Celebrating the beauty and heartbreak of the Broadway theater, following a cross section of dreamers and schemers who all have one common desire - to be a "Smash."
Ratings
Curator score: 5.8/10
IMDb: 7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 67%
Metacritic: 72
TMDB: 6.4/10
Production
DreamWorks Television, Universal Television, Madwoman in the Attic
Cast
Katharine McPhee, Megan Hilty, Jack Davenport, Jeremy Jordan, Debra Messing, Christian Borle, Anjelica Huston
Where to watch
Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, BroadwayHD, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus
Curator Review
Verdict
A glossy, melodramatic backstage soap with terrific musical performances and a great love of Broadway, but also a famously uneven plotting style. It’s worth it if you want big voices, showbiz intrigue, and campy network-TV excess; less so if you need disciplined storytelling.
Best for
Broadway and musical-theater fans
Viewers who enjoy glossy backstage dramas
Fans of soapy, high-drama ensemble TV
People who like strong performances and original songs
Skip if
You want tight, consistent plotting
You dislike soap-opera twists and tonal whiplash
You prefer realistic workplace drama over heightened melodrama
You’re not interested in musical numbers
Overview
Smash is one of those rare network dramas that feels built around a genuine love of theater. The performances are the main draw: the show knows how to stage a number, and its best episodes capture the rush, vanity, and heartbreak of putting a Broadway show together. When it leans into that world, it can be thrilling, funny, and surprisingly emotional.
Worth noting
The downside is that the series often chases its own drama. Character motivations can swing wildly, subplots pile up, and the show sometimes confuses momentum with chaos. That unevenness is part of its reputation, but it also gives the series a kind of addictive, over-the-top energy that some viewers will find irresistible.
Bottom line
Season 1 is the essential run, especially for the central rivalry and the strongest balance of music and backstage tension. Season 2 is more scattered and less consistently satisfying, though it still has moments for viewers already invested in the ensemble. As a whole, it’s more of a cult favorite than a polished classic, but a very watchable one if you’re in the right mood.