I’m not a huge fan of theater shows on TV, because I’ve never watched one that seemed anything more than an overblown and out of proportion take on how people in theater act in “real life.” It’s also almost always done in a really campy, not relatable way that people who have never been in theater don’t understand.
Of course I’m sure we’ve all met people who have been in or are in theater. Sure they are a little quirky, but isn’t anyone in a creative industry quirky? However, not ALL of them are crazy weirdos like those creeps on Glee. (Read a good explanation as to why Glee sucks here) Don’t even get me started on the absolute shit hole that is Glee. Smash is nothing like Glee.
First of all, I’m surprised at how well casted this show is. Anjelica Houston, Debra Messing, Katharine McPhee, Megan Hilty and the whole gang were all really good choices. It seems at any moment if you were to run into one of the characters in real life, that they would actually exist as human beings and be believable. Rachel Berry and company on the other hand…
Second, the show takes musical theater on Broadway to a more human level. None of the characters are decidedly so far off the spectrum quirky or “too” theater, whatever that means. The actresses vying for the role of Marilyn on Smash are hard working gals living in NYC who are immersed or trying to break into the acting world. That sounds realistic. And the writers, choreographers and producers seem relatively honest portrayals of professionals in the theater biz as well. They aren’t trying to ruin each others lives (yet) in what seem like cheap and easy, not to mention repetitive, story lines with horrible acting. (I hate Glee.)
All in all, Smash is the least self indulgent theater show I’ve ever seen on television. They’re not (yet) selling an album full of songs that are shittier than the original to everyone with too much expendable income. Basically, Glee is sloppy television and product marketing at its absolute finest; Smash is a tv show (with less obvious marketing) about musical theater in NYC. If I have to pick a show about theater on TV, Imma go with the latter.
2PF 
Glad I got you addicted 🙂 fabulous show.
Yeah I’m really into it. Anjelica Houston is awesome!
‘Smash’ is pretty awesome, but I actually disagree about ‘Glee.’ (I def. wouldn’t try to change your opinions, you like what you like and meh, that’s cool!)
But I’d say some of the storylines and topics ‘Glee’ has chosen to tackle is pretty groundbreaking while dealing with the subject matters in a very tactful manner…homosexuality, religion, teen suicide, to name a few. And while yes, this show is obviously surrealist (almost David Lynch surrealist), it’s very hopeful, which I appreciate.
Appendix to former comment: after reading some of the ‘Glee Sucks’ blog, I can definitely see legit reasons to hate the show. I definitely wouldn’t consider it among my top ten of ‘amazing shows to watch;’ it’s honestly probably my biggest guilty pleasure show, since I won’t touch reality TV with a ten foot pole (minus T&T, because dear god someone needs to be able to give Social Services a full account of those parental atrocities).
Hey, we all have our guilty pleasures. Mine are the kardashian shows. All of them. It’s sickening.
Haha YES. I saw one episode of ‘Keeping Up’ and had to back away from my TV slowly and take a cold shower for like an hour. I can’t go down that road…the combo ‘Glee’ and ‘T&T’ is already pushing the envelope.