SMASH

[jayinchelsea]

I watched it this weekend, and was extremely disappointed. Who exactly is this show supposed to appeal to? Super Bowl watchers? As someone said on the Amazon message board, it's only for "fat chicks and homos." As I represent one of those groups (and I'm not saying which), it certainly wasn't for me.

I frankly couldn't believe how cliches were being piled on cliches and then stitched together for 46 minutes. The two women sang well, but the drama and the acting???

Calling this "GLEE for adults" is ridiculous. Even the GLEE numbers, with their constant quick cuts and ADD-like action, are more entertaining that the numbers on the first SMASH episode.

It would be great if America would embrace a TV show about the making of a Broadway musical, but it has to be good, right? I'll keep an open mind, but not an auspicious beginning...

And the Times bringing up SLINGS AND ARROWS, the brilliant British satire, as a basis for comparison in their review of SMASH? Laughable.

[dramamama611]

As with any pilot, it's not going to be perfect. They need to get so much info jammed in PLUS make it accessible to the non b'way community/fan that their going to need for this to be successful.

I didn't think it was perfect, but I really did enjoy it. Looking forward to seeing where they take it.

[tazber]

I wonder how they will gauge whether the premiere is a success since its been available for so long on the web.

I would imagine that will lower its initial ratings somewhat.

[best12bars]

I raised that very question on the previous page of this thread, Taz. Everyone assures me that it will only increase the ratings in the end, even if I don't quite follow that logic.

[tazber]

Well, it has been shown many times that when musical artists release singles or "mix-tapes" over the web for free their first official week of sales are generally strong.

But there are so many inherent differences between the consumption music and television that I don't know if that same strategy would apply.

It will be interesting to see though.

[Owen22]

Now that a lot of the reviews are out and are surprisingly good, I'm guessing, since the critic had multiple (up to four or five) episodes in advance to watch, the show will get better.

[Eris0303]

As someone said on the Amazon message board, it's only for "fat chicks and homos."

Funny, I don't fit into either of those groups and I enjoyed it. So obviously that statement isn't worth much.

[artisn'teasy]

Loved the pilot. I actually think it has the right mix to be popular w/mainstream audiences- they've been watching American Idol for years now, and like it or not GLEE has also helped warm mainstream hearts to the idea of a music/Broadway based tv show. Add in well-known commodities like Debra Messing & Anjie Huston (plus the ridiculous amount of marketing that's already been done) and I think you have the makings of a hit. Not to mention Meg Hilty and McPhee (the latter of whom doesn't seem right to play Marilyn but is insanely talented, nonetheless) seems like a recipe for success so far!!

[PalJoey]

Thumbs up from The New Yorker
CULTURE DESK:

[Michael Bennett]

“The first few episodes after tonight's sensational pilot struggle to find the right balance between the musical and the dramatic, but by the fourth hour, as the new leading lady makes things difficult for the also-ran during the tense rehearsal process, “Smash” finds its footing. The show depicts an incestuous world where torrid "show crushes" erupt among desperately ambitious people dreaming of a hit. I have a ‘show crush’ on “Smash,” and hope it lives up to its name." --

That's from TV guide. So stick with it kids. Takes a while to warm up out of the gate.

[Miranda3]

Is there any way to see the second episode before it airs next Monday on NBC???

[tazber]

Here's a review roundup (courtesy if AICN).

I'd say mixed.
Reviews

[PalJoey]

Love this line from the Variety review:

"Though clunky in places, at its best the series captures the essence of what the movie version of 'A Chorus Line' didn't, providing an illuminating window into the creative process."

[beautywickedlover]

What a difference a day makes. Just when I thought I would have no time at all to post at BWW, it turns out that I do have a little bit of time in my schedule after all. So, I will be able to discuss the show.

Metacritic has averaged critics reviews of the show and it has a score of 79 out of 100. 26 reviews are positive and 5 are mixed.
Smash: Season 1 @ Metacritic

[thetinymagic2]

Such an "insider" show. And fun in the insider details at that, esp. for we that are BWW, however.... I agree with Jayinchelsea. Who's the audience for this show, besides theater freaks? Is it just an elaborate marketing tool for selling Bway tix this season?

[PalJoey]

Funny you should ask. Theresa Rebeck answers that very question on today's Daily Beast.
Smash’s creator Theresa Rebeck has been unnerved by reporters asking her whether a story about theater is interesting to the masses—when theater is all about community, she writes.

[NYadgal]

I've set my Tivo Season Pass.

I'm hooked!

And am in awe of the brilliance of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

[FindingNamo]

I loved it. I waited to watch it tonight like a regular civilian in the manner of how one used to watch television: at the show's scheduled time when the network broadcasted it. I just thought it was a perfect pilot. The best pilot episode I've seen since Modern Family, and that turned out pretty good in the long run.

[Marianne2]

I also just saw it for the first time. I really liked it.

[PalJoey]

That "Let Me Be Your Star" sequence is the most exciting piece of television I've seen since the final montage of the last episode of Six Feet Under.

[NYadgal]

Like!

So happy to read these positive comments.

I'm already planning a SMASH viewing party!

[FindingNamo]

Damn fine TV.

[adamgreer]

I also watched it for the first time this evening and really enjoyed it. It was a little choppy in parts, but it's a pilot. I was definitely "hooked" and can see the potential. I found the characters interesting, and the story grabbed me.

...but by the fourth hour, as the new leading lady makes things difficult for the also-ran during the tense rehearsal process, ¯Smash¯ finds its footing.

Does that mean they cast Katharine McPhee's character, and not Megan Hilty's character, as Marilyn? Or should it have said "audition process" instead of "rehearsal process"?

[beautywickedlover]

This was my second time seeing the pilot after seeing it in theaters and I enjoyed it just as much. One of the things that I did not notice the first time was that Alex Wong from 'So You Think You Can Dance' and will also be part of the Broadway musical 'Newsies', was one of the dancers in the baseball number. I think the show has plenty of potentital and the cast is terrific. I have not been looking forward to this good of new series since 'Once Upon a Time'.

[AwesomeDanny]

I watched the pilot for the second time tonight (I watched it a few weeks ago online) and loved it again. I'm really excited for next week's episode. This definitely has the potential to be my new favorite show. I hope that it got good ratings! Perhaps the fairly generic advertising that barely hinted at the fact that the show is about Broadway helped with that?

[henrikegerman]

Loved everything about it. From the music to the story. Love that McPhee and Hilty are both likable characters. Love the whole cast. Especially Messing. Great role for her. Great to see not only Brian d'arcy James as Messing's husband but Dylan and Becky Ann Baker as McPhee's parents!