A linkspam, a meme, and a poll walk into a bar...

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* Most interesting read of the day is this in-depth analysis of how Smash became a hate-watchable trainwreck. A lot of it boils down to "it was all Theresa Rebeck's fault," but it's really eye-opening to read about the conflict happening behind the scenes. Which... kind of makes me hopeful? I really wanted to love this show. Unironically. Broadway + TV is basically my two favorite things combined, how could I not love it? AND YET. But I've watched the first hour of the premiere (it's available online) and it definitely seems to be course-correcting. There's still some awkward remnants of last season, but I figure it's a bit like trying to pull a U-turn in the Titanic, so I'm willing to wait and see what happens.

* Also, JEREMY JORDAN. Even if Smash were still S1-level terrible, I'd probably still be watching for his role in S2.

* Julie Benz talks about her upcoming Syfy show, Defiance.

* EW interview with Julie Plec touches on TVD (of course), Dawson's Creek, and her partnership with Kevin Williamson.

Also, here is my thread for staranise's love meme:

Once someone has a comment thread about them, leave a comment and tell them about something they've done or made that you liked. A kind word, a signalboost, a drawing, a story. This can be short or long. You can just name or link to something, or go into more detail.

And finally, a TV poll:

Poll #12732 What should Laura watch next?

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 10

View Respondents

Drama:

View Answers

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
2 (22.2%)

Big Love
0 (0.0%)

Boardwalk Empire
0 (0.0%)

The Borgias
2 (22.2%)

Deadwood
0 (0.0%)

Game of Thrones
1 (11.1%)

Justified
3 (33.3%)

Nurse Jackie
0 (0.0%)

Treme
0 (0.0%)

The Wire
1 (11.1%)

Comedy:

View Answers

Californication
0 (0.0%)

Cougar Town
3 (60.0%)

Happy Endings
0 (0.0%)

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
2 (40.0%)

Veep
0 (0.0%)

Comments

[petzipellepingo]

JEREMY JORDAN. Even if Smash were still S1-level terrible, I'd probably still be watching for his role in S2.

Definitely!


And btw : Jeremy Jordan

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Neat, thanks!

[snickfic]

GAH. Julie Benz being strong female character in position of power AND ALSO ALIENS???

GIMME.

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I KNOW RIGHT?

[goldenusagi]

I am torn between The Borgias, GoT, and Deadwood. But I'd go with either The Borgias or GoT since both of them are starting in the spring.

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I don't have HBO, so I wouldn't be able to watch anyway (or, wait, is The Borgias on Showtime? That's a possibility).

Also not sure whether I want to read the book series before watching GoT. Or read/watch simultaneously. Or not worry about it at all.

[(Anonymous)]

Borgias is Showtime.

I found that with GoT, I would much rather 'find out' what happens on screen than in book. The books were not interesting to me at all, but YMMV, of course.

[rosaxx50]

I voted for The Borgias because EPIC BEAUTIFUL COSTUME DRAMA.

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Always a valid reason!

[randi2204]

JUSTIFIED. I picked a comedy show at random, just so I could say OMG YES JUSTIFIED.

(Sorry. ^^;; I don't watch a lot of tv, but I adore Justified.)

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LOL! Looks like Justified is the winner so far!

[lorax]

I voted for The Wire since I just watched, but we could do Justified at the same time and thus have someone to babble at!

I read that article about Smash and found it pretty interesting. I suspect the hate toward the showrunner is warranted, but that some people are gleefully piling on EXTRA blame now that she's gone, too. I was baffled by the fact that they wanted to get rid of Megan Hilty, who was one of the BEST PARTS of the show, even when she was saddled with ridiculous shit to do. I really hope that they managed to steer it back on the tracks. I wanted to love this show.

I was thinking of giving Julie Benz's new show a try, too.

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I was baffled by the fact that they wanted to get rid of Megan Hilty, who was one of the BEST PARTS of the show, even when she was saddled with ridiculous shit to do.

RIGHT?? What was that about? If anyone should have been replaced, it's Kat McPhee.

[ever_neutral]

Well, that Smash article was certainly illuminating. I look forward to seeing S2, lol.

WATCH GAME OF THRONES AND THE BORGIAS. ::bounce::

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LOL, see, this is where my Karen hate comes from, the whole "she's not allowed to be wrong or look foolish ever." I think the new showrunners are definitely taking that and turning it into a character arc, since everyone hates her anyway, but I don't think she was meant to be that loathsome when Rebeck was running things.

(Matchy icons!)