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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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Love Broadway musicals ever since I saw Barbra Streisand in “Funny Girl” at the WinterGarden while in high school in NJ. Love Smash too. Hooray for its renewal!
It looks like Greenblatt doesn’t like what he’s seeing coming down the pike…
Good. It’s a decent show and I’d like to see more. Not sure if I want the whole Marilyn thing dragged out to S2, tho. Maybe they should follow the production in one arc while some of the other characters (writers, producer, whichever of the stars doesn’t end up with the role) start work on a new show.
Now we need AWAKE !
Renew AWAKE for a second season !
Dear Smash writers,
Stop with all the horrible over-produced musical numbers and let your singers sing.
And stop with that horrible plot line of D. Messing cheating on her husband with that boring douche.
Since NBC has renewed Smash they also must renew Harry’s Law. Damn the low demo, this show averages 8-9M viewers a week.
I’m happy for everyone involved in the show. Congratulations. That being said, it’s an utter bore. Cliched, silly, and not much fun. I love the musical numbers (most of the time) but quite honestly, putting on a Broadway show…really not that interesting.
hmmm……in NBC’s heyday, mediocre shows (Fashion Star) would be cancelled after a dismal premiere.
Smash is a step above but needs work. Agree with some other comments about a couple of the main characters.
Bob is a theater guy so he’ll re-tool this show. Let’s hope he learns from the major tanking of Glee.
I Love Anything having to do with musical theater. Thanks NBC for showcasing strong women over 40. I just wonder if Season 2 will showcase a new musical? I’m also a fan of “Awake” and I’m rooting for that show as well.
It is dreadful…. it is no wonder that weeks go by with only The Voice in the top 20… NBC needs a new programming chief!
Hmmmnnn … watch how quickly NBC pulls back on its support and the show get cancelled. The show is so predicatable and without a strong lead in problably would have been pulled after a few episodes. I don’t see a season three …
Called this from the beginning that with all the marketing $$ they were putting behind it, it was “too big to fail.” As soon as they leveled off, I called a renewal, and not because the show is particularly special, or interesting or original, but because they put everything they had behind it to make it even slightly look like it worked.. and it worked. At least, the marketing dollars did. But second season is its last. There’s no longevity to the story line. Congrats to NBC for having ONE scripted drama in the 2′s for a change.
This is the only network series my wife actually sits through. Normally its 24/7 housewives of bum fuck, millionaire sex party, and kardashian sleeze, but for some reason she leaves this on after The Voice and I don’t have to blast my headphones to drown out the idiocy. I just can’t wait to find out if Katherine mcphee really does fulfill her dream of playing marilyn! I mean gosh, will she? Won’t she? It’s all we can tall about!
If producers Zadan and Merin can bring an all black Steel Magnolias to Lifetime (GREAT idea btw!) could they please add some more diversity to the cast of Smash? Thank you
You got your all-black Steel Magnolias with no white people in it, yet scream for “diversity” in a show about a play about Marilyn Monroe.
Right.
For a show set in New York City, bringing in more colors isn’t “diversity,” just reality.
Best thing to happen to the show is Bernadette Peters as guest star. Still sexy in her mid 60′s.
I’m enjoying the show. Of course, it’s not without it’s problems. If one more person eavesdrops, I’m going to scream. And yes, it does need better pacing and character development. But it’s so nice to see a drama that’s not about the murder of the week!
smash is cheesy, poorly edited, predictable… yet strangely addictive. i’ll admit that at first i only watched it to make fun of it but somehow i got hooked and now i can’t wait for the next episode. some of the musical numbers are silly but there are also some really great, broadway worthy tunes. it’s fun and easy to watch, and the commitment doesn’t feel as heavy as say watching mad men. i would never argue that this is a well made show (it isn’t) but that’s sort of what i like about it. it’s unapologetically campy and stupid. and exactly what i feel like watching at the end of a long day
I dont like the show, but what I resent more is that it gets to live, while other shows that are more viable and original get killed because someones name is not Spielberg, or that other shows have budgets cut because this bloated mediocre thing is so over budget. NBC has been cutting pilot budgets to make room for this shows overages. If they have nothing good in May it will be because of this decision. Short range planning…..
I love the show – there I said it – I want Debra Messing’s hair, McPhee’s voice and body, the blonde’s smile and I would love to make out with the hunky “director.” The show is a bit cheesy but I love,love it – and Im a married 40 year old woman (with a gay man trapped inside).
horrible writing on Smash. Angelica Houston an absolute embarrassment. That said, i watched the last episode and, despite the above, MIMI LEDER’s direction was spectacular.
Bye Bye, Teresa…
Just shows how bad NBC is, to give a second season to this horrible show.
What does NBC have to lose by renewing this series? They’re already in last place, so they can’t sink any lower (unless they renew Whitney and Chelsea).
I find it hard to believe some of these folks are watching the same show. . SMASH is an absolute delight with a super cast and wonderful production numbers. . The hour passes far too quickly and Mondays don’t get here soon enough. Congratulations to NBC for bringing it back for a second season.
I hope there will be many many more.
i love this show! im so glad they renewed it for a second season, i was kind of worried that it wasnt going to be. haha some people might call it cheesy, i guess it kind of is, but i love it, great music
i wonder if theyll ever make bombshell a real show on broadway, that would be cool.