Summary
Smash, a big-budget television musical series from 2012 produced by Steven Spielberg was supposed to beGlee’s replacement and had all the potential to be the next big hit. It received frequent comparisons toGleeand boasted a sizable budget. Premiering alongside the network’s top-ratedThe Voicethe day after Super Bowl XLVI, themusical TV showwas seemingly unstoppable. However – despite winning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography and a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media for the series' hit “Let Me Be Your Star,” – it didn’t last too long.
Gleewas on Fox for six seasons and dealt with complex topics while delivering some great musical numbers. Regardless of how the show aged,the Glee characterstackled complex narratives, especially relating to harmful stereotypes.Gleewas the right blend of a fever dream and something that those coming of age could profoundly identify with. Sadly,Glee’s prophesied successor had all the right pieces but didn’t live up to the hypeor the longevity of Fox’s musical series.Gleereceived a plethora of awards during its run from 2009 to 2015, including 32 Emmy nominations.
Was Glee Influenced By High School Musical’s Success?
Glee wasn’t the only successful on-screen musical of its time, and it may have taken its cue from another popular musical about singing high schoolers
Smash Was Supposed To Be “The New Glee”
The Series Appealed To Theater Lovers
Smashwas heavily compared toGlee.The series premiered in 2012 and ran for two seasons. WhenSmashpremiered,reviews comparedSmashandGleeto one another because both shows revolved around theater culture, but the comparison didn’t work. While they appealed to somewhat similar audiences, the series comprised significant differences and were independent productions.Gleeportrayed the lives of high school students who participated in an extracurricular glee club. The characters primarily performed covers of popular songs in an attempt to process their growing pains, withtheGleeperformancesdriving the narrative.
Smashfollowed a group of adult professionals producing a fictional Broadway musicalabout the life of Marilyn Monroe calledBombshell.Smashhoned in on the behind-the-scenes, showing every stage of development when making a musical. The cast ofSmashperformed musical numbers on a Broadway set in producingBombshell,the series' overarching central production. WhileSmashperformed some covers, andGleeperformed some original numbers, the reason the characters turned to musical expression in each series was inherently different and reflected the intent.Gleewas about coming of age, whileSmashportrayed the businessin full swing.
Why Smash Was Canceled After 2 Seasons
Smash Didn’t Live Up To Its Potential
Despite a large budget and much support,Smashhad a rocky journey throughout its two seasons. The series was the brainchild ofacclaimed director Steven Spielberg, who had developed the concept for years and served as executive producer. The series' pilot allegedly cost over $7 million to produce alone. When the series debuted theSmashpilot on NBC, it opened to critical acclaim and an uproar of hype.The series featured a robust cast, includingAmerican Idolfinalist Katharine McPheeand Academy Award-winning actor Anjelica Huston.
Anjelica Huston
Eileen Rand
The idea was that each season would follow a new Broadway musical. That said,Smashdidn’t live past its second seasonand barely survived its first. Amid mixed reviews for season 1 over poor character development and other issues, playwright Theresa Rebeck, who helped create the series, was fired. The network replaced Rebeck withGossip Girlshowrunner Joshua Safran, who attempted to revive the series. Alas, the network didn’t opt to renewSmashfor a third season.
Smash Is Continuing As A Broadway Show In 2025
A Broadway Production Of Smash Is In Full Swing
Smashhas a chance to revive its legacy.OriginalSmashproducers adapted it for a Broadway musicalthat will debut in the spring 2025 lineup. Steven Spielberg will return to the project to produce it alongside Robert Greenblatt and Neil Meron. While bringing the series to a new medium is an exciting prospect, there are some concerns about the musical, which plans to adopt the premise ofSmashas the same behind-the-scenes look at a Broadway show. While bringing the narrative to Broadway is an exciting meta-premise, there is a level of risk given the original show wasn’t successful.
Smashdidn’t live up to itsGleehype but has a shot at redemption with the upcoming Broadway show.
It could have been interesting to see a real version ofBombshell,the fictional musical featured in the first season ofSmash.The musical elements ofSmashcentered on the fictional musical’s production, including the hit musical numbers from the series, such as its Grammy winner, “Let Me Be Your Star.” The fact thatSmash’s first major musical number was also its best shows that the series didn’t get to have many moments that would stick with viewers. Regardless,Smashdidn’t live up to itsGleehype but has a shot at redemption with the upcoming Broadway show.
Glee
Cast
to escape the stressful reality of high school, a group of misfits decides to join William McKinley’s glee club. Fox’sGleewas created by Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk,and Ryan Murphy, with Leah Michele, Jane Lynch, and Matthew Morrison leading the cast. The series ran for six seasons between 2009 and 2015 and won six Primetime Emmys.
