SMASH thread!

[joviroxx]

i really hope that Julia is not pregnant. that whole story line is just dull as dirt because i don't really care about any of them. of that whole story, i like the husband the best. i don't know what it is, but i just don't give a flip about Julia's character. and having her be pregnant is oh-so-predictable.

i don't think, in the real world, that Karen would ever take Dev back after sleeping with Ivy. but i was glad that she FINALLY had some spunk by coming back and doing a great job. take that, Ivy. and i loved the scene between Karen and Derek. that was the most animated she's been all season (not saying much). more Jack Davenport, PLEASE!!!!

i also don't care about Tom and his boyfriend either. they don't seem to have any chemistry or something. it's like they're friends who kiss. although, i thought it was cute how Tom wanted to do some gospel (influenced by the boyfriend). but still. there's something lacking there.

actually, a lot of the characters have no chemistry. Ivy/Karen and Tom/Derek have the most chemistry of any of the pairings.

i'm sure Ellis will be back. he's a worthless, annoying character.

i'd like to see less about their personal lives and more about the show. i liked the earlier episodes where it was mostly set in rehearsals. they're trying to do too many personal storylines. i don't need to know the personal life of every single character.

 

[mamaprincess]

OKAY so did Derek imply that he loved Karen at the end???

I am so conflicted about Ivy. She is so talented and she has worked so hard for so long. Karen must just gall her. Plus she is the child of a star so no matter how special she was it wasn't anything in comparison. She is so desperate to get out of the shadow of others so I see her actions through that lense. I fluctuate from feeling sorry for her, feeling awed by her talent and despising her. Her's is a multi-layered character and Megan Hilty is nailing Ivy.

Say what you want about Katherine McPhee but please don't lie and say she can't sing. Her voice is golden!

 

[cabanafrau]

Something I've wondered about since the beginning is the sustainability of the premise. The season has focused on the run-up to creating Bombshell, getting it produced and who will be Marilyn. Either the show going forward has to focus on the backstage drama of the show on Broadway, which will mean more and more reliance on the stories of the characters themselves, or Ilene, Tom, Julia -- & Derek? moving on to the next project.

Obviously the stage is set for some type of battle with Ellis attempting to get control or at least his finger in the pie. Do the others move on to something else while the legal battle rages? Do they automatically bring Ivy along into the next project because so many of them felt she should have been Marilyn? What about Karen, will she be left behind as Marilyn because of her contract?

To keep the show the audience wants to see, I think at its core it needs to be about whatever project they're trying to stage. They can't continually have Karen & Ivy battling it out for the lead of each & every project, so I think they'll almost have to bring in new stage leads, possibly with spots here & there for Karen, Ivy & others.

 

[SaraJayne]

OKAY so did Derek imply that he loved Karen at the end???

I am so conflicted about Ivy. She is so talented and she has worked so hard for so long. Karen must just gall her. Plus she is the child of a star so no matter how special she was it wasn't anything in comparison. She is so desperate to get out of the shadow of others so I see her actions through that lense. I fluctuate from feeling sorry for her, feeling awed by her talent and despising her. Her's is a multi-layered character and Megan Hilty is nailing Ivy.

Say what you want about Katherine McPhee but please don't lie and say she can't sing. Her voice is golden!

Derek loves the fantasy of Marilyn, which translates into whoever is playing her.

 

[snapppyd]

Derek loves the fantasy of Marilyn, which translates into whoever is playing her.

 

[mamaprincess]

Derek loves the fantasy of Marilyn, which translates into whoever is playing her.

Right. I also think that he is one of those directors that has intimate relationships with his female stars in order to gain access to their emotional control panel so he can pull her strings for the performance so he'd do this in any production. It is part of how he works I think.

Anyone suspect that Julia could be pregnant by Michael?

 

[FergieTCat]

I really enjoyed the season finale! It was fun to see Bernadette Peters again~ if or just a few moments. So Julia is knocked up , Ivy may be drugged up, Karen is fed up, and Dev is F*d up...all the makings of a successful Broadway show!

LOL!

I thought the finale was good, with unrealistic moments, as always. Not only do Julia and Tom compose a new song, but Karen and the orchestra learn it within 15 minutes? Whew!

Did anyone else find themselves thinking "Throw it in his face!" during the scene when Eileen is drinking in the lobby and Jerry appears?

I give Megan Hilty props for her performance. Can't wait for next season!

 

[SaraJayne]

LOL!

I thought the finale was good, with unrealistic moments, as always. Not only do Julia and Tom compose a new song, but Karen and the orchestra learn it within 15 minutes? Whew!

Did anyone else find themselves thinking "Throw it in his face!" during the scene when Eileen is drinking in the lobby and Jerry appears?

I give Megan Hilty props for her performance. Can't wait for next season!

I was thinking "uh oh...Jerry is going to get another drink in the face!".

 

[Dancind]

Enjoyed the finale, especially the last song. I agree, Derek loves his "star", whoever she may be.

Seems like we are supposed to believe that Ivy has Marilyn's sex appeal, but Karen captures her vulnerability. Which didn't work out when Ivy sang the song at the party, she was completely vulnerable. I do like McPhee though.

Completely agree about the private lives. I fast forward through all of the Debra Messing scenes except for the ones with Tom. I do watch Tom, Ivy, Karen, Derek behind the scenes. Ivy and Karen scenes are golden. Dev doesn't do much for me, but I did love his Bollywood action!

More singing! More dancing!

 

[Imzadi]

I've gone back and forth on how I feel about Ivy..right now I'm back to not liking her at all, and the whole pill bottle scene just reinforced that.

I lost all respect or like for her. I knew she was going to do the ring thing. Ivy just face it, you didn't have what it takes to be Marilyn in this production. Period. Move on! Seriously, she has no redeeming qualities left. I don't feel sorry for her. She hurts other people. Her CONSTANT sabotage of Karen makes me WANT her to take all those pills.

i also don't care about Tom and his boyfriend either. they don't seem to have any chemistry or something. it's like they're friends who kiss. although, i thought it was cute how Tom wanted to do some gospel (influenced by the boyfriend). but still. there's something lacking there.

i'd like to see less about their personal lives and more about the show. i liked the earlier episodes where it was mostly set in rehearsals. they're trying to do too many personal storylines. i don't need to know the personal life of every single character.

Yes, the beginning episodes were great. Now it's just a soap opera set in the theatre world.

Something I've wondered about since the beginning is the sustainability of the premise. The season has focused on the run-up to creating Bombshell, getting it produced and who will be Marilyn. Either the show going forward has to focus on the backstage drama of the show on Broadway, which will mean more and more reliance on the stories of the characters themselves, or Ilene, Tom, Julia -- & Derek? moving on to the next project.

It can take a year or so to get a show up to Broadway standards. Even if it is a success in out of town tryouts, there may be lots of re-writes, getting more backing, finding a star name again, etc.

 

[Imzadi]

I give Megan Hilty props for her performance. Can't wait for next season!

Yes, she is a great actress. I just can't stand the Ivy character anymore.

Seems like we are supposed to believe that Ivy has Marilyn's sex appeal, but Karen captures her vulnerability. Which didn't work out when Ivy sang the song at the party, she was completely vulnerable. I do like McPhee though.

Ivy always seems to overact Marilyn a bit too much, IMO. Like she's doing an impression of her. She plays Marilyn, whereas Karen embodies the character more.

 

[FINFAN]

Right. I also think that he is one of those directors that has intimate relationships with his female stars in order to gain access to their emotional control panel so he can pull her strings for the performance so he'd do this in any production. It is part of how he works I think.

Anyone suspect that Julia could be pregnant by Michael?

well Michael would be the obvious twist....unless she is going to be sick with something else. I mean, it was so predictable that I hope she isn't pg just so it doesnt drag down the show.

 

[FINFAN]

"i also don't care about Tom and his boyfriend either. they don't seem to have any chemistry or something. it's like they're friends who kiss. although, i thought it was cute how Tom wanted to do some gospel (influenced by the boyfriend). but still. there's something lacking there. "

Tom creeps me out. The ONLY time I have liked him is when he stepped in for the song with the guys in the towels (Don't Say Yes Until I Finish Talking)during the workshop...he was really good

 

[FergieTCat]

well Michael would be the obvious twist....unless she is going to be sick with something else. I mean, it was so predictable that I hope she isn't pg just so it doesnt drag down the show.

Yes, but if she's pregnant, it would explain why they aren't discussing adoption anymore, although I'm sure sleeping with Michael didn't help further that cause either.

Tom creeps me out. The ONLY time I have liked him is when he stepped in for the song with the guys in the towels (Don't Say Yes Until I Finish Talking)during the workshop...he was really good

But I love Christian Borle! He was hysterical in "Spamalot!"

But, I will admit, I don't see any chemistry with Sam either. I think he's just "dating" Sam so they can continue with the "Did we mention Tom is gay? Not that there's anything wrong with that!" plot line. I don't even know why it matters.

 

[cabanafrau]

Yes, the beginning episodes were great. Now it's just a soap opera set in the theatre world.




It can take a year or so to get a show up to Broadway standards. Even if it is a success in out of town tryouts, there may be lots of re-writes, getting more backing, finding a star name again, etc.

I understand staging a production, particularly a new production on Broadway isn't a weekend project (Spiderman anyone?). It's going to be interesting to see how they plan on sustaining the show without becoming tedious, and without drifting further and further into the "soap opera set in the theater world".

 

[Caropooh]

Does the soundtrack have the new finale song on it? I really liked it!

 

[SaraJayne]

Does the soundtrack have the new finale song on it? I really liked it!

No. I really liked it, too.

 

[FINFAN]

Yes, but if she's pregnant, it would explain why they aren't discussing adoption anymore, although I'm sure sleeping with Michael didn't help further that cause either.



But I love Christian Borle! He was hysterical in "Spamalot!"

But, I will admit, I don't see any chemistry with Sam either. I think he's just "dating" Sam so they can continue with the "Did we mention Tom is gay? Not that there's anything wrong with that!" plot line. I don't even know why it matters.

Spamalot was cool...which is why his character now is so creepy to me. I need him being more comedic ..his character is so dragged down by all the drama, just ruins him for me I guess. That said, I'm in for next season!

 

[sam_gordon]

Not only do Julia and Tom compose a new song, but Karen and the orchestra learn it within 15 minutes? Whew!

I don't think they gave the entire song right before opening. After Karen had her little breakdown and she came back to the stage saying "Where do you want me", Derek put her center stage and started placing people. I think he was staging the final number.

I'm guessing Julia & Ivy just touched up some lyrics. Still unrealistic, but not an "out there" unrealistic.

 

[snapppyd]

Do we know why they were adopting? If the husband had a vasectomy that would mean if Julia is pregnant the baby is not his, right?