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Season 1 – Smash

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Smash 2012 Drama Music Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
80% Tomatometer 46 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
A successful songwriting duo of industry veterans, Julia and Tom have an opportunity to create another Broadway hit, but making it to opening night isn't easy. When tenacious producer Eileen joins the project, a musical based on the life of iconic actress Marilyn Monroe, a rivalry for the lead role percolates between a beautiful novice and a stage veteran who is hoping to catch her big break. While the production is being prepped for opening night, real life has a tendency to get in the way: Julia and her husband are in the midst of a complicated adoption; the producer's divorce proceedings could threaten the production's finances; and the director could derail everything if he puts the star in a compromising position.
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Smash — Season 1

Smash — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Dynamic showstoppers and a unique take on the show business industry make Smash a must-see adult program.

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Critics Reviews

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Tara Ariano Slate Smash may be dumber than your average golden retriever, but its eager need to entertain me is no less endearing. Apr 22, 2021 Full Review John Griffiths Us Weekly Smash weaves all of its burning questions, players' plights and wowza showstoppers with wit and excitement. Break a leg, gang! Rated: 4/5 Sep 14, 2017 Full Review John Stanley San Francisco Chronicle Smash is gloriously entertaining. Rated: 4/4 Feb 21, 2013 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand ... gets high marks for convincingly ready-for-the-big-time original showtunes (thanks to the songwriting team of movie, TV, and Broadway veterans Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman) and a cast filled with stage-seasoned performers ... Apr 30, 2025 Full Review Sarah McMullan The Post NZ With a who’s who of Broadway cameoing, this is loads of fun, truly spectacular, and gives more than a few insights about the business of celebrity along the way. May 23, 2022 Full Review Tom Fitzgerald and Lorenzo Marquez Tom & Lorenzo We want this show to work, but sometimes we think we want it to work more than the actual creators of the show do. Jun 5, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (5) audience reviews
Audience Member I really enjoyed this season. As a musical theatre person myself, I found the songs very enjoyable. The only major problem I had with the show is that, while it sheds a very positive light on its gay characters, something I can always appreciate, all of the straight men are either generally unlikeable or do something stupid in the end that permanently ruins their character, and all the girls, likable or unlikable, are straight. It's a little questionable, but ultimately not enough to weigh the season down. The show does suffer from one major plot hole, however, that most viewers will not notice, but that I personally can't stand, and that is that the characters in the show-within-a-show are made unnecessarily vocally challenging. Marilyn can't go a single song without belting, and Joe Damagio goes between hitting bass notes in History Is Made At Night and belting out a completely avoidable high A in Lexington and 52nd Street. Still, this is a nitpick at most. Great show! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member UNA IDEA INTERESANTE Y ÚNICA, UN CAST PERFECTO Y MÚSICA ALUCINANTE. HACÍAN DE SMASH UNA SERIE DIFERENTE Y CON UN CONCEPTO ÚNICO. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Some actors give better performances than others, but over all this show is a must-see if you like musicals. The music is very memorable, and the powerful scenes are worth the occasional plot-bump. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Although this show has your basic, over-the-top drama, the cast is super talented and pulls it off quite well. You have the superstar voice of Megan Hilty belting out original songs written just for this show, and you have oscar winner Anejlica Huston, and TV star Debra Messing, stealing just about every scene. Some of the subplots can become fluffy, but you will not find another show that portrays Broadway quite as well as this one. Musical fans, this is a must-watch! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member It's a musical show and the best thing about it are the music and the singing that goes along with them. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Smash — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Christian Borle

Tom Levitt

Debra Messing

Julia Houston

Katharine McPhee

Karen Cartwright

Jack Davenport

Derek Wills

Megan Hilty

Ivy Lynn

Anjelica Huston

Eileen Rand

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Feb 6, 2012 Pilot Successful writers Julia and Tom team up with producer Eileen to create a Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe; Ivy, a seasoned chorus singer, competes with a new actress, Karen, for the starring role. Details Episode 2 Aired Feb 13, 2012 Callbacks Ivy and Karen work to please the director as they pursue their dream role; Julia and Frank struggle with the adoption process; Eileen works to finance the musical. Details Episode 3 Aired Feb 20, 2012 Enter Mr. DiMaggio The actor everyone likes for the role of Joe DiMaggio harbors a secret; Karen goes to Iowa for a baby shower and must make a decision about her future; Eileen's ex-husband may have turned potential investors against her. Details Episode 4 Aired Feb 27, 2012 The Cost of Art Karen must learn how to get ahead in the world of Broadway; Derek throws a party for a hot, young celebrity (Nick Jonas); Eileen tests a new fundraising strategy; Tom goes on a date. Details Episode 5 Aired Mar 5, 2012 Let's Be Bad Karen puts her talents to use at a government party; Michael and Julia's drama increases; Eileen joins forces with Tom's assistant; Ivy thinks something is amiss in her relationship with Derek. Details Episode 6 Aired Mar 12, 2012 Chemistry Ivy starts to have problems with her voice; Julia cannot seem to avoid Michael (Will Chase); Eileen and her new pal Ellis hang out at a downtown dive bar; Karen books a side job at a bar mitzvah. Details Episode 7 Aired Mar 19, 2012 The Workshop Eileen, Derek and the team present "Marilyn the Musical" to would-be investors; Ivy struggles to perform; Karen must make a difficult choice; Julia and Michael face the consequences of their actions. Details Episode 8 Aired Mar 26, 2012 The Coup The team deals with the workshop's after-effects; Derek asks Karen to help him steal the show from Tom and Julia; Eileen's daughter's surprise visit forces her to deal with her ex-husband. Details Episode 9 Aired Apr 2, 2012 Hell on Earth Julia and Tom must find a title for the recently reinvigorated musical; Ivy and Karen compete for an orange juice commercial; Frank makes a discovery. Details Episode 10 Aired Apr 9, 2012 Understudy When the show's new star gets stuck in Cuba, Derek puts Karen in as understudy; Tom and Julia celebrate their anniversary. Details Episode 11 Aired Apr 16, 2012 The Movie Star The arrival of a movie star (Uma Thurman) turns "Bombshell" upside-down; Ivy and Karen try to overcome their history and unite against their new rival; Tom and Sam's romance heats up. Details Episode 12 Aired Apr 23, 2012 Publicity Karen is seduced by Rebecca's (Uma Thurman) glamorous life; Eileen's ex-husband meets her new boyfriend; Julia panics when her son disappears. Details Episode 13 Aired Apr 30, 2012 Tech Ivy worries as Derek grows closer to Rebecca (Uma Thurman); Karen has to choose between Dev and the show; Ellen and Julia fight over Michael's possible return; Sam brings Tom to a family dinner. Details Episode 14 Aired May 7, 2012 Previews A crisis hits Rebecca Duvall (Uma Thurman) as "Bombshell" is set to face its first audience; Frank is forced to adjust to Michael's return; Dev tries to reconcile with Karen. Details Episode 15 Aired May 14, 2012 Bombshell As Tom and Julia work to save the show, Derek makes a decision that permanently changes Karen's and Ivy's lives; Ellis' true colors are revealed. Details

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Smash — Season 1

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Season Info

Executive Producer
Steven Spielberg, Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey, Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Theresa Rebeck, David Marshall Grant
Network
NBC
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Drama, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date
Feb 6, 2012
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