Spoilers Before Episode 1×04 “The Cost of Art”

Check out these spoilers for Episodes 1×03 and 1×04.

Please do not continue reading if you do not want to be spoiled:

  • Ivy and Derek continue to hook up, though Ivy worries that it’s more business than pleasure.
  • Eileen did her little drink in the face routine. Two more times.
  • Derek invites Karen to drinks and tells her: “There’s a lot of changes coming fast” before saying she’s got too much talent for the ensemble. He then utters what might be the most frustrating line of the night: “It could take five years for Marilyn to get to the stage, and a lot can happen in five years.” Can you lay it on a little thicker? (You can, and he does in the next episode.)
  • Dev and Derek meet and have a British-off, Oxford vs. Cambridge, etc., etc., blah.
  • Michael Swift (Will Chase) makes his first appearance as their potential Joe DiMaggio, and we learn that he has a past with Julia (Debra Messing). We also learn that he’s got a wife and son he loves, so he’s torn. (We get it.) But first we have to sit through his performance of Bruno Mars’ song “Grenade” in another off-Broadway musical, and it’s not great.
  • Ellis continues to be super sketchy, going so far as to steal Julia’s notebook. Oh and supposedly he’s straight. Right. And he gets super sassy with Julia. And he overhears Julia telling Tom about her affair with Michael. Ellis knows all!
  • Julia and Tom can’t stop obsessing over Marilyn and Joe DiMaggio wanting a simple life. There’s a musical number there, but it’s not amazing. I’d be OK if it’s one of those we never see again.
  • Karen’s friends in Iowa are horrible, one-note characters who all call her “Broadway,” and they convince her to sing Gretchen Wilson’s “Redneck Woman,” barefoot in a karaoke bar. (Seriously why is she barefoot?) And that’s one of only two numbers for the night. Sad.
  • Karen’s dad gives her money, so if she quits that coffee shop gig entirely, that’s how she’s living off the $200 a week from the “Marilyn: The Musical” workshop. (source)

What’s The Scoop w/ Ivy and the Director?

EW.com has answered some questions and provided us with some brief (if we didn’t know) details with the two leads of the show:

LOVING Smash! But I HATE how Ivy slept her way to the role. Tell me she breaks it off with that awful man! — Sharon
I can tell you that…but it’d be a lie. The two continue to get hot and heavy, but that’s not to say Ivy (Megan Hilty) won’t begin to have her doubts about him in upcoming episodes. Meanwhile, Karen (Katharine McPhee) will soon have a new person in her life — several, in fact: Her fellow chorus members, who take her under their wing when she joins their ranks. Yay, bonding!

Official Press Release: Episode 1×05 “Let’s Be Bad”

“SMASH”
“LET’S BE BAD”
03/05/2012 (10:00PM – 11:00PM) (Monday) : “Let’s Be Bad” – Karen (Katharine McPhee) finds a new use for her acting talents as she joins Dev (Raza Jaffrey) at a high-powered government party. The drama between Michael (guest star Will Chase) and Julia (Debra Messing) heats up, as Eileen (Anjelica Huston) and Tom’s (Christian Borle) ambitious assistant Ellis (Jaime Cepero) forge an alliance. Ivy (Megan Hilty) senses trouble in her relationship with Derek (Jack Davenport). Will Chase guest stars.

The Smash: Season 1 Episode Guide has been updated.

Behind The Scenes: Megan Hilty & Will Chase Sing “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”

Megan Hilty (playing actress Ivy Lynn auditioning for the role of Marilyn Monroe in “Smash”‘s show-within-a-show Marilyn) and Will Chase (playing actor Michael Swift auditioning for the Joe DiMaggio part) join songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman to preview and talk about the song “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” Written as a duet between the Monroe and DiMaggio characters, the song reflects the character arcs of the actors as they strive for stardom, even as it describes the desire of Monroe and DiMaggio to live a normal life outside of the spotlight.

Songs Featured in Smash Episode 1×03 “Enter Mr. Dimaggio”

Check out the songs that will be featured in next week’s all-new episode of Smash airing February 20th at 10pm on NBC.  We will provide links for audio and purchase very soon.

  • Guest Will Chase: “Grenade” by Bruno Mars
  • Katharine: “Redneck Woman” by Gretchen Wilson
  • Megan Hilty & Guest Will Chase: ”Mr. & Mrs. Smith” - Original

Check out more songs to come this season on Smash in the Smash Upcoming Music section.