Continuing our coverage of our favorite new show "SMASH" the only musical on television that makes any cohesive sense from epiosde to episode and is tangentially about the movies, too.
Karen and Ivy are slowly becoming frenemies. I'll drink to that
In "Hell on Earth" the long form narrative gets back up on its feet after that episode that felt like it didn't happen: Ivy's sour downward mood continues as we see her phoning it in amusingly and then disastrously in the hit musical comedy "Heaven on Earth" (with special guest star, the awesome Norbert Leo Butz... who recently won the Tony for the Tom Hanks role in the musical adaptation of "Catch Me If You Can"); Eileen continues to push when others would have given up; Ellis continues to scheme and even puts out to get an "in" with a movie star; Debra Messing continues to make a case for an Emmy - holy hell she's great on this show even though her storylines have the least to do with the actual creation of a musical; Tom continues to clash with his Republican boyfriend; Karen continues to prove Ivy's point that everything comes easily to her when she books a national commercial.
Set Lists, Gayest Moments, and UMA THURMAN!
The most interesting and temporarily sweetest development is discovering that Derek hasn't thrown Ivy out of his bed post Marilyn. Smash even uses this opportunity to take potshots at televisions obsession with crime procedurals as Derek searches for a new project.
Ivy: What are you reading?
Derek: It's a TV Pilot. [sarcastically] JD MBA PHD who solves crime. It's riveting.
Ivy: Is there a part in it for me?
Derek: How's your dead hooker?
Set List Originals: Brooklyn Bridge" (tiny excerpt), "Knockin' on Heaven's Gate" (title?); Contemporary: Rihanna's "Cheers (Drink to That)"... the least amount of music in any episode.
Gay Gay Gay: Tom's giggle when his boyfriend tells him he's a Republican. Oh wait, he's serious.
Anjelica Awesomeness: "Oh good so there's actually one thing you can all agree on." Eileen's righteous bitchiness when all of her collaborators announce that they don't want to chase movie stars for the Marilyn Monroe part. She's also awesome dressing Ellis down when he oversteps and won't answer the phone.
Curtain Call: The musical gets a title and Debra reels from the "Bombshell" in her final closeup.
Grade: B
With "Understudy" a new mini arc begins with the invasion of The Movie Star (aka Rebecca Duvall aka Uma Thurman). Or almost begins. They save Uma for the finale. Karen (Katharine McPhee) gets center stage as the understudy while they wait for the star. Ivy (Megan Hilty) is persona non grata on the boards after her meltdown. Eileen finds new investors for the show, virtually every romantic relationship is starting to fall apart (except the ones that are just starting) and we're back to the rehearsal rooms where the show is strongest. It's not that the romantic dramas aren't interesting, it's just that they shouldn't be the entire focus. The peak of the episode was halfway through when Tom stepped in for the actor playing Mr. Zanuck for a comedy number about Hollywood vs. Monroe. The song by the Hairspray team Marc Shaiman and Scott Whitman is typically strong. I so want this to be an actual Broadway show, don't you?
Chorus: A studio executive has no beliefs
that's the way of the studio system
We bow to every rear of all the studio chiefs
and you can bet your ass we've kissed 'em.
Even the firs in the hollywood hills
know the secret to our successs
it's those magical words that pay the bills.
"Yes" and "yes" and "yes".[Mr. Zanuck enters to lots of "good morning groveling"]
Mr. Zanuck: Gentlemen take a memo.
Today the trades are all aglow
with grosses for our Miss Monroe.
The things those vermin mustn't know
is what she puts us through.
She makes directors wait all day
one line per hour is all she'll say
And still she thinks we're gonna pay?
she needs a talking to.Tomatoes like her must be put in their place.
If she don't shape up soon she'll soon be walking.
Cuz the buck stops with me...Chorus: Yes you're right, we agree.
Mr. Zanuck: Don't say "yes" until I finish talking.
Wonderful to hear a song that wittily comments on Monroe's uncomfortable relationship with the studios. Tense it was from the beginning until the day of her untimely death (50 years ago this summer)
Set List: Contemporary Hits - "Break Away" (Megan Hilty); Originals - "Three on a Match" (Extras)... a terrible song from Julia & Tom's first hit; "Yes. Yes. Yes" (Christian Borle) and "Kisses Come Free" (title? Katharine McPhee) which we've heard a few times now.
Best Moment: The "Yes" number. Great staging - Smash is generally strongest when it's focusing on the creation of the musical at it's center.
Gay Gay Gay: The wardrobe malfunctions in that "Yes" number. If the number takes place in a steam room and they're wearing towels why are they flinging them about? Is this a naked musical? The investors won't approve.
Anjelica Awesomeness: "That's incredibly sweet. Got seven million under there?"... everyone knows Anjelica can do fierce, funny and bitchy. But her Eileen is many sided and her vulnerability mixed with persistence is beguiling.
Curtain Call: Enter Uma Thurman...
Am I in the right place?"
Yes, Uma. You most definitely are. Can't wait for next week's episode.
Grade: B/B+
Aren't you always excited when Uma Thurman makes a grand entrance?