Talkin Smash‪!‬ Talkin Smash!

It’s finally opening night and we’ve got thoughts, feelings, and faves! We recorded this in January 2022 so the pop culture we’re talking about is of that time.





Scarf Count: 1



Bombshell

Directed by Michael Morris

Written by Theresa Rebeck

Originally aired 5/14/2012





NBC.com Synopsis:

The big night is finally here. Tom and Julia race against time to save the show, while Derek makes a decision that will change the lives of Karen and Ivy forever.



Pop Culture References: Little Women, Greta Gerwig, Little Women costume design, Florence Pugh, Laura Dern, Midsommar, 30 Rock, Chronic Loaf, Real Housewives, Aaron Sorkin, Amadeus, Mean Girls (the musical), West Side Story, Ibiza: Love Drunk, Willow, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Rogers: The Musical, tick, tick…BOOM!, The Three Musketeers, The Wheel of Time, Schmigadoon!



Smashlash: Noel Murray for AV Club https://www.avclub.com/smash-bombshell-1798172808/amp



Under 5 of the Week: the usher who says ‘Program!’



Least Problematic Man of the Week: Tom!



Musical Numbers:

All our returning Bombshell favorites plus the debut of ‘Don’t Forget Me’ by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.



Smash was created by Theresa Rebeck



Tina is @nice_white_lady

Ruth is @yellow_fairy19



We are @talkinsmash

www.talkinsmash.com

We discuss the overlap between musical theater fans and sci-fi , movie stars on Broadway, and how Smash depicts the casting couch.



Scarf Count: 9



Previews

Directed by Robert Duncan McNeill

Written by David Marshall Grant



NBC.com Synopsis: “Bombshell”faces its first audience just as a major crisis hits Rebecca Duvall.



Pop Culture References: Alyssa Milano, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Prince, Spock, Doctor Who, Daleks, Weeping Angels, Shakespeare, Slings & Arrows, Luke Kirby, Six Degrees of Separation, Stockard Channing, The Devil Wears Prada, Angels in America, Scarlett Johansson, Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Katharine Hepburn, Coco Chanel, Natasha Richardson, Cabaret, Daryl Zanuck, Dave Chappelle, Harvey Weinstein, Ursula, The Little Mermaid, game theory, the prisoner’s dilemma, Marc Kudisch, Bye Bye Birdie, Gaston, Beauty and the Beast, 9 to 5: The Musical, David Mamet, John Malkovich, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Water Engine, Anjelica Huston, Walter Huston, Knickerbocker Holiday, Marianne Faithfull, 20th Century Blues, Pirate Jenny, Fred Astaire, Cole Porter, Lassie, J’accuse!, Jon Snow, The Kids Are All Right, Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Isiah Whitlock, American Idol, Marilyn Monroe



Smashlash: https://www.google.com/amp/s/tv.avclub.com/smash-previews-1798172710/amp



Under 5 of the Week: Hinton Battle as the preacher!



Least Problematic Man of the Week: Tom!



What Would Tarana Burke Say? How To Deal With Sexual Harassment by Ashley Steves https://www.backstage.com/uk/magazine/article/deal-sexual-harassment-65206/#section0



Musical Numbers:

Smash! by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman

September Song by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson

Stand by Donnie McClurkin



Smash was created by Theresa Rebeck



Tina is @nice_white_lady

Ruth is @yellow_fairy19



We are @talkinsmash

www.talkinsmash.com

We discuss erectile dysfunction ads, how Karen is a Karen, and the problems of casting a non-singer with no stage experience in an unfinished new musical.



Scarf Count: 13



Tech

Directed by Roxann Dawson

Written by Jason Grote and Lakshmi Sundaram



NBC.com Synopsis:

“Bombshell” moves to Boston as it finally finds its way to the stage.



Pop Culture References:

Marie Kondo, Star Trek: Voyager, Tea With Queen & J, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Kiss Me Kate, Rex Harrison, Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Chicago, Carwash, Mary J. Blige, Gilmore Girls



Listen to Tea With Queen & J on your podcast app or at

http://www.teawithqueenandj.com

You can follow the show @teawithqj and on their hashtag #teawithqj



Smashlash:

Hillary Busis, Entertainment Weekly https://www.google.com/amp/s/ew.com/recap/smash-season-1-episode-13/%3famp=true



Under 5 of the Week: Ty Jones as Sam’s brother. Follow him @TDJNYC.



Least Problematic Man of the Week: Sam! Congratulations again Leslie Odom, Jr. Follow him @leslieodomjr



Musical Numbers:

Another Op’nin’, Another Show by Cole Porter

I’m Going Down by Norman Whitfield



Smash was created by Theresa Rebeck



Tina is @nice_white_lady

Ruth is @yellow_fairy19



We are @talkinsmash

www.talkinsmash.com

#talkinsmash

Episode 112 Publicity

Guys, it’s the episode with the Bollywood number! We also discuss Dev’s growing resentment of Karen having a life, how good Ellis looks, and we Kent Test everyone’s favorite stage manager-Linda, played by Ann Harada! You can follow Ann Harada on Twitter at @annharada

Scarf Count: 32! A new record!

Publicity

Directed by Michael Mayer

Written by Therea Rebeck

NBC.com Synopsis: Karen finds herself seduced by the glamorous life of new BFF Rebecca Duvall… but can Rebecca be trusted?

Pop Culture References: Bollywood, Steven Spielberg, Marilyn Monroe, Broadway, Joe DiMaggio, Tony Yazbeck, Julie Klausner

The Kent Test: Linda scored a 5. The highest score for a woman of color yet!

The Kent Test was created by Clarkisha Kent. You can find her and the test on https://clarkishakent.com.

Smashlash:

Hillary Busis for Entertainment Weekly: https://www.google.com/amp/s/ew.com/recap/smasn-season-1-episode-12/%3famp=true

Noel Murray for AV Club: https://www.google.com/amp/s/tv.avclub.com/smash-publicity-1798172527/amp

Under 5 of the Week: Erin Wyatt as Lindsey Mullins IG: @wyattgram

Least Problematic Man of the Week: Tom!

Musical Numbers:

“Run” by Snow Patrol

“Secondhand White Baby Grand” by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman

“A Thousand and One Nights” by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman

Smash was created by Theresa Rebeck

Tina is @nice_white_lady

Ruth is @yellow_fairy19

We are @talkinsmash

www.talkinsmash.com

Watch Smash at nbc.com or the NBC app.

Ruth and Tina do a quick debrief directly after the May 20th Bombshell In Concert streaming event. It was before the oh-so-exciting announcement of Smash, A New Musical but we’ll talk about that and more on our next episode coming soon.

Tina is @nice_white_lady

Ruth is @yellow_fairy19

We are @talkinsmash

www.talkinsmash.com

We celebrate the advent of Uma Thurman on the show, the growing camaraderie of Karen and Ivy, and the sexiness of emotionally available men. We bemoan the musical number of the week and wonder why no one on this show will stand up for musicals?! In the episode, the creative team tries to morph the show to suit their movie star. Ellis’ sexual gamesmanship is foiled by a call waiting fail. Dev is still the worst.

Scarf Count: 13

The Movie Star

Directed by Tricia Brock

Written by Julie Rottenberg & Elisa Zuritsky

NBC.com Synopsis:

“Bombshell” is turned upside-down by the arrival of movie star Rebecca Duvall. Karen and Ivy are drawn into an uneasy alliance against their new rival — but can they overcome their history? The romance between Tom and Sam heats up, while Julia and Frank must put aside their differences to address a family crisis.

Pop Culture References:

Gilligan’s Island, Soapdish, Katie Holmes tap dancing on SNL, Parks & Recreation, Gilmore Girls, Stephen Sondheim, Hustlers, the Actors Studio, The West Wing, Mickey Rooney ruining Breakfast At Tiffany’s, Guys & Dolls, Ewan McGregor, Jane Krakowski, White Christmas, Martha Graham, Audrey Hepburn, Funny Face, Gigi

Under 5 of the Week: The Guidance Counselor (Betsy Aidem)

Least Problematic Man of the Week: Nick (Thorsten Kaye)

Uma Thurman interview – Feb 3, 2018: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/03/opinion/sunday/this-is-why-uma-thurman-is-angry.html

Musical Numbers:

Our Day Will Come by Mort Garson and Bob Hilliard

Dig Deep by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman

But instead of those, watch Audrey Hepburn from “Funny Face”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4G5hUvL-wI

Smash was created by Theresa Rebeck.

Tina is @nice_white_lady

Ruth is @yellow_fairy19

We are @talkinsmash

www.talkinsmash.com