'Smash' season 2 preview features Jennifer Hudson, Sean Hayes

After its first season wrapped, Smash — a flashy Broadway spectacle that drew rapturous reviews for its first few episodes, then, um, less rapturous reviews as the show went on — was treated to some major revamping. (Cue Dreamgirls‘ “I Am Changing.”) Showrunner Theresa Rebeck was replaced by Gossip Girl executive producer Josh Safran; characters including Terrible Ellis and Once-Dreamy Dev were given the boot; there was talk of improved serialized storytelling and less emphasis on the dreary subplots that once dragged the show down.

Have all those alterations led to a Smash that’ll truly sizzle in season 2? It’s tough to tell from this super-sized, suspiciously scarfless preview — Katharine McPhee’s Karen still seems a little blank, and Megan Hilty’s confident Ivy has apparently been reduced to a moony-eyed, gape-mouthed second banana.

But at least we do know that every performer who can carry a tune seems to have found a home in Smash‘s extended ensemble. Jennifer Hudson! Sean Hayes! Jesse L. Martin! That cute guy from Newsies! And don’t forget Liza Minnelli, as if you could — she’ll stop by in February, though the preview makes it seem as though Ivy will be channeling Sally Bowles at some point as well. (As usual, all the music sounds phenomenal; maybe Smash should just become a concert series?)

Don’t take my word for it, Smashochists — fade in on the preview below.

Just one more question: Where’s the sequel to “A Thousand and One Nights”??

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