Publicity (Smash)

"Publicity" is the twelfth episode of the first season of the American television series, Smash. The episode aired on April 23, 2012.

Plot

Derek tells Karen he wishes she was Marilyn; Ellis overhears and tells Rebecca's assistant, Randall. Rebecca makes Karen her new best friend, taking her out to party and giving her expensive clothes. The tabloids declare Karen to be Rebecca's new lover, and Dev gets angry. When Karen takes Rebecca to dinner to meet Dev, Dev and Rebecca start arguing over which one is harmful to Karen.
Julia and Frank can't find Leo, each thinking Leo is with the other. Eventually, Julia drags it out of Leo's friend, Mason, that Leo has been sleeping on Mason's floor in order to get away from the crisis at home. Julia and Frank are able to start mending the wounds from Julia's affair.
Rebecca continues to vie for power in the company, leading to unprofessional behavior like arriving late and having the stage manager make her special smoothies; Derek is forced to retake control of his rehearsal room. Ellis and Ivy conspire to give Ivy a chance to sing Karen's song 'Secondhand White Baby Grand'.

Production

There were three featured songs in the episode, two originals and one cover. The two originals, "A Thousand and One Nights" and "Second Hand White Baby Grand", were written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. "Run" was released on the deluxe edition of the cast album The Music of Smash on May 1, 2012. "Second Hand White Baby Grand" and "A Thousand and One Nights" were released as singles as the episode aired; the former is currently available on the cast album Bombshell.

Critical reception

The A.V. Club gave the episode a C− rating.

Accolades

This episode was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score).