Tagged : Raza Jaffrey

in Articles, Featured, News, Spoilers

Who Will Not Be Returning to Season 2 of Smash?

New showrunner, new rules. Or something like that.

Our sources confirm that four Smash cast members will not be returning as series regulars in season two. Did the TV gods answer our prayers and banish annoying Ellis? Is Michael Swift staying away from Julia for real this time? Here’s what we know:

One half of our TV prayers have been answered, because Ellis (Jaime Cepero), he who lurks in corners and calls himself a producer all the time, will not be back in season two as a series regular. Take a moment to let that joyous news soak all the way down to your bones. However, our source tells us that it’s possible he’ll be back for an episode or two, presumably to wrap up storylines. And hopefully to get hit by a speeding bus while eavesdropping on someone’s conversation on the street.

Who Will Not Be Returning to Season 2 of Smash? Smash 4 Cast Leaving

Are we also losing Leo? We wish. Nope, Julia’s (Debra Messing) bratty son is sticking around for now. However, we are losing Julia’s husband! Frank (Brian d’Arcy James) will also not be returning as series regular next year.

And the cuts just keep on coming. We’re also getting rid of Karen’s (Katharine McPhee) douchbag cheating boyfriend Dev (Raza Jaffrey). Good riddance, right?

Not making us say “good riddance” as much is the loss of Michael Swift (Will Chase). We didn’t love his cheating ways, but we did love his Joe DiMaggio. News of the cast shake-up was first reported by EW.com and The Hollywood Reporter.

Poor Julia…losing both men in her life. Safe to say that Josh Safran is axing the pregnancy storyline hinted at in the season-one finale?

As with Cepero, Jaffrey, Chase and d’Arcy James could return for one or two episodes to finish out their storylines or give us an explaination for why they’re leaving.

Safran, the former Gossip Girl showrunner, has taken over as captain of the Smash ship, and it appears he’s making some big changes for season two.

Smash fans, reactions to this news? Anyone else you don’t want in season two?

Source: EOnline.com

in Articles, Cast, Smash

Raza Jaffrey: There’s More Than Meets The Eye To Dev On NBC’s ‘Smash’

Raza Jaffrey: There’s More Than Meets The Eye To Dev On NBC’s ‘Smash’ Raza Jaffrey as Dev Sundaram 224x300

Raza Jaffrey as Dev Sundaram

There could be trouble brewing in paradise for “Smash’s” most solid couple – Raza Jaffrey’s character, Dev, and his ladylove Karen (Katharine McPhee)

Despite Jack Davenport’s character, Derek Wills, clearly having his eye on Katharine’s very-taken Karen, she might not be the one to worry about straying from the relationship.

“In a story like this, you’d expect a character like Dev to be at home waiting for his girlfriend, who’s an actress, worried about having affairs and what have you. Maybe there’s stuff going on the other way around. Maybe it’s Dev who Karen’s worried about,” the former “Sex and The City 2” star told AccessHollywood.com earlier this year as he promoted the Broadway-based NBC drama. “And that’s clever, clever Theresa [Rebeck] writing.”

Raza hinted that Dev’s career choice could lead to drama, something which clearly was hinted at in last week’s episode when Dev’s girlfriend, Karen, was forced to sit at a different table at a political event, while he sat with a gorgeous gal with connections.

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in Cast, Interviews, Smash

Wall Street Journal Interviews Smash’s Dev aka Raza Jaffrey

Wall Street Journal Interviews Smashs Dev aka Raza Jaffrey Raza Jaffrey as Dev Sundaram 224x300

Raza Jaffrey as Dev Sundaram

Raza Jaffrey plays Dev Sundaram on NBC’s “Smash,” Karen Cartwright’s (Katharine McPhee) live-in, super devoted, super-sweet boyfriend who works for the NYC mayor. Speakeasy talked with Jaffrey about why viewers should watch, and what’s in store for  Dev and Karen.

What do you think will draw people to watch “Smash”?

Everyone knows “Smash” is about musical numbers and everyone knows we have fantastic dance sequences and great performances. What people will kind of take from the show as the season goes on is the quality of the drama; without a good story the show wouldn’t go on. There are human stories in it, it’s about more than just Broadway, it’s about bigger things, that’s why it’s fun to film it week in and week out.

Is it safe to say that Broadway is acting as a microcosm of the world?

When I first got the script, a year or more ago, a lot of people in the industry were cynical, “Would this show be too niche?” “How would you draw out a story about a small set of people in the entertainment community?” “In the Broadway community?” It’s a small group. I think “Smash” is obviously an ode to New York and an ode to Broadway, but it is about bigger things and human relationships. Everyone knows what it’s like to strive for things and want things. You can see human relationships, like the course of love, never running smooth.

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in Cast, Interviews, Smash

Raza Jaffrey Has a Few Words to Say About Smash

In almost every ad for Smash, NBC “introduces” viewers to Katharine McPhee. But what about the man fortunate enough to be holding the hand of this actress on the new musical-based drama?

Raza Jaffrey Has a Few Words to Say About Smash Raza Jaffrey as Dev Sundaram 224x300

Raza Jaffrey as Dev Sundaram

We’re excited to introduce you here to Raza Jaffrey,who portrays Dev Sundaram on Smash, the serious boyfriend of McPhee’s Karen Cartwright.

“They’re in a caring, charming relationship,” Jaffrey told me of Dev and Karen. “He’s behind her all the way.”

But will things remain that stable? Not exactly, the actor teases, but the relationship troubles that befall Dev and Karen might not be your typical television fare. Don’t expect any cheating or even any jealousy.

“Bigger things are in store, but not obvious stuff that viewers might expect,” Jaffrey said. “Issues will come up that involve both Karen’s career and mine.”

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