US network NBC has ordered a second season of its musical drama Smash, but the show will return without its original showrunner.

Smash

Smash, which debuted on February 6 to 11.44 million viewers, takes a behind-the-scenes look at the lives and relationships of the cast of a Broadway musical. NBC has renewed the show for a second season after episode seven aired earlier this week.

However, the network must appoint a new showrunner after Theresa Rebeck left the role ^[1] to return to the theatre.

Hollywood director Steven Spielberg exec produces the show alongside David Marshall Grant (Brothers & Sisters), Craig Zadan, Neil Meron (Chicago), Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey (The Borgias), Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray).

Smash is produced by Universal Television in association with DreamWorks Television and Madwoman in the Attic. International broadcasters include RTL5 in the Netherlands, Hot3 in Israel, Sky Atlantic in the UK and W Channel in Australia.

It is the second NBC freshman series to receive a second season order this month, after fantasy drama Grimm was handed a 22-episode order ^[2] to air this fall.

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