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And the Role Goes to… Review: Smash – “The Callback”

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  • February 13, 2012

  • 8 mins to read

Smash, S1, E2 – “The Callback”

Air Date: Monday, February 13, 2002, 10/9c on NBC

Rating:  ★★★★★

I knew the choice of who would play Marilyn would be made sooner rather than later, but I didn’t expect it to happen so soon in the season. It all comes down to this: go with the experienced chorus line girl or the fresh-faced ingénue who captures Marilyn Monroe’s essence? Before I reveal who gets the role of her lifetime, let’s take a look at the episode.

Highlights and observations:

Karen makes a perfect Marilyn Monroe.

The process of writing a hit musical—or any musical, for that matter—is an extremely interesting process to watch as it unfolds in “The Callback.” Do they write songs first, as Julia (Debra Messing) suggests, or do they deal with structure first, as Tom (Christian Borle) would have it. Julia’s reasoning for wanting to start the show with “Let Me Be Your Star,” and how she envisions it on stage, is mesmerizing to watch. Messing absolutely owns this scene, quietly painting a picture of her vision in your mind as easily as Degas would pencil a sketch of a ballerina.

I had no idea it can take over two years to adopt a baby from China. “You know it takes longer to adopt a baby than it took to write ‘West Side Story,’” Julia (Debra Messing) tells Tom during their strategy session. It’s clear she isn’t focused on the task at hand. I don’t think I would be either. Adopting a baby from China—or anywhere, for that matter—is a huge undertaking. But Julia doesn’t waste any time putting Ellis (Jaime Cepero), Tom’s assistant, in his place when he interrupts their thought process. He’s not part of the writing team and I’m sure he’d like more of the credit than he’s being given. Ellis plays the innocent assistant so well, he’s almost believable. But I think Julia knows he isn’t to be trusted, although Tom is totally taken with him. I believe Ellis is going to show his true colors now that he overhears Julia’s real opinion of him. I’m with her though—I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him.

Julia and son Leo have a very heartwarming talk

Julia and her husband Frank (Brian d’Arcy James) face a lot of red tape with the adoption. So I’m not surprised that Frank initially reneges on it. What does surprise me is how upset their son Leo (Emory Cohen) is when he overhears this news. Cohen connects beautifully with Messing in this wonderful mother/son scene with his sincere and heartwarming speech about wanting, and waiting for, a sibling. Messing shines as well, particularly when she reads the letter she’s written to the birth mother to the group of other potential adopters. It resonates deep in my very core.

Temperamental director/choreographer Derek Wills (Jack Davenport) has Ivy (Megan Hilty) and Karen (Katherine McPhee) jumping through hoops with callback after callback. I like the support Ivy’s friends, Dennis (Phillip Spaeth) and Jessica (Savannah Wise), give her. That’s what friends are for—to keep you up even when you’re at your lowest, right? Dennis goes a step further though, when he becomes part of the troupe for the dance callback. It helps to know what’s going on when you’re not there to see it firsthand and Dennis seems to take delight in cueing Ivy in on what happens. Kudos to Spaeth for delivering such a perfectly delicious and devious friend.

Derek tries to teach Karen her dance steps

Despite Derek’s initial agreement to go with Ivy, once he gets Karen in his arms for the dance callback, it’s easy to see he’s smitten with her. Yet, he doesn’t mince words when describing Karen to Eileen (Angelica Huston). “Green doesn’t even begin to cover it.” If Derek really thinks this way, I wonder what he hopes to accomplish by continually making Karen as nervous as he does. I thought her ‘hands-off’ message came through loud and clear last week.

I’d love to know Derek’s reasoning behind introducing the two hopefuls to each other. But the gloves are clearly pulled off when Ivy sarcastiscally compliments Karen on her scarf. Karen explains it was a gift from her mother, which elicits, “It’s so cute,” from Ivy. Meow! This is the first chink in Ivy’s armor that we’ve seen. I think all the time she’s spent on Broadway has made her a very jaded person. So color me not surprised when she sleeps with Derek. I guess she’ll do anything to get the role. I thought bedding the director wasn’t dé rigueur anymore. By the way, the thing Ivy does with her lower lip while practicing Marilyn’s breathy manner of speech is totally freaky, because it makes her look and sound exactly like Marilyn.

Karen’s boyfriend Dev (Raza Jaffrey) continues to be supportive so I’m surprised she doesn’t tell him what happened during the late night coaching session at Derek’s house last week. Why does she keep it a secret? Doesn’t she trust him? Or is she ashamed at how she behaved?

The question is: how far does one go to achieve their dream? Is it right that Karen blows off an important dinner with Dev and the Deputy Mayor (David Fonteno) to read lines when she knows how important it is to Dev and his impending promotion? I feel so sorry for him when he has to make apology after apology for Karen’s absence. If she’s not careful, she’ll lose that wonderful supportive man.

The set decorations are beautiful and what I surmise the artistic type would have in their homes. I love the matching floral material used for both the headboard and bedside lamp in Julia and Frank’s bedroom, for example. The costumes are also picked meticulously, right down to the dancer’s shoes Karen practices in, the little red dress she sports for her dinner date with Dev and the black strappy sandals.

The music once again is outstanding and each song is both acted and sung beautifully by McPhee and Hilty. McPhee does “Call Me” – written by Anthony Clement Bozewski, Deborah Harry and Giorgio Moroder—and “The 20th Century Fox Mambo” – written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman; while Hilty takes on “Crazy Dreams” – written by Barry George Dean, Carrie Underwood and Troy Verges. Each of these songs is available on iTunes, as will be select songs each week going forward.

“Don’t do her. Just be her.” Wonderful direction given by Derek when Karen reads lines with Dave (Tim Wright), which unfortunately doesn’t help. I can see how hard it is to pick between Karen and Ivy. Ivy is Marilyn while Karen plays at being Marilyn. But my question is: does Ivy get the part because she sleeps with Derek, or because she deserves it?

Tune in to Smash, Mondays at 10/9c, only on NBC.

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Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!

Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!