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#1 |
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practical experience, FTW
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,557
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Smash
I really wanted to like this. I thought I'd heard that the critics liked it, so I was expecting it to be good.
Some of the musical/dance numbers are great, but beyond that? The connecting bits actively annoyed me, rather than (as in Glee, for example) ranging from okay to amusing. Is it just me? Am I missing something? |
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#2 |
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Whose Idea Was This?
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: California
Posts: 971
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I'm not loving it. Might give it another episode or two.
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Available from Amazon: Storybook Love: A romance novella set at a storybook park. Something Old, Something New: A short story set at a storybook park. www.carolayer.com |
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#3 |
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all hail zombie babies!
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Rocky Mountains
Posts: 2,528
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I couldn't make it through the first episode. I kept thinking, "I thought this was supposed to be good." It's not. It feels like it's trying WAY too hard. It's off the DVR now, but I will probably check back on this thread to see if it's improved. Sad, really, I wanted to like it too.
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stephantrain.com Curiosity killed the cat. Satisfaction brought it back "The first draft of anything is s***." Ernest Hemingway |
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#4 |
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practical experience, FTW
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,557
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Nice to know it's not just me being cranky. I REALLY wanted to like this.
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#5 |
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I write stuff.
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: New Yawk
Posts: 2,508
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I'm sorry that you aren't enjoying it as much as I am -- I greatly enjoyed the first two episodes, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the season.
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The final book in the Riders of the Apocalypse series: BREATH (April 16, 2013, from Harcourt Graphia) by Jackie Morse Kessler And coming spring 2014, from Month9Books: TO BEAR AN IRON KEY Never give up! |
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#6 |
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Bah Humbug
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: California
Posts: 3,634
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I love it! Some friends are, too.
Every show has growing pains to get through in the first season. |
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#7 |
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Out, damn'd spot! out, I say.
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,206
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I've really enjoyed it so far.
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#8 | ||
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Who let this guy in...?
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: On the rooftoop where he climbed when the laughter grew too loud...
Posts: 1,516
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Quote:
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Last edited by JohnnyGottaKeyboard; 02-17-2012 at 03:30 PM. |
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#9 |
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THE FRIDAY SOCIETY is out now!!!!
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 7,434
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I really have been enjoying it. Unlike GLEE the musical numbers are there to support the story, as opposed to the story being there to support the musical numbers. I like how dark it is, how they really are trying to show a decent behind the scenes of the Broadway theatre scene. It's a show for grownups.
I agree there is a bit too much set-up and exposition at times, but maybe after watching ONCE UPON A TIME, it's just a relief that it isn't a constant barrage . I think once it gets into its groove (both literally and figuratively), and we get to know the characters better etc, they will lessen the exposition. At least I hope so. But for now, I'm most pleasantly surprised.
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#10 |
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practical experience, FTW
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: california
Posts: 5,673
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Yeah, I'm mixed. Really liked Debra Messing and Katherine McPhee, but I didn't feel as drawn into caring about what's going to happen. I mean, does anybody really feel any suspense about whether or not McPhee will land the part?
I think the other thing that makes it harder to connect with is that it is an original musical. With Glee, there's at least one song on every episode that I know well. It's fun to see how they do it, and I can sing along if no one else is home... With Smash, the songs are good for the most part, but they're unfamiliar. By the time I "get" what they're singing about, the song is over and gone. Don't know if that makes sense... It just makes it a completely different kind of experience for me.
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represented by Jenny Bent of the Bent Agency. Most happy. |
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#11 |
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THE FRIDAY SOCIETY is out now!!!!
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 7,434
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How many episodes have you seen? Because they have been doing a mix of original and familiar songs, which I think is quite savvy. Like when McPhee auditioned w/ Beautiful.
Also, as far as a forgone conclusion goes . . . keep watching . . . (not saying you're right or wrong, just saying it's not as straightforward as it might seem at the start).
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#12 |
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Bah Humbug
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: California
Posts: 3,634
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Yeah, episode 2 needs to be watched if one hasn't seen it already. The letter, and the reading of it, was beautiful.
The girl throwing up doesn't have to mean bulimia - a lot of people puke from nerves, both male and female. A bulimic wouldn't have the energy to work on Broadway, anyway. |
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#13 | |
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Who let this guy in...?
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: On the rooftoop where he climbed when the laughter grew too loud...
Posts: 1,516
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Oh, I wasn't referring to bulimia, I was referring to pregnant. It will give them an out when they need to give the lead role to the next girl in line.
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#14 |
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Out, damn'd spot! out, I say.
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,206
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#15 |
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Twirling in a glass of champagne
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: California
Posts: 194
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I love Smash. I'm a sucker for theater-based plots, so I tuned in with high expectations that were, for the most part, matched. I do find Debra Messing's adoption/family sub-plot a snore, and I hope they don't break up Karen and Dev (such a sweet and positive relationship!), but for now I'm hooked.
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#16 | ||
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Who let this guy in...?
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: On the rooftoop where he climbed when the laughter grew too loud...
Posts: 1,516
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Quote:
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#17 | |
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Out, damn'd spot! out, I say.
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,206
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Quote:
I wondered that too. The guy playing the director was in Pirates of the Caribbean. He played Norrington. |
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#18 |
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Behold, yon interrobang!
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: WIP it, WIP it good...
Posts: 13,254
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I know him better as Steve in the British sitcom Coupling.
I'm another one who really wanted to like this, as well. I'm finding the parts about the production of the play itself more interesting than the "human element" stories around them. I'll probably give it one more episode; I'm surprised I've watched the first two because I don't even like Debra Messing.
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When you aren't looking, this sentence is in Courier font. ![]() i can haz blogg nao? On The Frizz |
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#19 |
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Bah Humbug
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: California
Posts: 3,634
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Yeah, the son is the same - same voice.
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#20 |
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Out, damn'd spot! out, I say.
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,206
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The song Megan Hilty sings at the end of episode 2 is beautiful. "Crazy Dreams."
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#21 |
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Not so new, not so much a kid
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,488
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I didn't even consider that she was pregnant, I just thought she was really nervous about everything. But I guess that would give them a way to give it to Katherine McPhee.
I'm really liking it. I like that the songs are there as part of rehearsals/auditions whatever. So far they've only done one random walking-down-the-street singing scene, which isn't too bad. I'm not a big fan of those, but I do know there will be more of them. But it's a fun little show.
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#22 |
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THE FRIDAY SOCIETY is out now!!!!
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 7,434
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But even that walking down the street singing thing was technically them singing their audition song. I know when I've had singing auditions, I sing my way to my audition, practicing the song. Maybe not as obviously or as proudly, but yup, definitely out loud in public
.
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#23 | |
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Who let this guy in...?
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: On the rooftoop where he climbed when the laughter grew too loud...
Posts: 1,516
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Ooh, even tho i said how much I liked this show previously, tonight's episode was horrible.
Debra Messing's character spills her darkest secret that she has been toting around for 5 years and doesn't have sense enough to say: "Are we alone?" The dancer asks the composer on a date but really the scene is just a device to start the word spreading that the director is sleeping with the star? And the evil assistant is straight? It all felt very contrived tonight. The only part I enjoyed was the pissing match between the two Brits. And AH throwing her drinks...
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#24 |
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THE FRIDAY SOCIETY is out now!!!!
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 7,434
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Johnny - I agree with everything you wrote above. Including the best bits
.
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#25 | |
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I write stuff.
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: New Yawk
Posts: 2,508
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Quote:
Is it too much to hope that at the end of the season, they'll actually put together the Marilyn musical and make that available as a movie?
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The final book in the Riders of the Apocalypse series: BREATH (April 16, 2013, from Harcourt Graphia) by Jackie Morse Kessler And coming spring 2014, from Month9Books: TO BEAR AN IRON KEY Never give up! |
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