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NBC has renewed midseason musical drama Smash for a second season. The initial second-season order is for 15 episodes, higher than the 13 episodes midseason show normally get in their first renewal. The move is not surprising given that fact that Smash was the highest-profile and most heavily promoted new NBC series this season, backed by an elaborate marketing campaign that some estimate cost as much as $25 million. With NBC’s top entertainment show, The Voice, as a lead-in, Smash ranks as the network’s highest-rated drama in adults 18-49 (2.6 rating) and total viewers (7.7 million). After a strong start the night after the Super Bowl, Smash dropped in the ratings but leveled off relatively quickly, staying above the 2 18-49 rating level with the help of its big lead-in. Smash, which posted a 2.3 demo rating Monday, chronicles the birth of a Broadway musical. Stemming from an idea from executive producer Steven Spielberg, the series stars Debra Messing, Christian Borle, Anjelica Huston, Megan Hilty, Katharine McPhee and Jack Davenport. Smash has been a passion project for NBC chief Bob Greenblatt and the first NBC series developed by him, something he did in his previous gig at Showtime. Smash, produced by Universal TV and DreamWorks TV, joins fellow freshman Grimm as the second NBC series to get an early pickup for next season. In addition to Spielberg, it is executive produced by creator Theresa Rebeck, David Marshall Grant, Craig Zadan & Neil Meron, Darryl Frank & Justin Falvey and Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman.
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TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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Yes! Take that, you SMASH haters here on DH. Congrats to the brilliant team.
Ha, brilliant. This renewal just shows how little they believe in their fall development.
I wish I had money to throw away like that.
This is no surprise. Greenblatt was going to give this show time to find its audience no matter what. However, I suspect that this show will bear very little fruit for NBC in the long run. In the meantime, I am happy for its cast and Theresa Rebeck. It’s not an awful show, just slightly unwatchable. Some creative retooling during the hiatus is necessary. This constitutes a success for the peacock network, which has sadly become a more polished version of the CW. Even though The CW has more successes to claim. Perhaps Greenblatt will throw a vampire in the SMASH mix or ooh, I know! Cast Chad Michael Murray as a brooding playwright from the Bronx. I can totally see it!
YEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!! Oh, thank Christ they renewed this most glorious of soaps. TEAM IVY 4EVER.
oh good god.
Total train wreck. The comments on TV Line today were a riot after they posted the clip for next week’s episode with a really bad song.
Show is not a hit, but Greenblatt loves it. Let’s see if they move it from behind The Voice next year. I am betting they don’t because it would probably die on a vine without it.
The ONLY reason Smash got renewed a second season, is it was on after The Voice. Wheras, Awake is on the bubble as it barely pulls in the demo, unlike Smash. All I have to say is, NBC move Smash away from The Voice and see what happens… crash!
Smash is not worth the time and energy in my opinion!
So? They gotta put something after The Voice. Would you prefer something that would work even worse? Because I’m sure NBC could be doing a lot worse. That is their modus operandi after all.
Dear Smash executives,
Re-tooling needed fast. It’s the same beats over and over again… and we truly don’t care about the life & times of Debra Messing. It’s kinda gross actually. I fast forward all those scenes.
Stick with your star – make the show all about her… but you need to inject some new beats.
We’re on the same page. The only way to watch this show is on DVR. And what a waste of Anjelica Huston. Make her a Scott Rudin-Ari Gold hybrid – or at least something more interesting than the jilted lover a mogul. The only fun Debra story-line is seeing her with faux-Will Truman writing partner. How anyone is making money on this show is beyond me. How many EP’s does it take…
Smoke and mirrors… But hey, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Good to see NBC not burning down the house again.
I get having issues with it creatively. But for fuck’s sake, a 2.6 in the demo is a hit for NBC. Oh no, it’s got a strong lead. Welcome to programming, people. Most shows on NBC can’t break a 2.0 share. The cost will be amortized given a 2nd season. If it keeps up at the same demo ratings with a cheaper cost-over-time, it’s an easy bet for NBC. They didn’t debut AWAKE after THE VOICE cos it’s not the same show, not the same audience, etc. AWAKE is dark, brooding, complex, and they picked an hour where they haven’t had success in a looong time.
Wow, some haters out there! My wife and I really enjoy the show. I must admit we were disappointed how quickly the writers introduced an affair into the mix but otherwise a great show. Having this follow The Voice does not affect our decision to watch it and we record the episodes so we don’t care when it is on.
Very pleased it was picked up. We look forward to watching the rest of season one. One of the few shows on television we have watched live because we did not want to wait until the next day to watch it.
I agree with you I would watch Smash no matter what was before it. The Voice is ok , its lead in doesn’t matter to me
Ok, I hate hate hate musical theater and was expecting to despise this show. I actually like it. Yes, it’s wildly and terribly corny in a bad Showgirls kinda way, with every cliche in the book, but there’s something about it (kind of like watching a train wreck, maybe?) that I love. Go figure. I’m glad they renewed it.
greenblatts folly will be greenblatts downfall
didnt we all know that it would get a second season? if not then he would be admitting complete and utter defeat rather than just general defeat
Do all you people who hate Smash still watch it? The first 3 episodes were kind of whatever but by episode 6, I was in love. Great characters. Super entertaining. I don’t know where the story is going to go though. Hopefully NBC tries for some ancillary revenue and actually brings the Marilyn musical to life.
The show really needs better character writing. I’ve watched every episode because I love the theater and Broadway, but I agree with the post up above that points out that it’s the same character beats over and over again. And the Debra Messing character really is not interesting enough — you don’t like her OR hate her. The assistant seems to be playing the same beat repeatedly. Same with Anjelica Houston. I’ve seen every episode, and I’m bored of it. PLEASE add dimension to the characters! I really want to like it more. We need more musicals on TV!
Yes, agree completely. The show has so much potential and it’s so wonderful to have writers stretch beyond Crime of the Week or Patient of the Week, yet, sadly, much of the characterization and dialogue ranges from the shallow to the simply unbelievable. With wittier and more emotionally accurate dialogue and with more complex characterization, this could be one for the ages.
I love the ambition of the setting and concept, now I just hope they can live up to the challenge they set for themselves.
They need to cast Tammy Blanchard in this series…she is amazing!!!!
I agree Tammy Blanchard would be excellent for this show. I saw her in How to Succeed and most recently on Lifetime. She is a great actress. Did she join the cast of Big C? Someone is going to scoop her up for their TV Show.
LOVE THE SHOW.
Great characters, good stories (loved it when the ‘workshop’ wasn’t a hit)and good music (sometimes).
Congrats to Theresa for bringing it to the air. Keep entertaining us with great writing!
Must admit that Smash and Grimm are my two favorite shows. Who would have thought? Both on NBC. Hear that GCB, Subogatory and Revenge?
If you renew SMASH – a really mediocre show – what about a superior show like AWAKE? Hopefully NBC will give AWAKE – also a much cheaper show than SMASH – a second season too…
Bob Greenblatt will never let this show get canceled. It’ll be on for 15 years or until he is replaced. No matter how much of a success it isn’t.
Its a bit heavy handed, but I have to admit that I enjoy watching it. Nice to see Anjelica Huston on TV, and Bernadette Peters this week was great. Also, most of the actors are from the Broadway stage and they can really sing.
I think smash is a great show. It doesn’t matter who is before or after the show. It’s good clean fun. Its Broadway. Not a CSI type, murder or Dr. story line.it’s a fun musical. @BARBARAST22
Two things done well by NBC for a change. Now please let us watch Universal Sports again or give up the rights to air figure skating and gymnastics.
The only way to watch SMASH is if you are SMASHED.
So true. That way in the morning you forgot that you watched it.
Truth.
Smash is a smash for NBC.
YAAY! I watch because it’s SO AWFUL AND CHEESY! Nothing better than a prententious high minded show that plays like a bad soap. Everyone’s working at the “top of their game” and that’s what’s so GREAT about it! Hysterically self important and entertaining for that reason alone. Angelica Houston’s got the best mug on network TV. Shocked anyone under 50 is watching this. It’s priceless!!
+1
Good 4 them. I don’t watch Smash ,but, I am glad Nbc finally was able to find an audience-for one of their shows at least. By Nbc standards-Smash is a hit! Oh, and guys-a word about Spielberg: Terra Nova gone, The River going,but, Smash- renewed. Finally,a Spielberg involved series which didn’t totally suck&was renewed!How shocking!?!