NBC clings tightly to Smash by giving it a second season
So much NBC news today is focused on moribund ratings disasters and increasingly desiccated shells of former glories that it’s easy to forget the network also has some middling freshmen series that haven’t totally imploded yet. In that spirit, NBC has granted a second season to its now ironically titled Smash, the backstage Broadway musical drama that has doubled all of its predecessors’ numbers in the Monday at 10 p.m. time slot—all the way up to a 2.3 rating among adults 18 to 49, which makes it a relative hit. Perhaps the confidence boost that comes with renewal will allow the show’s producers to relax and allow its stories and characters to develop more naturally from now on, rather than marching every single bit of exposition out in a jazz-hand-flailing kick-line. Yes, perhaps. But if nothing else, this is probably welcome news for every Broadway vet who hasn’t booked a cameo already.