And the Marilyn is...
Smash will finally be answering the season-long question of who will be playing Marilyn Monroe—Ivy (Megan Hilty) or Karen (Katharine McPhee)—in the NBC hit's season finale tonight. We just caught up with stars Hilty, Debra Messing and Christian Borle at NBC's upfront presentation in New York to discuss all things finale and the show's new showrunner for season two. Oh, and Megan addressed the rumors that she's dating Smash guest star Nick Jonas. (Plus, she kind of reveals who wins the role of Marilyn to us. No big deal!)
So what can we expect from tonight's sure-to-be showstopping finale? Here's what Debra, Megan and Christian had to share with us...
Spoiler alert! Megan reveals to us that the role of Marilyn will be played by..."Jack!"
Yes, she's talking about costar Jack Davenport, who plays director Derek, and yes, she's kidding. While she wouldn't spill on who's donning the infamous Marilyn wig, Megan teases, "There are a lot of cliffhangers, and one number in particular is going to floor everybody." Is she part of that number? "Maybe," she coyly answers.
Speaking of Jack, Megan says fans of Derek and Ivy shouldn't get their hopes up about the couple's long-term potential. "I think they're good for each other for right now, but that's it," she tells us. "I don't foresee a huge future for them."
Of the finale, Christian says fans can expect "a fantastic new song," which he says may be the show's best yet, and "some nail-biting, down-to-the-last second drama, whether or not the show will actually even go on." Messing adds, "It's chock-full of surprises!"
Gossip Girl executive producer Josh Safran is set to take over showrunner duties from creator Theresa Rebeck in season two, and both of his leading ladies are quick to sing his praises!
"He's fantastic, he's passionate, he's smart," Messing gushes of Safran. "Theresa created an amazing show that we are so grateful to have and our amazing characters we love so much. She's going to go do the plays that fulfill her so much. We have a seasoned person coming on who really knows the theatre and loves the theatre. I think that it's going to be exciting."
Megan adds, "I just met with Josh for the first time last week and he's amazing. He's got really great ideas and he really has a handle on all of these characters and a really great vision of where they should go. I'm really excited to come back." And Josh, take note, Megan has a season two demand: "I'm hoping that [Ivy] gets a really good boyfriend in season two!"
"People who are passionate about this show are going to be very excited about what he's bringing to it!" Christian also says of their new showrunner.
Finally, Megan addresses those "silly" rumors that she's dating Jonas (who is set to return in tonight's finale). "I may as well as be dating Jack or anyone else on my set," she says. "He's a good friend and that's about it." And there you have it, folks!
Smash's season finale airs tonight at 10 p.m. on NBC.
(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
To hear more from Debra, Christian and Megan, including why they think a midseason launch is actually a good thing for the show, watch our interviews with them above!