3 Things to Know about 'Smash'

In case you missed it, here are a few tidbits that will bring you up to speed:

1. "American Idol" alum Katharine McPhee rose to fame on the fifth season of the singing competition in 2006, when she finished as the runner-up to Taylor Hicks. Her self-titled album's first single, "Over It," was certified gold in 2008. The singer also booked TV guest-star spots and film roles, including "The House Bunny," all while releasing new albums. "Smash" is McPhee's first recurring role in a TV series.

2. Megan Hilty may seem new to NBC's audience, but she's definitely not new to performing. The beautiful blonde is a Broadway vet -- she made her debut as Glinda in the popular musical "Wicked" in 2005. She also starred in the revamped musical version of "9 to 5," in which she played the role of Doralee Rhodes, originally portrayed by Dolly Parton. Hilty graduated from the esteemed Carnegie Mellon School of Drama and hails from Washington State. Like Katharine McPhee, this marks her first recurring lead in a TV series.

3. "Smash" centers on the struggles of Broadway actors and production staff living in New York City. Actress Anjelica Huston plays a hard-nosed producer set on creating a hit Broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe. Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty's characters work relentlessly, hoping to land the coveted starring role, while Messing plays a songwriter with baby adoption issues.

Be sure to check out "Smash," next Monday, February 13 at 10 PM on NBC.

Check out Katharine in a sexy new photoshoot for the March issue of GQ magazine!