Smash: Saving Private Monroe

Last time on “Smash:” Read the recap here.

Time for the second episode of Smash’s premiere! Bombshell is on hold indefinitely due to their finances being frozen. Eileen tries to pay people, but it is difficult. And Jerry is gloating over the whole thing. I bet Eileen wishes she had a Manhattan to toss in his face. She promises Bombshell will live.


Karen, meanwhile, is stalking Jimmy. She says she wants to talk to him about his music. He wants to flirt but she’s determined. Jimmy doesn’t want to give her his music and storms back inside. Kyle, though, is a bit more business-savvy and so chases Karen down. He asks her to meet her some place where they can talk. She agrees.

Eileen is learning she can’t rely on the theater community. Karen was supposed to perform at a gala thrown by the American Theater Wing (the lovely people who hand out the Tony Awards) with Bombshell’s team having their own table. But Karen’s performance was cancelled and so was Eileen’s table. She hijacks Jerry’s table and makes sure Tom and Julia will be there, though asks Derek not to show up.

Why? Because Rebecca has inspired other women to come forward to accuse Derek of sexual assault. And it’s ruining his career. His agent tells him that despite Ronnie Moore’s best attempts, he will no longer be directing “The Wiz.” Derek then tracks down one of the women accusing him, probably to his lawyer’s horror. He tells her he never touched her. Oh, Derek, honey, that’s not how sexual harassment works. Trust me, I’m studying for my master’s in human resource management. She—rightly—replies that she felt like she would not get the job if she didn’t sleep with him. Which she didn’t. Derek says she didn’t get the part because her acting skills left much to be desired which is why she’s still teaching pilates. Ouch. She bites back, asking him if thought the women slept with him because they were attracted to him. He did think that. Ouch.

So Derek goes to the bar and complains to Jimmy, who doesn’t care as he is no longer paid to. He leaves as Derek tries to hit on the woman sitting next to him. Her boyfriend though puts an end to it. Derek thinks he’s lost his touch as several dancers in black outfits and pink shoes appear along with Ivy and Karen. They sing a song while tossing Derek around. Looks like the tumor in Derek’s brain which causes him to hallucinate Karen as Marilyn did not shrink over the hiatus. The girls leave him alone to wallow in his drunken stupor.

Meanwhile, Sam and Ivy wander about the city before he leaves for Book of Mormon. They talk about their careers and as they do, a former colleague approaches. She’s one of those annoying ones that you hope will keep walking by but you know will want to stop and chat, played by Annaleigh Ashford. Who originated the role of Margo in Legally Blonde: The Musical. Which means we can revive this tradition:

Cast Members AB Has Seen Live
Christian Borle
The dancer from “Grenade”
Will Chase
Michelle Federer
Ann Harada
Nick Jonas
Norbert Leo Butz
Terrence Mann
Marc Kudish
Annaleigh Ashford

Anyway, Annaleigh races forward to greet Ivy and Sam, reminiscing about some horrible stock theater they did. She then explains she left the business and now owns her own stationary store. And she’s happy and successful. With some air kisses, Annaleigh leaves as Ivy wonders if she needs to make a career change.

So Ivy shows up at Tom’s apartment where Julia hasn’t changed out of her pajamas in days. For Tom’s sake, I hope she’s been showering. When Ivy knocks on the door, Julia yells to leave the package at the door. But she hears Ivy on the other side and lets her in. Ivy talks to Julia about her encounter with Annaleigh and her doubts. Julia says she often thinks about giving it up but then something happens to remind her why she loves the theater so much. Ivy ponders this as they eat fluff.

She goes back to her apartment, finding a drunk Derek in front of the building. This is for those of you who loved Drunk!Norrington in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. Ivy wonders why Derek’s drunk ass is at her doorstep and it’s because he’s morose. He wants to assure himself his relationship with Ivy was real. She says it was real. Next, it’s Ivy’s turn to seek assurances. Mainly about her talent and her ability to succeed in the business. Derek tells her she is great; she just wasn’t his Marilyn. He then tries to kiss her but she shuts him down and it is great.

Let’s go back to Karen. She meets up with Kyle in Times Square because if you’re involved in theater that’s apparently where everyone meets up. She’s in a bad mood because she’s no longer singing at the American Theater Wing gala and because an audition didn’t go so well. Kyle is grateful to Karen despite the fact she’s being a bitch to him and hands her Jimmy’s music. He tells her they are having a party that night and says that if she’s still interested after listening to the music, she should come.

Karen goes back to her apartment and Ana plays the music for her, Jessica and Bobby. They agree it’s really good and decide to go to Kyle and Jimmy’s party. Bobby and Kyle make a connection immediately and may be my new favorite ship after Derek/Anybody. Karen finds Jimmy and they drink as well as flirt. She gets up to sing, serenading them with Jimmy’s song “Chasing the Storm.” Everyone loves it but Jimmy, who storms out when she is finished. Karen and Kyle give chase with Ana, Jessica and Bobby following.

Outside, Jimmy rages against Kyle for giving his music to Karen. Kyle reminds him its his music too but 
Jimmy just says Kyle sits there and watches him write. Ouch. Karen says that Jimmy’s music is good and it can be scary to put yourself out there but you have to. You know I like Kat McPhee in this role but that line reading was awful! Anyway, Jimmy isn’t only protective of his work because he’s scared of people rejecting his work but he also wants them to make it “on their own.” Oh, Jimmy, there’s an old saying: “It’s who you know.” Kyle reminds him of that but Jimmy basically calls Karen a nobody when he points out she isn’t on Broadway. Which is true but this show isn’t so great with time. So I guess the past two episodes have covered a span of about a month, from the time they arrived back from Boston to now. Which means enough time may not have passed for Karen to get new offers and to rehearse. Upset, Karen walks away and takes Jessica, Ana and a reluctant Bobby with her.

Tom, meanwhile, has gotten himself into a little trouble. He runs into Harvey Fierstein on the street and Harvey talks about Bombshell. He says he believes things will be better and says he won’t let anyone talk about Julia having a nervous breakdown. Tom’s like “Thank you?” before saying that Julia is fine and is handling the split well. Harvey thinks Tom and Julia have split and Tom corrects him. He also then lies, saying Julia and he will be giving a speech at the American Theater Wing gala.

By the time he gets to his apartment, Julia has already heard through a Xanadu cast member grapevine. She is out of bed, out of her pajamas and primping. Well, that’s a step in the right direction. Julia shoves a pad at Tom, telling him to write the speech and try not to sound stupid. Tom’s happy to see her in a good mood.

At the Gala, Julia finds the person hosting the party, Margo, and thanks her for the invite to speak. She says it’s really reassuring to know they still have the support of the Broadway community. Margo is like “We didn’t invite you” and Julia realizes Tom lied to her. She storms out as he tries to explain but she’s upset. Finally, Tom gives her the truth: Word on the street is she had a nervous breakdown and Tom should get a new partner. But he doesn’t want one; he wants her to be better. And so Julia realizes she has to get herself together.

Margo spots Eileen at the party and says she has to leave. That the American Theater Wing can’t have scandal attached to it. So I guess the Rebecca team isn’t there either? Eileen is having none of that and rallies the troops…AKA Tom and Julia…to put on a surprise performance from Bombshell. They can’t reach Karen so they go with Plan B: Ivy. She brings along Drunk!Derek, who apologizes for coming when Eileen didn’t want him there. She doesn’t mind as none of them are supposed to be there. Ivy performs “Moving the Line” and it is amazing.

It saves Bombshell…as well as I think someone remembering the main investors in the musical were Nick Jonas, Terrence Mann and Grace Gummer. Eileen has some money and can move forward. But she has to partner with Jerry to help make her dream a reality.

Kyle calls Jimmy out on his behavior, reminding him that they are partners. And that he is writing the book. So Jimmy goes to visit Karen and Ana’s apartment. He gives Karen a flash drive with his work on it. She goes to play it for Derek while Ivy drops off some coffee and food for his hangover. He thanks her but ushers her out to continue his session with Karen. As the elevator door closes, Karen gives Ivy the stink eye and she looks dejected.

And in a saving grace to us all, Tom asks Julia to get rid of her scarves. Hopefully, they have a bonfire.
Since everything got jumbled and I couldn’t remember which hour it was revealed, I’ll write it here: Ivy did not swallow the handful of pills we saw her holding as season one concluded. She doesn’t explain what stopped her but I’ll imagine it was the strength of every fan who adored Ivy.

And that was the end of the second season premiere. It did a good job bridging from the first season to what the new direction is. How they imploded Julia’s marriage but good, keeping the Karen and Ivy struggle alive and finally giving Karen some friends. The new musical will be an interesting aspect. I just hope Jimmy’s angst has a good backstory and isn’t just to make him a “bad boy.” Well, I can’t wait to see what happens!

Read Playbill's "Smash" report here