BWW Exclusive: On the Set of SMASH- Katharine McPhee on Karen's Future, Working with Jeremy Jordan & More; Plus New Photos!

SMASH makes its long-awaited return to the NBC lineup for a second season on Tuesday, February 5 (9-10 p.m. ET) and will continue in its regular time slot on Tuesday, February 12 (10-11 p.m. ET). Season 2 will feature a slew of new talent, including Jennifer Hudson, Jeremy Jordan, Andy Mientus, Krysta Rodriguez, Sean Hayes, Jesse L. Martin, Liza Minnelli, Bernadette Peters, Nikki Blonski, and more.

BroadwayWorld's own Richard Ridge was invited to the SMASH set where he got to chat with leading lady Katharine McPhee about the upcoming season. Check out what she had to say about her newest costars, what's in store for Karen in Season two, and more, below!

So what can you tell us so far about season two? We've all seen the first three episodes, right?

Well, you've seen one, two and four, so you're missing three, 'cause I haven't even seen three.

I thought there was something missing...

Yeah, you're probably like, "Why am I slightly confused by this...?" Yeah, there was something we needed to reshoot. So yeah, I haven't even seen three yet.

I guess one of my favorite things about this new season is that there's more than just one show going on. Last year we had Bombshell, and that was pretty much it. There were ideas of other shows but that was it. This year there are so many more shows--we still have Bombshell, and then there's this show that you guys are seeing right now, which is Hitlist. There's Megan Hilty who gets to do a show called Liaisons with Sean Hayes who's awesome. I was incredibly jealous because I saw dailies--I wasn't there when they were shooting but I saw dailies when I was in the recording studio with Marc Shaiman and he had it up on the screen. The big numbers they were doing were so vibrant, the colors and it was freeze-framed and I was like "Can you play me that daily because it looks amazing!" And all I can say it that Megan gets to--there are just so many more styles this year, there's this almost operatic number she gets to do...I'm excited for that for our show.

So there's that show and then, all of our guest stars have come in, Liza Minelli... I somehow miss all the great guest stars-- of course I got Jennifer Hudson, I'm not knocking Jennifer Hudson! She was great and wonderful to work with and fun. But as far as Broadway veterans go, since we're speaking strictly Broadway here--Liza and Bernadette who is just a gem, Sean Hayes and stuff like that. I just, somehow, because I'm in the "young, hip, cool show," we gotta get some "young, hip, cool" Broadway veterans to make appearances on Hitlist or whatever.

Who are the people that you would like to see make a guest appearance?

Oh God, I don't know, I'd have to really think... I love Patrick Wilson. I mean I know he's not like 15 but I mean, let's be honest, he's so handsome. (My husband agrees!) He'd be awesome. I don't think he'd be right for Hitlist... I mean, I don't know, I just love the fact that we have so many Broadway people on this show, it makes it fun and real...I don't know, maybe Lea Michele will drop in! Wouldn't that be hilarious? I saw Lea at a hotel or something, I was like "Hi," she's really sweet, really supportive of the show.

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