For those of you unaware, tonight at 10/9c the theater dork in your life will be busy.
Of course, odds are your theater dork saw the pilot episode of “SMASH” weeks ago when it was released online, watched it several times since, forced you to watch it several times since, and downloaded the songs off iTunes by now (or right now).
If you truly haven’t heard of this latest musical, television project from the people who brought you “Hairspray” and “Chicago,” not to mention Mr. Steven Spielberg himself, then NBC has a bone to pick with you. Clearly you are not watching enough television.
Regardless of how you feel about the massive ad campaign that has gone into what NBC hopes will be their saving grace, I have to insist that you give it a try. It’s fantastic.
The story centers around the production of a new musical on Broadway. Julia (Debra Messing of “Will & Grace”) and Tom (Christian Borle of Broadway’s “Legally Blonde: The Musical” and “Spamalot”) are a successful writing team coming off another successful show.
Julia is looking to take a break from Broadway (it’s a dream), so that she and her husband (Brian d’Arcy James of Broadway’s “Shrek the Musical”) can focus on adopting a baby, until an idea and a bit of a betrayal throw them into the midst of a new project. The subject–Marilyn Monroe. Anyone groaning about Marilyn overdone lately, get over it.
As the audition process begins we meet Ivy (Megan Hilty of Broadway’s, a veteran of the Broadway ensemble looking to break out of the chorus, and Karen (Katherine McPhee of American Idol fame), a newcomer from the Midwest looking to get cast in anything.
The cast also features Jack Davenport (“Pirates of the Caribbean”) as the director and Angelica Huston (who is Angelica Huston, no list of credits required) as the producer. They are all fantastic, and theater dorks everywhere (even the ones referring to themselves in the third person) are thrilled with the casting of many Broadway stars, but it’s the concept and the music are what will make this show successful. They are undoubtedly what make this pilot soar.
Songs are covered, but the pilot features three original songs, and they are all fantastic. They’re heartwarming and tell the story of Marilyn and these characters (who you will love) all at the same time.
Of course with any new show, there’s always that fear…the fear that all of the effort went into the pilot and it’s all downhill from here. I can’t believe that will be the case for “SMASH.” It’s a fresh idea (“Glee” you can’t touch this) with personality, pizzazz, and heart. You’ll love it.
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“Broadway’s Big Prime-Time Moment”: New York Times
…bi-daily smile…
…a bit of a teaser:
…in case you can’t wait:
…this was just fantastic:
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