Smash (TV series)

Smash (TV series) is a musical drama television series created by Theresa Rebeck that premiered on NBC in 2012, starring Debra Messing, Jack Davenport, Katharine McPhee, Christian Borle, Megan Hilty, and Jeremy Jordan. The show was produced by DreamWorks Television and Universal Television, with Steven Spielberg serving as an executive producer, alongside Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who have also worked on Chicago and Hairspray. The series features music by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who have also collaborated on Hairspray and Catch Me If You Can.

Production

The production of Smash involved a team of experienced professionals, including executive producers Steven Spielberg, Craig Zadan, and Neil Meron, who have worked on numerous successful projects, such as La Bamba, Footloose, and Les Misérables. The show was filmed in New York City, with locations including Times Square, Broadway, and Carnegie Hall. The series also features a range of guest stars, including Bernadette Peters, Liza Minnelli, and Jennifer Hudson, who have all performed on Broadway and in various Tony Awards ceremonies. The production team also included Michael Mayer, who has directed numerous Broadway shows, including Spring Awakening and Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

Plot

The plot of Smash revolves around the creation of a new Broadway musical, Bombshell, which tells the story of Marilyn Monroe's life, with music by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and a book by Theresa Rebeck. The show follows the characters of Eileen Rand, a Broadway producer, played by Anjelica Huston, and Tom Levitt, a composer, played by Christian Borle, as they work to bring the musical to life, with the help of Derek Wills, a director, played by Jack Davenport, and Karen Cartwright, a young actress, played by Katharine McPhee, who is competing for the lead role in Bombshell against Ivy Lynn, a more experienced actress, played by Megan Hilty. The show also features a range of other characters, including Sam Strickland, a actor, played by Leslie Odom Jr., and Ellis Boyd, a Broadway producer, played by Jaime Cepero, who have both worked on various Off-Broadway productions, such as Rent and Avenue Q.

Characters

The characters in Smash are complex and multi-dimensional, with rich backstories and motivations, including Eileen Rand, who is inspired by Sherry Lansing and Julie Taymor, and Tom Levitt, who is inspired by Cy Feuer and Bob Fosse. The show also features a range of supporting characters, including Dev Sundaram, a Broadway actor, played by Raza Jaffrey, and Linda, a Broadway actress, played by Ann Harada, who have both performed in various Broadway shows, such as Mamma Mia! and Avenue Q. The characters are also influenced by real-life figures, such as Stephen Sondheim, John Kander, and Fred Ebb, who have all made significant contributions to the world of Broadway.

Episodes

The episodes of Smash feature a range of storylines and musical numbers, including the pilot episode, which introduces the characters and sets the stage for the rest of the series, and the season finale, which features a performance of Bombshell at the Broadway theater, Minskoff Theatre. The show also features a range of guest stars, including Nick Jonas, Bernadette Peters, and Liza Minnelli, who have all performed on Broadway and in various Tony Awards ceremonies. The episodes are also influenced by real-life events, such as the Broadway strike of 2007, and the production of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, which was directed by Julie Taymor and featured music by Bono and The Edge.

Reception

The reception of Smash was mixed, with some critics praising the show's music and performances, while others criticized its writing and character development, with The New York Times comparing it to Glee and American Idol, and The Hollywood Reporter praising the performances of Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty. The show was also nominated for several awards, including the Emmy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards, with Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman winning the Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for their work on the show. The show's influence can also be seen in other TV series, such as Nashville and Empire, which have both featured Broadway-style musical numbers and storylines inspired by the world of show business. Category:American television series