I’m bummed, you guys. Smash has all the makings to be my new favorite TV show. Show tunes? Check. Beautiful underdog gets her chance to shine? Check. Grace Adler DEBRA MESSING? Check. But there’s a problem– it’s called overexposure.
It’s no secret that NBC wants us to watch this show. They want us to live it, breathe it, have it over for dinner. It’s like they’ve forgotten they have any other shows on the air (except for The Voice — and that’s a whole other blog post). In case you’ve been living under a meteor-sized rock, the show follows the making of a major Broadway production about Marilyn Monroe. And while Marilyn was flashy, over-the-top, and impossible to ignore, the show makes me want to do just that and forget Smash ever happened.
Remember when Glee premiered in 2009? Fox gave us a taste of the pilot after the season finale of American Idol and left us salivating for more (OK, really it was the Journey hook that sealed the deal). When September finally rolled around, we were treated to an entire season of poppy, gleeful goodness and the show became a massive hit. With Smash, they’ve forgone the tiny taste and instead dumped a big ol’ truckload of cheesy dialogue (“She glows!”), blonde wigs and oh man, if I hear ‘Beautiful’ one more time… How will Smash become “appointment television” when we already can’t get away from it?
My suggestion? Spread the love, NBC! Most of your shows are great and just need a few more eyeballs to guarantee they’ll see another year on the air. Instead of putting all your eggs into Smash‘s basket, give a little to Parenthood! How about promoting Parks and Recreation? Community is begging for some love. When NBC decides to let those other beautiful underdogs shine, they’ll have my full attention.
What do you think, Buzz Bloggers — Does the Smash-vertising turn you off? Sound off in the comments! And while you’re at it, voice your choice and tell us which notorious TV show underdog is your favorite?
1.) Community
2.) Cougartown
3.) Arrested Development
4.) Freaks and Geeks
so smash is a repeat of other dramas people have seen before,so what,i loved it,and am very disappointed that it was canceled.this is one of the best shows i’ve seen in a long time.what i don’t get is,they keep on stupid,mindless reality shows like survivor and big brother and shows like parks and rec,and they think those shows are great even if they’re not,but when a truely great show like smash comes along,all some of these reality show loving idiots can do is invent and come up with reasons to not like and watch smash.people like this need a reality check(pardon the pun)if they think reality shows like big brother and survivor are nothing but,cheap,mindless trash.
Smash is amazing and I am completely hooked. I live in London and there is pretty much NO adverts or posters about Smash. Oddly enough I really don’t like Glee, but Smash seems to tick all the right boxes, so I don’t like to compare them as there is no competition: Smash is better. Plus, Anjelica Huston and Krysta Rodriguez are in it and that just makes me happy.
As far as I’m concerned, Smash is the culmination of all my childhood dreams finally represented on television. There are award winning Broadway show production numbers, gay subplots that audiences are nary batting an eyelash over. 20 years ago, as a high school student outcast I tried to spread the gospel of the Tony Awards but my sing-song stanza and steps fell on deaf ears. The best evidence of it we had was the Lesley Ann Warren TV film that all of my stage-struck starlets memorized. Today, we live in a multi-cultural melting pot when Whoopi Goldberg can head up a rainbow cast of royalty to the tune of Beyonce’s ballroom best. Smash celebrates the big Broadway show that must go on and all of the effete flair and sparkly blue eyeliner that makes my world a better place. Naysayers may debate which of McPhee’s vocal merits or Hilty’s blond hair is more appropriate for the lead but all that matters is that there is music and wonderful dancing that tell me in sweet fragrant meadows of dawn and dew.
I LOVE SMASH. It’s awesome. And I can’t wait for next week’s episodes! Yay! Finally a grown up Glee.
Not interested don’t even want to check it out instead looking for a show that’s about “COP SHOW/ LAWYER SHOW or HOSPITAL SHOW lol however, there is over kill with Smash one very very late night i caught it on 2 cable stations at the same time … serious? that reeks of desperation
Kudos to the Network and some of the other networks for that matter for making a show that isn’t a COP SHOW/ LAWYER SHOW or HOSPITAL SHOW!!
we need variety and I like this variety. SMASH is great.
I loved Smash. The problem is that all critics seem to get together and throw their love behind certain shows and forget any show that gets in the way. Note the 4 above along with Parenthood, Community, etc. I hope Smash is a giant hit.
I thought it was tackfully exacuted. It will take time to see if they can hold the viewing audience, however the choice of all the tacky comedys, running at the same time I will take a musical with a good story line anytime
I Loved Smash!!! Can’t wait until next episode.
I really wanted Smash to be good. I really did. But Debra Messing playing a a now jaded Grace, along with her gay Tom/Will serious gay guy partner, and Tom’s gay assistant funny. Sorry, a WASTE of talent of Messing, Houston, and McPhee, even tho it’s kind of like her story in real life. Way too predictable. I bet that the blonde marilyin will implode, making room for McPhee to get the part. It looked like the singers were lip syning, all way too predictable. I couldn’t watch the whole thing. Such a waste. I hope they quit over hype and come up with a plot. It begs for plot, seems the story was told in the first episode.
I can’t wait for Mad Men to start. Anybody else?
I couldn’t even sit through SMASH. Katherine McPhee has such a lovely voice, but I don’t think this is the right place for her. She has yet to establish a musical identity for herself. I’d rather see her on Broadway or maybe in a movie. But, hey, what do I know? I can’t sit through GLEE either. Love the music but the overacting gets to me in the worst way.
Anyone who enjoys such obvious and predictable shows must have a very limited capacity. It’s ashame that viewers are so dumbed down that they keep making crap shows like this.
Loved Smash! Katherine McPhee is worth the show. In my opinion, she sang/sounded better than the other character trying for the role of Monroe. Will definitely keep watching. btw, most critics don’t know what they are talking about, nor do they speak for ALL the viewers.
The problem with this is, the premise is about them mounting a production. How can that sustain itself? Once the production is mounted, where does the series go? This is another in a long line of series in which the first season is figured out, but not further seasons.
You are such a bitch!!! You wouldn’t know quality television programming if it hit you in the face! “Smash” is great, so get used to it! I honestly don’t know why PCA haven’t fired you already! Go do something else, no one here wants to read your stupid whining, Liz! Eff off!!!
You know what? SMASH is probably very good. It has Angelika Houston and interesting
cast. But you know what IS boring about it? Its another vehicle for superstardom.
Marilyn Monroe? Come on now, where are the new ideas?
The chances, the real innovation? Granted its a grown up GLEE, but oits still the same
crap that MIDDLE AMERICA eats up.
Why the fascination with Monroe? Why the constant spamming of the show on NBC?
Give me something thats more entertaining.
Not all of your viewers are gay, female.
IF your going to do the same thing over and over again, change the story some.
Give us different players…
It’s people like you with power who share your opinions instead of asking really being a good reporter and finding out what the people really think… what are you an actor who never made it? are reading these comments? everyone loved it. get a new job
I think Smash is a hit. I enjoyed every minute of it and I look forward to watching it all. Even if my DVD will be recording cause I have to be true to Hawaii Five O
I was looking forward to show. Grown-up. I was not disappointed. Mcphee was great, hope her character grows in a positive way. Family life, hope it also continues for Mcphee’s and Messings character. There is always ups and downs but can make it thru it together without being cheesy. I’m looking forward to the next show and hope there is a marathon day for Smash at end of season.
Wow! I see it’s not hard getting under your skin. Your blog is so “in-your-face”! I’ve only stopped by to read it to understand who hates it so much!
OMG! I LOOOOOOOOVE SMASH! My only disappointment was, i’ve already seen the pilot on cable’s on-demand, and was hoping for the next episode!
SMASH is a SMASH, in my book, and I only look forward to watching all new episodes. My DVR is set!
Let’s go! It’s a grown-ups alternative to glee, which I just cannot watch.
I love Smash!
Sorry…you’re alone, on this one. =)
I didn’t think Smash lived up to a tenth of the hype. I felt that I had seen much of the ‘highlights’ in the promos. I heard ‘Beautiful’. I watched many of the plot lines. I knew what to expect. Where was the ‘mystery’? Where was the ‘unexpected twist’? There is nothing magical about this show’s ‘formula’ (having seen it several times before in almost every other NBC drama). I don’t plan on watching this show again, and I am pretty sure that the initial ratings are going to fall in the coming weeks. I sure hope that means we won’t have to see hundreds more promos as a result.
Loved the show..I was a fan from the first commercial and have my DVR on record!
I got chills when Katherine McPhee sang Beautiful. Smash is definitely happening! “Fetch”, on the other hand…lol
Smash was awesome and I will be watching every week. Keep it coming….uplifting and fun
Oh Smash happened! Big time! It was awesome. And she does glow. Trust me.