The 'Smash' first-season finale

THE SHOW "Smash"

WHEN | WHERE Monday night at 10 on NBC/4

REASON TO WATCH First-season finale

CATCHING UP "Bombshell," the Marilyn Monroe musical, has moved to Boston for out-of-town tryouts, and there is trouble. Big Hollywood star Rebecca Duvall (Uma Thurman) -- who was to be Marilyn -- suffered a medical emergency (Allergic reaction? Poisoning? Both?) and has to be replaced fast as opening night nears. Director Derek Wills (Jack Davenport) has a choice to make -- Karen (Katharine McPhee) or Ivy (Megan Hilty)?

MY SAY "Smash" was one of the most promising new series of the entire season, cable or broadcast. And so the season ends with a huge outstanding question: Promise met?

For the most part, yes. Although the toll of a long TV season with its constant demands for fresh drama and fresh content -- in this show's case, original music -- did begin to take a toll. To an extent, Monroe's life (at least onstage in "Bombshell") and the lives of the "Smash" characters have intertwined or mirrored one another -- Derek, for example, as representative of the predators that stalked the fragile Monroe in her adult life. As "Smash" relied more on this narrative, the series became less about the process of making theater -- the best part of the show -- and more about love gained and lost, love triangles, bed-hopping and broken hearts.

That's called "soap opera" and there were lots of bubbles here. But tonight's episode ends strongly, rousingly even. This remains a very good series.

BOTTOM LINE Good closer, with some fun twists. Fans will be pleased. But "Smash" needs tougher, sharper storytelling next season.

GRADE B+