DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Contributors

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NOEL HOLSTON

 
 
2012
Feb
6
 
 
There are lots of professional reasons I can give you to watch Monday's premiere of Smash, NBC's new drama series about the making of a Broadway musical -- starting with its creators, its cast, its premise, its clever twists, and its equally clever music and lyrics. But there's also a personal reason, which I'll save for last...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Feb
3
 
 
Each network has a different approach to programming the post-Super Bowl slot, with varying results. Two years ago, CBS used its post-Super Bowl slot to launch a new reality series, Undercover Boss. It was renewed, and still continues, so that game plan worked. Last year, Fox used its ultra-valuable time slot after Super Bowl XLV to expose new viewers to an existing hit: its high-school comedy-drama-musical mashup, Glee...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Feb
2
 
 
I'm really, really impressed by NBC's Smash, the new making-of-a-musical drama series -- NOT a reality show -- that premieres Monday. I'll have a full review of that series then -- but for now, please check out Thursday's Fresh Air with Terry Gross on NPR, on which I interview two of the show's executive producers, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2012
Feb
1
 
 
In reality-TV terms, it would be like Donald Trump turning to his own son on NBC's The Apprentice and dismissing him with a curt "You're fired": Simon Cowell has delivered several pink slips regarding his Fox series The X Factor, effectively X-ing out not only stiff-as-a-surfboard host Steve Jones and wishy-washy judge Nicole Scherzinger, but his American Idol crony Paula Adbul as well. Which proves at least two things... One, Cowell is an astute enough businessman to make and steal headline