Smash - Series Discussion

[EricMontreal22]

As for the dropped Karen orange juice/pop producer etc stuff, that seemed to be at the point in the show where the writers apparently (according to an interview) caught up with the audiences and started to try to tweak the show and avoid what wasn't working. I assume it was simply dropped (there really are too many minor story threads and characters which leads to a lot of things being not remotely fleshed out) but maybe it'll pop up again... Orange Juice commercials in particular scream much story potential.

I was surprised after last week ending with Uma saying she should sing White Baby Grand or whatever, we didn't get even one throaway line from her, or Ivy, or anyone about it.

[E.Davis]

But we did Eric. They said the inner voices were not going to sing anymore when Tom said he has a song for Ivy and Karen.

[EricMontreal22]

Oh that's right! Because I did make a mental note, that I promptly forgot, wondering how a cut song written for Heaven on Earth which so far looks to be the most lightweight musical of all time would suit Bombshell (not that its material is particularly heavy)--if they were still playing the Shadow Marilyns or not.

[E.Davis]

I don't know if you saw it but there is a shot of Ivy and Karen on both sides of what I can only assume is Zanuck. So I am wondering if that is the new song or another version of "Finish Talking"

[E.Davis]

Never mind, I just found out online after a little digging that it is from a number called "SMASH".


The number called

[Wynbish]

Kudisch!

[EricMontreal22]

Thanks for the links E Davis (usually NBC won't let me see their links on Canada, but for some reason they seem to have forgot to region code this week's Smash previews). I'm glad it looks like we'll be seeing a lot of the show, although the gospel number in Sam's church looks a bit like a waste of time (as I usually feel about the cover songs).

[Wynbish]

Ah, the gospel scene. The episode has not even aired yet, and already, Dev is annoyed and wounded.

[FindingNamo]

I hope Hunter Christian from Weeds is in the gospel number.

Hey everybody, just so you know, Angelica H is on Craig Ferguson tonight.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Did she curl her hair?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

[itsahopi]

To answer a post from 12 pages ago about Eileen traveling down to New York for part of the day.... Business people take the shuttle to DC and Boston for short day trips all the time. This detail made sense to me... The flight is probably 30 min.


Tony Yazbeck RUNNING out of a tech rehearsal to shoot a pilot that films "next week" without so much as a "let's sit down and talk about this," was the most egregious part of this episode to me. It would have been better if they were called by his agent, and then of course, Eileen could threaten the agent by saying their client will never work with them again (or this city!!!)...Unless, of course, "Ted" had worked a "6 MINUTE OUT" instead of a "6 WEEK OUT" into his contract.

[dramamama611]

someone please assure me we'll get to see Kudish actually SING.

[HopeChanged]

I only watch Smash when Will Chase is on. What can I say? Christian, Dev, and the salad-chopping husband just don't do it for me. Nor does the retarded son.

[Wynbish]

^ I like how you switched back and forth calling the actors by their names, their characters' names, and nicknames. Please, tell me more about this show you know so well.

[Patash]

"Because I did make a mental note, that I promptly forgot, wondering how a cut song written for Heaven on Earth which so far looks to be the most lightweight musical of all time would suit Bombshell (not that its material is particularly heavy)"

Hmmm. Isn't that obvious? Yes, Heaven on Earth is totally lightweight and that "wonderful, inspirational and deep" song they wrote just didn't fit it -- but fits perfectly with Bombshell. When they wrote it for Heaven on Earth it involved an angel falling asleep in a deep drug como and reflecting on the mistakes of her life. They quickly decided it wouldn't fit in such a fun musical like Heaven and Earth, but when Bombshell came up they immediately thought of Marilyn as she's dying reflecting on her life.

[JoeKv99]

Attention please! Logic like that has no place in this thread.

[Gothampc]

NOTE TO THE PRODUCERS OF SMASH:

You can't get to Boston via Grand Central Terminal/Metro North. Everything out of GCT is a commuter train.

(I can't remember, did they officially say they were going to Boston? Because if they were in New Haven, then GCT/MN would be fine).

[SonofRobbieJ]

It has been pointed out that you CAN in fact get to Boston from GCS...if you change in New Haven.

It drove me crazy for a second...but then I realized I would have been angrier having to see the ugliness of Penn Station on my 42" screen.

[Gothampc]

"It has been pointed out that you CAN in fact get to Boston from GCS...if you change in New Haven."

Yes because we all know that Actor's Equity wants producers to find the most inconvenient way to travel.

Your point is taken about GCT being more photogenic than Penn Station, but in reality, the actors would have been put on Amtrak to Boston, not Metro North.

[SonofRobbieJ]

I wouldn't have been surprised if the actors weren't put on the Fung Wah bus.

[Gothampc]

"I wouldn't have been surprised if the actors weren't put on the Fung Wah bus."

Which brings up a whole other point that the writers completely missed.

Uma Thurman's character would have definitely been driven in a car from NYC to Boston. Since she is BFF with Karen, she probably would have asked Karen to ride along, yet we see no scene where Karen is torn between schmoozing with the star and saving face with the chorus. Big missed opportunity for Ms. McPhee to earn an Emmy nomination.

[FindingNamo]

That's already a lock.

[Gothampc]

Scene: Exterior of Joe Allen's. Karen can be seen looking inside at the chorus kids having a good time with Ivy. She hears the squeal of tires and turns around to see Rebecca Duvall's car streak past. The car hits a puddle splashing water on Karen.

Music intro begins and Karen starts to sing:

Kiss today goodbye, the sweetness and the sorrow
Wish me luck the same to you

Karen heads down 8th Avenue, toward Port Authority and a bus back to Iowa.

But I can't regret, what I did for love

As she reaches 43rd Street, she glances down the street to see Bernadette Peters leaning against the Hotel Carter smoking a cigarette.

Bernadette: Hey kid, c'mere. Weren't you wanna Ivy's pals?

Karen: I used to think so.

Bernadette: Well I gotta plan. Let me finish performing at The Hooker's Ball and then I'll tell you how I'm gonna get you to Broadway. (They both enter The Hotel Carter).

LET ME BE YOUR STAR!!!!!!!!!!

[PalJoey]

Oh, my goddess...Anjelica Huston to sing "September Song" next week!

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/03/anjelica-huston-on-her-smash-singing-debut-and-an-audition-debacle/



With Marc Shaiman at the piano!

[FindingNamo]

Well, she's no Sweeney Sisters, but I'll take it.