How Gay is NBC's "Smash?" It's Potentially Something to Sing About!

Let me clear up one thing about Smash, NBC's new and much buzzed about pilot starring Debra Messing — after reading the script, I can say pretty confidently that it is not a Glee rip-off.

Yes, it's supposedly a comedy-drama with an ensemble cast and involves music and singing, but Smash has much more in common with Miraculous Year, HBO's failed pilot from last year about a mercurial Broadway composer, than it does with the kids at McKinley High School.

While the script for Smash isn't nearly as dark as Miraculous Year's, Smash's initial script has much more emphasis on drama rather than comedy. And while songs are sung, it is by composers composing and actors auditioning, rather than high school students suddenly transforming into the cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show as they work out their adolescent angst.

Smash also looks promising in terms of gay visibility on broadcast television. It includes Tom, an out composer, Ellis, his apparently heterosexual assistant who is nonetheless willing to sleep with his boss to get ahead, and Derek, a homophobic choreographer with whom Tom is forced to work.

In the pilot script, Tom is described as "45, lovely, brilliant, volatile." He's also the work partner of Messing's character Julia, who is a lyricist and Tom's longtime collaborator. The first season revolves around their efforts to create a Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe.

One of AfterElton.com's frequent laments about the problem with gay characters on television is that they are often shut out of the action because most dramas are built around the romantic lives of the characters. Up until only very recently, most shows only had one gay character, which meant those isolated characters frequently had less story and screen time.

Smash avoids that problem in two ways. First, much of the action is actually centered around the drama of getting a Broadway musical up and running. As anyone who has followed the news surrounding Julie Taymor's Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark, that drama can be considerable.

Second, Smash doesn't shy away from giving Tom a romantic life.

In the pilot script, we first see Tom eyeing Ellis, his new assistant (Julia warns him Ellis is straight) and then he not only flirts with a chorus boy named Dennis, but we later see that they have spent the night together.

Finally, right before the end of the pilot, we see Tom in bed with Ellis, unaware that he has a girlfriend waiting for him at home. It's possible Ellis is actually bisexual, but given how often television has portrayed bisexuals as scheming and devious, I'm hoping Ellis is simply straight but manipulative, which is how he is portrayed in the pilot.

Either way, it's good news for the the character of Tom, as it gives him more to do than just be a shoulder for Julia to cry on. And while it's not often that AfterElton praises the inclusion of a homophobic character, here, Dererk,  to be played by Flash Forward's Jack Davenport,  in this case, we're happy to see it.

Having Derek be a straight homophobic choreographer not only gives Tom a foil with which to spar, thus giving him more potential storylines, it also deals with the fact that homophobia is still very much a part of American society. And having it be a supposedly sophisticated New Yorker, rather than a stereotypical rural or conservative character behave homophobically, gives it a fresh spin.

For those worried that the show might not handle that aspect well, or will ultimately end up ignoring the gay content altogether, the fact that Smash's executive producers include four gay men — Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Neil Meron and Craig Zedan — should put those concerns at ease. Then there is the fact that NBC's new president of programming is the out Bob Greenblatt, who made Showtime one of the most gay friendly networks in existence.

The only big question remaining, other than whether or not NBC will pick up Smash, is who will be cast in the role of Tom. One name that has been mentioned is Stanley Tucci, and while he appears to fit the role nicely, he also seems a little obvious. Our first choice would be for out actor John Barrowman who not only is the right age, but given his musical and theater background, certainly has the right talents for the part.

What other actors could you see playing Tom?