O'Donnell, Jackson, Peters & More Heading to SMASH Season Finale

The Tonys may not take place till June, but on NBC, it looks like a slew of Broadway favorites will be heading to the awards show a bit earlier to close out the second season of SMASH.

TV Guide Magazine reports that the fictional Tonys, shot at New York City's Marriott Marguis Hotel will feature cameo appearances by Broadway's Rosie O'Donnell(Grease), Cheyenne Jackson (Xanadu), Ron Rifkin (Cabaret), Christine Ebersole (Grey Gardens), Lillias White (The Life), Marin Mazzie (Spamalot) and choreographer-director Kathleen Marshall (Anything Goes). Also returning will be Broadway legend Bernadette Peters, reprising her role as Ivy's mother.

New showrunner Josh Safran explains that including the Tony Awards in the show's sophomore season was "part of the pitch that got me the job." He continues, "It's an event that doesn't necessarily ­require you to be nominated to be there. People attend, perform and present awards. And there is a song that involves the entire lead cast."

Safran reveals that some of Smash's fictional talent will be among the nominees at the ceremony. "I've been around people when they received nominations," Safran says, "so that was something that was important to capture: rewarded and dashed hopes."

NBC recently announced that the musical dramedy would move to the network's Saturday night line up beginning April 6th due to less than stellar ratings in recent weeks. The season finale will most likely also be the conclusion of the series. Safran explains that while not everything is wrapped up in the episode, it could "also serve as a series finale should it need to."

Related Links

The Elks Theatre Presents SPIELBERG SPECTACULAR!, 6/7-9 May 23, 2013

Kelly Clarkson Will Not Return to AMERICAN IDOL as Judge; Jennifer Hudson Still Under Consideration? May 23, 2013

Scoop: THE TODAY SHOW on NBC - Week of June 3, 2013 by TV Scoop - May 23, 2013

Scoop: THE TODAY SHOW on NBC - Week of May 27, 2013 by TV Scoop - May 23, 2013

ABC Wraps May Sweep, Ties for No. 1 in Key Demos May 23, 2013