From its weirdly gauzy camera work to its hoary running gags (even at the tail end of Season 2, poor Anjelica Huston, who seemed to have a martini glass permanently affixed to one hand, was tossing drinks in her ex-husband’s face) to its mostly bland or obvious acting (Ms. McPhee, lovely though she is, exuded all the personality of a doorknob), “Smash” felt completely ersatz. At a time when the hot, ground-breaking shows – mostly on cable, of course – are growing ever grittier and peeling away the laugh tracks and the layers of simulated sentiment that television thrived on for too long, “Smash” seemed to be taking place in an insular, synthetic universe. Its failure wasn’t so much that it didn’t reflect the real workings of Broadway; it never came close to reflecting any aspect of the real world.

huffposttv:

“Smash” - “The Goodbye Song”

Please donate to my ‘Make ‘Hit List’ Real’ Kickstarter?

Edit:

Well, not actually. But please go see joe Iconis concerts and his new show and give HIM your money!

Yes, what he said. And Pasek and Paul. And Andrew McMahon.

The plot was never fully explained on the show, but showrunner Josh Safran shares it here.

Click through for the full synopsis, and this piece of info:

“We all talk about doing a Hit List concert at Joe’s Pub, which everyone wants to do … and if I did, I would use some of the songs we never used,” says Safran. “Hopefully, Hit List will live on.”

I would go to that.

Good to be proven wrong.

And thus concludes Alex’s reaction to shows no one is watching anymore.

I appreciate the comprehensive analysis and comparison of ‘Smash’s use of ‘Rent’ lore — but I’m having trouble seeing it as anything other than exploitive. A better show could have delicately used the real life history (and tragedy) of ‘Rent’ to make a statement, but I’m afraid ‘Smash’ is doing it because it’s there and easy. 

Some of those ‘Hit List’ songs are great though.

(ht Rae)

huffposttv:

“SMASH” EXCLUSIVE: ANDREW MCMAHON’S “I HEARD YOUR VOICE IN A DREAM”

Check out Jeremy Jordan and Katharine McPhee performing Andrew McMahon’s new song “I Heard Your Voice In A Dream” from the next episode of NBC’s “Smash.”

If nothing else, ‘Smash’ put out a wealth of strong, original music. On a side note, I’d love to hear McMahon on this track.

bwayboy asked: So, is SMASH canceled? I don't understand what's going on with that.

It’s not canceled yet, but it’s very, very close. Here’s what’s happening. The show wrapped shooting its second season. Due to its poor ratings, NBC has decided to move the show from Tuesday to Saturday essentially “burning it off.” They claim it will get its full 17-episode season run, meaning all the episodes will air. So it wasn’t canceled in terms of the production being shut down and everyone let go (it was already done), but In TV terms, a Saturday burn off is basically a death sentence and the show is all but canceled. I would not look for it next year … but then again stranger things have happened.

Smash will get its full 17 episode run.

huffposttv:

Here’s Jeremy Jordan and Jonathan Groff singing “Let Me Be Your Star” from “Smash.” You’re welcome.

From the ‘Miscast’ concert.

(Source: nicolemwright)

Meanwhile its ratings dropped to a .9.

Watch Jennifer Hudson sing ‘Home’ from ‘The Wiz’ on ‘Smash’ | EW

‘The Wiz’ is so underrated.

Yikes. NBC is in a serious tail spin with its dramas. Not having ‘The Voice’ as a lead in is a real problem. They better put ‘Revolution’ behind ‘The Voice’ again when it comes back.

I’m going to say lack of promotion and bad word of mouth did ‘Smash’ in.

huffposttv:

Broadway, Here I Come - Jeremy Jordan

Best ‘Smash’ song since “Let Me Be Your Star?’

(Source: fuckyeahsmashtv)

Despite the exaggerated headline, this is a fascinating look behind the scenes of the show. For example…

“Spielberg loved the Ellis character,” said one source. And the actor? “Everyone wanted to recast him except for Theresa.”