<p>@alwaysmom - really look forward to Brian singing in SMASH - hopefully, it will not be a dream sequence or a karaoke scene - since he is a professor/teacher in the show. Any hint 
D watched him in Next to Normal summer of 2010 and she immediately recognized her in SMASH. Hope the show will do justice to his talent.</p>
<p>Katherine McPhee has had vocal training her whole life by her mother who is a pretty well known cabaret singer and her father is a TV producer. She is obviously a gifted, well trained singer and has been around the business a long time. If it not for idol she would still be an unknown.</p>
<p>She has been well-known around the LA area for quite some time now and definitely before Idol. Who knows if she would have gone somewhere w/o Idol? I know that when she had the lead in the show in which my son worked with her, she was cast w/o auditioning. She definitely has an aura about her on stage that I think is missing on television.</p>
<p>I liked last nightâs show. Maybe it will all come together from here on out.</p>
<p>I actually liked it better also. I will give it another chanceâŠ</p>
<p>Have to admit - liked show more last night! Writing seemed improved and plot more interesting. Really liked the âimpromptuâ party performance scene. OK - another chance.</p>
<p>Hmmm . . . how about that little nugget of information, revealed by superstar Lyle, that Tom and Derek were âbest friendsâ back when they discovered him??</p>
<p>Wonder when weâll hear the rest of that story!</p>
<p>And did anyone notice how Karenâs dancing magically improved?</p>
<p>^^^Yeah, I noticed that too⊠As of this episode, they are portraying her as a Newbie hick from Iowa (no offence to those from Iowa out there- this is the writers talking, not me!) who has little experience in the real world. If she just got to NY, how did she land that sophisticated boyfriend so quickly in what looks like a long term relationship? But her dancing did pick up and she had more appeal on this episode. Verdict??? Keep watching for a while. My MT daughter has not seen it yet- is taking 23 units this semester and doing a show, so is not ever home. However, she says she has no interest in watching it anyway. She canât stand Glee, so maybe thinks this is something similar???</p>
<p>Is her dancing better or are they hiding it better with close ups???</p>
<p>I too liked this last episode so much better. I am glad!</p>
<p>Maybe I missed it because I do tend to watch television while I do other things, but I havenât seen Ivy dance a lick. I saw her get carried and tossed around by other dancers in the baseball number.</p>
<p>I liked last night again. Maybe itâs turned the corner.</p>
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<p>Megan has made no secret, in several interviews, about dance being her weak link.</p>
<p>This continues to be the fantasy version of the theatre world, but at least itâs been a more entertaining fantasy version than the first few episodes. Much of it, as with most tv, isnât believable, starting with Eileenâs assistant driving a Porsche and ending with Julia and Michael making out on the sidewalk outside her sonâs bedroom window.</p>
<p>I havenât yet seen this weekâs episode, but agree that last weekâs was MUCH improved! I really like that they addressed the issue of attitude and blend for ensemble members â such an important reality for all of those âstarsâ in our lives. ;-D</p>
<p>As far as I know my MT D also hasnât had time to watch. Maybe weâll catch up over her spring break, as she knows Megan through their mutual voice teacher so Iâm guessing she wants to see it.</p>
<p>For me, the only way to like this show is to decide that it isnât meant to be something that any of us who are really invested in the MT process can get much out of. Itâs not made for us, itâs made to entertain a wider audience. Hence the formula with a certain amount of sex, infidelity, diva behavior, money problems, family fueds, etc. Take out the MT story line and insert something about what it would take to make it as a firefighter in a big city etc. Story would look pretty much the same. I think Iâm giving up.</p>
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<p>Surely youâre not suggesting that these things donât play a part in the life of the average MT performer? ;-D</p>
<p>^^ha ha of course they do. My problem though is that I was watching the show to gain some sort albeit hollywood manipulated insight into the world behind the curtain. Sure, that stuff goes on I suppose, (as it does in anything), but the show is just following a formula that would work for any sort of quest. So Iâm bored. Iâm also bothered by things like, âwhy would that Karen character be thought of as such a big deal compared to the rest of the talent? Why wouldnât they think Ivy was fantastic without question?â</p>
<p>Although if one were to make a show about the quest for MT acceptances, theyâd have to include a ton of absolutely riveting footage featuring MT parents hitting ârefreshâ on their computer screens. Now that would make for GREAT TV for sure. :)</p>
<p><a href=âMcPheeâ>quote</a> definitely has an aura about her on stage that I think is missing on television.
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<p>Nope. Itâs there. ;)</p>
<p>I thought last weeks show was the highlight of the series so far. This week was so formulaic I could have written it! No surprise about any of the characters or their interactions. They should take a few suggestions from The Good Wife; every time you think that show is headed in a predictable direction they change it up and prove you wrong. I do feel that I like the characters a bit more but, seriously, McPhee and her boyfriend are having âgrowing painsâ in their relationship now that they are both moving forward in their careers, âGraceâ (from âWill and Graceâ I forget her name right now) and her fling were obviously going to happen and itâs not a surprise that her son has seen it, nor is the evil assistant. Everything is so stereotypical and predictable, too bad because it is most likely being renewed for next season.</p>