Smash Season 2 Update

Latest news, according to Digital Spy, is that Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson will make several guest appearances on Smash next season opposite Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty. Hudson will portray Tony-winning Broadway star, Veronica Moore.

Hottie Andy Mientus (who was in the off-Broadway production of Carrie, the musical (see my post, http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2012/02/carrie-on.html )) will be added to the cast for some spice.

Unfortunately, five characters will get the axe: Dev (Raza Jaffrey; sigh!), Deborah Messing's husband (Brian d'Arcy James) and son, and the scheming Ellis Boyd (whom I will miss, but let's see what intrigue develops otherwise in Season 2.  I mean, Ellis was fired by Anjelica Houston and Dev did sleep with poison Ivy!) And Michael Swift -- with whom Messing started messing around with in real-life, leaving her real-life hubby -- will no longer be on the show. Oh, the sweet and sour porking of it all!

Besides ditching her domestic-tsuris storyline, by the by, Missy Messing will get a more glam wardrobe, it is promised. Go all Dynasty on us, bitch, we love you! So, let's hope Season 2 brings us more sex appeal and let the gloves come off already! I'm ready! Who gets the first big slap?

Smash's Big Bollywood Number

Here's the full "A Thousand & One Nights" production number from last season's Smash. Previously, there was no idea that the Dev character might burst out into song and dance, but he does so magnificently in this elaborate fantasy sequence. The whole production seems to be on quite a grand scale for a tv series, lavish and expertly produced and choreographed. Pulling this together in a week had to be a challenge, but it comes across as a labor of love.

How do the actors work those neck muscles like that? Katharine McPhee, whose neck seems to flex even in her second reaction shot, says she is not really a dancer, but you could fool me by the way she boogies down in this.

Cast members and story lines are all symbolically represented within this song. I love Anjelica Houston's campy coyness, and how Ellis fleetingly appears to usurp a jewel, true to nature. I also adore Deborah Messing as she dances this mess around (in line with her tv family) and looking like she's having a great time at it. Even Uma Thurman and Meryl Streep's daughter, Grace Gummer, sportingly appear.

While Rolling Stone's Katy Kroll called this a "very jumping-the-shark moment," it was generally very well received by viewers and fans, and one of the season's highlights. More importantly, I love it!