Smallscreen News

NBC early peek: 'Smash' as good it gets, Messing, McPhee, Huston shine

By April MacIntyre Jun 1, 2011, 20:10 GMT

Enter the radiant Katharine McPhee (American Idol) as the struggling ingénue who is pit against the obvious choice, played by Megan Hilty. McPhee is brilliant in this part.

Regulars know I rarely get excited about network television fare, but NBC's new drama 'Smash' is a delicious slice of the bright lights of Broadway.

Add to that a kickass female cast that sets the tone for great dialogue, scenes and pacing, as Tony Award-nominee Christian Borle and Emmy Award-winner Debra Messing are a composing team that has a tiger by the tail in the name of 'Marilyn,' a new musical with all the right songs, but no star.

Enter the radiant Katharine McPhee (American Idol) as the struggling ingénue who is pit against the obvious choice, played by Megan Hilty. McPhee is brilliant in this part.

Then a dollop of regal beauty Anjelica Huston makes this effort crackle, cast as the show's producer along with her hand-picked (and deeply unliked) director, played just right by Jack Davenport.

There is chatter that it is reminiscent of "Glee," but that is ridiculous and erase that notion immediately. Yes there is singing, but the fantastical pop reveries that the Murphy hit is loaded with never materialize here. We get good, grown-up drama with moments of song that are appropriate and never overwrought with sub-text.

"Smash" includes songs by Tony and Grammy Award-winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and the executive producers of Chicago are aboard too.

For more, visit the official show site on NBC.com, and follow Smash on Facebook and Twitter (#Smash).

A shock to me, but I enjoyed this tremendously. I hope that even my fellow "Sons of Anarchy" and "Spartacus" fans give it a shot-it's highly entertaining and really rollickingly good for network TV. Well done NBC.