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post #301 of 375
3/14/13 at 11:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by archiguy View Post

I'd pay to see a real musical based on the songs and original book of Bombshell. Especially if Megan Hilty played the lead! Perhaps that's going to the enduring legacy of this show.

Agreed and the Bombshell CD is very good. As far as TV goes, however, I think that Brother gwsat hit it right on the head about Hilty. The camera just doesn't like her very much. She is clearly a very pretty actress but her good looks can sometimes appear a bit harsh onscreen.
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post #302 of 375
3/14/13 at 12:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cal1981 View Post

Agreed and the Bombshell CD is very good. As far as TV goes, however, I think that Brother gwsat hit it right on the head about Hilty. The camera just doesn't like her very much. She is clearly a very pretty actress but her good looks can sometimes appear a bit harsh onscreen.

I have to disagree. I think she's gorgeous and the camera thinks so too. Trust me. Those curves! Ooh, la, la! Marilyn was pretty curvy too and never a skinny gal, which is why I think Hilty resembles her the most.
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post #303 of 375
3/14/13 at 1:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cal1981 View Post

Agreed and the Bombshell CD is very good. As far as TV goes, however, I think that Brother gwsat hit it right on the head about Hilty. The camera just doesn't like her very much. She is clearly a very pretty actress but her good looks can sometimes appear a bit harsh onscreen.

Quote:
Originally Posted by archiguy View Post

I have to disagree. I think she's gorgeous and the camera thinks so too. Trust me. Those curves! Ooh, la, la! Marilyn was pretty curvy too and never a skinny gal, which is why I think Hilty resembles her the most.

I agree that Megan Hilty is a pretty girl, even on cameral. When I said the camera didn't love her, I meant that she lacks the kind of etherial beauty that Katharine McPhee and a number of Hollywood actresses have. In short, I think HIlty would make a great Marilyn anywhere. By the way did somebody recently post that by saying Hilty was an accomplished actress, a fine singer, and an excellent dancer and so would be a great Marilyn in a Broadway production of Bombshell, I was conceding that a man could play Marilyn just as well? Surely not, I must be hallucinating.smile.gif
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post #304 of 375
3/14/13 at 1:58pm
If I were in a theater, 50 or more rows back, I'm sure I'd enjoy Hilty as Marilyn, but on the small screen, she's just too squatty on the visual side, features to large and broad for me to get past her appearance. That said, I'm getting tired of Bombshell and more intrigued by the music and style of Hitless. Looks like there's going to be a pushme/pullyou going on with the leads/directors and producers of the shows anyway. I wouldn't mind seeing the entire Bombshell cast and storyline flushed.
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post #305 of 375
3/14/13 at 1:58pm
If I were in a theater, 50 or more rows back, I'm sure I'd enjoy Hilty as Marilyn, but on the small screen, she's just too squatty on the visual side, features to large and broad for me to get past her appearance. That said, I'm getting tired of Bombshell and more intrigued by the music and style of Hitless. Looks like there's going to be a pushme/pullyou going on with the leads/directors and producers of the shows anyway. I wouldn't mind seeing the entire Bombshell cast and storyline flushed.
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post #306 of 375
3/14/13 at 5:22pm
Wow. I just don't get it. My wife and I frequently discuss that the least plausible thing about Smash is the idea that anyone would cast McPhee over Hilty for any role on a live stage, but especially for a part as Marilyn Monroe.

I agree that I am about done with the Bombshell story line and wouldn't mind seeing it flushed.
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post #307 of 375
3/14/13 at 6:38pm
To each his own, but for me Katharine McPhee has the magic - beauty not only physical but musical. Hilty is a phenomenal singer as well but when McPhee sings a gorgeous ballad, I get chills. More so than with Hilty or Jennifer Hudson, for that matter. That said, I think the low ratings from last season led the panicky producers or network execs to veer off in a disastrous direction. I thought that Smash was a sensational show last year with a few minor annoyances. This year they've decided they have to be more relevant to their target audience, get away from traditional broadway songs - some of which, by the way, were wonderful last year - and go with a contemporary sound and musical genre. The problem is, songs from today that sound "relevant" and are really good are fairly rare, and it's doubtful that any great ones will find their way to the screen in Smash. So they dump the fabulous songs from the first season in order to pander to people who probably aren't going to bite anyway. Even aside from the music, the plotting is incredibly bad. The new sex symbol is supposed to be Jimmy, except that my wife finds him totally unlikeable and obnoxious, doesn't understand why Karen would be interested in him, and now refuses to watch the show - one of her favorites from last year - any more. Brain dead executive decisions, in my opinion.
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post #308 of 375
3/14/13 at 7:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cwilson View Post

To each his own, but for me Katharine McPhee has the magic - beauty not only physical but musical. Hilty is a phenomenal singer as well but when McPhee sings a gorgeous ballad, I get chills. More so than with Hilty or Jennifer Hudson, for that matter. That said, I think the low ratings from last season led the panicky producers or network execs to veer off in a disastrous direction. I thought that Smash was a sensational show last year with a few minor annoyances. This year they've decided they have to be more relevant to their target audience, get away from traditional broadway songs - some of which, by the way, were wonderful last year - and go with a contemporary sound and musical genre. The problem is, songs from today that sound "relevant" and are really good are fairly rare, and it's doubtful that any great ones will find their way to the screen in Smash. So they dump the fabulous songs from the first season in order to pander to people who probably aren't going to bite anyway. Even aside from the music, the plotting is incredibly bad. The new sex symbol is supposed to be Jimmy, except that my wife finds him totally unlikeable and obnoxious, doesn't understand why Karen would be interested in him, and now refuses to watch the show - one of her favorites from last year - any more. Brain dead executive decisions, in my opinion.

Despite my admiration for Hilty's talent, I agree that McPhee is incredibly beautiful and sings equally beautifully. I also agree that except when he sings, Jimmy, played by Jeremy Jordan, is consistently annoying. My daughter doesn't like the Jimmy character either. Could be that this is because the guy is somebody only a mother could love?smile.gif Unlike Glee when, at least to me, its quality started to deteriorate, I haven't found much to complain about where the music used in Smash is concerned. The plot, while silly, remains fairly compelling to my way of thinking, thanks in large measure to a number of very talented actors such as Jack Davenport, Christian Borle, and Anjelica Huston. I also really like the guy who plays the new sleazeball producer. I loved the guy on Rubicon too.
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post #309 of 375
3/15/13 at 9:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cwilson View Post

To each his own, but for me Katharine McPhee has the magic - beauty not only physical but musical. Hilty is a phenomenal singer as well but when McPhee sings a gorgeous ballad, I get chills..

I'm with you on her singing, but she doesn't have any stage presence. At all. She looks fantastic on a TV show where they feature her in close-ups, especially with a DP who is already moving the camera a lot in interesting ways to jazz up the musical numbers. If I wanted to see just a musical concert, or if I was making a music video, McPhee would be the choice. But she'd be lost and completely unmemorable in a performance on a big stage in front of a live audience where cameras can't help her. She's clearly a TV actress. There's nothing about her performance that would make her stand out from the ensemble in even a mid sized theater. And that's why it isn't at all believable that she'd be cast as the lead on a Broadway show.
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post #310 of 375
3/15/13 at 9:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by vfxproducer View Post


But she'd be lost and completely unmemorable in a performance on a big stage in front of a live audience where cameras can't help her.

 

I think she proved just the opposite over 6 years ago with Somewhere Over the Rainbow. And to think she hasn't matured since then is rather silly...

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post #311 of 375
3/15/13 at 9:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles R View Post

I think she proved just the opposite over 6 years ago with Somewhere Over the Rainbow. And to think she hasn't matured since then is rather silly...

Well, it's not evident in any of her performances in Smash. that's for sure. Especially compared to Hilty, which are the choices presented in the show.
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post #312 of 375
3/15/13 at 9:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by vfxproducer View Post

I'm with you on her singing, but she doesn't have any stage presence. At all. She looks fantastic on a TV show where they feature her in close-ups, especially with a DP who is already moving the camera a lot in interesting ways to jazz up the musical numbers. If I wanted to see just a musical concert, or if I was making a music video, McPhee would be the choice. But she'd be lost and completely unmemorable in a performance on a big stage in front of a live audience where cameras can't help her. She's clearly a TV actress. There's nothing about her performance that would make her stand out from the ensemble in even a mid sized theater. And that's why it isn't at all believable that she'd be cast as the lead on a Broadway show.

I agree that McPhee lacks the chops to be very good on a Broadway stage. While her singing is incredible, her beauty wouldn't help much on a stage, where the audience is far away. There are no closeups on Broadway. Worse, McPhee is a mediocre actress, at best, and a rather poor dancer. But, boy, she is gorgeous and she can really sing!
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post #313 of 375
3/15/13 at 10:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by vfxproducer View Post


Well, it's not evident in any of her performances in Smash. that's for sure. Especially compared to Hilty, which are the choices presented in the show.

 

Oh I don't know... in a scene or two (with the blonde wig) she appeared to be channeling Norma Jeane (her early years) to a large degree... I'm not so much for her rather I'm anti Megan Hilty as Marilyn. Take My Week with Marilyn where Michelle Williams even won an Oscar nomination at times it was tough to see her as Marilyn. It requires a channeling per se and if that isn't there (for me) the rest really doesn't matter. As talented as Megan may be I see the famous line coming into play...

 

"Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."


Edited by Charles R - 3/15/13 at 10:24am
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post #314 of 375
3/15/13 at 10:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles R View Post

Oh I don't know... in a scene or two (with the blonde wig) she appeared to be channeling Norma Jeane (her early years) to a large degree... I'm not so much for her rather I'm anti Megan Hilty as Marilyn. Take My Week with Marilyn where Michelle Williams even won an Oscar nomination at times it was tough to see her as Marilyn. It requires a channeling per se and if that isn't there (for me) the rest really doesn't matter. As talented as Megan may be I see the famous line coming into play...


"Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. 
Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy
."

We thought that Michelle Williams nailed the role in My Weekend. There were certain scenes where she looked eerily like Marilyn (ie: the bathtub scene in the country getaway). And there was that one moment in that country sequence where she was coming down the stairs after the press had discovered her whereabouts and she turns to Colin and says "should I become HER?" and snaps right into the MM blonde bombshell persona. It was perfect.
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post #315 of 375
3/15/13 at 10:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles R View Post

Oh I don't know... in a scene or two (with the blonde wig) she appeared to be channeling Norma Jeane (her early years) to a large degree... I'm not so much for her rather I'm anti Megan Hilty as Marilyn. Take My Week with Marilyn where Michelle Williams even won an Oscar nomination at times it was tough to see her as Marilyn. It requires a channeling per se and if that isn't there (for me) the rest really doesn't matter. As talented as Megan may be I see the famous line coming into play...


"Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. 
Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy
."

Although I like Hilty more than you do, I agree than any portrayal of Marilyn Monroe will have its weaknesses. Because Monroe was such a bigger than life, one of a kind, original, even the massively talented Michelle Williams couldn't bring it off completely successfully. The camera really did love Marilyn Monroe.smile.gif
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post #316 of 375
3/15/13 at 10:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by gwsat View Post

The camera really did love Marilyn Monroe.smile.gif

 

For me it's not looks rather presence for lack of a better description. Made up of various qualities (and many others) I posted earlier.

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post #317 of 375
3/15/13 at 11:48am
McPhee can sort of sing. Maybe Hilty benefits from autotune, but I haven't noticed it. I did notice that electronic sound in McPhee's singing on the number with the Pepsi-Cola sign in the background.

The whole Marilyn Monroe thing really seemed like a good idea in season 1, but it just turned into hero worship. You hardly hear "Monroe" at all in the series, it's Marilyn Marilyn Marilyn enough already.

And the new music stuff isn't all that interesting, and the composer is just too annoying. It's like maybe he might improve if someone had a session with a Louisville slugger and him at some point, and the sooner the better.

But somehow there's enough of a glimmer of what theater in New York must be like to still have a certain something that draws people back. I keep coming back, anyway.
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post #318 of 375
3/15/13 at 1:34pm
The music so far introduced for Hitless reminds me of the style of Rent which I loved. Bombshells new tunes just seem like typical Broadway smaltz. McPhee's voice lends itself, as does Jimmy's, to a more Rentish sound. I like it alot.
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post #319 of 375
3/15/13 at 2:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron Temple View Post

The music so far introduced for Hitless reminds me of the style of Rent which I loved. Bombshells new tunes just seem like typical Broadway smaltz. McPhee's voice lends itself, as does Jimmy's, to a more Rentish sound. I like it alot.

As abrasive and unlikable as Jimmy is, I forgive him when he sings. To one degree or another, I have liked all of this season's music, In stark contrast, I reached the point in Glee where I was fast forwarding through about 75 percent of the numbers because the many bland top whatever pop songs being performed bored me. I put all of the Rent music a cut above that and have also thought that the stuff credited to Jimmy in Smash has been thoughtful, beautiful, and beautifully performed.
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post #320 of 375
3/15/13 at 5:55pm
Whatever the future of 'Smash', at least the wonderfully curvy and tremendously talented Megan Hilty is cashing in on this extra 15 minutes the show has given her. You go girl!

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/03/15/3916340/smash-star-hilty-delivers-unexpected.html
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post #321 of 375
3/15/13 at 11:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by archiguy View Post

Whatever the future of 'Smash', at least the wonderfully curvy and tremendously talented Megan Hilty is cashing in on this extra 15 minutes the show has given her. You go girl!

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/03/15/3916340/smash-star-hilty-delivers-unexpected.html

She has a new solo CD out, ya know.

http://www.amazon.com/Happens-All-Time-Megan-Hilty/dp/B00AL6SM2G/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1363413312&sr=1-1&keywords=Megan+Hilty
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post #322 of 375
3/16/13 at 6:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by domino92024 View Post

She has a new solo CD out, ya know.

http://www.amazon.com/Happens-All-Time-Megan-Hilty/dp/B00AL6SM2G/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1363413312&sr=1-1&keywords=Megan+Hilty

Well yeah, that's kind of what the linked article referred to.
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post #323 of 375
3/16/13 at 7:51am
Couldn't bear to watch another episode, deleted it along with the season pass. Found myself only watching it because McPhee has been looking so good this season.
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post #324 of 375
3/16/13 at 9:35am

I think the new direction of Smash has been a bit of a mish-mash, but I'm still watching.  I agree with the apparent consensus that Hilty would be the "real" choice, but the (close-up) camera loves McPhee.  She really is a pretty mediocre actress, but good singer.  I've always loved Hilty and her Glinda in Wicked is the best I've ever seen (plenty of youtube evidence of that performance).  Smash is likely doomed beyond this season, but I like so many of the actors that I overlook the problems and will watch to the end.  As someone else said, it was far easier to give up completely on Glee than on Smash.  Knowing that it will probably be canceled makes it easier to deal with, vs. getting bad news suddenly.  Broadway based content is rare on tv, so I'll enjoy the ride while I can, nits notwithstanding.

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post #325 of 375
3/18/13 at 8:02am

Given the article on Smash posted in HOTP concerning the plummet in ratings and NBC moving it to Saturdays, I'd say the writing is officially on the wall that this is the end.  Christian Borle even comments that he was "excited" that NBC has agreed to run all 17 episodes.  That alone sounds like a death knell.  Enjoy it while it lasts.

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post #326 of 375
3/18/13 at 8:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by flint350 View Post

Given the article on Smash posted in HOTP concerning the plummet in ratings and NBC moving it to Saturdays, I'd say the writing is officially on the wall that this is the end.  Christian Borle even comments that he was "excited" that NBC has agreed to run all 17 episodes.  That alone sounds like a death knell.  Enjoy it while it lasts.

Yep, as much as I have loved Smash, I agree that it will almost certainly be cancelled when this season ends. I'll miss it.
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post #327 of 375
3/18/13 at 11:27am
In my opinion McPhee is a really good actress. Whether she could do costume drama or play a character entirely unlike herself, who knows, but in Smash she seems entirely natural. In comparison, Jennifer Hudson is unconvincing.
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post #328 of 375
3/19/13 at 7:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cwilson View Post

In my opinion McPhee is a really good actress. Whether she could do costume drama or play a character entirely unlike herself, who knows, but in Smash she seems entirely natural. In comparison, Jennifer Hudson is unconvincing.

Although I don't think Kathryn McPhee is much of an actress, I readily agree that her Smash performances have been far superior to those of the wooden and unconvincing Jennifer Hudson. My disappointment with Hudson's performances in Smash have left me wondering how she managed to win an Oscar? I guess it was the well known performance of a lifetime in the role of a lifetime phenomenon. I loved Hudson in her Oscar winning performance in Dreamgirls but in it she was a fat kid with a huge voice playing a fat kid with a huge voice, so maybe that explains the Oscar. Hudson's performance in Dreamgirls of And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going was dazzlingly wonderful.
Edited by gwsat - 3/19/13 at 8:21am
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post #329 of 375
3/20/13 at 10:13am
Mixed feelings about last night's show. No great shock about Karen bowing out of Bombshell and Ivy stepping in. Tom was running Karen around in circles. Whether that was, in part, deliberate is an open question. My suspicion is that his long time friendship with and allegiance to Ivy may have shaded his handling of Karen. Even if Ivy wouldn't have been available, my feeling is that Tom wanted Karen to be Ivy. I've found myself growing somewhat disenchanted with his character lately. From the tease it looks like he tees off Eileen royally so who knows what will happen with Bombshell. The final number between Jimmy and Karen was very good. McPhee looked incredible. She really is drop dead gorgeous and the camera just loves her.
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post #330 of 375
3/20/13 at 10:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cal1981 View Post

The final number between Jimmy and Karen was very good. McPhee looked incredible. She really is drop dead gorgeous and the camera just loves her.

I agree that the final duet between Karen (Kathryn McPhee) and Jimmy (Jeremy Jordan) was beautiful indeed. Both Jordan and McPhee have beautiful voices and a lot of musical talent to go with them. They blended terrifically. I thought the earlier duet between Jimmy and Ana (Krysta Rodriguez) was equally beautiful. Jordan and Rodriguez' performance of that number reminded me what talented, Broadway seasoned, actors can do. Despite its soapy qualities, I am still loving Smash and will probably keep on loving it until its sad, but seemingly inevitable, cancellation.
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