35am
"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."
Didn't they say that next year would involve more work on Bombshell (...) as well as a second show? The implication even being some sort of rival show (again ...) I was thinking maybe produced by Eileen's husband.
Smash - Series Discussion #1867
Posted: 5/9/12 at 3:39am
"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. "
Michael Bennett, I completely agree with the rest of your take on Uma and the role of Rebecca (honestly, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed her and the character, something I didn't expect) except your first point. You're one of the only people I've heard suggest that her performance in the show as seen in the last episode, particularly that awful death scene wasn't meant to be subpar. I think in this case Ellis was just saying what everyone else was afraid to say (already Derek and others have basically been told by Elaine that the show NEEDS Rebecca and there's no way to drop her so why even bother complaining). I thought Uma actually managed to somehow handle playing the role badly but not SO badly as to not be believable as something you migth see a theatrically inexperienced star do on stage.
(And that weird, 80s music video effect of the floor sliding out to show her reflections all smashed made me think of a directorial decision from Carrie or something--no wonder the audience acted in shock if everything we've seen of Bombshell is pastichy, big production numbers and then it ends on a scene like that. Honestly, while script doctors often don't work, I would think the most realistic thing wouldn't be for Elaine to ask Julia for a new ending but to hire a playwright in there stat).
Smash - Series Discussion #1868
Posted: 5/9/12 at 4:06am
There would have been very few, if any, understudy rehearsals at that point.
This I get, and is understandable. Mostly I was just baffled that Karen was whining about how she couldn't possibly do this as she flipped through her script. The idea that she apparently hasn't learned the lines and the songs at least seems weird, but it's possible Karen was just being dramatic and knows it all perfectly, but is just freaking because she hasn't actually put it up on its feet for a rehearsal.
Smash - Series Discussion #1869
Posted: 5/9/12 at 6:01amKaren's whining that she wasn't ready to go on as Marilyn is all the more reason I don't like that particular character on the show. As an understudy, I certainly would make sure I was prepared to go on. Ivy referenced such a thing a couple of episodes back. The same scenario played out with a friend of mine in a Broadway show many, many years ago. My friend was brought in as a new understudy in an already long running show, and went on as the lead without any rehearsal whatsoever. She did her homework, she was prepared.
Smash - Series Discussion #1870
Posted: 5/9/12 at 7:00am^It seems many of you have forgotten the Emily Skinner/Linda Eder episode here.
Smash - Series Discussion #1871
Posted: 5/9/12 at 7:06am^I don't think I know that story, but when I saw Side Show, Emily Skinner's understudy was on.
Smash - Series Discussion #1872
Posted: 5/9/12 at 7:09amI don't remember the episode with Emily and Linda. Were they part of the Bollywood number?
Smash - Series Discussion #1873
Posted: 5/9/12 at 9:01am
"So the question begs to be asked:
Who's body is this?"
If no one claims it, I'll take it.
Meanwhile, that must have been the best dressed crowd at a first Preview I've ever seen.
Should I be surprised that they hadn't tested the ending in a workshop or a reading and figured out the audience hated it?
And where *is* Dev's ring?
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
Smash - Series Discussion #1874
Posted: 5/9/12 at 9:12amDevine Joy's understudy went on in GHOST with no rehearsal.
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