SMASH fans Rejoice - Season #2 on Its Way !

[dannyboynyc]

I sat through most of last night's episode, but for me -- not coming from any background whatsoever in Broadway or stage -- I find the story line cloyingly too drama filled. Every relationship (EVERY ONE OF THEM) is flawed and filled with deception and betrayal. That is not the world I live in, but perhaps it is the world of Broadway. My original point of enjoying how they avoided the GLEE cliche' of breaking into songs and dances at the oddest times is now gone as they try to throw in numbers for no reason at all (IMHO). I find, after I finally turned it OFF last night, that there are few characters on the show that I find even remotely likeable aside from the one played by Katherine McPhee -- and am deeply disappointed in how the storyline has gone for her boyfriend -- more unnecessary drama.

 

I agree the drama is a bit over the top. Professionally, I work in a corporate environment. In a corporate environment, success and advancement is based on (among other things) lack of drama, lack of emotion, keeping on an even keel. The little I know about those in creative professions live in a different world - emotion is much more obvious. I do think some level of drama and emotion are linked to creativity. Total lack of drama and emotion, and keeping everything in check, inhibits creativity. It's one of life's many give and take situations.

[jackhammer91406]

Yeah, I can see how it would be a problem if there is no frame of reference as far as showbiz background. I hope that you will be able to enjoy it more in coming episodes.

 

A couple of quick takes. Showbiz folks make a career out of creating drama, comedy, music. The attraction for "theater" people is living in fantasy rather than real. Their lives are often marked by "uber" drama. It's like life is one long big rehearsal, and the sex, well, it doesn't seem to stop. When you collect overly sensitive, insecure and self oriented people and put them all in the same lab vessel, you're gonna get non-stop drama. Anyway, that's why I think it may ring false and overdone to some, but to me, it seems like reality (and the major reason I finally retired).

 

As for the songs popping up, I think two things (at least) are at work here. A song can advance the emotional and psychological thoughts and feelings of a character sometimes better than straight dialogue. The option is to have the character talk to themselves if they are alone in a scene (not always very powerful). The other thing that I think is happening is revenue stream. One of the big successful factors about Glee is the soundtrack that sell in the hundreds of thousands. It think some songs and scenes are already available on ITunes. The contemporary songs add some interest to those who may not care for showbiz tunes.

 

Finally a point of reference: Miss Peters sang Everything's Coming Up Roses from Gypsy, not There's No Business Like Show Business. This was kind of an insider thing since she had really performed the song in a production of that show to national acclaim

[adriano46]

Jackhammer, thanks so much -- I appreciate your input a lot and I realized after pushing the SEND button that the song that Bernadette Peters sang was "Everything's Coming up Roses," -- somehow had Ethel Merman on the brain at that moment! I did get the inside joke on her singing it -- just felt it was a bit contrived, but, de gustibus non disputandum est.

 

After suitting through the way overdrawn eliminations this evening of THE VOICE and DANCING WITH THE STARS, I realized a (bad??) pattern I have. On Mondays, I pretty much watch most of DWTS but with frequent switches to catch the campetition on THE VOICE; but on Tuesday it is the opposite as all the hyped entertainment on DWTS bores me silly and all I want to know is who is eliminated (which is the last 1 minute of the show, as I frantically shift from DWTS to THE VOICE and back to find out all those eliminated. And I admit - I watch DWTS (and the summer version, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE) to see those abs, but laughed and almost lost my drink last night when it was obvious Jaleel was copping a feel of his partner's ample butt!!!!!

[+ deej]

The other thing that I think is happening is revenue stream. One of the big successful factors about Glee is the soundtrack that sell in the hundreds of thousands. It think some songs and scenes are already available on ITunes.

 

Yes, the soundtrack CD is already listed for pre-order on amazon.com and most of the individual songs are available on iTunes. Sadly, the CD lacks some of the original tunes from "Bombshell" to make room for some of the more contemporary covers. If I was guessing (and I am), I'd say the royalties from CD (and iTunes) sales going back to the original stakeholder were probably part of negotiations to use the songs in the first place. I'd also guess there will be a second CD to pick up the balance of the original songs with the rest of the covers.

 

I spent my first 30 years as a musician, always hanging around with theater people. Like jackhammer, the show rings true for me. Much like "Queer as Folk", I don't know anyone who is exactly like any of the individual characters. But oh man, do I recognize character traits in all of them! Even the little weasel "Ellis".

[jjkrkwood]

Jackhammer, thanks so much -- I appreciate your input a lot and I realized after pushing the SEND button that the song that Bernadette Peters sang was "Everything's Coming up Roses," -- somehow had Ethel Merman on the brain at that moment! I did get the inside joke on her singing it -- just felt it was a bit contrived, but, de gustibus non disputandum est.

 

After suitting through the way overdrawn eliminations this evening of THE VOICE and DANCING WITH THE STARS, I realized a (bad??) pattern I have. On Mondays, I pretty much watch most of DWTS but with frequent switches to catch the campetition on THE VOICE; but on Tuesday it is the opposite as all the hyped entertainment on DWTS bores me silly and all I want to know is who is eliminated (which is the last 1 minute of the show, as I frantically shift from DWTS to THE VOICE and back to find out all those eliminated. And I admit - I watch DWTS (and the summer version, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE) to see those abs, but laughed and almost lost my drink last night when it was obvious Jaleel was copping a feel of his partner's ample butt!!!!!

 

Gee Adriano, I thought I was the only one that Flip-flopped ? Seems we have similar patterns ?

[adriano46]

I was actually surprised when, for the first time in a long time, I was watching that Hollywood gossip TV program with Billy Bush (or Busch??) and he admitted openly to what I wrote: on Mondays he watches 90% of DWTS and only 10% of THE VOICE, but on Tuesday it is the complete opposite. So JJ there are probably many many more like us -- I wear out the batteries on my remote because of this (and sometimes it is worse when I am going among 3 different programs). I suppose I could program my cable to where I can line up a half-dozen programs on the screen and watch them simultaneously but that is way too confusing.

 

OK tonight is WEDNESDAY, and my LI addiction of REVENGE is back! YES!!!

[jjkrkwood]

I was actually surprised when, for the first time in a long time, I was watching that Hollywood gossip TV program with Billy Bush (or Busch??) and he admitted openly to what I wrote: on Mondays he watches 90% of DWTS and only 10% of THE VOICE, but on Tuesday it is the complete opposite. So JJ there are probably many many more like us -- I wear out the batteries on my remote because of this (and sometimes it is worse when I am going among 3 different programs). I suppose I could program my cable to where I can line up a half-dozen programs on the screen and watch them simultaneously but that is way too confusing.

 

OK tonight is WEDNESDAY, and my LI addiction of REVENGE is back! YES!!!

 

No, No, its American Idol nite. - The disasterous, lacklustre season continues..... and then Ru Pauls Drag Race.....

[leigh.bess.toad]

I frequently miss SMASH but I always catch it during the week on Hulu.com. You have to wait for their own annoying commercials, sort of like real TV. But if you've missed an episode, I think they are all still there on Hulu.

[adriano46]

Willing to admit an error -- absolutely loved the BOLLYWOOD musical number, which was introduced in a corny way, vbut was very enjoyable, and I was amazed at the talent of all of the cast members to get into the Bollywood mentality -- and who would have thought that Raza Jaffrey could be so entertaining singing and dancing.

[+ purplekow]

As for tonights episode, I loved the Used White Baby Grand number. Quite the heart string plucker.

[+ deej]

As for tonights episode, I loved the Used White Baby Grand number. Quite the heart string plucker.

 

Based on a true story, too. Marilyn's mother really did buy a used white baby grand. I think Mariah Carey owns it now.

[jjkrkwood]

As for tonights episode, I loved the Used White Baby Grand number. Quite the heart string plucker.

 

YES, that was a show stopper, but I personally exhalted in the Bollywood number and the way they incorporated ALL the main characters into it, especially weasel Ellis stealing the pearls....

Vibrant, bouncy, exhuberant, it was a Gay wet dream come true..... Makes me truly wish this production would make it to Broadway !

[unsub2O17]

Willing to admit an error -- absolutely loved the BOLLYWOOD musical number, which was introduced in a corny way, vbut was very enjoyable, and I was amazed at the talent of all of the cast members to get into the Bollywood mentality -- and who would have thought that Raza Jaffrey could be so entertaining singing and dancing.

 

I did like the number, but I thought that Raza's voice was dubbed. No?

[adriano46]

I did not get that impression - rather it was more like the usual BOLLYWOOD films where the soundtrack is donw separately as they are jumping around and dancing so fast one wonders how they could even breathe. I did enjoy it and would like to find just THAT NUMBER as it was - as others noted - great how just about everyone in the cast was involved in the scene, often as a South Asian parady of their character -- well done for the script writers and song writers/choreographers.

[+ deej]

I did not get that impression - rather it was more like the usual BOLLYWOOD films where the soundtrack is donw separately as they are jumping around and dancing so fast one wonders how they could even breathe.

 

Um, the soundtrack is recorded separately for EVERY movie musical (and now, shows like Glee and Smash). Always.

 

FWIW for those wondering about Raza Jaffrey's singing voice, check him out in "Chicago" in London. Coming soon.