#SmashBash 2×17
“The Tonys”
Before the curtain comes down on this well-intentioned, ill-advised series, we’ve got one more #SmashBash to go. Kim recapped the first hour of the grand, two-hour series finale. Now it’s my turn to take us out.
Spoiler alert: the entire series was not revealed to be the dream of a little future sociopath named Ellis. Unfortunately.
The entire cast meets onstage for a metaphysical singalong of your gif-capper’s favorite song, “Under Pressure.”
That’s quite a Freddie scream, Brooklyn Jimmy.
“Tom, ready to work? Only twelve hours till the Tonys.” And the brand new number you’re writing isn’t finished yet? Who you think you is, Lin Manuel?
“My future husband was sitting behind me.” “Your future husband isn’t even gay!” “Tell that to his upper arms.” BOOM.
“You see how appropriately gracious I was.” Well done on using real footage of Queen Bernadette’s Tony win for Annie Get Your Gun.
“Have you been stress-eating again?”
“I told you I was bringing supplies.” “I thought you meant more booze.” Stop playing mom, Karen. The man has a plan.
“It’s disgusting.” Again, let’s just remember that Derek promised this girl a part for sleeping with him, she did, HE did, but she’s the only one we’re supposed to hate.
“Where should I send your deposit?” Could Brooklyn Jimmy be leaving the mean streets of Greenpoint and setting out for Santa Fe?
Eileen goes to get her man.
“They refuse to do the number.” Because professionalism is out the window at this point anyway.
“He really liked you.” “I really liked him too.” Poor Tommy.
“Are you not going to be there?” Okay, enough hinting – let’s just get to the part where Brooklyn Jimmy tells Karen that he’s not going to the Tonys and she makes a blandly inspiring speech to get him there.
“Oh yeah, for sure, yeah. Spending an evening in a room of sanctimonious pricks who’ve got it in for me. Yep, I’ll be there.” <—How I feel about my high school reunion.
“For much of our marriage, he was there.” Well, that’s not something you wanna hear.
Jimmy shows up in a tux and he’s actually looking pretty adorable. So let’s get that thing off, shall we?
Lillias White presents the Featured Actress Tony. Leigh and Ivy both lose.
Daisy wins. We do hate her. We hate her a lot.
Kyle wins the Tony for Best Book. AND BROOKLYN JIMMY INSISTS ON USING HIS SPEECH TO TALK ABOUT KAREN.
Tom and Julia win! And I realize that this show has tricked me into actually caring.
“It’s okay. I got the one I wanted.” Stop being decent in this ep, Brooklyn Jimmy. It’s confusing.
Derek wins Best Choreographer for Hit List. Looks fine, as usual. Hopefully he’ll tell everyone to go suck it.
“There’s been a change of plans.” What kind of shit are you pulling, Derek?
I don’t understand this impromptu Hit List number. Is it a step routine? Is it inspired by little girl playground rhymes?
“Look, this might seem like it’s coming out of left field, but have you two ever considered writing a movie?” DO NOT TAKE TOM AND JULIA AWAY FROM BROADWAY.
“Tom, I’m flattered, but I’m not…gay.” “No, uh, that’s how all my straight friends kiss me.” I LOVE YOU, TOM. And I will miss you the most.
Marin Mazzie shows up to present Leading Actress. If it’s a tie, I swear…
IVY RIGHTFULLY WINS. MY QUEEN.
“There is nothing more important – or special – than live theater.” HEAR, HEAR. Despite all of its many, many (many, many, MANY) problems, at least Smash celebrated Broadway and introduced a lot of musical theater talent to a (slightly) wider audience.
Bombshell wins! Finally, our Hit List nightmare is over.
Jerry’s date is Susan Blackwell? Lucky bastard.
“I turned myself in.”
Ivy and Karen duet on a very Chicago-esque Houston/Levitt number written specifically for the Tonys/series finale. It’s super cheeseball, right down to the giant “Smash” sign above their heads and the intro/outro patter. Yet, I’m still getting a little verklempt.
We get final tableaus on some major characters: Tom spins his Tony; Derek looks content to be with a pregnant Ivy; Karen and Jimmy say goodbye at the precinct; and – TWIST – Julia shows up to Michael Swift’s door. I’m coming to terms with this being our final ever #SmashBash, and it’s not pretty. Also, wait, whatever happened to Jesse L. Martin’s character?
Despite, or perhaps because of its ridiculous, the second and final season of Smash was successful in one major way: I finally cared about the characters. I wanted Tom and Julia’s friendship to survive, even if their partnership didn’t. I wanted Ivy to realize how special she was. I wanted Derek to stop chasing a mystical muse and settle down with Ivy’s glorious bosom. I wanted Mimi-Ruben Marquez to get to rub all of Bombshell‘s Tony wins in the faces of her PR friends. I even wanted Brooklyn Jimmy to find some peace. And I’m pleased that this finale gave them all a happy or happy-ish ending.
Except for Karen.
Karen can still go to hell.
Once again, I never watched this show. Thanks to y’all, I never felt a need to.
I must find something to do with all these feels these GIFs are giving me. I’m lucky I don’t go to Tumblr or I’d never do anything but gawp, cheer and cry 24/7 for the rest of my life.
#HOFgifmadness4eva
We are going to miss these posts SO MUCH. -K