Smash (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Smash is an upcoming American NBC
series set to premiere on Monday, February 6, 2012.
. But before that can happen, the people who will try to bring it all together must deal with their own personal acts. The series will feature original music by composers Marc Shaiman
and Scott Wittman
.
and Steven Spielberg
, from an idea by Spielberg, who had been working on the concept for years. Greenblatt then brought the project with him to NBC
when he was made NBC Entertainment president in January 2011. NBC ordered production of a pilot in January 2011 for the 2011–12 television season.
The pilot was shot on location in New York City
beginning in early March 2011. Theresa Rebeck
wrote the pilot script and Michael Mayer
directed it, with Spielberg serving as an executive producer. It has been reported that the pilot cost $7.5 million to produce.
On May 11, 2011, NBC picked the project up to series. When the network announced its 2011/12 schedule on May 15, 2011, the series was slated to premiere in mid-season. NBC opted to hold the show for mid-season in order to pair it up with the hit reality show The Voice
on Monday nights. On August 1, 2011, it was announced that show's series premiere date would be February 6, 2012, the night after Super Bowl XLVI
, with heavy promotion through early winter on many of the network's properties before the premiere. At the NBC Press Tour, it was announced that Smash would have 15 episodes produced for the first season to coincide with The Voice.
The series is a production of Universal Television
in association with DreamWorks
.
for a soundtrack of the series. The deal gives Columbia world-wide, digital and physical rights to the first season, with options to subsequent seasons. The deal includes both original songs written for the series and any covers of songs featured on the show.
.
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
series set to premiere on Monday, February 6, 2012.
Synopsis
The show revolves around a group of characters who come together to put on a Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn MonroeMarilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
. But before that can happen, the people who will try to bring it all together must deal with their own personal acts. The series will feature original music by composers Marc Shaiman
Marc Shaiman
Marc Shaiman is an American composer, lyricist, arranger, and performer for films, television, and theatre. He is perhaps best known for writing the music and co-writing the lyrics for the Broadway musical version of the cult John Waters film Hairspray, for which Shaiman won Tony and Grammy...
and Scott Wittman
Scott Wittman
Scott Wittman is an American director, lyricist, and writer for Broadway, concerts, and television.Wittman was raised in Nanuet, New York graduated high Nanuet Senior High School in 1972 and attended Emerson College in Boston for two years before leaving to pursue a career in musical theatre in...
.
Cast and characters
- Debra MessingDebra MessingDebra Lynn Messing is an American actress, voice artist, and comedienne. She is perhaps best known for her role as Grace Adler in the NBC sitcom Will & Grace and as Molly Kagan in the mini-series The Starter Wife....
as Julia Houston, a songwriter/lyricist and the musical's co-writer - Brian D'Arcy JamesBrian d'Arcy JamesBrian d'Arcy James is an American actor and musician.-Personal life:James was born in Saginaw, Michigan, the son of Mary , a seller of children's books, and a lawyer father, Thomas F. James. Brian's maternal grandfather was Harry F. Kelly, former Governor of the state of Michigan...
as Frank, Julia's husband - Christian BorleChristian BorleChristian Borle is an American actor. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Borle has been primarily featured as an actor in Broadway productions....
as Tom Leavitt, Julia's co-writing partner on the project - Katharine McPheeKatharine McPheeKatharine Hope McPhee is an American pop singer, songwriter, actress, model, and television personality. She gained fame as a contestant on the fifth season of the Fox reality show American Idol in 2006, eventually finishing as the runner-up.Her self-titled debut album was released on RCA Records...
as Karen Cartwright, an IowanIowaIowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
who lands a successful audition and becomes the favorite for the role of Monroe - Jack DavenportJack DavenportJack Davenport is an English actor, best known for his roles in the television series This Life, Coupling and as James Norrington in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. He has also appeared in many other Hollywood films such as The Talented Mr. Ripley...
as Derek Wills, the brilliant (and womanizing) director of the musical, who is hoping for a breakout with the musical even if it means putting the lead in a compromising position - Megan HiltyMegan HiltyMegan Kathleen Hilty is an American stage and television actress.- Early years :Hilty was born in Bellevue, Washington and is the daughter of Jack and Donna Hilty. She attended Sammamish High School in Bellevue and the Washington Academy of Performing Arts Conservatory High School in Redmond,...
as Ivy Lynn, a veteran actress who was favored to land the Monroe lead until Karen came into the picture. She finds herself competing with the newcomer after being told that she was too old to play the part - Anjelica HustonAnjelica HustonAnjelica Huston is an American actress. Huston became the third generation of her family to win an Academy Award, for her performance in 1985's Prizzi's Honor, joining her father, director John Huston, and grandfather, actor Walter Huston. She later was nominated in 1989 and 1990 for her acting in...
as Eileen Rand, the musical's tenacious producer, who is dealing with divorce proceedings from her husband, which could threaten the musical - Raza JaffreyRaza JaffreyRaza Jaffrey is a British actor, most notable for playing the character of Zafar Younis in the BBC1 television spy drama Spooks / MI-5.-Early life:...
as Dev Sundaram, Karen's live-in boyfriend, who works at the Mayor's office - Jamie Cepero as Ellis, Tom's personal assistant
Development and production
Development began in 2009 at Showtime by then-Showtime entertainment president Robert GreenblattRobert Greenblatt
Robert Greenblatt is an American television executive and currently the chairman of NBC Entertainment.-Career:Greenblatt began his television career at the Fox Broadcasting Company where he ran prime-time programming and developed such shows as the original Beverly Hills, 90210 and Melrose Place,...
and Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
, from an idea by Spielberg, who had been working on the concept for years. Greenblatt then brought the project with him to NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
when he was made NBC Entertainment president in January 2011. NBC ordered production of a pilot in January 2011 for the 2011–12 television season.
The pilot was shot on location in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
beginning in early March 2011. Theresa Rebeck
Theresa Rebeck
Theresa Rebeck is an American playwright, television writer and novelist. Her work has appeared on the Broadway and Off-Broadway stage, in film, and on television. Among her awards are the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Award.-Biography:...
wrote the pilot script and Michael Mayer
Michael Mayer (director)
Michael Mayer is an American stage and film director. He won the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical in 2007 for directing Spring Awakening.-Biography:...
directed it, with Spielberg serving as an executive producer. It has been reported that the pilot cost $7.5 million to produce.
On May 11, 2011, NBC picked the project up to series. When the network announced its 2011/12 schedule on May 15, 2011, the series was slated to premiere in mid-season. NBC opted to hold the show for mid-season in order to pair it up with the hit reality show The Voice
The Voice (U.S. TV series)
The Voice is an American reality talent show that premiered on April 26, 2011 on the NBC television network. Based on the reality singing competition The Voice of Holland, the series was created by Dutch television producer John de Mol. It is part of an international series...
on Monday nights. On August 1, 2011, it was announced that show's series premiere date would be February 6, 2012, the night after Super Bowl XLVI
Super Bowl XLVI
Super Bowl XLVI will be the 46th annual edition of the Super Bowl in American football, and the 42nd annual championship game of the modern-era National Football League . It will be held on February 5, 2012 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. This will be the first Super Bowl to be...
, with heavy promotion through early winter on many of the network's properties before the premiere. At the NBC Press Tour, it was announced that Smash would have 15 episodes produced for the first season to coincide with The Voice.
The series is a production of Universal Television
Universal Television
Universal Television is the television production arm of the NBCUniversal Television Group, and by extension, the NBC television network...
in association with DreamWorks
DreamWorks
DreamWorks Pictures, also known as DreamWorks, LLC, DreamWorks SKG, DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC, DreamWorks Studios or DW Studios, LLC, is an American film studio which develops, produces, and distributes films, video games and television programming...
.
Music
It was announced on June 9, 2011, that NBC had signed a deal with Columbia RecordsColumbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
for a soundtrack of the series. The deal gives Columbia world-wide, digital and physical rights to the first season, with options to subsequent seasons. The deal includes both original songs written for the series and any covers of songs featured on the show.
Critical reception
In June 2011, Smash was one of eight honorees in the "Most Exciting New Series" category at the Critics' Choice Television Awards, voted by journalists who had seen the pilotsTelevision pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
.
External links
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