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Gossip Girl executive producer Josh Safran is finalizing a deal to join NBC’s musical drama series Smashas executive producer for next season. He will succeed creator/executive producer/showrunner Theresa Rebeck who departed the series shortly after it was renewed for a second season last month. A number of showrunners interviewed for the job until Safran was identified as the choice about a week ago. UTA-repped Safran spent the last five years on the CW soap Gossip Girl, rising through the ranks to an executive producer.
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I hope he can make the show (and the characters) funnier.
Well lets hope Josh can fix the weak spots with Smash and please kill off Ellis..lol
It is going to be the grown up Glee? Or is it going to be a night time soap about the struggles with putting on a Broadway show?
Agree with killing off Ellis. Make it an extended episode.
I agree about Ellis. Hes the most annoying character on TV. If they were smart during the summer he could be run over by a cab and never returns-LOl
Is he leaving GG? Cause that show is no longer a guilty pleasure for me. It’s just a big mess.
Noooooooo. I have seen the last two seasons of Gossip Girl and it isn’t pretty. I pray I’m wrong though.
the musical numbers are very good…katherine mcphee is sensational…but the characters are so unlikeable as to rurn you away…come on guys why do you have to paint such a negative picture of showbusiness…….remember the gene kelly donald oconnor musicals…so uplifting anf cheering it made you want to try to be a star…now you are scaring all the kids away.
Would someone please tell me what Mr. Safran knows about Broadway?
I can’t find any links in his career that suggests he does.
SMASH already has enough credibility problems with its subject matter.
What is Bob Greenblatt doing to his baby?
With Safran’s direction, I’m sure the show will be great next season.
I don’t get the need for a new showrunner. I absolutely love this story and this show !! Every project is a drama, with relationships put to the test and heightened emotions when so much is at stake. I LOVE this season.
Does this mean Gossip is canceled and he knew it?
As a loyal GG fan and a casual watcher of Smash, it is ironic that he’s leaving one mess he made to join another mess he’s now tasked to clean up. This guy ruined GG, it’s agreed by all GG fans that there’s even a website that detailing how awful his work is. If GG is renewed for a final season, I hope the original showrunners Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage would return.
A valentine to show business and Broadway warts and all “Smash” is terrific series television in the great tradition of “All About Eve.” Surprisingly moving too using original songs to deconstruct plot, character, narrative – unlike those contrived moments of dramas like “Gray’s Anatomy” where, rather than earn a dramatic moment, they throw a “Top 40″ song into the big-moment-time-to-emote mix to gin up empathy. (That tactic of dramatic “convention” is a complete cringe-worthy cliche now and not just on television. And it’s just gotten lazy; it’s never been fair to actors in my opinion.) The Bollywood number from what I believe to be the most recent episode is Freed unit and MGM movie musical-worthy. The recent Mimi Leder-directed episode is exceptional. I don’t think it’s over-produced either. Bernie Telsey’s casting has been just great too. The fluid camera work; the inter-play of lives and stories when Broadway shows come together…beautifully handled female characters, recognizable men; it’s about the depths of theoretically superficial people and circumstances deftly constructed with the lightest of touches in the final analysis quite complex as it thematically explores the delicate tension between that which is theatrical and that which is real. It deserves many Emmy nominations; I wouldn’t even know where to begin. It is such a pleasure to see a musical show done by people who are already talented and professional as opposed to some crash-course-in-fame contest thing although I am well aware that Katharine McPhee is an “American Idol” graduate (and she’s excellent on this.) And how great is it to see Anjelica Huston and Debra Messing so regularly? “Smash” just works, in tone and style all fun and all to the good. I hope NBC realizes what it’s got.
In case you missed it, the previous showrunner quit
This show has become a travesty. What happened to simply telling the story about an up and comer(s) beating the pavement and making their way to broadway? Now we have been drowned in this drivel involving celebrity guest spots, Bollywood numbers, and ridiculous scenes where potential investors have their contracts burned at bars.
Seems like a good fit to me. Gossip Girl even did their own Marilyn Monroe musical number this season in his episode. I wonder what this means for Gossip Girl’s renewal chances, though. It’s been a rough season, but the story lines are finally picking up in these past few episodes, and I’m not quite ready to see it go.
What an odd choice–this bozo is responsponsible for driving GG into the ground. Typical NBC self-defeating hire.
He is going to destroy Smash like he destroyed Gossip Girl isn’t he.
I feel so bad for Smash fans. This man ruined GG and I can’t imagine him doing any better as a showrunner for another show.
oh no. the end of smash. but at least we know how it will end, with all the characters sounding like catty teens.
Josh grew up in Manhattan and has been embedded in the Broadway community since he could ride a subway. He knows more about Broadway than anyone I know, and he’s a brilliant writer to boot.
And he’s very funny, too. Good luck Josh!
How many female showrunners are there now…10% of the total? Teresa should have been replaced by an experienced woman. Period.
Awesome news! I’m excited to see what he has planned for next season…
Yes, we should always make decisions based exclusively on gender and not qualifications. “Game Change” made that very clear.
He did say “experienced.” Not just woman. And I agree.
Have seen and enjoyed every single episode of GG.
Have seen and enjoyed every single episode of SMASH (so far).
Speaking from those vantage points, I applaud this selection.
On to SMASH 2.0!
Is NBC hoping for CW ratings?
First if all I think it’s appalling that they dropped the creator. They have 11 count them 11 executive producers and no one would take the time to groom Theresa . Give me a break. SMASH is a great concept and some of the biggest names in the industry have hung their hats collected their checks and done nothing. Where is the Hollywood that grew talent. As far as Ellis is concerned, he came up with the idea of the show MARILYN and got it basically stolen remember. Sounds like Theresa to me. Shame on all you on writing EPs. And you need better music . Stop making everyone sound alike. Same problem with GLEE. BTW your audience is every theater school in the country. Engage them offer to donate a substantial $ prize if they….? You come up with an idea. It’s a good show with huge transmedia