1. THE RETURN OF KAREN'S DAD. Okay, so Mr. Cartwright is not a pivotal or earth-shatteringly interesting character, but his return in this episode set the stage for a very vintage-y "Smash" (Meaning January 2012). “The Parents” felt like it could have been one of the first few episodes, which is welcome, considering that many think the pilot was the show’s peak. The Cartwrights appeared in episode one of the show to question their daughter’s decision to try to make it in New York. Now, dad is back (mom now plays Hannah’s mom on "Girls," so maybe she’s above "Smash" now) to question Karen’s choice to leave "Bombshell" on Broadway for "Hit List." By the time he’s left, Poppa’s spilled the beans to Derek that Karen’s totes sleeping with Jimmy.
2. THE MYSTERIOUS SCANDALOUS PAST. Speaking of Jimmy, ooooh has boy got skeletons in his closet (I’m willing to bet they’re not dramatic enough to warrant his perpetual pouting). The "Smash" writers must have been feeling like Randi from "30 Rock’s" “Queen of Jordan” Bravo TV parody, because this was “the perfect time to reveal a secret past.” Jimmy’s largely forgotten storyline where he broke into someone’s house has returned––and basically he owed a dealer $8000. Derek catches him trying to steal jewelry from the coats of the guests of the "Hit List" preview gala and loans him the dollaz. Dealer dude is happy Jimmy paid him back and offers him a wee bag of cocaina, and Jimmy accepts. Also, his real name isn’t Jimmy Collins. Cue dramatic cliffhanger ending a la Ellis starting shit in season one.
3. THE RIDICULOUSLY FLAWLESS BARELY REHEARSED PRODUCTION NUMBER. Said gala is quite the spectacle! Ahna (probably spelled Anna, but since it’s pretentiously pronounced like Ahna Faris, we’re going phonetic) is the surprise hit as The Diva, which is the best nameless character ever. She does a cray-cray acrobatic ribbon dancing number in the air, which is as exquisite as it is impossible to have prepared in a day. But they did! And it’s very P!nk doing “Glitter in the Air” at the Grammys (And that shit was live. Damn, girl). Ahna’s part needs to be expanded, so Scott asks Julia to "dramaturg" “Hit List” (low blow!) to assuage her guilt for ruining his career 15 years earlier.
4. EILEEN RAND GETTING HER FLIRT ON. It was just very season one to see Anjelica Huston get all giddy as she receives male attention from men that are younger and more attractive than her. This time, it’s the arts critic from the New York Times, not bartender Nick, but her scary face is smiling a lot, and her hair is worse so it’s hard to watch. Love you Eileen! Also, big mistake letting him replace who writes the "Bombshell" piece…no way that’s going to be good Arts & Leisure press.
5. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BERNADETTE FUCKING PETERS. Of course, the most important throwback to season one was the grande return of Leigh Conroy, Ivy’s former Broadway superstar mother, played by the legendary Bernadette Peters. (If you didn’t see her as Mama Rose in "Gypsy," you saw her as the Evil Stepmother in black "Cinderella" starring Brandy and Whitney Houston. She was also the original Witch in "Into the Woods," which Meryl Streep is gearing up to do onscreen, so…) BP’s semi-frozen face is a job well done––girl does not look 65. She’s captivating as Conroy, who has come out of retirement to play Marilyn’s mother, to her daughter’s chagrin. Ivy even severs BFF ties with Tom for hiring her! Should’ve cast Patti LuPone.
NEXT WEEK THIS SATURDAY (time slot change, yikes): LIZA MINELLI THAT IS ALL.
