NBC's fortunes are riding a lot on its new drama, "Smash," which debuts tonight at 10 p.m. after a two-hour edition of "The Voice."
One of the most hyped shows of the season, "Smash" is hoping to capture the same musical phenomenon that "Glee" had when it debuted three years ago.
Before I saw the pilot, I figured "Smash" had two major challenges: overcoming the "Glee" fatigue that has caught up with that show, and trying to make Broadway interesting to people with little interest in that genre.
Having seen the pilot, I can say that "Smash" is pretty darned good, and I'm not a fan of musicals.
Though many people will compare "Smash" to "Glee," it's a bit like comparing "Justified" to "CSI" in that they are both cop shows, or medical shows like "Grey's Anatomy" to "House." Yes, it's the same genre, but not really all that similar.
For the most part, "Smash" confines its musical numbers to rehearsals and auditions, switching between the actual audition to having the singer imagine herself performing the same number on Broadway.
"Smash" benefits from a great cast: Anjelica Houston as a veteran producer going through a very public divorce; Debra Messing and Christian Borle as the writing team which has developed a new musical biography of Marilyn Monroe; Jack Davenport as a slimy director; and, most importantly, Megan Hilty and Katharine McPhee as the two would-be stars of the show battling for the coveted role.
Hilty, a real-life Broadway star, plays Ivy, the writers' choice. Ivy has never starred in a show but at least has Broadway experience as a background singer/dancer. She also has Marilyn's blond locks and curves.
McPhee, in her first major starring role, is perfectly cast as Karen, an ingenue fresh from Iowa. She doesn't remotely resemble Marilyn and has never been on the big stage, but Davenport sees her as the next great star of Broadway after a killer audition.
The rivalry between the two singers is interesting, as both have their positive and negative points. The viewer finds himself rooting for both of them, even though only one can get the part.
While some of "Smash" seems a little too familiar, it's very well done and should be sticking around for a while, thanks to Steven Spielberg being an executive producer. It's not emotionally manipulative like "Glee" can be, nor will we likely see entire episodes devoted to the music of Michael Jackson or Lady Gaga. And, partnered with "The Voice," it could finally give NBC more than a fighting chance on one of TV's most competitive nights.
MONDAY'S BEST BETS: Get ready for all new stuff, now that we are in the middle of February sweeps.
CBS' comedy lineup is new, as is "Hawaii Five-0" at 10 p.m.
A terrifically clever "Castle" (ABC, 10 p.m.) has Castle daydreaming about being a private eye in the 1940s with Beckett as the femme fatale as the team tries to solve a modern-day murder tied in with one from 1947. It follows "The Bachelor."
The great Jeffrey Wright guest stars on "House" as a doctor conducting an investigation into the team after a case goes bad (Fox, 8 p.m.) It's followed by "Alcatraz" at 9 p.m.
The CW has new episodes of "Gossip Girl" and "Hart of Dixie" from 8-10 p.m.
On cable, there's "Being Human" and "Lost Girl" from 9-11 p.m. on SyFy, while ABC Family has "Pretty Little Liars" and "The Lying Game" from 8-10 p.m.
