The premiere of NBC's new show Smash last Monday was yet another magical product of the United States' longtime love affair with glamour and show business. Directed by Michael Mayer and produced by Steven Spielberg, the hour-long drama documents the classic U.S. tale of an outsider, Karen Cartwright (American Idol season five runner-up Katharine McPhee) trying to make her way onto New York's Broadway stage. Smash centers on the production of a new Broadway musical about the life of Marilyn Monroe, written by Julia Houston (Emmy winner Debra Messing) and Tom Levitt (Christian Borle).
The first episode features the two writers hatching a plan for "Marilyn the Musical." The audience sees their brainchild become big news as a preliminary version of one number from the show was leaks onto the Internet, only to be lauded by notoriously harsh critics. The leaked song attracts the interest of famous directors and producers alike, including hot-shot producer Eileen Rand, played by Anjelica Huston. Huston does a fantastic job of portraying the powerful, hard-hitting woman as she lobbies for the Marilyn production while slogging her way through a difficult divorce with her nasty husband and business partner.
McPhee's Karen is the real star of the show, however, and her transition from a struggling actress waiting tables to a sultry Broadway star seems to be the series' main focus.
In addition to chronicling Karen's audition for "Marilyn the Musical," the show introduces Karen's relationship with supportive boyfriend Dev Sundaram (Raza Jaffrey), an employee in the mayor's office and a source of inspiration for Karen's acting. Karen's parents, however, are not so supportive. In an awkward dinner scene with Dev, Karen's parents gripe about their Iowan daughter's choice to try to make it in New York. In a moment reminiscent of the scene in The Devil Wears Prada when Anne Hathaway and her midwestern father dine in New York City, Karen's parents say, "We just worry."
Worrying seems to be par for the course in the upcoming season of Smash. In the season preview following the pilot episode, the audience catches a glimpse of the drama which is to come - Karen battling it out with the sexy Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty) to win the title role of Marilyn; Julia and her adoption efforts; and the chosen director, Derek's (Jack Davenport) smarmy flirtations with female cast members. Smash is a show which promises no shortage of conflict.
Similar to Glee and American Idol, Smash uses society's fascination with the music industry to deliver another look at the always-relevant theme of making it big. It remains to be seen whether or not McPhee has the acting chops needed to play the part of a girl-next-door turned star. That said, there is an undeniable magic to the first episode of Smash. The aura surrounding the show is a palpable and intoxicating combination of passion, excitement and all-consuming desire.
Smash airs Mondays at 10 p.m. on NBC
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