"Stars Aren't Born, They're Made." Review: Smash - "Pilot"

Review: Smash, S1, E1 – “Pilot”

Air Date: Monday, February 6, 2012, 10/9c on NBC

Rating: ★★★★★★

Smash is a smash! There, I said it. You heard it here first. Well, not really. Smash has already received fabulous advance reviews from critics and bloggers alike. And deservedly so. It has everything a smash TV series should have—romance; drama; human pathos; comedy; sharp and witty dialogue; expert directing; fabulous choreography; beautiful songs, most of which are original; phenomenal acting; and the bonus of some truly awesome singing and dancing. This is not your daughter’s Glee.

: Karen practices for her audition

“Stars aren’t born, they’re made” is what the show has been hyping since we first learned the news that another musical series had been greenlit. And that’s exactly what Smash is all about—the trials and tribulations behind being successful on the “Great White Way,” whether you’re a singer, dancer, producer, director, choreographer or the assistant to one of these people. Having seen the first four episodes, I am completely invested in each of the characters, and I’m sure you will be too.

As the show opens, Midwestern transplant beauty Karen Cartwright (Katherine McPhee) is belting out “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” at an audition where she is dismissed, mid-song, in favor of Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty), a much sexier looking girl, who doesn’t get the role either. This scene is critical as it sets the basis of the series—two girls with a big dream: one a newbie to Broadway, fresh on the scene, and the other who’s tired of being in the chorus line, both of whom will do everything in their power to be cast in a starring role. The ensuing battle between them should be interesting as we watch to see how far each of them will go to attain her hopes and desires.

Julia (Emmy Award® winner Debra Messing) and Tom (Tony Award nominee Christian Borle) make up the writing/composing team of Houston/Levitt, and what fabulous chemistry they have. Julia and her husband Frank (Tony Award nominee Brian d’Arcy James) are in the process of adopting a child, but Julia’s focus is challenged when Ellis (Jaime Cepero),Tom’s assistant, suggests Tom and Julia write a new musical based on Marilyn Monroe. Tom has a hidden agenda, wanting to help his old friend Ivy reach her dream, so I’m sure at some point the loving and friendly writing team may find themselves at odds. I feel sorry for Frank and their son Leo (Emory Houston), though, when Frank complains, “When you’re in production, you’re never here. You’re out all night. Leo and I go for days without seeing you! Days!” Julia can be quite convincing, as we see when she manipulates Frank into accepting her plans, and comes off as the perfect mother when the social worker comes to interview the family. Messing is fantastic in this role. She plays Julia as a charming, good-natured, fun person, who, at the same time, can be quite grating (and is remarkable in her portrayal). I’m so glad to see Messing back on television.

: Tom and Julia, headed for call-backs, are thrilled with the way their musical is going

This is Cepero’s first TV role and I predict he will be the next break-out star. His character is funny, charming, intelligent, and determined to make it on Broadway himself, and Cepero pulls off the wide-eyed innocent perfectly. I can’t help but wonder whether his character will become the modern-day version of Anne Baxter’s role in All About Eve, the classic film of ambition and betrayal, as is alluded to.

Karen’s boyfriend, Dev (Raza Jaffrey), works for the Mayor’s office, and is loving and supportive of her dreams. He’s the opposite of her parents, who want nothing more than for Karen to move back home. He knows just how to handle Karen’s parents when they meet for lunch, putting them in their place.

Dev: “She’s an actress, not a waitress…That’s why it’s so extraordinary when someone like Karen follows her heart. She has so much courage. I think she’s a star. ”

Don’t you just love a guy who comes to his girl’s rescue when she’s having trouble dealing with her parents? I know how difficult it can be to get your parents to believe in you, and hurtful when they’re not. But not only is he loving and supportive, he’s also helpful with hints about what to wear and how to act during her call-back, which she earns with a mesmerizing rendition of “Beautiful.” But Karen isn’t the only one having to deal with parents who don’t understand their daughter’s dreams. When Ivy excitedly calls her mother to tell her she’s gotten a call-back too, she doesn’t get the encouragement and support she so desperately wants. What a shame none of these parents can celebrate how terrific their daughters are. They haven’t a clue how much they’re missing.

Eileen Rand (Academy Award® winner Angelica Huston) is a legendary Broadway producer who wants to take on “Marilyn: The Musical” despite Tom and Julia’s initial hesitancy. She’s in the middle of battling her soon-to-be ex-husband Jerry (Michael Christofer) in their divorce proceedings. During a settlement conference, she tries to appeal to Jerry’s nicer side but when things don’t go her way, she angrily tells him to go ahead, “Freeze the assets. I’ll see you in court!” Jerry is a callous and mean person, and Christofer portrays him flawlessly. Did you catch the look of pure hatred on his face in that scene? Of course, Christofer has nothing on Huston, who, as we all know, is absolutely brilliant in everything she touches. I just know the Rands’ struggles are going to throw a big kink into the works as Eileen struggles to distance herself from her husband and prove she’s still a great producer without him.

And then there’s Derek Wills (Jack Davenport), Broadway’s most brilliant director-choreographer, a man who thinks nothing of seducing his leading ladies. He’s also Tom’s arch nemesis but at this point, we don’t know why. I can’t wait to find out what the story is behind the animosity between these two men. I’m sure, or should I say I hope, it’s a tantalizing embroidery of melodramatic sentiment. I love the comedic banter between Tom and Julia when Eileen suggests they have Derek audition to be the director/choreographer.

Tom: “I don’t want him to audition.”

Julia: “So you don’t think it would be fun to watch Derek crawl?”

Tom, smiling: “Yes, actually, that might be fun.”

True to his nature, Derek texts Karen to come to his apartment for some private time with him because his schedule has him traveling the next day. (Lie!) In a scene reminiscent of the proverbial casting couch back in the day, he tells Karen, “Darling, I’ve got to see everything you’ve got. Oh, and enough of the scared bird routine, that’s a starting place…” What a sleaze ball! I love that, after performing a convincing Marilyn singing her seductive version of “Happy Birthday,” Karen puts him in his place, saying, “Not gonna happen.”

: Ivy trying out a baseball number

One of my favorite things about Smash is the juxtaposition between the performers singing and dancing in the dance studio and on the stage during a performance. It’s a perfect tool to stimulate your imagination, making it easy to see what a number will eventually look like. If you haven’t seen Smash yet, you’ll understand what I mean when you see Ivy performing the baseball routine. It is so much easier to picture her in the role in that fabulous red dress!

When Jennifer Hudson (like McPhee, a non-winner of American Idol) became a huge star, I figured the powers-that-be behind AI were smacking their foreheads. Now, with McPhee on the brink of mega-stardom due to Smash, I would think these same people are kicking themselves all over the place. What a voice this girl has! She hits the high notes, the low notes, everything in between, and has an incredible on-screen presence. Of course, Hilty also has a wonderful voice and can match McPhee note for note, being a Broadway star in her own right; however, her character has the sex appeal McPhee’s character initially seems to lack. While Hilty has the experience, body, curves and pouty lips of Marilyn Monroe, McPhee is quite waifish looking and naive. It will be fun to see who lands the starring role in the show, “Marilyn: The Musical.”

: Ivy and Karen meet as they rush to call-backs

Probably my favorite performance is the ending number. As everyone is rushing to get to the studio for the official call-back, both Karen and Ivy are shown singing the same original song, “Let Me Be Your Star,” on their way there, again in the practice hall and then supposedly on stage, ending on the exact same note. If Smash continues to be as tremendous as this number, you definitely won’t want to miss it.

Now, while I’ve been touting the musical numbers, I don’t want you to miss sight of what sets this series apart from others of its ilk, and that’s the plot. It’s the storylines that drive this musical soap opera. The relationship between Tom and Julia, Julia and Frank, Eileen and Derek, and more that will keep viewers coming back each week. You definitely don’t need to be a fan of music and/or Broadway to enjoy Smash. And with upcoming guest stars like Uma Thurman, Bernadette Peters and Nick Jonas, I know l’ll definitely be watching.

Tune in to Smash, Mondays beginning February 6, 2012 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!