Spoilers: Plus watch the pilot episode here:
Smash has more of an Ugly Betty feel than NBC's answer to Glee. There's more plot than random outbursts of song and it has more of a drama feel to it. The show focuses on Broadway. Two girls hoping to get their big break in a musical centered around Marilyn Monroe. The force behind the musical (Debra Messing) juggles family life and the hopes for adopting a child with her busy career writing the musical.
Jack Davenport plays the extremely talented, but somewhat bitter director with a personality that clashes with the others in the musical. Jack Davenport seems perfect for this role. He's played everything from the sympathetic male lead in a chick flick to a pirate. We couldn't be happier to see him in this. These characters disagree over who should be the lead in their musical.
Their choices are Ivy, the more realistic and qualified singer, or Karen, a waitress with disapproving parents who just wants to get her big break. The audience may recognize Katharine Mcphee from American Idol. She has a lovely voice but I found it hard to believe that it would stop an entire casting crew in their tracks. I also kind of cringed when she had to be sexy with the director. It gave me a creepy casting couch vibe. Both girls get callbacks and this sets into motion what can only be described as a bitter fight to the finish. Who will they choose?
All in all, Smash was definitely one of the better pilots of the season.
Will we be tuning in again? YES. Definitely. It has the cast and potential to be amazing. The comparisons to Glee shouldn't even be an issue and this could be the breakout show NBC needs.
Watch the pilot episode here before it airs in February on NBC:
