Is it possible to Jump The Shark in Episode 2 of a series?  

Vidar has become exhausted with the tidiness and precision of this show.

Everything is properly placed, the extras seemed posed and stiff, the furniture and lighting all much too “designed” – there is just no reality in the show (which is supposed to be about the reality of putting on a show!).  Please, someone just show that New York City has at least one piece of trash and an apartment wall that isn’t painted some Earth tone.

So – what happened in Episode 2 “The Callback.”

Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty) has sex with the “Marilyn” director Derek Wills (Jack Davenport) and gets the part of Marilyn.

She should have gotten the part even without schtupping the boss.  She read books on Marilyn, she is properly busty, she watched every movie, she dances and sings at the same time.  What’s not to like?

She is much more suited for the part than Karen Cartwright (Katharine McPhee)?  What was so difficult about the decision other than there needed to be some sort of conflict for the sake of drama?

But, don’t worry Kat McPhee lovers – we can see where this is going.  Karen will become the understudy and something will happen to Ivy Lynn.

Pregnancy, drug use, illness… whatever it is – they will make her the tragic figure (much as my drama queen brother Balder was before he died – or, ironically, the real Marilyn Monroe) and Kat McPhee will rule Broadway and be Marilyn on opening night.

(As a side note:  Can everyone please stop talking about Marilyn in the show about Marilyn?  It’s so annoying that every character has sort of a “What would Marilyn do?” philosophy of life. Vidar hasn’t had one conversation about anyone in the past 80 years about Marilyn Monroe.  How could every character know something about Marilyn?!!!  Stop it!)

But I digress…

So – what’s not to like about this show (that isn’t mentioned above)?

The Good

The Musical numbers.  That’s it.  The only thing natural in the whole show is, strangely, the fantasy musical numbers.  The songs continue to be fine and the staging of the songs and choreography are both very clever – very entertaining to watch (even though I hate the idea of the Marilyn musical).

The Bad

Most everything else.  From small things like Katharine McPhee’s hot dog continuity (she takes a bite – next shot – full hot dog) – to big things like the really painful to watch Chinese baby adoption scenario.  The dialogue spoken by Leo, the teenage son of Debra Messing and Brian d’Arcy James was so terrible and forced – it really was the dialogue of a six year old.  “You promised I would have a baby sister!”  Get over it, Leo, you’re 18 years old (or whatever).

If Vidar had to blame one person it would be the Director – Michael Mayer.  Dude may know the theater but, man, he really needs to work on directing actors on television.  It’s so stiff – so forced.

It’s fine to use Broadway actors who haven’t done much TV – but you really need an experienced TV director to help them through the first few weeks.  

Just stop trying so hard, Michael.  If everything is important – nothing is important.

Vidar understands why 30% fewer people watched the show this week and imagines a further drop next week as these character become less and less likable.

Vidar is really only rooting for Ivy Lynn and it’s almost assured that something horrible will happen to her.

Ah well… onward to next week.

Vidar – The Norse God of Silence, Stealth & Revenge