Marilyn Monroe. Angelica Houston. Broadway musical. Debra Messing. Costumes. Uma Thurman. Songs. Katharine McPhee. Dancing. Best of all plenty of drama, lies, backstabbing, and delicious talent. Smash is a back and on stage look at the making of a Broadway musical about the life of Marilyn Monroe. It is a musical series with plenty of dance (the show won an Emmy Award for Best Choreography) and drama. Smash is ambitious and no series has never done this type of thing before. There are original songs along with covers of famous songs. There is a veteran chorus girl butting heads against a green up and comer for the lead in the play. The rivalry is heated and you’ll find yourself flip flopping between who you root for. Also features plenty of talented guest star appearances by the likes of Bernadette Peters and Nick Jonas.
Episode 1: Pilot: Producer Eileen Rand (played by Angelica Houston) is interested in a Broadway musical about the life of Marilyn Monroe and she hires Derek Wills (played by Jack Davenport) to direct it. Veteran stage performer Ivy Lynn (played by Megan Hilty) goes up against newcomer Karen Cartwright (played by Katharine McPhee) for the lead role.
Episode 2: The Callback: Derek puts Karen and Ivy through a gruelling audition process. Eileen is having some trouble getting financial backing for the show.
Episode 3: Enter Mr. DiMaggio: Karen goes home to Iowa while her career is up in the air. Eileen’s divorce is causing some trouble in regards to her gaining some financial backing for the show.
Episode 4: The Cost of Art: Derek throws a birthday party for Lyle West (played by Nick Jonas). Tom (played by Christian Borle) goes on a date with a new man.
Episode 5: Let’s Be Bad: Their past makes working together difficult for Julia (played by Debra Messing) and Michael (played by Will Chase). Eileen hires Ellis (played by Jaime Cepero) as her assistant.
Episode 6: Chemistry: Karen works at a bar mitzvah while Ivy is going through voice troubles. Julia can’t seem to keep away from Michael.
Episode 7: The Workshop: The cast performs the show for potential investors. Ivy’s Broadway star mother (played by Bernadette Peters) shows up and is not exactly a source of support for her daughter.
Episode 8: The Coup: Derek goes behind Tom and Julia’s back to change the show and he uses Karen in his plan. Eileen’s daughter (played by Grace Gummer) shows up for a visit and is upset about the way her parents are behaving during their divorce.
Episode 9: Heaven on Earth: The decision is made to search for a star for the lead role in the Marilyn musical. Tom and Julia struggle to come up with a title for the show.
Episode 10: Understudy: A-list star Rebecca Duvall (played by Uma Thurman) is hired for the lead role. Rebecca is delayed getting to rehearsal because she is stuck in Cuba making the investors nervous.
Episode 11: The Movie Star: Julia and Frank go through a family emergency. Tom and Sam (played by Leslie Odom Jr.) grow closer.
Episode 12: Publicity: Karen gets caught up in Rebecca’s high profile life. Julia and Frank’s son Leo (played by Emory Cohen) goes missing.
Episode 13: Tech: The musical has moved to Boston to go through Tech (technical rehearsals before show opens). Karen finds herself having to decide between the show and Dev (played by Raza Jaffrey).
Episode 14: Previews: Bombshell prepares for its first show. Rebecca goes through a personal crisis and Tom and Julia frantically try to save the show.
Episode 15: Bombshell: Derek makes a surprise decision about who is going to play the lead. Tom and Julia have to put aside their differences to try and come up with some rewrites.
Special Features: Deleted and Extended Scenes, Previews of House, Psych, The Office, Parks + Recreation, 30 Rock, Monk, Covert Affairs, Anywhere 4 U, Gag Reel, A Dream Come True, Song + Dance
