NBC's SMASH, Season 2 -- Discussion — Page 14

I enjoyed the Damiano and Mueller mentions as much as the Mary Testa one some weeks back. I know 99 percent of the country has no idea who they are, but such name dropping adds to the show's authenticity, at least a little bit. But what happened to Julian Ovenden's glorious voice from DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY? I thought he sounded scratchy at worst and so-so at best tonight. Could it be his voice never recovered properly from the ailment that resulted in his leaving that Roundabout show? Or was it auto-tuned incorrectly? In any case, I was very much looking forward to hearing him sing and was sorely disappointed.

I was a big fan of last season.. Even with its flaws. Not so much this season. Too many unbelievable sub plots and annoying new characters. Karen befriending Jeremy Jordon and his little gay friend to get his show produced when her show is floundering just seems like... "How does she have the time or energy?" Doesn't she need to be learning new scenes and songs and taking care of herself as a performer? And worry about being focused????? She has time to be the good Broadway Fairy too? Remember what a basket case she was when the show was "in tech." Now she has time to match songwriters with directors?

Jeremy Jordon's character is unlikable and arrogant. Jennifer Hudson's role seems to be coming out of nowhere---needing Derek to direct her act? And Ivy gets cast in Dangerous Liasons----when what we saw of her audition and accent were a total disaster? And Angelica Houston having the time to bring in a dramaturg when here show needs to be rescued from financial ruin???? Wouldn;t she be inundated with those financial problems? Wouldn't she leave the creative to Derrick, and the writers?

And what I saw of "Bombshell" last season looked really good? Angelica Houston's character loved it! Now they are going to rewrite it? How does Angelica's character have the time or inclination to worry about that with all of the financial problems? And how did those financial problems get solved? Did I miss something?

The dramaturg (who will no doubt be a love interest for Messing) does not work. His suggestion for The John Kennedy Marilyn Monrore scene/ song did not work. I think based on tonight's episode the show is going down hill. You know what Smash needs???? A dramaturg. Maybe even bring back Theresa Rebeck. Losing her was a mistake even if she was a despot. It was her vision. You don't axe the visionary.

Updated On: 2/20/13 at 01:46 AM

Surprised that nobody has mentioned or commented on the new opening credits that began with this episode, showing everyone's name and such.

"I was a big fan of last season.. Even with its flaws. Not so much this season. Too many unbelievable sub plots and annoying new characters. Karen befriending Jeremy Jordon and his little gay friend to get his show produced when her show is floundering just seems like... "How does she have the time or energy?" Doesn't she need to be learning new scenes and songs and taking care of herself as a performer? And worry about being focused????? She has time to be the good Broadway Fairy too? Remember what a basket case she was when the show was "in tech." Now she has time to match songwriters with directors? "

SMASH is basically a soap opera about Broadway and needs to be entertaining. The show had Karen learning new song (JFK) which you mentioned in your post also. Do you expect the show to have scenes of Karen sitting in her apartment resting her voice, that would be exciting - lol. Karen freaked out last year but like other new performers probably has grown up a bit after working with a show for some time.

"Jeremy Jordon's character is unlikable and arrogant. Jennifer Hudson's role seems to be coming out of nowhere---needing Derek to direct her act? And Ivy gets cast in Dangerous Liasons----when what we saw of her audition and accent were a total disaster? And Angelica Houston having the time to bring in a dramaturg when here show needs to be rescued from financial ruin???? Wouldn;t she be inundated with those financial problems? Wouldn't she leave the creative to Derrick, and the writers? "

A show can't have every character be nice and lovable, such is life. Lots of guys his age are young,brash and arrogant. Personally, I don't have a problem with him .

"The dramaturg (who will no doubt be a love interest for Messing) does not work. His suggestion for The John Kennedy Marilyn Monrore scene/ song did not work. I think based on tonight's episode the show is going down hill. You know what Smash needs???? A dramaturg. Maybe even bring back Theresa Rebeck. Losing her was a mistake even if she was a despot. It was her vision. You don't axe the visionary. "

At the end of the show, the dramaturg basically told Messing that song did not work and the relationship between Marilyn and JFK had to be from a different angle.

Speaking of Debra Messing - her guest spot on Seinfeld was on the other night. Every time I watch old Seinfeld's I'm reminded how much fun sitcoms used to be. I watch a rare episode of a few of them but basically I think the sitcom will never be what it used to be. Best in the 70s and the 90s. They are bringing back too many shows that you need to watch every week. I don't mind the shows that have one new story every week and then a continuous story that is part of the show. Love POI because of this. I watch too much TV.

Smash was terrible last night. Warts and all, the first season was so much better; it was fun to watch at least.

This "Hit List" musical sound AWFUL. How are we supposed to respect Derek as a talent when he can't call them on that. I liked how in the first scene Derek remarked that the songs were nothing but a collection of pop songs, but after he heard the ridiculous premise he was all, "That sounds CURRENT." (Get it, we're hip and cool, unlike Bombshell.)

Jeremy Jordan is so very unlikeable, and yes it's essential that we root for him. That's the way the writers have set him up, but it's impossible to go on the emotional journey of getting his show to Broadway when he's such an asshole (and his show sucks).

The JFK song wasn't good, and more importantly it wasn't what Bombshell needed. How are we supposed to respect Sunjata's character when he gives such awful, and misogynistic may I add, advice.

Where are the (good) musical numbers? Much as I adore and worship Hilty, her pop songs never come off that well on Smash. Can't they find a showtune that conveys the same message and let her sing it? Musically this episode was a mess.

I'm somewhat upset this morning because I want to support and love Smash and it is letting me down. I told everyone I knew in the break between seasons to catch up on season one and start watching when season two starts. Now I feel like I sold them a bad product.

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I'm surprised no one has wondered about the scene when Jeremy Jordan breaks into the house to, I'm assuming, steal back stolen pages from their show? And then a random man walks in and they appear to have a brawl. I don't understand the purpose of this, especially if their not going to explain anything.

It's a soap opera. More to the point, it's a serial drama. No one has mentioned it because it's clear that we're not supposed to understand yet, and it will be explained later. Although, from their conversations and Jimmy's description of the plot, I thought it was pretty obvious that the man was his abusive stepfather. We'll see what happens.

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I was so confused by the introduction of JFK.

At first, I was like, "oh, hey, Matt Bogart! Odd choice for JFK, but ok..."

And then we saw an entirely different guy (Ovenden) playing JFK in the next rehearsal scene. How exactly did Matt "help" them with JFK?

Maybe I'm just a slow learner...?

Thought it was a real dip from last week. Although the next-episode preview looks pretty scintillating; I rewound to check that it is actually Jerry essentially telling Karen to back off. Hope he joins the producing team and fires her from the show. It would be the most fun that character's ever been.

In the scene with Sunjata and Messing something was missing. And then I realized with terror...


It needed Leo at her side adding unbelievably dumb rejoinders.


To paraphrase the Marquis De Sade, SMASH without trash is like food without taste. I'll keep watching but I'm beginning to take to Julie Klausner's comment that the show is like that Chinese food place that nobody knew about but you loved that is suddenly under new management and seems the same...until you try the egg rolls and realize they f**ked it up.

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Yes the Bogart/Ovenden switch was confusing. I don't know if many people would have even picked up on in though.

So is Matt on this show in a recurring form?

I also think the drama leading up to Ivy getting Marilyn back is just nuts...Karen was the underdog last year...very lazy writing to have Ivy now become the underdog..Supposedly Karen got RAVE reviews in Boston...she would not be replaced again by a nobody which is what Ivy is at this point..(no offence Megan ..love u) I am still baffled by the Jeremy character being such a jerk...we have derek -jerk- Angelicas husband-jerk- Ivy -jerk-
new writer guy-jerk-....WTF ..who is really likable at this point...Last year we were rooting for Karen (some of us) because Ivy was a bitch...now even Karen is a jerk......

Thanks, kyl3fong2:

That just seems so silly, doesn't it? Why have that scene at all with an actor who's not going to be "the" actor? It's not like it advanced the plot.

You could have skipped right to the reveal of what they did, and saved us all a minute of our lives. Always nice to see people like Matt Bogart get a couple minutes of screen time, though. Maybe they're setting him up for a storyline?

They sure didn't style/light him very well, though. He's a really, really good-looking guy.

Will Swenson for DiMaggio!