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'Smash' Bollywood Fail

The struggling musical drama goes all wrong with its take on the Bollywood musical

By Sona Charaipotra Apr 25, 2012 10:50AM
Smash Photo courtesy NBC
Producer-types learned the hard way in 2004 that Broadway and Bollywood don't mix with the short and struggle-filled run of the musical "Bombay Dreams." 


It seemed like a match made in heaven -- the song-and-dance, the costumes, the classic rags-to-riches tale. But the show's Broadway run couldn't do much to hold audiences. (Though it lasted two years in London.) And with the likes of AR Rahman at the musical helm, it could have been genius. Alas, it was not. 
 
 
You'd think that the producers of "Smash" would have learned from that error -- especially given that actor Raza Jaffrey, who plays Katharine McPhee's love interest Dev, starred in the UK version. Nope. You'd think, if they were going to plow forward with a Bollywood number anyway, they'd at least nab a choreographer who knew what they were doing. But you'd be wrong. And they didn't. Instead, on this week's episode, we got this horrible "A Thousand and One Nights" (newsflash -- those would be Arabian nights, complete with the possibility of a genie popping out of Tom's lamp) thing that didn't even do the easiest moves -- like the "screwing in the lightbulb," for example -- any semblance of justice. 

Missed it? I don't blame you. But if you're now dying of curiosity, here you go:
Don't say I didn't warn you. 

"Smash" airs Mondays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
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23Comments
whoever
Apr 26, 2012 3:41PM
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To me, "Smash" is one of the few shows on TV worth watching every week. In spite of the fact I don't enjoy watching same sex kissing, I just ignore it, since the entire cast is marvelous, the singing is terrific--especially​ both ongoing female singing leads, and the story does a pretty good job of giving a behind the scenes look at getting a Broadway musical off the ground. The story's version of Bollywood entertaining is no worse than the real thing; both are a bunch of color-filled swirling - but innocent enough!
sng273
Apr 26, 2012 1:57PM
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I love the show, the cast, the musicals.  Hard to beat this type of entertainment on any other show out there.  I appreciate the work the ensemble puts into this show.  Keep it up!! 

Scott4321
Apr 26, 2012 4:18PM
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Lighten up! It was entertaining and like a previous poster stated, "I get so tired of shows with blood, guts and gore."
courtneylee
Apr 26, 2012 3:26PM
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It's a fictional TV show...they never claimed to be Bollywood experts or anything. I thought it was fun and entertaining and the characters looked great. Whoever wrote this has way too much time on their hands.
living in a box
Apr 26, 2012 3:42PM
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I thought the number was fun and entertaining.  It was fun to see gloomy Dev dance -- he's good!
Silly Lilly 61
Apr 26, 2012 4:08PM
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I enjoyed it.  But then I was raised on musicals.  I get so tired of shows with blood, guts and gore.

 

scottishmyst
Apr 26, 2012 4:59PM
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Sorry.  I enjoyed as well.  If I want true Bollywood I know where to find it.  We all just need to lighten up now and then.
Marcy420
Apr 26, 2012 8:09PM
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Boo to the review!  I don't agree with you!  Loved the show...loved the Bollywood number!
2tonys
Apr 26, 2012 5:42PM
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I like the show.  Singing and actors are great even the Bollywood number.
Stronger Than Ever
Apr 26, 2012 8:06PM
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this wasn't bad, although I thought I saw them throw in the "sprinkler" as part of the dance at the end (made me laugh).  All in all I enjoyed it.  Agree with the other posters, writer needs to lighten up.
DELCOGREG
Apr 26, 2012 9:17PM
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Loved the Bollywood number!!!!!  Everyone did a great job..........very entertaining.....and​ Debra Messing was just beautiful!!!!  Love her.......hope she gets another EMMY for this show...........she is superb!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Green Witch65
Apr 26, 2012 6:38PM
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I liked the Bollywood number.  I just wish they would have had a bit more resolution between Dev and Karen.

Overall, I LOVE this show.  It is one of my favorites.

DRG46
Apr 26, 2012 9:48PM
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I thought the Bollywood scene was brilliant. I hope the show comes back for a second season...it's entertaining and fun. I think the story line and acting is magnificent. I very much wanted to hate this show, but I ended up loving it.

jimmy-t
Apr 26, 2012 9:10PM
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I loved the Bollywood number, though the reason for it was contrived, and I totally love the show and look forward to "Smash" every Monday night.  The only thing that kind of makes me squirm with an uncomfortable feeling is Angelica Huston doing love scenes, the worst of them being this past week with her in bed with her bar tender boyfriend.  Yuk!  She may be a great actress, or was once, but she is no goddess, and I don't feel the producers of the show are doing anyone any favors putting stuff like that in this show.  Nevertheless, "Smash" is one of my favorite TV shows.
Mich elle
Apr 26, 2012 9:51PM
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Love the show, love the actors...and I love the SINGING AND DANCING! Smile  I would like to see Ivy get a dose of her own medicine and Karen get the part of Marilyn for goodness sake!

seriously61
Apr 27, 2012 6:00PM
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this review smells jealousy and cynicism. bollywood number was a lot of fun. this is not an indian musical that it has to be perfect. a colorful, well done scene!
indyanfanakakanakana
Apr 27, 2012 10:53AM
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Who cares about inaccuracies? Not all of us are from India, and I doubt lots of Indians watch anyway! Good number, very entertaining.
BenSeattle
May 18, 2012 3:41PM
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While I'm far from the "ideal demographic" that NBC is targeting, I continue to watch Smash week after week.  And while I can't say exactly why (is it the plot, the characters, the music?) I nevertheless look forward to it.   By the way, I can't even get my WIFE to watch it.... her Masters in Music has her in front of The Voice instead.  Go figure.

 

Anyway, count me with the many who say that the humorless "reviewer" was way off base with unimportant crticisim of the Bollywood number.  I found it very entertaining, so much so that I've watch it again several times "On Demand."   (Perhaps it's Katherine McPhee's perfectly undulating tummy.)  I know nothing about actual Bollywood musicals but I got a big kick out of the choreography.  And for the "reviewer:"  this was a DREAM SEQUENC...  it has to be only as Karen Cartwright's IMAGINATION.

fair-n-square
Apr 27, 2012 7:15AM
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I have wasted 2 hours of my life watching this contrived show and regretted it both times. However, I typically dislike fictional shows about acting in movies or theatre. This one, too, seems so artificial and all the characters seem so egotistical, one-dimensional, melodramatic, and the plot includes so many cliches trying to elevate acting on Broadway to some type of supernatural experience. Like sleeping with the director/producer/ch​oreographer. Lame. I also feel Katherine McPhee is gorgeous and a beautiful dancer, but feels phony and shallow. I want to like her, but I can't. However, I thank the writer of the article because, although I strongly dislike the show, I loved the fun, colorful fictional Bollywood number (minus the side vignettes) despite it's inauthenticity--so thanks for showing it, or I would have never seen it because I've sworn off the show as a whole!
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Deanna Barnert

Deanna Barnert | Los Angeles, Calif.

Entertainment journalist Deanna "TVDeeva" Barnert visits sets, interviews industry players and critiques the final product. Buzz's daytime TV queen covers it all for MSN TV, but loves her sitcoms, soaps and any juicy drama that doesn't call itself Reality TV.

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