Review: Smash, S1, E13 – “Tech”
Air Date: Monday, April 30, 2012, 10/9c on NBC
Rating:
Tech, or should I say technical, issues are at the heart of “Bombshell” after the production heads to Boston and loses its Joe DiMaggio. From a desk being too large, a leading lady with a bad case of the nerves, a director who can’t keep his hands off said leading lady, and a failed marriage proposal, “Tech” presents an excellent look at what can go wrong with a Broadway production before it actually reaches Broadway. Talk about an awful lot of drama!
Ivy and Dennis (Phillip Spaeth) in one of Smash's excellent production numbers
Wait, did Derek (Jack Davenport) just say “I love you” to Ivy (Megan Hilty)? From the look on her face, she was as surprised to hear that declaration as I was. So why is she listening at closed doors and making Ellis (Jaime Cepero) promise to let her know if anything is going on between Derek and Rebecca (Uma Thurman)? Because she doesn’t trust him, that’s why. I don’t blame her. Of all people, Ivy understands Derek the most.
Rebecca feeding Derek a piece of his birthday cake. No wonder Ivy gets pissed!
Rebecca throws a hissy fit when she finds out they’ve lost their Joe DiMaggio. Like most stars who have trouble conquering their nerves, she needs reassurance from her director, and we all know how good Derek is at ‘directing’ his leading ladies. *cough cough* Of course, her performance as Marilyn singing ‘Happy Birthday Mr. Director’ doesn’t hurt. He seems quite turned on by this little show of appreciation, something Ivy seethes over. What is it about men? Why can’t they keep it in their pants? Must they possess every woman who shows even a tiny bit of interest in them? OK, getting off my soap box now. I digress…
True to form, Derek finds it necessary to kiss and do God knows what with Rebecca in her dressing room. Is it to calm her nerves or his, I wonder? He is very stressed, but shouldn’t he be turning to Ivy for comfort? Hilty does an excellent job in this scene as the hurt and perplexed woman. She is to be applauded for taking her character from the I’ll-do-anything-to-get-this-job actress to a character who elicits sympathy as the wronged woman. Something tells me, though, Ivy isn’t going to take this sitting down.
It’s a picture of domesticity now that Frank (Brian d’Arcy James) has moved back in with Julia (Debra Messing) and Leo (Emory Cohen). But this happy little scene is interrupted when Julia learns from Eileen (Angelica Huston) that Michael Swift (Will Chase) is being called back to duty as Joe DiMaggio. I understand why Julia insists Eileen call someone else but you know that’s never going to happen. What’s Eileen supposed to do? Throw the whole production away because Julia can’t handle herself around the guy?
Now that Julia has issued her it’s-me-or-him ultimatum, what’s next? Is she really going to give up “Bombshell?” Or does she expect the show to fold its tent and go quietly into that dark night? I like the advice Nick (Thorsten Kaye) gives Eileen. He’s right that she should hire back Michael and not worry about Julia. “Your responsibility is to the show, not to her. Right now, the show needs Michael.” They really are so cute together.
Check out the innocent look on R.J.'s face! Hah!
While Karen (Katharine McPhee) is busy in Boston, Dev (Raza Jaffrey) is taking sick days to nurse his wounded pride over not getting the job promotion. I’m not sure what R.J. (Tala Ashe) is up to when she brings him a bottle of bourbon but I’m pretty sure she knows exactly what she’s doing. The question is why? She knows Dev is in a relationship with Karen. I thought their little hot and heavy make-out session was going somewhere but at the last minute, Dev refuses. “I’m sorry, I can’t….I’m sorry, R.J, I can’t.” You know, as I’m reading this back in my head, somehow the dialogue doesn’t sound as convincing as it does when Jaffrey utters these words. I love his accent!
Sam (Leslie Odom Jr.) certainly is moving quickly in his relationship with Tom (Christian Borle) when he takes him home to meet his parents. The minute Tom agrees with Sam’s father Ronald (Isiah Whitlock, Jr.) about dancing as a career, I knew it would cause problems between him and Sam while at the same time endearing Tom to Ronald. Odom does a wonderful job when Sam explains to Tom why he chose to be a dancer despite all the inherent pitfalls. His passion comes through, loud and clear but then again, since Odom made his Broadway debut at the tender age of 17 as ‘Paul’ in Rent, I imagine it wasn’t too hard for him to impart that passion. Nevertheless, Odom impresses me both as an actor and dancer.
Ivy belts out Mary J. Blige’s “I’m Goin’ Down” (the original song, “I’m Going Down,” was sung by Rose Royce in the movie Car Wash) in a sing-off with Karen during the last five minutes of the episode. It’s obvious the song is devoted to Derek as she replays in her mind every time Derek has shown interest in another woman. While I love the sadness Ivy brings to this song, I hate that the lyrics have her apologizing for doing something wrong. Why do women always blame themselves when it’s the guy who screwed up in the first place? May I just say that is some set of pipes Hilty has!?
Memorable lines:
Eileen: “You know, I don’t have to go to Boston ‘til the morning, technically.”
Nick: “Oh, I’m closing up early.”
Eileen: “I’m calling the casting director.”
Nick: “Yeah? Do it now because there won’t be time later, I promise you.”
***
Tom to Sam: “You are my best self.”
***
Derek, under his breath: “History is made at night. And in the morning, at lunchtime, during cocktail hour.”
***
A few observations:
I absolutely loved, loved, loved Sam and Tom’s opening number, “Another Op’ng, Another Show” from Kiss Me Kate.
Tom and Sam connecting outside Sam's family home
Sam’s family members were great! They seemed so down to earth and friendly. I’m not sure I bought how nice they were to Tom though, or accepting of their son’s homosexual relationship. Actually, I thought Ronald would have harped on Sam’s relationship rather than his career choice. Just goes to show you how far this country has come, and that’s a good thing.
I’m not sure I understand why Karen uses tech as an excuse for not accepting Dev’s proposal. I mean, it’s not like they’re going to get married this minute! So yeah, it’s just an excuse.
How many times could the writers use “It’s tech!” during one episode?
Could they possibly have more drama in one episode? I felt like I was watching a night time soap opera instead of an intelligent musical drama about Broadway.
***
A dejected Dev after Karen turns him away
What kind of woman turns down her boyfriend’s marriage proposal—especially when he flies from New York to Boston to ask her? I’ll tell you. A career driven woman, which is exactly what Karen is. All she can say in response to Dev is, “I’m in tech…It’s not a yes or a no; I’m in tech.” True, it’s bad timing but does Karen have to be so harsh with Dev? The realization on his face as he comes to understand the show is more important to Karen than he could ever be is sad. But does he have to come on to Ivy at the bar where he’s drowning his sorrows? The minute she sat down next to him I knew what was coming. And from the looks of the promo for next week, I’m right. And that’s just sad.
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All photos © 2012 NBC Universal, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Linda
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