Ep. 115 Bombshell

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...

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Ep. 114 Previews

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,...

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Episode 1.13 Tech

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...

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Episode 1.12 Publicity

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...

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Episode 0.02 Bombshell in Concert

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

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Episode 1.11 The Movie Star

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...

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Episode 1.10 Understudy

Like Elizabeth Warren, Ivy has a plan! Julia and an off-screen Frank commit various parenting no-nos. Tony Award winner Christian Borle finally gets a full blown musical number. Tina’s lifelong crush Terrence Mann guest stars! Eileen and Nick’s mature flirtation blossoms into a full blown make-out session. Our love for Wesley Taylor and Ann Harada...

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Episode 1.09 Hell on Earth

We discuss Ellis’s bisexuality, the heartbreak of learning Lawyer John (Neal Bledsoe) is a Republican, Ivy’s confusing cocktail of medication, Derek is still a whiny baby, Ivy & Karen confront each other, the Julia/Michael adultery song, male anger, and physical violence. Scarf Count: 10 Hell on Earth Originally aired 4/2/2012 Directed by Paul McGuigan Written...

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Episode 1.08 The Coup

We discuss how much we hate Mahatma Katie and her imperialist voluntourism, the misuse of super talented Brian D’Arcy James, Wesley Taylor is a damn delight, Dev’s messed up priorities, Smashmath, Ellis might be our favorite character now, the secret Brooklyn rival Marilyn Monroe musical number, Derek & Tom’s history, Tom brings the bad news...

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Episode 1.07 The Workshop

We discuss Bernadette Peters as the retconned version of Ivy’s mother, Karen Cartwright’s demo, Ellis is Amazing Amy, Megan Hilty is a really good actor, time management the day before the workshop, Tina loves Wesley Taylor and will tell you that, Unexpected fun pairings on Smash, we want to work for Eileen, but she needs...

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Episode 1.06 Chemistry

Title: Episode 1.06 -ChemistryUpdate: In keeping with our professional standards, this page now has audio for the correct episode. Episode 6: Chemistry We talk about Prednisone, the stigma of medication vs the celebration of alcohol, being chronically ill & disabled, our growing affection for Ellis, smooth underarms, wearing a woman down is not consent, watching...

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Episode 1.05 Let’s Be Bad

Title: Episode 1.05 – Let’s Be Bad Episode 5: Let’s Be Bad We talk about the mounting pressure on the female characters in the show, the sheer excellence of Megan Hilty, Mason and his vaporizer, and how the Baby-Sitters Club taught Tina the Art of War. We also use Clarkisha Kent’s The Kent Test on...

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Episode 1.04 – The Cost of Art

Title: Episode 1.04 – The Cost of Art   Aired February 27, 2012 Directed by Michael Morris Written by David Marshall Grant Forget Enter Mr.DiMaggio, Enter Ensemble Member Bobby!  Wesley Taylor has arrived, and Leslie Odom Jr. too. We discuss scarves, shawls and other knitwear, how to care for your Degas, which Jonas Brother is...

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Episode 1.03 – Enter Mr. DiMaggio!

Episode 1.03 Enter Mr. DiMaggio! Aired 2/20/12 Directed by Michael Mayer Written by Theresa Rebeck We discuss Derek’s racism, Jerry’s sexism, Dev’s classism, gender-neutral job titles, the arrival of Will Chase as Michael Swift, the trope of infidelity in screen marriages, Karen’s Iowa friends, Ellis has friends?, bi erasure, queer coded villains, Clarkisha Kent’s The...

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Episode 1.02 – The Callback!

Episode 1.02 The Callback! Directed by Michael Mayer Written by Theresa Rebeck We discuss token minorities, how Smash presents and/or misrepresents sexual harassment, who is the antagonist of the show?, Frank’s vegetable chopping, the Leo problem, Derek and Eileen’s work relationship, Theresa Rebeck’s adoption, and p-orbital’s in Ruth’s science corner. Trigger Warning: Sexual harassment Pop...

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Episode 1.01 – Pilot!

Episode 1.01 – PILOT! Ruth & Tina discuss the look of Smash, the contrast between the show’s dueling divas, the importance of scarves, Ellis is Eve Harrington, baseball movies, Karen Cartwright is a whiny baby, the fun of shows within shows, the long path to Broadway, being an asshole doesn’t make you an artistic genius,...

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Episode 0.01 (Intro)

Episode 0.01 – INTRO! Talkin’s Smash Show Notes Ep. 0.01 We welcome listeners to the first episode of our podcast Talkin’ Smash, the podcast where we wear scarves and talk about Smash, the NBC musical drama created by Theresa Rebeck that aired from 2012-2013. Watch Smash at https://www.nbc.com/smash or on the NBC app. Ruth and Tina are...

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