Smash - Pilot Review

I heard about “Smash” for the first time about a year ago now. A musical show based on actual musical theater? I was already sold. I am a fan of “Glee” but it’s more for the musical numbers than any actual plot. They do some interesting numbers but they gave up on trying to have regular character development and natural story progression a long time ago. I was hoping that with an adult cast and the ability to not have to worry about the restrictions that a high school setting places on the show would allow for “Smash” to be good.

But I was wrong because I actually thought it was great. The show is about a new musical that is being based off of the life of Marilyn Monroe. It starts from concept to auditions in the pilot and the season will run through their out of town try out. During the episode we get glimpses from several different aspects of the production end. We see the story evolve through the eyes of the writers, the producer, the director and the two young girls that are trying out for the part of Marilyn.

The biggest difference between “Smash” and “Glee”, at least in the pilot, is that “Smash” doesn’t rely on random signing of popular music. There are a couple of covers performed during auditions but the rest of the songs are all original. And they are pretty good. Nothing that is really stuck in my head but still good. Then they add choreography. There is a baseball number in the middle that is some of the best choreography I have seen. The show knows what it is doing, the numbers feel like a Broadway production and I love watching them.

The acting in the show has a lot of potential. They have veteran actors chewing up the scenery and putting in some great performances, but the pilot relies on Katherine McPhee to carry the show. A lot for someone who hasn’t acted on screen and she does a great job. I liked her back on Idol and I am absolutely adoring her on this show. I don’t recall the name of her co-star but she does a great job playing her opposite.

“Smash” looks like it could be something that I really get into and I can’t wait to see how they handle the show over the next 3 months. Overall the pilot for “Smash” gets 5 out of 5 stars.