It really is a great read. Do you agree with the article?
Sound off in the comments.
A year ago, Smash began its first season on NBC, critically praised and exceedingly hyped, with the well-funded backing of the network and its chairman, Robert Greenblatt, who considered the musical drama his pet project. Steven Spielberg had dreamed up the concept, and his DreamWorks TV was behind it.
But by the time the show had its finale in May, it had become an object of ritualistic ridicule: appointment television for hate-watchers, that new American sport created by social media. Smash's unsympathetic lead characters, oddly placed musical sequences, schizophrenic tonal shifts, cartoon-like villains who literally say, "You haven't heard the last of this," and strangely accessorized actors all became fodder for Twitter jokes. Comedian Julie Klausner even devoted a podcast to Smash, which she called "the best television of all time."
Along the way, Smash's creator/showrunner, Theresa Rebeck, was fired. Rebeck had made it clear that Smash was her vision, and when that vision turned out to be laughable, she was shown the door. Despite all of Smash's problems, it did well enough in the ratings to be renewed for a second season — it aired after hit The Voice, and benefited from that lead-in.
Now, new executive producer Joshua Safran, late of Gossip Girl, will attempt to turn Smash around in Season 2. It has a two-hour premiere on Tuesday.
How does a lovingly looked-after show with such high stakes for all involved become a joke? Smash is a case study: in how megalomania and television can clash unproductively; in how high expectations can crash immediately; and in how intense network and studio oversight can result in a paranoid show creator who causes workplace misery and, most importantly, a bad TV show.
Source: Full Article @Buzzfeed
While there are some interesting points to the article, I'm not sure blaming Rebeck is the only way to go. From what they've released of the reboot, the show still suffers from an attempt at balancing pop and real broadway inside experience. Being afraid to commit to what made Smash different from shows like Glee and Idol, is what will kill the reboot just as fast as silly comedic characters. Some story arcs were bad, but the inconsistency in tone and subject was what really hurt. They have a star in Hilty, they should stop throwing her under the bus to try and convince me that McPhee is one too.
ReplyDeleteI disagree completely I think this show is great I would've had Ivy as the lead for the musical because Megan is the stand out star IMO but otherwise this show is great and I love the music which is their own with a few other cover songs.
ReplyDeleteI believe the problems with the show have been greatly exaggerated. Don't get me wrong, there were problems. Still, to claim the show has become a train wreck is over the top. For instance, there was a lot I loved about the first season, such as the character Derek. Regardless, I saw the first hour of the Season 2 premiere and it's quite good. The new characters are young and, as the article puts it, not silly. It is definitely worth a second look.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great article, an interesting behind the scenes take on how easily shows can mess up. Whether it be because of showrunners (in this case), network interference or bad casting decisions.
ReplyDeleteI was a fan of the pilot thought the Smash showed real promise but it quickly fell apart. The biggest problem (aside from that stupid adoption story) was the show telling us all the time that Karen was oh so amazing and perfect, she wasn't. McPhee can sing but even as a casual musical fan I could tell she wasn't cut out for musicals. Then the series just descended into a mess. I gave up around episode 5 but kept up with recaps and it doesn't seem like it got much better.
It's really interesting article... the show was critaclly praised, hyped, Greenblatt loved it, it had Spielberg, DreamWorks etc. Still survived only coz of The Voice...
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