NBC's SMASH, Season 2 -- Discussion- Page 17

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 4:20pm

"It cannot be both. Because we've seen it try and it keeps on failing. "

SonofRobbie--I agree, but that's the problem with having a show on US network tv, particularly right now while they're fighting so hard against cable. Every network tries to have shows that fit into both slots (well, CBS is trying less hard...) and it's not working.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 4:26pm

(as the article says: ". Even good network dramas like The Good Wife are getting trounced in the ratings. Maybe broadcast network television just isn't the place for trying interesting stories anymore.")

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 6:43pm

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

Probably because they began with the premier two weeks back. I assume Angelica's drink throw is yet another shout out to "fans" from last year?

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 6:46pm

"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."

The critics, who have all seen episodes one, two and four apparently, have nearly all commented on his character having a severe substance abuse problem, so I assume this is dealt with more next week. I assumed that was meant to be a drug dealer's house or something similar that I guess he used to stay at when he had more of a problem (having never been to New York, I have to say, aside from some mess inside, druggie houses are far nicer than any I've come across in small cities in Canada, there).

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 7:03pm

OK as I catch up with this thread--last reply in a row, I promise.

I guess my drug den theory was wrong--it does make sense that was his step father--though it just seems random that he had some notes they made while wasted, and so can't remember and yet they remember they must be brilliant (which of course nearly everything one writes while tanked is) is in a random drawer in a desk in the living room of his step father's house...

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

That confused the Hell out of me, I hate to admit-- I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and that there was some quick transition scene or something that was cut due to time at the last minute. Because otherwise, why bother (maybe they added the scene with Matt after the fact and Ovendon was already back in England or somewhere so couldn't film it?) A gap like that would barely be forgiveable in a daytime soap opera, let alone an expensive prime time network show.

As for the sexism/misogyny, it bothered me last night too. I can accept the awful sounding Hit List plot--a lot of (straight male) authors write stories placing the beautiful woman as destroying the hero's life--and some of them are good on their own terms, depending on how much you like fiction like Roth's. And I could see such a concept appealing to Derek.

But... The Dramaturg's stuff (and let's face it, they used the term dramaturg instead of the more apropriate term script doctor simply because someone on the writing team thought it sounded funny--I mean the more common spelling in my experience is dramaturge anyway, but that's less funny...) I *think* we are meant to think by his speech about Marilyn that he's a jerk--a charming jerk (just like basically every straight male who is still on the show). What bothered me was that Julia's argument was that Marilyn wanted what every *woman* wants--a sene of family which to Julia seems to mean being a good wife. I have no clue where that came from. I doubt that whole scene came off the way it was intended to, which just says something about the writers...

Other things just seemed redundant--didn't we see last week that Ivy had accepted that she shouldn't be with Derek and she could handle just having a sorta friendly relationship with him? Singing Dancing On My Own would have made much more sense sometime last season--as it was it just made her seem pathetic (adding up to the sexism).

Anyway, I get why this episode wasn't sent to the critics, and hope next week, as some of them have claimed, is a good episode.

[Trish2]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 7:16pm

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/20/smash-ratings-body-of-proof-premiere-numbers_n_2725513.html

[Derrickg]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 7:27pm

Just wanted to say, I think dramaturg without the e at the end is more accepted now. Also wanted to say, I think they must be thinking of Lynn Thomson with the use of the term dramaturg as a misnomer for script doctor.

[trixigold]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 7:29pm

I tried watching both episodes of the new season and turned them off within a few minutes. I tuned in late to the last one and was treated to the ridiculous sight of a singing John F. Kennedy. I hope this series proves that Katherine McPhee should never be allowed to act ever again. She's just terrible and has absolutely no charisma at all. She's also not a very good singer. I don't understand why anyone would star her in anything. Not that any actress could save this show. I thought Therese Rebeck's writing was the problem, but the new folks writing the show are even worse.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 8:11pm

Am I the only one that missed that Deception got cancelled?

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 8:13pm

Well don't worry, haters, you'll get your wish soon. The show is as good as gone. I'm sure it will be replaced with an umpteenth variation on a police procedural and then you will all be happy.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 8:37pm

"That'll show you kids."

NBC apparently has nothingto replace it with. Considering everything, I'm pretty sure it will ride out the season, but that's probably it. And I'm also sure I'll watch every episode...

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 8:39pm

Deception was canceled? I'd be far from surprised, but I can't find anything online at the moment...

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 8:47pm

I guess they have 15 or 16 episodes in the can and NBC says they plan on airing them, but that could mean anything. Maybe the show gets yanked and aired online instead. I doubt they will keep airing episodes in prime time if the ratings tank any further. What a shame.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 8:54pm

They haven't--surprisingly--cut the 16 episode order back or asked them to stop filming (I wonder how far along they are) which is one positive sign. (Deception had its episode order cut back drastically after just the first episode aired.) And the rumours of them bumping up The Voice to pair it earlier with Smash sound positive...

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 9:05pm

From your mouth to God's ears. I hope you are right. I know it is far from perfect, but I would watch this over another clone of CSI Miami (replace with any city) any time.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 9:06pm

I just read that Tate Donovan was filming pilots so I figured it was cancelled.

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 9:19pm

N/M. Updated On: 2/21/13 at 09:19 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 9:30pm

Matt, as much as I complain about it--I'm in complete agreement. Right now about the only network tv dramas I watch and really like are Smash and Nashville (which is underperforming as well but nowhere to the level of Smash)--as well as some genre guilty pleasures like Arrow and Vampire Diaries. But it's refreshing to see a 10pm drama that's not yet another clone like procedural.

I wonder why they didn't get David Marshall Grant to be show-runner this season? From that Vulture expose, he was the one person last year involved who came out in a positive light, everyone seemed to think his story suggestions as a writer and official story consultant werre spot on and that Theresa refused to listen to them, he has a solid background with dramas (while he wasn't spectacular running the final seasons of Brothers and Sisters, he did manage to stabilize it after it went through four pretty awful writing regimes in two years when creator Jon Robin Baitz left due to ABC dictating story to him)... Maybe he was too burned out after last year and didn't want to return. (He's actually now head story consultant at Nashville so maybe he had accepted the job already.)

UCJ I'm sure it won't be back, but I suspect NBC will burn off Deceptions episodes--but it seems wise for the cast to audition for other work.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 9:32pm

Does it seem to anyone they will HAVE to show the new episodes because it seems they have nothing else? Seems alot of NBC are failing and failing hard.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 9:53pm

trixigold - quick question, was a singing JFK worse than a singing and dancing Joe Dimaggio?

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 9:56pm

EricMontreal22 - have you ever watched Fox series "Bones"?

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 9:57pm

We think a singing JFK is just as believable as a belting Marilyn Monroe?

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 10:35pm

UCR--that theory was brought up by me and many others, so yes

Never seen Bones. My grandma loves it though (she has strange TV taste though so I'm not sure if that's a recommendation or not).

And yeah, I was gonna say in a largely musical theatre forum, why is a singing JFK the straw that broke the camel's back?

[finebydesign]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 10:38pm

So the season finale is going to be those three fighting over a tony?

[trixigold]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 10:54pm

Yes, a singing JFK is worse than a singing Joe DiMaggio. Maybe because he was president. It was just a very awkward looking scene, even more than the scenes from last season with Joltin' Joe. The musical numbers from this season in general seem more awkward than the previous season.

Or maybe I just haven't seen it in such a long time I barely remember last season. They might have had a better chance if they put in on last fall, when people still remembered it, even if it would have made for a tight schedule with the new show runner taking over. It was an odd time to restart a show, not a good time slot, and it makes no sense they started and then took a week off for the SOTU, as people have pointed out.