Debra Messing Returns to NBC in Musical Drama, 'Smash'

Get ready for one of the most brilliant programming decisions a TV network has made in ages: Debra Messing and Angelica Huston are preparing to headline a new musical TV show that Steven Spielberg will produce. Here's why they say "Smash" is a completely different animal than "Glee."

Gleeks, you may have met your match:

Get ready for one of the most brilliant programming decisions a TV network has made in ages: Debra Messing and Angelica Huston are preparing to headline a new musical TV show that Steven Spielberg will produce. Here's why they say "Smash" is a completely different animal than "Glee."

Gleeks, you may have met your match: NBC has signed Debra Messing, Angelica Huston, Katharine McPhee, stage and TV actress Megan Hilty and British actor Jack Davenport to star in "Smash," a series based on the behind-the-scenes workings of the Broadway industry and its drama. "It's exciting and it feels good," Debra Messing says. "This is a drama and it's an ensemble and it's just a different feeling and Steven Spielberg came up with the idea so that makes me kind of giddy."

Messing is reuniting with NBC, the network that was the home of her huge "Will & Grace" series that ran from 1998 to 2006. She says, however, that "Smash" feels "completely different" from "Will & Grace," but she's thrilled to be back with the network that loves her. "The last 24 hours have been pretty fabulous, because I'm seeing old friends," she said.

Sounds like all of Debra Messing's castmates are pretty jazzed about "Smash" as well, as "American Idol" alumna Katharine McPhee feels "so excited. I'm so honored," she said. Angelica Huston agreed, saying, "I love it because it's not cops or forensics. Finally, it's something fun and beautiful."

But just because it's fun doesn't make it similar to "Glee" -- in fact, Debra Messing pointed out what makes it so different from Fox's hit musical series: "It's different than ‘Glee '... because it's a drama and it's naturalistic, so you really do see the behind the scenes," Debra told "Access Hollywood" Monday night at the NBC Upfront event in New York. "I doesn't have a style to it in the same way."

But the show definitely does have style, and NBC has announced plans to launch it in the 2011-2012 season.

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