The Cast of "Smash". Photo by Mark Seliger/NBC.

Smash, the new NBC series about the making of a Broadway musical, finally arrives tonight at 10/9c after months of relentless buzz building. Let’s celebrate our little corner of the world making it to prime time with a review, some insider observations and a video visit to the red carpet.

Katharine McPhee in "Smash". Image via NBC.

So, how is the show? My Dad was a volunteer fireman. (Go with me here.) As a kid, I found there was nothing worse than settling in with our worn VHS of The Towering Inferno only to have him throw a wet blanket on the 70′s disaster goodness with comments about how the rescue squad guys were wearing the wrong boots. “It’s just a movie, Dad.”

Well, in the usual way that life circles around and bites you in the posterior, I’m about to become my Dad. I can’t help but see the pilot through my lens as someone who has written music theater. For the record, let me simply say that it’s a solid, briskly paced show, compelling enough to warrant a look at the second episode and respectful enough to earn a hearty thanks to all the theater professionals involved (from creator Theresa Rebeck to director Michael Mayer). However, I do wish it was either a grittier drama or a bitch-tastically soapier splash because the first episode feels a little too safely in the middle of the road. After watching the premiere, I’m only dramatically invested in the classic plot featuring two actresses (the engaging pro Megan Hilty and the surprisingly camera ready Katharine McPhee) competing for the leading role; hopefully upcoming episodes will heighten the stakes for the rest of the characters.

With the general review out of the way, let’s see who is wearing the right boots and who is breaking all kinds of fire safety codes…

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