'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
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."
Bing: More on "Smash" | Video: Watch full episodes and clips
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.
23Comments
Apr 26, 2012 3:15PM
Apr 25, 2012 1:48PM
Apr 26, 2012 1:36PM
Apr 26, 2012 3:26PM
Apr 26, 2012 3:41PM
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!
Apr 26, 2012 1:57PM
Apr 26, 2012 9:10PM
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.
Apr 26, 2012 9:48PM
Apr 26, 2012 9:17PM
Apr 26, 2012 5:42PM
Apr 26, 2012 4:59PM
Apr 26, 2012 3:42PM
Apr 26, 2012 4:18PM
I liked it--OKApr 26, 2012 4:08PM
Apr 26, 2012 8:09PM
Apr 26, 2012 8:06PM
Apr 26, 2012 6:38PM
Apr 26, 2012 9:51PM
Apr 27, 2012 6:00PM
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