'Smash' recap: Fringe Benefits

Karen takes this opportunity to rush home and change into a floaty damsel in distress dress. She then heads to Hit List's theater, where she tells Jimmy that all she's ever needed is the music, and the mirror, and the chance to sing for him. Because Jimmy is America's leading jerk, he snarls at her a bit before letting her back into the show. (Sorry, Ana's faceless friend Audrey -- there goes your big break!)

Though last night's audience hated the sloppy, heat-free Hit List -- #60MinutesCloserToDeath, remember? -- with the addition of Karen it is, of course (say it with me now) a smash. What's more, Derek shows up to see the show and ends up being transported by a Prednisone vision of Karen and Jimmy, singing the song's umpteenth syrupy ballad on the set of Baz Luhrmann's La Boheme. Now he wants to direct Hit List for real, perhaps because everyone involved in that show is a child who doesn't know enough about musical theater to question his decisions.

Double triple bonus: Jesse L. Martin is there! Well, he's playing a character, but still: Collins! He approaches the team afterwards and introduces himself as the artistic director of Manhattan Theatre Workshop, a fictional outfit that sounds like an analogue for the Off-Broadway house that originally staged Rent. And now he's interested in snatching up Hit List. Everything's comin' up Jimmy!

And hey, miracle of miracles -- things are looking up for Ivy as well! After tearfully coming clean to Terry about how truly awful he is in Liaisons, she's expecting to be fired for her candor. Instead, Terry is thrilled that someone's finally being honest with him... and with just a little prodding, the rest of the cast confesses that they too are horrifically unhappy with the show. (Says the great Veanne Cox, who plays the Christine Baranski role in Liaisons: “I’ve never been so embarrassed by my work before, and I was in Urban Cowboy.” Ha!) They've got just hours to go before tech rehearsals are about to start... but somehow, working together, they may be able to save the show after all. Well, until Ivy leaves to star in Bombilyn again.

Meanwhile, Tom, Julia, and Eileen powwow at a dim sum spot. Though the ex-producer's snooping has confirmed Jerry's treachery, they can't really do anything about his Ellis fraternization until Eileen gets control of the show again. There is, however, a silver lining to this whole situation: Tom's going to direct the show! And to think, just 10 years ago he was making ends meet by starring on eBay commercials. This ought to be good.

NEXT: If ever I would set Smash, it wouldn't be in winter

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