<p>My opinion hasn’t changed. While entertaining, it is a ridiculously inaccurate portrayal of almost all aspects of the theatre world. Oh, and the writing still borders on atrocious, which is unfortunate because they have a wonderfully talented cast with which to work.</p>
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<p>Musicmom, looks like you called it!</p>
<p>Somehow, I have been sucked in. As ridiculous as some of the situations are, I still find it entertaining. My D, who just came home for a few weeks, refuses to go near it. I am also finding that I like the Director more and more. So glad that scummy little Ellis is gone, although I’m sure from his parting threat that he will be back. I can’t imagine that any producer would have put up with his arrogance for more than an hour or two, and he certainly would not have any power with anyone in the real world! I guess I’ll be back for season 2…</p>
<p>Same! Its awful and getting worse, but I’m still watching. Daughter had no interest. None.</p>
<p>Kinda surprised that NBC renewed this one and trashed Awake…much better writing on that one…</p>
<p>Oh well…</p>
<p>As far as expecting any kind of technical accuracy or portraying the industry realistically…really? Really? 
Since when does that happen on ANY topic? Ask any lawyer about any of the courtroom dramas…OH WAIT…you can’t, they all refuse to watch them because they always get it completely WRONG. David E Kelly commits absolute murder! But his shows are highly entertaining, even if they would never, ever actually happen that way in real life. Sometimes I don’t know just how ashamed I should be that I watch all his shows. But I do think it’s a crime that Harry’s Law was dropped because I love that show and I think even though the courtroom scenes border on ridiculous, that it’s cleverly written, and I’m a huge huge Kathy Bates fan. I can’t believe they cancelled that and also GCB…damn I loved that show. RRRR.</p>
<p>And after 50 years of seeing characters in films crawling through large, sturdy, shiny, clean, smooth, safe, well light a/c ductwork (which in real life is generally dark, small, filthy, and has numerous dagger like little ridges and sharp pointy things in it and would almost NEVER hold a grown person) my HVAC husband has pretty much zero expectation that anything on TV or the big screen is in any way realistic. Except we still have to comment every time we see it because GAH. </p>
<p>If you don’t expect it to reflect reality in any way it’s a pretty enjoyable series…silly yeah, but fun, I am in team Hilty, personally, and I’m a huge Debra Messing fan. And I do like the original numbers. And I totally predict they are going to take the play within the show to actual Broadway!</p>
<p>Wait…they cancelled AWAKE??? I love that show! So sad…</p>
<p>I am very much in a love / hate mode with this for all the reasons stated above. But, still watching! And i just saw Megan Hilty in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and will be seeing Christian Borle in “Peter and the Starcatcher” this week, so life is good!</p>
<p>I was not happy with the Marilyn choice at all, but when the show ended, I did have to admit that it made more sense from the dramatic arc of the stories. just wondering what Megan Hilty’s role will be next season and if she’s only going to be depressed and scheming.</p>
<p>It will be different next year as there is a new show runner and it won’t begin until January 2013.</p>
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<p>The difference being that Smash is chock full of actual In.Real.Life theatre people, unlike legal, cop, medical etc. dramas. Theatre actors, Tony award winning directors, composers,and playwrights, Broadway casting agencies, even all the people in the biz who have appeared in cameos through the season. I think this is what gets to many about this show, the fact that they actually could have made it closer to the truth without losing any of its entertainment value but for some incomprehensible reason, they have chosen not to do so. And, as I said, while it’s entertaining, it’s also frustrating.</p>
<p>Although I agree with much that has been written here, I see it a little differently. Even though SMASH does not portray the MT world the way it truly is, I think it actually may be good for musicals and MT people in general. Just a couple of thoughts . . . There are REAL LIFE theatre people involved as alwaysamom mentioned above . . . it is good for those people - steady paychecks and some recognition and acknowledgement in a different medium. I saw an interview with Christian Borle online and his comment to SMASH fans is: “You like SMASH? Well you should come see PETER AND THE STARCATCHER.” </p>
<p>And you know the adage, “Bad press is better than no press at all”? I think that idea may translate here. Maybe it will help someone somewhere get a show financed due to simple recognition of the form. Or it may help non-theatre people have some understanding about the MT world that may inspire them to buy tickets for musicals or plays. </p>
<p>I’ve actually enjoyed the show for the most part - or at least I have been entertained. :0) It’s much better than all of the lame reality shows. Where, incidentally, they don’t have to pay real actors.</p>
<p>Peter and the Starcatcher is great for those of us that love theater. I’m not sure it would be everyone’s cup of tea. It’s a fast moving at breakneck pace show using great staging and movements to make the show work. It’s really an amazing piece of work. (and Christian sweats up a storm!) A theater friend who lives in NYC has seen it a dozen times, many of those the first two weeks of the show.</p>
<p>We saw Peter and the StarCatcher last week, and I’m pretty sure those people LOVING it in the theatre with us weren’t ALL theatre nerds like us. The show is a blast for anyone who has read Peter Pan, plus I gather that there’s a whole generation of folks reading the StarCatcher books… I don’t know anything about them but my cousin and her young children LOVE them. And yes, Christian Borle is fabulous, as is Celia Keenan-Bolger and the entire cast. Very fun show!!</p>
<p>I’m not sure why everyone thinks Smash is so unlike the “real” MT world. It is strikingly similar to the professional theatre world I left 25 years ago. Has it really changed so much since then, or do we simply have the perspective of parents whose kids don’t tell us everything? ;-D</p>
<p>I have enjoyed it, except that so much of it was just too predictable. I would have liked to have been surprised by a few twists and turns. </p>
<p>I was happy with the choice for Marilyn, but I prefer McPhee’s singing over Hilty’s. Of course, there could still be another choice for Marilyn before it’s all said and done.</p>
<p>Just kill me please. Someone, anyone? I’ll even leave a suicide note!!!</p>
<p>I’m especially entertained by the way everyone goes all “OMG” everytime Karen opens her mouth. I don’t get it. Of course, I have also had this experience in life.</p>
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<p>I can only assume that someone with $$$ behind the show intended to use Smash as a star-making vehicle for her, and no doubt someone, somewhere, is taken in by the pretense that she’s an AMAZING singer. I’m guessing very few, if any, real MTs would fall into that category.</p>
<p>To be fair, I’m not sure I’ve ever actually heard her voice, though, as it always sounds heavily manipulated and hence very generic. Maybe in real life it’s interesting?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t call McPhee amazing, but Hilty sings with a technique that I find annoying. She straight tones up to an overly exaggerated vibrato that is sometimes close to a wobble. The jaw tension is horrible. I know some belters have lots of tension in the face, neck, tongue and jaw, but she not only drops her jaw, she realy juts it out. I don’t find it particularly pleasurable to look at or listen to.</p>
<p>Interesting. I think Megan is fantastic and find it hard not to watch her even when we’re obviously supposed to be watching McPhee. Anyone know what the larger non-MT world is thinking about these two?</p>
<p>In case it’s relevant, I’m still several episodes behind, so maybe McPhee will still win me over somehow?</p>
<p>I just looked around on the inter-webs and didn’t find anything on the general public’s feeling about Karen versus Ivy, but I noticed this on Wikipedia…</p>
<p>"(Smash) has become NBC’s #1 drama in adults 18–49 and total viewers. The series is also up 160 percent in adults 18–49 versus NBC’s season average in the time period prior to Smash (with a 2.6 rating vs. a 1.0, “live plus same day”) and in total viewers, Smash has improved the time period by 100 percent (7.7 million vs. 3.9 million)."</p>
<p>… so maybe MT performers will continue to find work on Smash for a couple more seasons (hopefully with a better team of writers)?</p>
<p>I thought this was interesting as well…</p>
<p>"… idea by Spielberg, who had been working on the concept for years. The original concept was that each season would follow the production of a new musical; if any of them were “stage-worthy”, Spielberg would make them into actual Broadway musicals… The series was mainly inspired by The West Wing and Upstairs, Downstairs."</p>
<p>I just watched the finale. I have enjoyed the show for its entertainment value, even if it’s not completely true to life. Watching the rehearsals in the empty theater made me miss the behind-the-scenes work I used to do with a local community theater troupe. I just may have to get involved again. Like someone “upstream” said, maybe the show will create a resurgence of interest in all areas and all levels of the arts.</p>