Talkin Smash!

Episode 112 Publicity

Guys, it’s the episode with the Bollywood number! We also discuss Dev’s growing resentment of Karen having a life, how good Ellis looks, and we Kent Test everyone’s favorite stage manager-Linda, played by Ann Harada! You can follow Ann Harada on Twitter at @annharada

Scarf Count: 32! A new record!

Publicity

NBC.com Synopsis: Karen finds herself seduced by the glamorous life of new BFF Rebecca Duvall… but can Rebecca be trusted?

Pop Culture References: Bollywood, Steven Spielberg, Marilyn Monroe, Broadway, Joe DiMaggio, Tony Yazbeck, Julie Klausner

The Kent Test: Linda scored a 5. The highest score for a woman of color yet!

Smashlash:

Noel Murray for AV Club: https://www.google.com/amp/s/tv.avclub.com/smash-publicity-1798172527/amp

Under 5 of the Week: Erin Wyatt as Lindsey Mullins IG: @wyattgram

Least Problematic Man of the Week: Tom!

Musical Numbers:

Smash was created by Theresa Rebeck

Tina is @nice_white_lady

We are @talkinsmash

Watch Smash at nbc.com or the NBC app.

Ruth and Tina do a quick debrief directly after the May 20th Bombshell In Concert streaming event. It was before the oh-so-exciting announcement of Smash, A New Musical but we’ll talk about that and more on our next episode coming soon.

Tina is @nice_white_lady

We are @talkinsmash

We celebrate the advent of Uma Thurman on the show, the growing camaraderie of Karen and Ivy, and the sexiness of emotionally available men. We bemoan the musical number of the week and wonder why no one on this show will stand up for musicals?! In the episode, the creative team tries to morph the show to suit their movie star. Ellis’ sexual gamesmanship is foiled by a call waiting fail. Dev is still the worst.

Scarf Count: 13

The Movie Star

NBC.com Synopsis:

Pop Culture References:

Under 5 of the Week: The Guidance Counselor (Betsy Aidem)

Least Problematic Man of the Week: Nick (Thorsten Kaye)

Uma Thurman interview – Feb 3, 2018: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/03/opinion/sunday/this-is-why-uma-thurman-is-angry.html

Musical Numbers:

Dig Deep by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman

But instead of those, watch Audrey Hepburn from “Funny Face”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4G5hUvL-wI

Smash was created by Theresa Rebeck.

Tina is @nice_white_lady

We are @talkinsmash

Like Elizabeth Warren, Ivy has a plan! Julia and an off-screen Frank commit various parenting no-nos. Tony Award winner Christian Borle finally gets a full blown musical number. Tina’s lifelong crush Terrence Mann guest stars! Eileen and Nick’s mature flirtation blossoms into a full blown make-out session. Our love for Wesley Taylor and Ann Harada continues. Derek and Dev are trash. We question whether the show failed to properly credit who played the drama teacher.

Scarf Count: 12

Understudy

NBC.com Synopsis:

Pop Culture References:

Anjelica Houston interview (TW: sexual assault, IPV) https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vulture.com/amp/2019/05/anjelica-huston-in-conversation.html

Under 5 of the Week: The Drama Teacher (Kristine Nielsen?)

Least Problematic Man of the Week: Leo (Emory Cohen)

What Would Tarana Burke Say?:

Trigger warning that Lerner, a white man, uses racist language in this study including the “er” version of the n-word.

Musical Numbers:

Don’t Say Yes Until I Finish Talking written by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman

Never Give All the Heart written by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman

Smash was created by Theresa Rebeck

Tina is @nice_white_lady

We are @talkinsmash

We discuss Ellis’s bisexuality, the heartbreak of learning Lawyer John (Neal Bledsoe) is a Republican, Ivy’s confusing cocktail of medication, Derek is still a whiny baby, Ivy & Karen confront each other, the Julia/Michael adultery song, male anger, and physical violence.

Scarf Count: 10

Hell on Earth

Directed by Paul McGuigan

NBC.com synopsis:

Pop Culture References:

Lianne’s Kent Test Score: 4

The Kent Test was created by Clarkisha Kent. Follow her on Twitter @IWriteAllDay_ and join her Patreon https://www.patreon.com/clarkishakent

Smashlash:

Under 5 of the Week:

Least Problematic Man of the Week:

Musical Numbers:

Smash was created by Theresa Rebeck

Tina is @nice_white_lady

We are @talkinsmash

We discuss how much we hate Mahatma Katie and her imperialist voluntourism, the misuse of super talented Brian D’Arcy James, Wesley Taylor is a damn delight, Dev’s messed up priorities, Smashmath, Ellis might be our favorite character now, the secret Brooklyn rival Marilyn Monroe musical number, Derek & Tom’s history, Tom brings the bad news to Ivy.

Scarf Count: 11

The Coup
Originally aired 3/26/2012

Directed by Paris Barclay
Written by Theresa Rebeck

NBC.com synopsis:
Ivy remains in the dark about her fate, while Derek recruits Karen to help.

Pop Culture References:
NAACP, Director’s Guild of America (DGA), Lord Elgin, Gandhi, Ryan Tedder, One Republic, Heather Graham, Bowfinger, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Grace Gummer, Meryl Streep, Degas, Jonas Brothers, La MaMa, Mandees (still in business!), the West End, Bernard Telsey, Crazy Dreams (Carrie Underwood song), Bebe Neuwirth,

Smashlash:
Hillary Busis-Entertainment Weekly https://ew.com/recap/smash-season-1-episode-8/

Under 5 of the Week AND Least Problematic Man of the Week: Judge Davenport (David Lipman)

What Would Tarana Burke Say?
“Inherently, having privilege isn’t bad, but it’s how you use it, and you have to use it in service of other people.”
https://tinyurl.com/TaranaBurkeGuardian
@TaranaBurke

Musical Numbers:
Three Little Birds written by Bob Marley
Dance to the Music written by Sly Stone
Touch Me written by Bonnie McKee, Noel Zancanella, Ryan Tedder, Brent Kutzle

Smash was created by Theresa Rebeck

Tina is @nice_white_lady
Ruth is @yellow_fairy19

We are @talkinsmash
www.talkinsmash.com

We discuss Bernadette Peters as the retconned version of Ivy’s mother, Karen Cartwright’s demo, Ellis is Amazing Amy, Megan Hilty is a really good actor, time management the day before the workshop, Tina loves Wesley Taylor and will tell you that, Unexpected fun pairings on Smash, we want to work for Eileen, but she needs to work on her racism, how old is Leo supposed to be again?, should Karen have bailed on the workshop?, the zone of being the lead vs. being in the ensemble,

The Workshop 
Directed by Mimi Leder
Written by Jason Grote

Pop culture references: On the Basis of Sex, Deep Impact, Haley Joel Osment, Pay it Forward, M. Night Shymalan, Ava DuVernay, A Wrinkle in Time, #NotALabRat, Hamilton, Mean Girls the Musical, A Chorus Line, Kelly Bishop, Gillian Anderson, All About Eve, Ivan van Hove, A Streetcar Named Desire, Angels in America, The Play that Goes Wrong, The Front Page, John Slattery, John Goodman, Ben Hecht, His Girl Friday, Gone Girl, Tommy Motola, Bruno Mars, G*psy, Tony Awards, Storm Reid, Some Like it Hot, Fran Drescher, How the Irish Became White, Prednisone, Sex & the City, Jenny LaRoche, True West, Ciara, Future, Slings & Arrows, Rachel McAdams, Luke Kirby, Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Take This Waltz, Sarah Polley, Lenny Bruce, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Stage Door, Katharine Hepburn, Alyssa Milano

Songs:
Brighter Than the Sun by Colbie Caillat and Ryan Tedder
Lexington & 52nd Street by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman

Smashlash:
Ken Tucker for Entertainment Weekly: https://www.google.com/amp/s/ew.com/bernadette-peters-workshop/amp/article/2012/03/19/smash-
Noel Murray for A.V. Club:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/tv.avclub.com/smash-the-workshop-1798172037/amp
Hillary Busis for Entertainment Weekly: https://www.google.com/amp/s/ew.com/recap/smash-season-1-episode-7/amp/

Under 5 of the Week: Mason (Hunter Gallagher)

Least Problematic Man of the Week: Sam (Leslie Odom, Jr.)

What Would Tarana Burke Say?
“I don’t think that every single case of sexual harassment has to result in someone being fired; the consequences should vary. But we need a shift in culture so that every single instance of sexual harassment is investigated and dealt with. That’s just basic common sense.”
https://tinyurl.com/TaranaBurkeGuardian
@taranaburke
@MeTooMVMT

Smash was created by Theresa Rebeck

Tina is @nice_white_lady
Ruth is @yellow_fairy19

We are @talkinsmash
www.talkinsmash.com