Smash

          Monday night I sat in front of the TV to watch a program I never watched before.  I do not own a VCR or recorder, so I watched part of the program with no volume and part with volume.  I do not watch a lot of TV so I do not know the names of the actors.  The first part of the show began with a group of people sitting in a theatre facing the stage.  A man and woman stood on stage talking.  Based on facial expressions and body language the atmosphere was tense.  No one was smiling and conversations were short and did not appear to be warm.  The scene changed to a couple standing outside conversing.  The man rolled his eyes at what the woman was saying.  The woman walked away.  My impression was that they were not happy with each because their facial expressions were stern.  The scene changed to a group of men and woman sitting in a lobby talking.  The woman that was just outside was part of the group.  The group looked a little drained, as at the end of a busy day.  The next scene was of a different man and woman talking in a bedroom.  The woman put her head down on her hands and the man kissed the top of her head.  He looked pensive, not loving as his lips were tightly pressed together.  The last scene I watch with no volume was a different couple outside arguing.  He looked sad as she pushed him away.  He attempted to kiss her.  My overall impression was that tonight’s episode (Monday night) was about tension between the characters and they are not a happy group.  (NBC (Network), 2012).

          With the volume turne on the next scene I watched was back on stage.  A man was playing the piano and the woman I had just seen outside named Julia was telling him, “I could kill you.  Do you know what he was saying to me?”  Julia was in tears.  The atmosphere was tense.  The program ended with the characters walking into church to hear one of the characters sing.  Everyone was relaxed and with their family.  Julia’s husband was with her.  Julia smiled revealing a much different impression than previously.  The couple from the bedroom also attended the church service.  In fact, she was one of the singers.  While sitting in a pew watching her sing her partner exchanged a glance with a blonde sitting in a different pew – the look indicated that there are feelings between them.  After watching the program with volume, my impression was that the program is about relationships and roles people play within their everyday lives as well as on stage.  (NBC (Network), 2012).

          What I learned by watching Smash without volume and then with volume was how revealing our eyes and facial expressions such as smiling, frowning, and a lips-tight stern look are when communicating.  I was also reminded of why I do not watch much TV. 

Reference

NBC (Network). (05/07/2012). Smash [TV program].