Debra Messing joins NBC Glee-esque pilot Smash

From tvline.com: "Debra Messing is climbing back in bed with a certain Peacock. That’s not as dirty as it sounds, I swear.

The Will & Grace Emmy winner is thisclose to landing a lead role in NBC’s hour-long musical pilot Smash, sources confirm.

The project — from Steven Spielberg, Chicago duo Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, and Hairspray songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman — follows a diverse cast of characters who come together to stage a Broadway show about Marilyn Monroe.

Messing will play Julia, the musical’s good-natured lyricist who is slow to embrace the commercially-iffy subject matter.

No doubt hoping to capitalize on Glee mania, NBC has ordered an hour-long musical pilot that follows a diverse cast of characters who come together to stage a Broadway show.

Titled Smash, the project boasts an impressive pedigree. Producers include Steven Spielberg, Chicago duo Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, and Hairspray songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

Spring Awakening‘s Michael Mayer is in talks to direct, which pretty much guarantees that there’s a role in this for Lea Michele’s former Spring leading man (and ex-Glee costar) Jonathan Groff.

Elsewhere on the pilot front, NBC has greenlit I Hate That I Love You, a “twisty” single-camera comedy from Will & Grace scribe Jhoni Marchinko about a straight couple that set up two lesbian friends on a blind date, resulting in both an instant attraction and a pregnancy."

I hate that they're trying to capitalize on Glee and it's success but it sounds a bit different and I totally trust the entire cast and crew they've mentionned so this is going on my list!!

As for I hate that I love you, I'm not sure yet. It might look a lot like that show Accidentally on Purpose with Jenna Elfman.