To put it bluntly, Smash was awful. Ostensibly about the production of a musical about Marilyn Monroe, it constantly marginalised its best character Ivy, played to perfection by Megan Hilty in favour of a growing number of walking cardboard cut-outs and storylines which would be too soapy for EastEnders. Its fans/prisoners watched in horror and fascination as it burned itself out after two seasons, having thoroughly squandered its relatively entertaining premise in favour of a conclusion which featured its leads more or less singing about their shows upcoming demise. If we discount Megan Hilty, who was served so poorly by her storylines that her presence eventually just added to the frustration, that unwavering commitment to musical numbers at the most inappropriate moments was Smashs sole redeeming feature. It was possible to tune into an episode and vaguely grasp the plot only to find yourself nonplussed by a tribute to Bollywood, or a disco number performed in a bowling alley. Had Smash had a sense of time or place, it would have become unbearable very quickly, but any series which deploys a Broadway rendition of Under Pressure because its characters are literally under pressure cant be all bad.
