Smash: Season 1 (DVD + UltraViolet)

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!

Watched this with my 15 year old. WE really enjoyed it

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.

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.