NBC has renewed the Broadway musical drama "Smash" for a second season.
Though it has lost much of its lead-in on Monday's from "The Voice," "Smash" is NBC's top drama in viewers in the 18-49 demographic most important to advertisers. It is also a favorite of NBC entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt.
"Smash," which follows two aspiring stars (Kathatine McPhee and Megan Hilty) as they try to make it big in a musical about Marilyn Monroe, is up 160 percent in the demo in the 10 p.m. Monday timeslot. It earned a 2.6 compared to the previous 1.0.
The series, which counts Steven Spielberg among its executive producers, has also doubled viewership in the timeslot from 3.9 million to 7.7 million.
NBC paired it with "The Voice" with hopes to establish a musical-themed Monday. "The Voice" has become the top-rated show of the season, earning a higher average even than "American Idol," which has led in the ratings for the past eight seasons.
"Smash" hasn't hit those highs, but the renewal is a vote of confidence that it can grow.
