Robert Greenblatt News

The cast of the highly anticipated musical drama SMASH, recently visited NBC's upfronts, where they chatted up the new series. In the video below, Debra Messing, Anjelica Huston, Raza Jeffery and more talk about what to expect from the series!

Katharine McPhee visited NBC's Finale of THE VOICE to offer a preview of her new musical drama SMASH, premiering in early 2012. We can't wait!

AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) announced today that a range of celebrities -- including Tom Hanks & Rita Wilson, Kathy Griffin, La Toya Jackson, Olivia Newton-John, Andrea Bowen, Jackie Collins, Joan Collins, Seth Green, Robert Greenblatt, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Pauley Perrette, and many more - are lending their support to Art Project Los Angeles, a star-studded, charity art auction and gala benefiting APLA.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today spoke with Tracy Morgan following anti-gay remarks made during a recent performance in Nashville, Tenn. He also spoke out in support of LGBT people, marriage equality and against anti-LGBT bullying on Global Grind.com.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today renewed a call for Tracy Morgan to speak out following anti-gay remarks during a comedy show. GLAAD also responded to a NBC statement which was issued following a call for the network to speak out and discussions with GLAAD today.

BroadwayWorld.com previously reported that NBC has officially picked up the pilot entitled SMASH for a series to begin mid-season. The show is already generating positive buzz, and even some award recognition, nominated for the first Critics' Choice Television Awards in the category 'Most Exciting New Series.'

According to Deadline.com, NBC just signed a deal with Columbia Records to release the soundtrack for the highly anticipated new series Smash. Additionally, leading lady and American Idol alum Katharine McPhee has also signed a recording contract with Columbia.

In NBC's highly anticipated new series SMASH, Debra Messing plays a lyricist developing a brand new Broadway show about Marilyn Monroe, but according to a recent interview with the Hollywood Reporter she has also been inspired by musical theatre in real life. Messing revealed: 'My prototype growing up was Barbra Streisand. That's how I saw myself more at the time, I wanted to be Funny Girl, literally on Broadway and in the real world.'

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week, or you're just in the mood for a recap of everything theatre, BroadwayWorld's new feature, 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end of the week fix. Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to the West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more!

Culled from as A-list a list as you are ever likely to acquire - Steven Spielberg, Robert Greenblatt, Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Michael Mayer, Theresa Rebeck and Marc Shaiman/Scott Wittman onwards - SMASH is the adult answer to riveting dramatic musical entertainment coming with heart, laughs, unforgettable characters and some of the biggest twists this side of the starry stages on the Great White Way. Oh, yeah, and those hallowed Broadway halls, too. Plus, SMASH provides a great new opportunity to showcase the unbelievable talent on display on the stages of Broadway and Off-Broadway and beyond, particularly given the fact that it is shot in New York and it is being cast by the biggest casting director on Broadway, Bernie Telsey. Consider the theatre-centric casting LAW & ORDER times seventy six (trombones). All of New York is the talent pool from which the stage of SMASH shall be set. And, what exactly is SMASH about, anyway? Well, SMASH is all about Broadway and what makes a musical tick - from the very inception of the show's idea by the songwriters, through writing, rehearsals and the road; all the way to the big Broadway opening where dreams are made - and nightmares born - on one magnificent, momentous night. As viewers, we are taken inside the ticking clock of the show and we experience each and every one of the multitude of machinations enacted by everyone from the stars - Marilyn Monroe, and the actress playing her, Ivy; and, more importantly, her alternative, Karen - to the overworked director (Derek), harried songwriters Tom and Julia, and the speculative and cutthroat producer behind it all, Eileen.

BroadwayWorld.com excitedly reported last week that NBC has officially picked up the pilot entitled SMASH for a series to begin mid-season. This week in New York City, stars Debra Messing and Anjelica Huston as well as a slew of other NBC stars gathered for NBC's upfronts. Check out photos from the event below!

BroadwayWorld.com excitedly reported last week that NBC has officially picked up the pilot entitled SMASH for a series to begin mid-season. This week in New York City as part of NBC's upfronts, they unveiled the complete trailer for the show. What will we do from now till its premiere? Wait impatiently!

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, May 15, 2011 - Sunday, May 15, 2011.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) announced award recipients in 3 of this year's 32 media categories at the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards presented nationally by RÖKK Vodka and locally by Southwest Airlines at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis on Saturday night. Additional awards were presented in New York on March 19, and in Los Angeles on April 10. A full list of award recipients from the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards is below. A complete press release will be posted by 2 p.m. PT and photos will follow on Sunday, May 15, 2011 at http://www.glaad.org/mediaawards. Glee's Naya Rivera hosted the event for the capacity crowd with presenters including Mario Lopez, Sara Ramirez, and Louis Van Amstel. Following is a complete list of GLAAD Media Awards presented on stage, and the individuals that accepted the awards (accepters tentative): Golden Gate Award: Kim Cattrall Local Hero Award: Kara Swisher Corporate Leader Award: AT&T (accepted by Ken McNeely, president of AT&T California) Outstanding Film - Wide Release: The Kids Are All Right (Focus Features) [accepted by: writer/director, Lisa Cholodenko] Outstanding Documentary: 8: The Mormon Proposition(Red Flag Releasing) [accepted by: Dustin Lance Black, who narrated the film] Outstanding Spanish-Language Music Artist: Christian Chavez, Almas transparentes (EMI) [accepted by: Christian Chavez] The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives. GLAAD Media Award nominees were published, released or broadcast between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010. 'The media has a huge role in growing acceptance and understanding of gay and transgender people,' said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. 'As Americans see images and stories like this year's award recipients, more and more are supporting full equality.' More information about the GLAAD Media Awards in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco may be found at http://www.glaad.org/mediaawards. A full list of award recipients for the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards follows. Vito Russo Award: Ricky Martin Excellence in Media Award: Russell Simmons Vanguard Award: Kristin Chenoweth Stephen F. Kolzak Award: NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt Golden Gate Award: Kim Cattrall Corporate Leader Award: AT&T Local Hero Award: Kara Swisher Special Recognition: Bianca 'Nikki' Peet Outstanding Film - Wide Release: The Kids Are All Right (Focus Features) Outstanding Film-Limited Release: I Love You Phillip Morris (Roadside Attractions) Outstanding Drama Series: True Blood (HBO) Outstanding Comedy Series: TIE: Glee (Fox) and Modern Family (ABC) Outstanding Individual Episode (in a serious without a regular LGBT character): 'Klaus & Greta' 30 Rock (NBC) Outstanding Documentary: 8: The Mormon Proposition (Red Flag Releasing) Outstanding Reality Program: Project Runway (Lifetime) Outstanding Talk Show Episode: 'Ricky Martin Coming Out as a Gay Man and a New Dad' The Oprah Winfrey Show (syndicated) Outstanding TV Journalism - Newsmagazine: 'Gay Teen Suicides' (series) Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN) Outstanding TV Journalism Segment: 'Fort Worth Speech' The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell (MSNBC) Outstanding Newspaper Article: 'Rutgers Student Tyler Clementi's Suicide Spurs Action Across U.S.' by Judy Peet (The Star-Ledger [Newark, N.J.]) Outstanding Newspaper Columnist: Frank Rich (The New York Times) Outstanding Newspaper Overall Coverage: Denver Post Outstanding Magazine Article: 'What Happens When You Find the One...And He's Nothing - Nothing - Like You Expected?' by Allison Cooper (O, The Oprah Magazine) Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage: The Advocate/Out Outstanding Digital Journalism Article: 'View From Washington' (series) by Kerry Eleveld (Advocate.com) Outstanding Digital Journalism - Multimedia: 'Bridal Bliss: Aisha and Danielle' by Bobbi Misick (Essence.com) Outstanding Blog: Joe. My. God. (http://joemygod.blogspot.com/) Outstanding Music Artist: Scissor Sisters, Night Work (Downtown Records) Outstanding Comic Book: X-Factor by Peter David (Marvel Comics) Outstanding Los Angeles Theater: Something Happened by L. Trey Wilson Outstanding New York Theater: Broadway & Off-Broadway: The Pride by Alexi Kaye Campbell Outstanding New York Theater: Off-Off Broadway: When Last We Flew by Harrison David Rivers SPANISH-LANGUAGE CATEGORIES Outstanding Novela: ¿Donde esta Elisa? (Telemundo) Outstanding Daytime Talk Show Episode: TIE: 'Mama vistete de hombre' Casos de Familia (Univision) and 'La Proposicion 8' Caso Cerrado (Telemundo) Outstanding Talk Show Interview: 'Saliendo del closet despues de los 30' El Show de Cristina (Univision) Outstanding TV Journalism - Newsmagazine: 'En nombre del amor' Primer Impacto (Univision) Outstanding TV Journalism Segment: 'Aumenta el hostigamiento' Despierta America (Univision) Outstanding Newspaper Article: 'Acosados hasta el punto del suicidio' by Ruben Moreno (La Opinion) Outstanding Magazine Article: 'Estoy feliz de ser quien soy' by Maria Morales (People en Español) Outstanding Digital Journalism Article: 'Fedro llego para quedarse' by Amy Linares (PadrisimoMagazine.com) Outstanding Spanish-Language Music Artist: Christian Chavez, Almas transparentes (EMI) To receive the latest updates on the GLAAD Media Awards, follow @glaad and use the hashtag #glaadawards. About GLAAD The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the LGBT community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org. For the latest updates on our work, visit www.twitter.com/glaad and www.facebook.com/glaad.

As previously reported by BroadwayWorld, NBC has picked up a new pilot entitled SMASH, which is about a group of people who come together to put on a Broadway musical. The series was developed by NBC's Robert Greenblatt, Steven Spielberg, and Broadway producing team Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.

Dolly Parton, Colin Farrell, Sean Hayes, Chris Colfer, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Allison Janney, Melissa Etheridge, Joel McHale, Kirsten Dunst, and Chaz Bono were among the celebrities who joined the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) as it honored Kristin Chenoweth, NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt, and the best in television and journalism last night at the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles, hosted by Amy Poehler and Rashida Jones.

Dolly Parton, Colin Farrell, Sean Hayes, Chris Colfer, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Allison Janney, Melissa Etheridge, Joel McHale, Kirsten Dunst, and Chaz Bono were among the celebrities who joined the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) as it honored Kristin Chenoweth, NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt, and the best in television and journalism last night at the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles, hosted by Amy Poehler and Rashida Jones. Check out highlights from the event by clicking below!

TVLine is reporting that Will & Grace star Debra Messing has just been cast to co-star in the upcoming NBC pilot SMASH, in which she'll 'play Julia, the musical's good-natured cowriter who is slow to embrace the commercially-iffy subject matter.'

As previously reported by BroadwayWorld, NBC has picked up a new pilot entitled SMASH, which is about 'a group of people who come together to put on a Broadway musical.' New details have emerged about the show.