Some bubble shows were saved in the 11th hour as the major broadcast networks roll out their Fall 2013 schedules this week in lavish upfront presentations taking place in New York City. Saved from cancellation are:
Category: Alison Green
FROM SMASH TO TRASH – HOW NBC KILLED “SMASH”
When Smash premiered to smash ratings on Feb 6, 2012 it seemed it could do no wrong. It had all the elements and then some. With Steven Spielberg on board as Executive Producer and a stellar talent packed cast of TV veterans like Debra Messing, brilliant newbies like American Idols Katharine McPhee and Jennifer Hudson lending their formidable pipes; Broadway legends including Bernadette Peters and Liza Minnelli to give authenticity and Hollywood A-listers like Angelica Huston and Uma Thurman how could Smash go wrong? Add to this smoldering Brit bad boy, Jack Davenport, hopping from bed to bed with all his leading ladies and ingenious stunt casting like bringing Sean Hayes back from obscurity to reunite with Messing plus a credible Broadway soundtrack and endless glossy production numbers it was like catching a play every week. Even better because we got to go behind the scenes and live the juicy backstabbing, politicking, angst and trauma that goes with the turf.