Smash: One Night Only

Last week on “Smash:” Eileen pretty much demanded Julia work with a dramaturg named Peter to fix the problems with Bombshell’s book. Julia is not happy but he pushes her into writing a scene between JFK and Marilyn…which he still doesn’t like. Tom coaches Ivy through an audition for a revival of Liasions and she gets the role of Cecile! Bombshell returns to the auditions while Karen tries to get Derek to meet Jimmy and Kyle. It works, to their surprise. Though there is a Place That is Not to Be Mentioned and hints that Jimmy has a Dark!Past! Also, Ronnie Moore decided to shed her good girl image by quitting “The Wiz” and asking Derek to direct her in a one night only concert.

SMASH!


Ronnie is preparing for her one night only extravaganza. But while she wants to shed the good girl image, she’s not comfortable actually doing it. She performs “I Got Love” (from the musical “Purlie”) which is a signature number for her. But Derek stops her and tells her she can’t play it safe. Yet someone disagrees. It’s Sheryl Lee Ralph, who is playing Cynthia Moore—Ronnie’s momager. She’s here to micromanage everyone. And Ralph is great in this episode. But more on that later. Tom asks to call a break as Derek stares down Momma Moore. Derek decides it’s time for a break.

He and Tom talk about the song selection. Tom wants to use Ronnie’s usual repertoire. Derek wants something new, something fresh and edgy. So Karen calls Jimmy and Kyle, asking them how soon they can get to Manhattan. Ivy also shows up then and it turns out Ronnie knows her. Because everyone in the Broadway community knows and is friends with Ivy. Ronnie reveals she did a revival of “Little Shop of Horrors” where Ivy was a swing. As they bond, Jimmy and Kyle show up. Karen brings them over to Derek and Tom, the latter who isn’t happy to see them. But Derek thinks they have what he’s looking for and asks them to pick a song.

Tom gives Julia a call, asking where she is. She’s on her way to NYU for Peter’s acting class. He’s asked her to speak and this surprises Tom. And the Playbill recapper, but for different reasons. Tom is surprised because apparently Julia hates acting classes while the Playbill recapper wouldn’t think a dramaturg would have those skills. And as I think about it, I don’t think it makes sense either. Anyway, Julia goes to Peter’s class and learns she’s not here to speak, she’s there to watch a reading of her play. Except Peter’s changed the names and taken her name off the script the kids have. He says she has to hear her play being read aloud. Which is good advice for people like Jimmy and Kyle, who are still writing their play and haven’t yet seen it performed. Julia has.

Back at the theater, Momma Moore announces that the show will be filmed and aired by Bravo. Everyone is atwitter with the news. This could be their big break. Tom, meanwhile, is trying to find the right song from Jimmy and Kyle. And frankly, he doesn’t like many of them. Mostly because he wants something that’s in line with Ronnie’s image. So Kyle says they’ll write a new song and Tom gives them a deadline as Derek calls him back to the stage.

Upstairs, Ivy and Ronnie talk over lunch. Ronnie complains about not having a life outside of performing. Including a love life. Ivy doesn’t think that’s a bad thing, given her track record in the series. Ronnie asks about dating Derek. Ivy calls him maddening yet a genius. She tells Ronnie he’ll get the best performance out of her even if she thinks it will kill her. Ronnie decides to trust in Derek’s vision.

Downstairs, Jimmy continues to work on the song. Kyle hovers, asking him if he needs anything. But Jimmy wants a few things which are illegal so Kyle just gives him space. Karen, though, comes in. They flirt for a bit and Kyle continues working on his song.

Over at NYU, the reading is done and Julia is seething. Peter asks his students what they thought about the play. One students says that Mary seems to be such a powerful woman but she’s defined by the men in her life. Julia snaps, saying that Marilyn felt defined by the men in her life. The student high fives her friend saying they knew it was about Marilyn Monroe. Julia says they would’ve known that if Peter hadn’t changed the names and he says it was similar to his Hedda Gabler assignment. Julia guesses they had no clue what was going on then either but the class says that assignment was awesome. Okay, show, this seems more like an exercise one would do with a playwriting class rather than an acting class. Maybe you should’ve had Peter teaching THAT instead.

Ronnie surrenders to Derek’s way of doing things. He has Tom slow “I Got Love” down and does more sensual choreography. But Ronnie is unsure and looks uncomfortable. Derek calls cut and is pretty much Derek to her. He tells her the song is a woman’s celebration of having sex now. But Ronnie’s still uncomfortable so Mama Moore intervenes. She says Ronnie will perform as a good girl and Derek will oblige or she’ll tell the press he was forcing Ronnie to be sexual.

Derek goes to rage in the alley, Ivy following. He asks for her advice. Ivy tells him that for him, this is one night but for Ronnie, this is her career—her life. She tells Derek to do what Ronnie wants and Derek caves. Just as Jimmy comes out with his new song! But Derek says they don’t need while Jimmy demands he listens to it. They get into a big fight which Karen tries to break up. But Derek insists Jimmy’s all talk and the younger man backs down. He runs off, asking Karen to go with him. She chooses to go back inside because Karen’s not always stupid.

At home, Julia settles in with a copy of Peter’s play “The Singing Bird.” She wants to see if he’s as good as he thinks he is.

The next morning, Karen talks to Kyle about Jimmy. Who is missing and Kyle is concerned. Apparently Jimmy tends to do this and could be gone for a long time. Karen offers to help but Kyle pretty much tells her to stay out of it. He hangs up on her and they let Andy Mientus sing! He begins to sing Billy Joel’s “Everybody Loves You Now” before it segues into Jennifer Hudson singing it. Ivy applauds and tells Ronnie she should perform that but she isn’t sure.

At a local restaurant, Derek and Tom go over the song list. But Tom isn’t really listening. He tells Derek that he’s caving and it makes him respect Derek even less. Tom also reveals that Jimmy’s song is brilliant before walking away.

Meanwhile, Julia assaults Peter on the street with his own play. She says it is horrible and he agrees. They seem to reach some sort of truce because they are back at Tom’s apartment getting drunk. Julia goes on and on before discovering a new way to approach “Bombshell.” It’s not about Marilyn but the men who made her Marilyn. They get to work.

Can you smell the sexual tension yet?

Karen reports to the theater and finds Jimmy waiting for her in the alley. He’s also high as a kite. One thing leads to another and he kisses her. Karen tells him to come inside with her but he doesn’t think that’s such a good idea. She tells him it will show them he can handle being rejected. Like they’re not going to notice he’s high. (Note the sarcasm). So they go in.

As all this is going on, Eileen is preparing to testify before the feds. Especially as Nick is nowhere to be found. Jerry is being oddly supportive and has hired her a lawyer. He coaches her what to say but she’s having none of it. She goes home to find Nick waiting for her. Hi, Thorsten Kaye! He tells Eileen he’s going to turn himself in and she doesn’t have to testify. Eileen is no dummy and gets him into bed post-haste. Go, Eileen!

So Eileen decides to go the Feds and testifies, telling the truth. Because Eileen is awesome.

Ronnie prepares for her show and looks like she’s getting ready for her death. Mama Moore doesn’t seem to notice. She’s going on about how big a career Ronnie is going to have. It’s also telling that she talks about how she might have had a career if her mother had pushed her the way she pushes Ronnie. Ronnie looks over this whole ordeal and is like, “But what if it isn’t what I want?” Mama Moore is like, “Of course it’s what you want.”

But in the end, Ronnie decides to go with Derek’s vision for the concert. And she finishes by singing Jimmy’s new song, “Can’t Let Go.” Everyone loves it. When she’s done, she brings the two out to introduce them to the world. They take a bow and bask in the spotlight.

After the concert, Eileen calls Derek, Tom and Julia to her office. Bombshell is free to go to Broadway! But without her as a producer. So who will be the producer? Why, Jerry, of course! He’s excited to bring the show to Broadway and Eileen swears he’ll be good for them.

We see Jerry sitting in his office, on the phone. He thanks the person on the other end for the information about Nick. It is allowing him to take Bombshell to Broadway and stick it to Eileen! All he needs is a longer mustache to twirl and a cat to stroke. He tells his informant to never contact him again. And who is this informant? The only character I have ever seen be so universally disliked in a fandom—Ellis! Hopefully he heeds Jerry’s advice so we can never say his name again. I’m worried it might be like Beetlejuice—you say it three times and he appears.

Well, Bombshell is back on the boards—which is good because I feel like we’re getting a bit away from it. “Hit List” is fine and we’ll eventually get to Liaisons, but I have no clue what purpose Ronnie’s concert really served other than “We got Jennifer Hudson, we should let her show off.” Oh, and to show that Jimmy has a dark side, in case last week’s return to the Place That Shall Not Be Mentioned wasn’t enough of a clue. Well, onwards to Broadway!

Quote of the Episode
“The Singing Bird. I thought the title was a metaphor, but no, it’s actually about a bird that sings!”— Julia to Peter about his play

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