Product Description Emmy Award® winner Debra Messing (Will & Grace), Academy Award® winner Anjelica Huston (Prizzi's Honor), Megan Hilty (Broadway's Wicked) and American Idol's Katharine McPhee star in the groundbreaking, critically acclaimed series Smash. Talented newcomer Karen Cartwright (McPhee) is up for the role of a lifetime in a new Broadway musical based on the iconic Marilyn Monroe. The only thing standing in her way is Ivy Lynn (Hilty), a seasoned theater veteran who is determined to land the part herself and will stop at nothing to realize her own dreams of fame. Also starring Tony® Award winner Christian Borle (Broadway's Peter and the Starcatcher) and Jack Davenport (Pirates of the Caribbean). Watch all 15 "gloriously entertaining" (Robert Bianco, USA Today) episodes back to back and uninterrupted in this 4-disc set, filled with fantastic musical performances, stunning production numbers and scandalous backstage dramas, with never-before-seen bonus features including Deleted Scenes, Featurettes and more!Bonus Content:Disc 1 - Smash Season One:Deleted and Extended ScenesDisc 2 - Smash Season One:Deleted ScenesDisc 3 - Smash Season One:Deleted and Extended ScenesDisc 4 - Smash Season One:Deleted ScenesGag ReelA Dream Come TrueSong & Dance]]> .com The "show within a show" concept gets a full-throttle workout in Smash, released here with all 15 first-season episodes on four discs. The many trials and tribulations involved in mounting a Broadway production, in this case a musical about the life of Marilyn Monroe, are depicted in creator Theresa Rebeck's TV series. But there's an operatic element here, too--soap operatic, that is, as the behind-the-scenes tumult is designed to be a good deal juicier than what happens onstage. Not that the legendary Monroe ("There was something about her," says one character. "How much she wanted to love and be loved… reminds me of a saint") isn't a good subject. But the particulars of her story will be familiar to most viewers. Less recognizable will be the process--from conception to creation to casting, from securing financing to rehearsals to workshops to previews--that preoccupies Smash's characters from start to finish. Vying for the lead role are Karen Cartwright (American Idol's Katharine McPhee), an ingénue from Iowa (Smash is definitely not cliché-free), and Broadway veteran Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty); one would think that the rivalry's over once Ivy sleeps with arrogant Brit director Derek Wills (Jack Davenport) and gets the gig, but one would be mistaken. Meanwhile, songwriter Julia Houston (Debra Messing) struggles with both her marriage and her love life, which are by no means the same; her writing partner, Tom Levitt (Christian Borle), in addition to his own relationship issues, has a sneaky, duplicitous assistant (Jaime Cepero) who may be the real villain of the piece; and producer Eileen Rand (Anjelica Huston) is in the midst of a bitter divorce. Many will find all of this entertainingly addictive. The songs (written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman), while hardly classics, are good, as are the big production numbers. And while some of the subplots are silly (when her voice falters, Ivy must decide between taking steroids or being replaced by Karen) and some seem superfluous (like Julia and her husband's attempt to adopt a Chinese baby), others ring true (Ivy's mother, a Broadway legend played by Bernadette Peters, could hardly be less supportive), and overall, the depiction of show biz as a maddening mess of passions, betrayals, back-biting, infighting, and (often illicit) sex is engaging and fun. In addition to Peters, guest stars include Nick Jonas and Uma Thurman, while among the bonus features are extended musical numbers, deleted scenes, and making-of featurettes. --Sam Graham
B**Y
Excellent show shines on dvd !!!
It was a long wait to get SMASH on dvd but here it is and the wait was well worth it. I fell in love with this show from the first second of the first episode with Katharine McPhee singing the intro to SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW. I love the theater and was so excited that a tv show was actually going to honestly display what went into the production and making of a musical. This show is different than any other on tv. The cast is amazing. Debra Messing, Angelica Huston and Jack Davenport are stars known for other tv roles and these roles are like nothing they have ever done. And we get Megan Hilty and Christian Borle direct from the Broadway and theater world. All shine. Borle and Messing in particular have a great chemistry.The plot takes many twists and turns and will keep you totally enthralled. What holds it all together like glue are the amazing musical numbers. There are some current songs performed but the best are the songs written for the musical MARILYN that the show is about putting together. And for me the true star here is Katharine McPhee. I have always been a fan but the dimensions of her musical talent are astounding. Her voice is strong, beautiful, powerful and emotive. When she sings BEAUTIFUL tears will come to your eyes. But what is most exciting is how well she meets all the demands of music within a Broadway show. Her singing of the show tunes in combination with her superb dancing is the highlight here for me. She's definitely got the IT factor. Each episode has shining moments and the whole cast is exceptional but for me the whole season builds to the superb final episode and in particular the closing song. What a high note to end the season on. There are only 15 episodes here but they perfectly build a story of relationships, drama, dreams, fears, trials and tribulations while showing all the steps in the making of a musical.My only disappointment is that the show was only released on dvd. I was waiting in high anticipation for a blu ray of this. The show with all its glitz and glam and superb musical numbers definitely merited it and I also think all true die hard fans would have gone with the blu ray. But I will settle for the dvd. I've already rewatched the entire 15 episodes twice and I highly recommend getting this show on dvd. And don't think you have to love the theater to like this show. As stated the acting is superb, and the music will pull you in. The rivalry between Hilty and McPhee is a fun factor in the season but just a glimpse into the whole story line there is. I can't wait for season 2 in February! Ane more McPhee!
F**R
Fun
Watched this with my 15 year old. WE really enjoyed it
M**N
Best Music Show Ever on TV
I loved the whole season from the start to the end. It has excellent acting and singers. Katharine McPhee was just great. She should have won American Idol but she has won even more by getting this show. Anjelica Huston was outstanding in her part. Debra Messing was the best Actor in the whole show, she has been great. I hope she sings more in the next season. Megan Hilty was a wonderful surprise as an actress and an actor. I never had seen her before but I know she was in Wicked and other Musicals but she was very exciting to watch to see what she would do next, and did it well. ALL the actors were so good. I understand they have fired many of the other actors and the writer for the next season but I know it will be better and more music I understand. Thanks Steven Spielberg for Producing this show great idea.The Original music was so good. This was about Marilyn Monroe the Musical and when they got it done I wish it was a real musical because I would love to watch it live. They did an excellent job putting it all together.I cant wait until the next season and hope it goes on forever. There has never ben anything like it.It is going to be difficult to match the first season but I hear it will be better from reading about it. I give it 5+ stars for the originality and the Music as well as the acting. Of coarse the story too. Thanks for the show.
K**Y
Smash Season 1: Better get it while you can!
The concept, production design, and quality of writing and musical talent during the first season of Smash was wonderful. I read several reviews of the show that complained of "uneven-ness" and a lack of consistency throughout the episodes -- but as an old theater rat and choreographer I didn't notice -- I thought it was great. The caliber of musical composition, orchestration, and execution was superb. I think I have most of the songs on my iPhone and listen to them at least once a week.The central theme of this show and its very impressive cast is to bring the story of Marilyn Monroe to Broadway -- as a musical. The dichotomies present in Monroe's life and subsequent death, her marriages, heartbreaks, liaisons, and substance abuse present a huge challenge to the endeavor. Throughout development, the cast and artistic team face one crisis after another as they all move toward a trial run in Boston. Compound this with a good-old cat fight between two young, driven actresses vying for the role of Marilyn and this show was definitely worth a weekly watch. Sadly, the second season, which has only begun, reflects major changes in the production of this series during hiatus.The changes are not for the better and truthfully, I don't expect Smash to make it. That said, I can already say --- I have only downloaded one song from Season 2 and I will not be purchasing it on DVD. This week NBC announced the show was moving to Saturday night. I think that about sums it up.
Trustpilot
1 day ago
2 weeks ago
