The dance-fight made me wish we were watching Jem vs Pizazz.

…that wasn't as satisfying as he wanted it to be.

Yeah, I keep waiting for Julia to sue them.  But, after spending this whole season fighting to make her nearly likeable, I don't think it will go that way.

I was reminded of Pizazz and the Misfits.  Now…if only Hit List were actually Jem: the musical.  Then I'd be happy.

I've found this bemusing from the start.  Remember Jennifer Hudson's character, and how being a Broadway darling meant dealing with photographers everywhere?  Ha!!

I agree with the bits you say were good, but notice how you still don't mention enjoying Ana's plot?  And that was sort of the biggest deal in this episode.  It just made me feel bad for not caring one bit for Ana.

…which was a joke.  Get it?  It's Tom being funny, not Tom telling us how old Kyle was.

I actually really liked Jimmy's High and Dry.  It was beautifully sung, beautifully filmed and the first time Jimmy has displayed a stillness that I rather enjoyed.

Yes, we saw the Larson treatment coming…but it would have made so much more sense to have killed off Jimmy.  Firstly, because he was the genius behind the show's success.  Secondly, because he could have died in a far more interesting way.  Mostly, because I would have been so conflicted about whether to mourn or…

It's such a good song, and I feel cheated that we've never seen it staged in context.  But then, I feel like that is because - as you say - then they'd have to grapple with the fact it is not actually right as an "I'm tackling my big dreams and ambitions" number.  Also, it is supposed to be Amanda's big number…but…

Maybe you're right.  I don't even know any more.

That's pretty much how I read the situation.  I'm now 80% sure the abused spouse bit is intentional.  This show always keeps me guessing and second-guessing.

"The piano player" is Seth freakin' Rudetsky.  I was overjoyed to have seen him on Smash, and also on Bunheads - and playing himself nonetheless.

This was pretty much the most ridiculous episode Smash has produced.  And that is saying A LOT!  Very little about it made sense.

This is exactly what has been infuriating me.  People like musicals because the songs express what the characters are feeling.  Usually, in Smash, the songs are from Bombshell or Hitlist and we don't know the context for why the character feels the way they do.

I so enjoyed this episode and am eager to rewatch it.  The parts I would like to draw attention to are these:
- Leo is back, and he is blander than ever.
- Julia's purple dress was awful, but that was a nice throwback to who her character used to be.
- Karen's dress was stunning and beautiful and too good for her.
- It's…

They have frequently compared Hit List to Rent, so Rent certainly does exist.  But I think this only supports your theory.  It is quite likely Jimmy will die.  Why is that bad?

I liked the episode too.  It actually got me teary-eyed with the Julia/Tom and the Ivy/Karen moments (I've discovered the best way to enjoy this show is with liberal doses of wine. it makes me emotional).

Yeah.  The age thing doesn't bother me.  Even if it did, it's true to life so why not represent it on screen?

I agree that this was unsettling and confusing, but I found it extremely realistic.  When a Broadway geek is propositioned by one of his lifelong idols…it's hard to say no even when saying yes is so obviously wrong.  There was certainly more that could have been explored in this moment.