'Let Me Be Your Star'

i can't believe i never posted this. but i think maybe this is the best time to post it. from the pilot episode it's the number that gave us the hope that something wonderful had begun. but alas our hopes were dashed. again i say it's a shame it floundered then died. had they only built on this moment things might have been different but postmortems are just that. r.i.p.

R.I.P 'Smash'

'smash' was a valiant effort that was ruined by misguided plotlines. but there were moments of musical genius. and some less than genius. and a number that were downright awful. i'm going over my list of musical numbers and may, probably, will post, repost, my favorites.

but for now here are a two highlights from it's curtain call. i will say they wrapped things up nicely. they left no loose ends. some seem inspired and others seemed forced. but generally when a series ends we are left hanging. the writers i think did their best, almost best, to conclude the series.

'under pressure' gave us most of the cast together to say goodbye to.

     

          'broadway here i come'

''big finish' did indeed give the leading ladies the chance to finish big.

A 'Smash Moment: 'Some Boys'

from the soundtrack of my life

as 'smash' winds down (and out) i'm going to publish the musical numbers in the queue.

katharine mcphee

Smashed: "Fade Out on a Girl"

as predicted 'smash' has deservedly been cancelled.

'The Last Goodbye'

the character of kyle bishop did not survive the dying 'smash'. but they gave him a fitting jeff buckley song for 'his last goodbye'. his character may be the only true 'kind' character on the show. his only motivation was to make 'hit list' better. what he got was killed. well at least he will not be around for the eventual funeral of 'smash'

from the soundtrack of my life
andy mientus

A Smashing 'That's Life' from the Soundtrack of My Life

perhaps 'smash' would have fared better had they given katharine mcphee and megan hilty more duets. 'that's life' is an arguement for this. away from the constraints of the suffocating 'bombshell' the combination of karen and ivy is a let it go, let loose, knock it out of the park, kick it in the ass dynamic duo. the long suffering series needed more moments like this.

Team Ivy vs Team Karen

now there is actually something to compare. ivy get's to sing the really good 'don't forget me' when the pretty awful 'bombshell' has it's opening night on broadway on the show within a show 'smash'. karen got to do it when it premiered in boston. i think they both did it great justice. two different interpretations: two different takes.  argue amongst yourselves.

this 'bombshell' would bomb on broadway. with the exception of this song and 'let me be your star' the music and lyrics were amateurish and pedantic. it is not making it on tv so who the hell thinks it will make it for almost $200.00 a pop. duh.

that said this song is wonderful and gets a nod from the soundtrack of my mind yet again.

katherine mcphee (karen)

megan hilty (ivy)

A 'Smash' Moment: 'Rewrite the Story' and 'Heart Shaped Wreckage'

from the soundtrack of my life

katharine mcphee and jeremy jordan

'Smash': 'I Heard Your Voice in a Dream'

from the soundtrack of my life

one of the few musical highlights this season unexpectedly comes from the episode 'bells and whistles' sung by jeremy jordon.

Josh's Jukebox: 'Everybody Loves You Now'

from the soundtrack of my life

'smash' is having a less than stellar sophmore season that may well be it's last season. the fact that nbc has just moved the remaining episodes of the season to saturday night really has sounded the death rattle for this once promising series. as a musical officiando and lover this great idea has hit rock bottom and deserves cancellation. it's a damn shame. why did it go wrong? that may be one of the big questions of the past tv seasons. well bad writing, incoherent subplots and some really bad musical choices are a few of the reasons. there was good talent wasted. that's a shame. all and all 'smash' is, was, a shame and damn it that's the shame.
season 2 rates a C and i am being kind
 this billy joel cover has been one of very few highlights this season. 

 jennifer hudson and andy mientus

Second Try on 'Don't Forget Me'

'smash' season 2 premiers tomorrow ...

Josh's Jukebox: ''Smash's'' 'Don't Forget Me'

on 5/15 i posted the audio only version of this song. well i just found the full vidoe on youtube and want to share it. i have not been able to get this song out of my head. goosebumps. and fitting since season 2premiers this month...finally!

katharine mcphee 'don't forget me'

Josh's Jukebox: 'Shake It Out'

there was some silliness on the internet re 'smash'. for the whole of the first season 'they', whoever 'they' are, were playing this 'team karen' or 'team ivy' thing. privately i got caught up in it. then reviewing my blog i realized i might just 'admit' i was 'team karen' all along. but really i was/am team mcphee!

so here's another katherine mcphee terrific vocal.

from the jukebox of my like

and the original and catchy and wonderful...

florence+the machine

Casting News

jeanne tripplehorn ('big love') repaces paget brewster on 'criminal minds'

jeremy jordan tony nominee (newsies) joins 'smash' as a series regular

jennifer hudson ('dreamgirls') joins 'smash' in a recurring arc

joseph fiennes (luther) is circling 'american horror story'

Josh's Jukebox: ''Smash's'' 'Touch'

katharine mcphee: 'touch'

'Smash': Raza Jaffrey, Jaime Cepero, Brian d'Arcy James and Will Chase Out

so it is dev the unfaithful boyfriend of karen, michael the back and forth lover of julia and also the back and forth joe demaggio, and james husband of julia that are all dropped from season 2 of 'smash'. o yeah and best of all the hateful ellis is also gone. under a truck or to prison one could only hope.

will these changes make for a better season 2? well all of julia's baggage is gone so now she can concentrate on writing better songs for 'bombshell'. actually the 11 o'clock song that closed season 1, 'don't forget me' was brilliant. the hateful ellis often made the show unwatchable so good riddance to the most hated character on the tub this past season. i kind of liked dev even though he cheated on karen with ivy and well like this is basically a prime time soap. duh. 

we'll see. we'll see.

'Smash': 'Don't Forget Me'

katharine mcphee is amazing with an amazing voice. i never watched her on 'idol'. i really never watched 'idol' at all. so smash is my introduction to ms mcphee. i am in love with her voice.

unfortunately this is just the song as opposed to the show video. but but but...it is the voice that counts.

'Run' and 'A Thousand and One Nights' Brighten Up ''Smash''

Sometimes 'Smash' Gets It Right

especially if they use katharine mcphee properly. when they give her the spotlight. perhaps now that megan hilty's character may be replaced as 'marilyn' and that the show's creator is OUT they can concentrate on the real talent. MCPHEE!!!

MCPHEE

'touch me'

'brighter than the sun'

it was obvious in ep.1 who the STAR was when they both asked us to 'let me be your star'

her costar megan hilty just does not make the cut. trying to embody marilyn monroe she lacks warmth. she does have a voice but her acting chops leave everything to be desired. she tries to be sexual something marilyn monroe did not have to try to be. she was sexuality personified. and monroe had an abundance of warmth and charm. and much like anne hathaway ms. hilty has as much charm as a meat clever.

if this show is going to make it they had best rethink some of their choices. the ellis character has to go. hilt's ivy character needs to go back to the chorus or better yet to a secretarial pool. are there still secretarial pools?

okay then one more from mcphee

'rumour has it'

''Smash'' Just Isn't

a good idea going south. except for 'i want to be your star' the original songs written for the show ''marilyn'' within the show would surely promise closing in boston or oskoch and never see the lights broadway. 

although katharine mcphee shows promise here the other marilyn wanna be megan hilty is a bit too obvious and to be kind not quite pretty. she might work on stage beyond the third row but on camera she just can't shine.

anjelica huston is fun and debra messing rises way above her annoying 'grace' formerly with will. neither will save this i think.

i'm sorry to say that unless something happens fast this is on the bubble that will burst.