CHICAGO – After months of hype and expectations that increased with every creative and ratings failure that NBC trotted out this season, the premiere of “Smash” is finally here. Is this the show that saves NBC? Is it the next “Glee” or the next “Cop Rock”? I’m not sure enough people will tune in to turn this into a hit but it absolutely deserves to live up to its title and it will have a loyal fan base that should keep it alive at least for awhile. It’s fantastic television with just the right mix of details about the process of making theatre magic and character-driven drama. And a few spectacular tunes don’t hurt either.
Television Rating: 4.5/5.0
The premiere of “Smash” opens with Katherine McPhee singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” which is more than just a clever nod back to “American Idol” (where she sang the song to much acclaim) or a loose association with the smash hit “Wicked” (Broadway’s most notable and widespread success of the last decade) but also an instant impression maker for the character. Here is our Dorothy in the perfectly-named Karen Cartwright, the girl come from the heartland trying to find the Oz of Broadway. When her audition is interrupted by a casting agent answering her cell phone and then dismissing the poor girl, it’s clear that her trip down the Yellow Brick Road won’t be without a few speed bumps.
Smash
Photo credit: NBC
But this is not just the story of a dreamer, a girl trying to get her parents to believe that her visions of Broadway fame are more realistic than others. Karen is merely one character in a fascinating ensemble that may come from expected character archetypes (the sleazy director, the emotionally-troubled writers, the financially-strapped producer, etc.) but that breaks out of those predictable roles through the talents of the cast and the stellar writing in all four episodes I’ve seen.
Smash
Photo credit: NBC
The “Betty” to McPhee’s “Veronica” is Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty), a more accomplished and experienced actress who rivals Ms. Cartwright for a role in the most anticipated play in pre-production — a musical about Marilyn Monroe (serious theatre nuts will know that they tried this once with miserable results…something that’s referenced on the show). The first two episodes are largely about whether or not Ivy or Karen will get the game-changing role (and I won’t spoil that for you at all), but neither character will disappear in episode three. Don’t worry about that. In many ways, these two are like Norma Jean and Marilyn. McPhee’s Karen is the sweet girl from the heartland without much experience. Ivy Lynn isn’t exactly as troubled as later Marilyn but she’s willing to use her sexuality and larger-than-life personality to get what she wants.
Karen and Emily may be front and center but most of the key players in “Smash” are behind the backstage curtain. Writers Tom Levitt (Christian Borle) and Julia Houston (Debra Messing) have a writing partnership that is also clearly a loving friendship. Tom has a connection with Ivy that may make him blind to her problems down the road while Julia has a number of domestic issues, including an in-process adoption with husband Frank (Brian d’Arcy James) and a secret affair with someone who later joins the cast of the Marilyn musical. Tom also has an assistant (Jaime Cepero) who casually tosses off the idea of the Marilyn musical but may not-so-casually want credit for that down the road. His antagonistic relationship with Julia won’t help.
Smash
Photo credit: NBC
We’re not done.
Article source: http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/17349/tv-review-nbc-s-smash-is-best-new-network-show-of-the-season
