The Callback

"The Callback" is the second episode of the American television series Smash. The episode aired on February 13, 2012. It was written by series creator Theresa Rebeck and directed by Michael Mayer, who also directed the pilot. Plot As Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty) and Karen Cartwright (Katharine McPhee) both attempt to please Derek Wills (Jack Davenport) in order to win the role of Marilyn, Julia Houston (Debra Messing) and her husband Frank (Brian d'Arcy James) become frustrated by the process of their international adoption and Eileen's (Anjelica Huston) acrimonious divorce complicates her attempt to finance the musical. We are shown that Karen in callbacks is very slow to pick up the dance routines, and has problems with acting (Derek tells her she isn't giving him "anything," Marilyn or otherwise). In the end, Ivy wins the role of Marilyn after impressing Derek with her eloquent and vulnerable scenework in callbacks. Derek is moved by Ivy's work to make an advance, and the two become involved. Production "The Callback" was written by series creator Theresa Rebeck and directed by Michael Mayer. When the pilot was originally written it was for Showtime, but Robert Greenblatt left Showtime for NBC and brought the series with him. Due to the change in networks, Rebeck was forced to remove 20 minutes' worth of material from the pilot episode and put it into the second and third episodes. This episode featured cameos from two prominent Broadway personalities: Jordan Roth, the president of Jujamcyn Theaters, appeared as himself in the restaurant scene and Tom Kitt, a music arranger, conductor and composer of such works as Next to Normal, appeared as a jazz musician who introduces Ivy and accompanies her on "Crazy Dreams". This is Brian d'Arcy James's first episode as a regular cast member, having previously been listed as a guest star in the pilot. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, executive producer Neil Meron revealed McPhee would be covering "Call Me" by Blondie. "20th Century Fox Mambo" was exclusively released to E! Online, while Hilty's cover of the Carrie Underwood song "Crazy Dreams" was released through The Hollywood Reporter. McPhee also revealed to Ryan Seacrest on his radio show, On Air with Ryan Seacrest, that she will also do a song by Florence + the Machine; however, no such song appeared in the episode. Additionally, a different version of "Let Me Be Your Star" from the pilot appeared in the episode.