Ep 3. Enter Mr. DiMaggio

The show Smash season 1 episode 3 is titled "Enter Mr. DiMaggio." The episode begins with the rehearsal for the Marilyn Monroe musical, where the cast gives it their best shot to impress Mr. DiMaggio, a high-profile investor and a big name in Hollywood. The lead producer Eileen Rand (Anjelica Huston) is highly excited to meet him as he holds the key to financing the project. The cast members too understand the significance of his approval, and as a result, their performances show great enthusiasm and a heightened sense of professionalism.

The first scene takes place in a studio where Karen Cartwright (Katharine McPhee) and Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty) are rehearsing the iconic song "Let Me Be Your Star." They both give their best and shine brightly throughout the song until Eileen enters the room and interrupts them. She informs them that Mr. DiMaggio has arrived, and they need to impress him further.

In the next scene, we see Tom Levitt (Christian Borle) and Julia Houston (Debra Messing) discussing the revised script with the esteemed writer, Michael Swift (Will Chase). However, their meeting is interrupted when Ivy Lynn enters the room in a state of panic, afraid that her mother will be a hindrance to their running of the show. Tom and Julia reassure her that everything will be okay, and that she needs to concentrate on giving her best performance.

The next scene takes us to the DeWitt Clinton hotel, where Eileen and her colleague introduce themselves to Mr. DiMaggio. Even though he expresses his initial disinterest, he agrees to attend the show on Eileen's insistence.

Later on, we see Michael Swift in his dressing room, where he's interrupted by Julia. They have a brief conversation that reveals their past relationship and shows how that influences their current creative process. They have a heated argument about a particular scene, and Michael eventually convinces her to consider his version of events.

The scene shifts back to the theater, where Ivy is struggling to perform due to her mother's presence. However, Karen steps up and delivers an excellent performance that impresses Mr. DiMaggio. He commends her on her work and offers some advice to Karen, which she takes seriously.

Meanwhile, Tom and Julia have a heart-to-heart conversation about their creative process, and they both notice that their different opinions have served their art in unique ways.

The episode ends with Ivy singing a solo song, and she delivers a remarkable performance that leaves the audience in awe. Mr. DiMaggio approaches Ivy and offers some helpful advice indicating his approval of the show.

Overall, the episode "Enter Mr. DiMaggio" captures the essence of what makes a great Broadway musical. It highlights the struggle to impress investors, the importance of delivering your best performance every time, even with personal struggles and dealing with fellow creatives. The episode also showcases how the creative process demands an open-minded approach and how various opinions can lead to a successful outcome. It is an excellent show for any Broadway enthusiast who loves musical theater and everything that goes into producing and performing on the Broadway stage.