NBC's SMASH, Season 2 -- Discussion — Page 11

Every time Jordan appeared on screen, I started to sing the Monchichi commercial jingle.

Please note that I do believe that he's is immensely F*CKable and totally talented...but this show makes people look weird!

Like...I'd be certain Christian Borle is 82% silly putty if I only went by this show.

Like Lucy's nose and Bill Holden? Cue Deb Messing!

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I mean...I've seen him on stage a bunch of times, and hung out with him a bit one night back in the mid-Aughties. He's totes adorbs, as the kids say.

But, with Megan Hilty looking like a chemical peel, it's clear that the DP is straight out of film school.

Point taken, Robbie. I still think there's something about his eyes that don't translate well. Andy Mientus, however, is adorable as hell.

CONGRATS TO SMASH

Heh. Different strokes, I guess. I just thought his face looked weird!

"I'd be perfectly fine with that if we lived in a world where ALL THAT JAZZ never existed. But we have actually seen entertainment about Broadway that is entertaining (even over the top) and still find an emotional truth that this show lacks. |

CultureVulture mentioned ATJ as well... And, I mean, sure I'd prefer *that* show, but it would never ever happen on network tv (and probably not on cable, either). All the execs wouldn't greenlight any scripts, and perhaps rightly because it wouldn't get the numbers they seem to think more and more they need. Since much of the same team was in place when the show was meant for Showtime, I'm not sure it would have been any better, but most of these high concept shows the networks pull out to compete with the increasing devotion to cable dramas don't work--not because the content can't be more adult due to network regulations, but because they still try too hard to appeal to the largest possible 18-49 demo.

To be clear, I only brought ALL THAT JAZZ up as an example of a daring work that felt like it got at something true about the business of putting on a Broadway show.

That's probably my biggest problem with SMASH. I think that putting on a show IS interesting, and I just wish they'd trust that.

"I challenge you to watch any of her scenes and tell me whether she’s happy, sad, angry or scared."

Which makes her in some ways oddly appropriate to be playing a Broadway up and comer. There are some folks who get a LOT of attention who are very much like that.

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SonofRobbieJ - Yes, "All That Jazz" was wonderful but the difference is "SMASH" is a weekly TV series and IMO harder to do.

I'm late to the party here and finally caught up on watching the season premiere of Smash last night, but just wanted to say that it does seem improved compared to last year in terms of the focus on the theatre world and less on the home lives, and with the new characters replacing the worst of the old ones.

And Megan's performance of They just keep moving the line got me excited for Smash again the way that the first episode got me feeling last year with Let me be your star, and which I hadn't quite felt again since. She is phenomenal! More Megan singing Broadway anthem-type songs, please!

"I don't think Network shows have the edge anymore."

When was the last time any Network drama got nominated for EMMYS? At least last handful of years been Brit and Cable dramas I thought.

"edit"
Oops, I forgot THE GOOD WIFE few years ago...

And all of you know that Golden Globe doesn't really count for this topic since voters for that is totally different. EMMY voters actually work in TV drama field not like GGs.

Updated On: 2/8/13 at 08:57 PM

"I thought that most people have already been discussing Kat McPhee and her dead eyes."

LOL. I know. I just don't think Debra Messing adds that much to the show either.

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