NBC's SMASH, Season 2 -- Discussion

[jacobsnchz14]

Just thought I'd go ahead and start this since the original one is almost 100 pages...

Congrats on the Golden Globe nomination today!

[mmh1019]

while I still can't quite figure out HOW they got a nod for a VERY uneven first season, I am legitimately excited for season 2. EW just did a great interview with Josh Safran & I was encouraged that he seemed to have listened to what the fans didn't like & has really worked to tighten up the show. Andy Mientus, Jeremy Jordan, & Krysta Rodriguez seem to be fitting right into the ensemble, and they've brought in theatre actors who have a lot of TV experience.

[IvyLynn]

I watched the first two episodes (3 really since the first is 2 hours) and I can tell you already it has improved leaps and bounds from the first season. Of course Katharine McPhee still can't really act, Megan Hilty still outshines her almost embarrassingly so, and there are still moments in which I literally laugh out loud because of how unrealistic they are, but SO MUCH BETTER. The horrible characters are out and the new ones are great, especially Jeremy Jordan. In fact the one aspect I wasn't swooning over is JHud who was quite annoying and despite her Oscar-having status, is a terrible actress. But all in all cannot wait for the rest of the season. We just might get a season 3 yet!

[Jordan Catalano]

I still hope Ivy gets hit by a bus this season since she's the most unlikable character ever in the history of television.

[luvtheEmcee]

I can't wait to see Smash turn into Gossip Girl! Though I doubt it can be worst than Season 1.

[strummergirl]

We know Ellis got fired but how are the other written-out characters referenced? I know Brian D'Arcy James still has a guest-role in the premiere but what about Leo and Michael Swift (especially if he was the DiMaggio in try-outs in Boston)? I know the new show-runner got credos with his work in Gossip Girl to write out unlikeable characters off the map (and also fan-servicing).

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

JHud who was quite annoying and despite her Oscar-having status, is a terrible actress.

THIS. I cringe every time I see her in anything!

[Jordan Catalano]

The raw emotion Hudson displayed when opening Carrie's gift and seeing the purse she so desperately wanted was nothing short of astonishing in it's beauty.

[Plum]

mmh, Smash was a reasonable ratings success for a network that didn't have a whole lot of them, so yeah, it got renewed. NBC is healthier now, but it's still not nuts to be running a second season of this show. And I say this as an avowed hate-watcher. :P

[someone.else's.story2]

I, too, sadly find Jennifer Hudson consistently cringeworthy. I wanted to like her, but I just can't. I find her overwrought and annoying.

[theminutepast]

Smash Season 2 is premiering in January, right? Some posters are making it sound like shows have already aired.

[strummergirl]

I am pretty certain the episode allotment in Smash has a lot to do with cost with having original music, music rights royalties for Top 40 and standards, filming in New York and its specific spaces, etc.

People probably got episodes because people who work in the entertainment industry, especially TV critics, do get a lot of stuff in advance to build up buzz for the show. I think Mad Men is the only show that no longer sends out screeners in advanced (I believe the season premieres are the only exception and then it goes dry after that) because its creator got angry at critics revealing a specific plot-point of the show's major characters.

[IvyLynn]

^Yes I work in the media so I got a screener. Doesn't premiere til February 5th.

And to whoever asked, every character that was written off is explained (briefly).

Look, to the doubters out there,and I know there are MANY, just go into season 2 with an open mind. Is it groundbreaking television? I don't need to answer that. But it's fun. And the first few episodes are so much better than the last few (or like 12) were. I think season 2 will be a pleasant surprise.

But yeah, no. J Hud is horrible. Good thing her arc is only 3 eps!

[ucjrdude902]

Anyone seen any promotion for season 2? Besides a few commercials here and there I've seen nothing.

[SonofRobbieJ]

'I find her overwrought'

OVERwrought??? She's barely ever wrought! She has the emotional depth of a fetus that didn't make it to term.

That said, I still love her.

[jacobtsf]

West End star Julian Ovenden will guest star in the second season of SMASH, and according to TVLine, he will play another one of Marilyn's love interests. Ovenden's character 'Simon' will play JFK to Karen's Marilyn Monroe.

http://broadwayworld.com/article/Julian-Ovenden-to-Play-JFK-on-SMASH-Season-2-20130107

[JoeKv99]

You guys! Jennifer Hudson has had a wrought problem all her life and maybe sometimes she's still overwrought but she's joined wrought watchers and id REALLY working on keeping her wrought down.

PLEASE do not attack actresses over their wrought!

[emida]

Excited about season 2 (and it starts on my birthday!)

As much as I liked Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls, I don't care for her in anything else and I think she's a very average (if not bad) actress in anything I've seen her in after Dreamgirls...

I think I'm the most excited about Jeremy Jordan and Liza Minnelli!

[ucjrdude902]

Looks like they're expanding "Bombshell" to include JFK which I like!

[emida]

Can't wait to see what JFK singing looks like!

Have they finished filming all episodes? Are we getting a 15 episodes season like season 1?

[macnyc]

In case anyone is interested, Smash is filming today in front of the New York Theater Workshop on East 4th Street. It's great to see how the lobby is tricked out.

[jacobsnchz14]

SPOILER BELOW
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[ucjrdude902]

Im getting VERY excited for this season. With that poster and the other "leak" a few months back Im interested to see how it all plays out!

[winston89]

I am also very interested in seeing how this all plays out. However, I feel that there are too many characters that were in season one that aren't going to be in the second season. And, I am wondering how they are going to explain all of their departures. For example, I know that D'arcy James is no longer on the show. However, I felt that at the end of the first season his character's marital issues seemed to go away and his family looked as if they were going to be one big happy family again. Not sure how they are going to explain it but curious to see the results of it.

[jacobsnchz14]

How interesting would it be if HIT LIST and BOMBSHELL were "nominated" against each other?

[broadwaybabytn]

Should Karen be above the title there?
Also, Jimmy Collins sounds like a whiskey or something.