One upcoming show that is going to be added to the NBC lineup is Steven Spielberg's new musical TV show, "Smash." The show is based on the making of a Broadway show based on the life of Marilyn Monroe. This greatly anticipated series stars Debra Messing, Anjelica Huston, and Katherine McPhee ("American Idol"). The cast will also include stars from Broadway such as Megan Hilty, Christian Borle, and Brian D'Arcy James.
The pilot was directed by Michael Mayer ("Spring Awakening," "American Idiot"), and written by playwrite Theresa Reebek. The Tony award-winning team of Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman serve as producers who also wrote many of the featured songs on the show.
In 1983 there was a Broadway musical called "Marilyn" based on the life of Marilyn Monroe, and it was a major flop. This series has absolutely nothing to do with that Broadway show, according to composer Scott Wittman. Wittman also says that this series will focus on the making of a Broadway show based on the life of Marilyn Monroe for the first year. The series will focus on a different Broadway show each year.
In "Smash", Debra Messing is the lyricist and Christian Borle is the musical composer. Angelica Huston plays the producer who will produce the show. The two choices to play Marilyn are Kathryn McPhee (a newcomer) and Megan Hilty (a theatre veteran). The plot of the show is based on an out-of-town tryout for a Broadway musical. A songwriting team posts a musical on YouTube that ends up going viral. A producer (Anjelica Huston) sees the number and decides that she wants to produce it. The rest of the show revolves around the rivalry between McPhee and Hilty, as well as all of the interpersonal drama, challenge, and success that comes with being involved in a Broadway production.
"Smash" will premier on February 6, 2012 on NBC, the night after Super Bowl XLVI. There is a plan to give the show a lot of heavy promotion during the early winter months. The show will be paired up with the hit show, "The Voice," on Monday nights. There will be 15 episodes the first season.
According to Wikipedia, in June, 2011, "Smash" was honored by the Critic's Choice Television Awards as one of eight honorees in the Most Exciting New Series category. This was based on the viewing of the pilots. Also, in June 2011, NBC signed a deal with Columbia records for a soundtrack of the series.
