Last season on “Smash:” Julia and Tom get the idea to make a musical about Marilyn Monroe despite the fact an earlier attempt had flopped. Eileen decides to produce it to show the theater world—and her soon-to-be-ex husband—she could do it by herself. She finances the show with Nick Jonas playing an expy of himself, Thorsten Kaye’s ill-gotten money and Terrence Mann as a crazy rocker. Eileen hires bad boy director-choreographer Derek to helm the show. And it comes down to who will play Marilyn: Ivy Lynn or Karen Cartwright. Ivy wins it first, then loses it to Uma Thurman, who then quits and Karen goes on in the role. Meanwhile, her relationship with her fiancé explodes and Julia has an affair with the Joe DiMaggio which puts her marriage on the rocks. As Karen’s star rises, Ivy hits rock bottom. Oh, and nobody liked Ellis.
Light the lights, SMASH IS BACK!
We start on the last night of the Boston performances. Karen sings a new (to us) song called “Cut, Print…Moving On” while scenes of the cast and crew returning to New York are spliced in with the performance. Eileen returns with Thorsten Kaye. Ivy goes home and throws away her medicines. Tom and Sam drop Julia off at home. And Karen moves into a new apartment with Krysta Rodriguez. Dev left her a note which someone on staff took pains to write but we don’t see it because Karen crumples it up and tosses it. Krysta Rodriguez is playing Ana, who lets Karen move in because her old roommate is working on a Disney cruise. They seem to click.
And this season we get honest-to-God credits! We see shots of Debra Messing (Julia), Katherine McPhee (Karen), Jack Davenport (Derek), Christian Borle (Tom), Megan Hilty (Ivy), Jeremy Jordan (Jimmy) and then Anjelica Huston (Eileen).
The cast and creatives of Bombshell gather in the rehearsal space. Eileen says she hopes to be able to pick up everyone’s contracts, but they had to see where Bombshell went in the coming weeks. Ivy is nervous and Bobby warns her to watch her back. For Eileen is talking to Karen about a party she’s throwing. She wants Karen to perform “Let Me Be Your Star” there and asks her to pick three chorus members to sing backup. Karen picks Jessica (hi, Savannah Wise!), and two other girls. Ivy gulps. Though why would she think Karen would pick her? They can’t even share an elevator!
Eileen has a meeting with Derek, Tom and Julia. She says that Michael Swift has been asked to be let out of his contract and no one objects. Except me, but I’m a noted Will Chase fan. Eileen says she hopes to get the St. James, which was home to many shows but the public probably only knows “The Producers.” Derek mentions he has other projects waiting so he wants to know a timeframe for Bombshell and then wants to talk about the reviews. Julia hushes him, saying she hasn’t read them. Derek doesn’t believe her, but Tom insists it’s true. Julia says she just has to read Tom’s face but she does know there are issues with the show. Derek opens a paper and starts to read one review and Julia leaves.
In Times Square, BFFs Ivy and Sam have lunch. Ivy is worried because she hasn’t heard from her agent yet about Bombshell. Sam says they’re probably working alphabetically, except he’s already gotten an offer and he’s after her in the alphabet. So he tells her to prove she’s indispensable to Bombshell.
At dinner, Eileen is surprised by ex-husband Jerry rather than Jordan Roth, who is high up at the Jujamcyn Organization. Which owns the St. James. Jerry and Eileen banter before Jordan arrives. He says that Bombshell will play the St. James. Jerry is surprised. Probably because Eileen didn’t toss her drink in his face. He texts someone to move on with the “plan.” Someone texts back and I originally thought they said “DOH” like “D’oh.” So I imagined somewhere, Homer Simpson was doing Jerry’s dirty work.
Over in her new apartment, Karen gets ready for a night out with Derek. Ana teases her as Karen blushes. So where’s Derek taking her? To see his other muse, two-time Tony winner Veronica Moore (played by Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson)! She’s in a musical playing some Etta James/Aretha Franklin type of singer who deals with an overbearing mother. As Derek and Karen sit in the audience, Ronnie performs “Mama Makes Three,” a great R&B style song Hudson knocks out of the park.
After the show, Derek orchestrates American Idol Reunion Time! As Ronnie changes from her costume, Karen looks around her dressing room—including a picture of “Ronnie” and President Obama—as Derek talks about the production of “The Wiz” he wants to do with Hudson. She makes a comment about not wanting to always play the good girl. Derek tells her to stick with them if they keep winning her Tony awards. Karen then talks about how Ronnie’s first Tony acceptance speech was so inspiring. Ronnie thanks her and Derek asks if she has any advice for a rising starlet. Indeed she does; Ronnie tells Karen to focus on the work and to watch out for people who might try to bring her down. Karen thanks her and Ronnie leaves to greet her adoring fans.
Meanwhile, Karen is busy rehearsing with Jessica and the Others as Linda watches. (PS: Hi, Ann Harada! Glad to see you came back for the season!) She says everything looks good and then asks the performers to get ready for the next number. Karen is confused as she was only asked to sing one song. Linda explains Eileen wants Ivy and the chorus to sing “Smash” as well. Karen is not happy and Ivy tries to assure her it isn’t about Karen. “No, it’s about you,” Karen snarks back. She goes to Derek to complain.
Derek is being interviewed by Michael Riedel, who asks about Uma Thurman. Our favorite Brit says that Uma was a superstar who knew what she was good at and what she wasn’t. Riedel asks if that means Uma poisoned herself. Derek doesn’t mention Ellis, so I guess we’re just going to pretend he doesn’t exist. Works for me.
Karen sits at the bar as Jeremy Jordan works behind it. He asks if Karen is going to order anything and she pretty much tells him to buzz off. But he’s in the opening credits and so he doesn’t. Derek comes over and Karen complains she wasn’t told Ivy was going to be performing. This is Ivy from last season all over again! Derek asks what Karen needs and apparently, it is for Ivy to be let go. He says it is done.
Elsewhere in the city, Sam and Tom are going for a walk. Sam reveals he’s been offered the lead in “The Book of Mormon”…on tour. Tom encourages him to take it, but Sam wants to stay in New York with Bombshell and Tom. Uh, guys, I’m sure couples who work in the theater deal with this quite frequently. Anyway, they get distracted when they spot Brian d’Arcy James with a mysterious brunette. Hi, Brian d’Arcy James! Glad to see they included you in this episode. Five bucks says you don’t sing. But back to the plot. Frank seems pretty friendly with the brunette and Tom and Sam (Tam? Som?) worry for Julia’s marriage.
Time for Eileen’s big party! But there are problems. Like Uma Thurman striking back at Derek for his quote by accusing him of sexual harassment. Oh, Uma. Derek wants Riedel thrown out but Eileen’s more worried about the absence of one Jordan Roth. Ronnie suggests they create a diversion using…Karen. Okay. Well, Ronnie helps. She and Karen prefer “On Broadway” as I’m sure Christian Borle has flashbacks to his gig for E-Bay.
Prior to this big showstopper number in which Hudson outperforms McPhee (and I say that as someone who has generally liked McPhee in this show), Linda approached Frank to say she was glad he and Julia were working on their marriage because she’s always admired their relationship. This was so out of the blue, I first thought Linda was recruited by Tom and Sam to make Frank feel guilty. But no, it seems Linda was sincere and said it on her own. Julia returns with drinks, all named after Marilyn’s movies. Frank asks Julia if everyone knows about Michael and their problems. Julia explains that shows are like families where everyone knows everything. Frank seems upset to learn this even though Julia is a well-established lyricist/librettist. She and Tom have been in the theater world for over a decade. Certainly Frank already realized this?
Anyway, during the number, Nick (Thorsten Kaye) arrives to talk to Eileen while Tom tells Julia about the brunette. She goes to confront Frank about it and he has a fit. He swears he didn’t do anything, though he was tempted. And he continues, ranting about how he should have an affair to even things out. Maybe with one of the cast members! He storms out and Julia follows as does Tom. He finds Julia out on the street and she informs him her marriage is over. So, goodbye, Brian D’arcy James. Too bad we never got to hear you sing properly.
Julia and Tom return inside, meeting back up with Derek and Karen. They all find Eileen who breaks the bad news to them: The feds are investigating the source of their money, which may or may not be legal. Wait, I thought the main investors were Nick Jonas and Terrence Mann, all of whom had clean money? But anyway, Bombshell is now stalled. And everyone is sans job.
Well, not everyone. Karen goes back to her job as a waitress. Derek hopes he can still work on “The Wiz” with Ronnie, though he does keep in touch with Karen. Tom encourages Sam to take the role in the “Book of Mormon” tour and tells new roommate Julia he is single again. Okay, one, I guess Frank got the house. Two, I’m sure there are hundreds of other theater couples who have to deal with one being on tour or both being on different tours yet still make their relationship work. But whatever. I’m sure this isn’t lost on anyone—Debra Messing playing the straight woman who is rooming with her gay guy friend. It’s Will and Grace, Part Deux! Hell, Sean Hayes is stopping by later in the season as well!
Anyway, Ivy goes for an audition. One of the casting team notes she was in Bombshell and notes it was a disaster. Ivy says it was pretty great and then sings “Don’t Dream It’s Over.” This song is popular this season; “Glee” used it back in November when New Directions reformed after losing Sectionals. I think Megan Hilty’s version is better and is a great choice for this point of the episode.
Karen decides to drown her sorrows at the bar where Jeremy Jordan works. It closes but Karen has to return to get her forgotten cell phone. She is greeted by a young man named Kyle, who tries to get Karen to leave quickly as Jimmy is doing something he shouldn’t be: playing the bar’s piano. But Karen’s entranced by Jimmy’s singing and the music. Kyle explains he and Jimmy are writing a new musical together. Karen calls Derek, telling him to listen to the music. Derek’s face is similar to whenever he sees the hallucination of Marilyn!Karen. Jimmy sings “Broadway, Here I Come” and sets the mood for the rest of the season.
So I was going to recap both episodes in this post, but I realized it’s getting a bit long. Since it wasn’t one continuous two-hour episode, but two hour-long episodes, I’m going to recap them individually. Stay tuned for part deux!
Quote of the Episode
“Why don’t I sleep with someone in the cast? Keep it in the family? After all, you did. Tom did. Derek did with every actress who put on a Marilyn wig.”—Frank after Julia asks about his relationship with some brunette
Read Playbill’s “Smash Report” here.
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