All hail middle-aged character actors! At varying points in this episode, I found myself singing the praises of guest stars, as we got visits from not one but two parents of our leading ladies, offering veteran charms and instant chemistry that elevated everything they touched.
Smash 2:8 Bells and Whistles
I talk a lot about “professionalism” when I write about Smash. Maybe it’s a personal sticking point, but I have to imagine that a large portion of this show’s weekly audience can actually see the things I see, and this isn’t just a product of the fact that I’ve been living a theatre-based life for […]
Smash 2:7 Musical Chairs
Dear readers, I’m sure many of you have heard the news, but, for those that haven’t, here it is – our beloved Smash is not long for this world.
Smash 2:6 The Fringe
NBC Announcer: “And next week, the twist that no one. Saw. Coming.” I hope you’re not referring to Karen quitting Bombshell for Hit List and Ivy rejoining as Marilyn, NBC Announcer. Because everyone sees that coming. I could see it coming from midway through this week’s episode.
Smash 2:5 The Read-Through
Art vs. commerce. God-given talent vs. time-honed craft. Easy laughs vs. hard tears. Brain vs. libido. This week’s episode of Smash brought several of the stage’s favorite philosophical clashes to the screen this week. And by and large, it did wonders for the show, as this was the best episode of season 2 thus aired.
Smash 2:4 – The Song
Well, let’s start with the good news. With tonight’s final scene, Evil Producer Jerry sends a clear message to everyone’s favorite worst character ever – “Don’t ever contact me again,” accompanied by a bona fide maniacal laugh (actually, that part might have just been in my head). So at least Ellis is never, ever, ever, […]
Smash 2:3 The Dramaturg
In which the series returns to some of its better instincts, while continuing to indulge it’s bad ones. After a decent premiere and a shaky follow-up, Smash returns to some of its Season 1 strengths here in week 3.
The 2013 Oscars – a theaterlover’s guide
Normally the Academy Award nominations are an annual opportunity for film fans to gripe about how out-of-touch the Hollywood establishment is with quality filmmaking. But something strange happened on the way to the red carpet this year: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences actually produced a decent and diverse crop of contenders. And […]
Glee 4:14 – I Do
In which the expression “I Do” can be applied everywhere but the most obvious place. Glee generally goes for the obvious with its titles, and “I Do” certainly can be read that way. However, since Emma “didn’t”, it forces a little extra perception about who, in fact, said “I do” in the hour, and to whom.
Glee 4:13 – Diva
The time has finally come for me to stop grading Glee on a curve. For, in an almost unprecedented achievement, I have witnessed three entire episodes of Glee, in a row, which feature cohesive beginnings, middles, and ends, and utilize event momentum from previous episodes to fuel further development in the present and the future. […]
Smash season 2 opens – On Broadway and The Fallout
“Everything that I’ve done has turned out so wrong. What if I can’t fix it?” When Julia says the above line towards the end of the first hour of Smash‘s second season premiere, it’s hard to ignore the self-awareness of it. After all, this is a show that had a famously troubled first season (and […]
Glee 4:12 – Naked
Hey DC Theatre Scenezians, sorry about the delay in this one. Life sometimes throws a whole bunch of things at you at once and navigating them in a timely matter can be tricky. Your recapper swears to try harder at the whole “deadline” thing.