Dive into the ultimate showdown between Karen Cartwright and Ivy Lynn from "Smash"! We're breaking down who would've been the more iconic Marilyn Monroe, comparing their looks, talent, and star power in this epic Broadway battle.
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00:00I'm gonna be a smash!
00:03Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:05And in today's installment of Versus, we're settling the ultimate debate.
00:09Who would have made the better Marilyn Monroe in Bombshell?
00:12Smash's Karen Cartwright or Ivy Lin?
00:14Excuse me!
00:20Round One.
00:20Connection with co-stars.
00:22Karen is the fresh-faced newcomer, still full of hope and untouched by Broadway's brutal grind.
00:28Sure, people mock her naivete, but that's part of what makes her so easy to love.
00:33She's kind, effortlessly likable, and wins people over fast.
00:37Unlike Ivy's big show-stopping presence, Karen's charm is quieter and more natural,
00:42yet she still totally holds her own.
00:44And that doesn't make me stupid or lame or untalented.
00:50She shouldn't be trying to get me fired, and you should be trying to help me.
00:55She faces everything from intense rivalries to messy romantic drama
00:59to high-stakes creative clashes, and she never loses that easygoing, adaptable energy.
01:04Derek, that's my favorite song.
01:07It's my character's anthem. Don't give it to Anna.
01:10I just did.
01:11People underestimate her, but that's their mistake.
01:14Karen's got that raw, unshaped potential that makes her feel like a true rising star.
01:19She just has something that you don't.
01:22I'm sorry.
01:23Ivy may be the daughter of a Broadway star, but she's not reaped the benefits of nepotism,
01:28having spent forever in the ensemble.
01:30So when she finally gets a shot at the spotlight, she clings to it for dear life,
01:34no matter who she has to shove aside.
01:36I'm just having a little trouble hearing myself.
01:38The chorus is very enthusiastic.
01:41Ensemble.
01:43Well, not everyone seems to understand what that means.
01:46That's one.
01:47She's got her theater world circle, but her character is a bit more than that.
01:52But her cutthroat ambition definitely burns some bridges.
01:55And for all her experience, she still takes criticism personally.
01:58Did you hear that? Karen.
02:01Maybe you can work with Ivy on that. Set something up with Larry.
02:04Let's do it again, please.
02:07If you say something is taboo, well, that's the thing I want to do.
02:12Do it till we're black and blue. Let's be bad.
02:17It takes her hitting near rock bottom to realize that she'd catch more flies
02:20with honey than vinegar.
02:21Though, that doesn't last.
02:23Ivy's a star, but she's also her own worst enemy.
02:26Snatched up the waist, and we'll be all set.
02:30La la.
02:30So good.
02:34Okay, we all got through that. Now who's gonna buy me a drink?
02:36Winner, Karen.
02:38Round two, looks and style.
02:41If you've ever seen early photos of pre-fame Marilyn, aka Norma Jean,
02:45you'll know she was a natural brunette, just like Karen.
02:48Marilyn supposedly went blonde at the suggestion of Blue Book model agency's
02:53Emmeline Snively, who told her it would help her get places.
02:56It means you're a bit green.
02:59So is Marilyn.
03:00Yes, but no one would have hired Marilyn to play Marilyn at the beginning.
03:03Well, that would have been their mistake, wouldn't it?
03:05In that sense, Karen actually fits the role.
03:08No, she doesn't look like Marilyn, but she has somewhere to build from.
03:12Her personal style isn't exactly screaming bombshell,
03:14but her freshness to the biz makes her easy to shape into the part.
03:18Make it up, shake it up, let the fantasies begin.
03:22Here's the joke.
03:23To get cast, change the past.
03:25Make the life just right for Cinemascope.
03:28Thankfully, she doesn't need a drastic dye job to land the gig.
03:31Huge shout out to the wig department for that one.
03:33Face and figure are a whistleblade.
03:35Honey, you'll have the keys to the studio gate.
03:38I never met a woman who didn't love to howl.
03:43Just looking at Ivy, you can totally see why Tom thought
03:46she'd be perfect to help workshop the role of Marilyn.
03:48It's Ivy's part.
03:49She has Marilyn's soul.
03:50She has her body.
03:51She looks like Marilyn.
03:53With her blonde hair and confident curves,
03:55she really captures Marilyn's strength, femininity, and self-assuredness.
03:59There's definitely a resemblance that you can't miss.
04:02Even though we don't actually see her audition,
04:04Ivy styles herself after Monroe.
04:06It's actually pretty close to her own personal style, too.
04:09Flashback to a girl with a song in her heart
04:16As she's waiting to start the adventure
04:22Whenever she dresses up as Marilyn,
04:24whether it's for her callback or on stage,
04:27it's clear that if this was all about looks,
04:29Ivy would totally have it in the bag.
04:31For a kiss they paid a thousand,
04:34Yet they paid fifty cents for my soul
04:38Winner, Ivy
04:40Round 3.
04:41Dance Skills
04:43Karen's still a newbie in the industry,
04:45so her dance moves aren't perfect yet.
04:47But a little practice goes a long way.
04:49It's just, it's pretty intense.
04:50Yeah, it's supposed to be.
04:51Look, the gesture goes all the way to the end of the fingertips,
04:54and then the chin comes up.
04:56Josh, show me the combination again, please.
04:59Her callback starts a little bit shaky,
05:01but by the time they're ready to show the combo,
05:03she's practically mamboing her way to perfection.
05:06She's no Ivy when it comes to technical skills at first,
05:09but Karen pours her heart into every step.
05:12I never met a woman who didn't love to howl
05:17No, I never met a man who wasn't on the prowl
05:22While she may initially lack experience,
05:24her determination more than makes up for it.
05:26Over time, you can see her growing and improving,
05:29and it doesn't take long for her to find her footing
05:31in the demanding world of Broadway choreography.
05:37Hey, come on now
05:40No rumor has it he's the one I'm leaving you for
05:45Ivy spent about a decade in the ensemble,
05:47so it's no surprise she can dance.
05:49Have you noticed that he signals every time I approach?
05:52Kill me up
05:53Throw him out
05:54Because there isn't a doubt
05:56That all men like to play at
05:58The National Festival
06:01Marilyn is a true performer,
06:03and Ivy's technical precision and flawless execution
06:06bring that to life.
06:07Marilyn's dance numbers aren't just about looking pretty,
06:10they're about presence.
06:11Her spirits are shaggin'
06:14Her feet are a-draggin'
06:16Fall off of that wagon
06:18The piano hums to the bass and drums
06:20And I'll be dancin' when Hoover comes
06:22Ivy masters the tricky choreography while capturing Marilyn's sexy yet sensitive energy.
06:27Every move she makes feels intentional,
06:29whether she's doing a slow, sultry number or an upbeat routine.
06:33She totally owns it,
06:34but it's the emotional connection she adds to every dance
06:37that really makes her stand out.
06:39Honestly, once Karen improved her footwork,
06:41we'd be hard-pressed to pick between them.
06:43Winner, tie.
06:53Round four, stage presence.
06:55It's not like Marilyn was born a star.
06:58She had to climb her way up from the bottom,
07:00just like Karen.
07:01As of this day,
07:03Norma Jean's gone
07:07She's moving on
07:10They both share that innocence and sweetness.
07:13Behind Marilyn's sex symbol image,
07:14there was a woman who just wanted to be loved.
07:17And Karen brings that same vulnerability to her performances
07:20in a way that's completely relatable.
07:22When you sing happy birthday to someone you love
07:26I see diamonds you wish were all free
07:29Please say that you won't
07:31I pray that you don't forget me
07:35She taps into something that her rival can't quite reach,
07:38which reminds us of the human being behind the icon.
07:41That genuine sensitivity is what connects her to the role,
07:44and reminds audiences that there's so much more to Marilyn
07:47than meets the eye.
07:48My baby girl
07:50Still had something beautiful to give
07:59If we're talking about the Marilyn Monroe who became a global icon,
08:03then yes, of course, Ivy's the clear choice.
08:05When the season's over, the play won't end
08:09Cause a baseball diamond is a girl's best friend
08:13Like Marilyn, Ivy owns every stage,
08:16ensuring all eyes are on her at all times.
08:19She effortlessly commands attention with a confidence
08:21that radiates from every move.
08:23Sure, Ivy's got years of technical skill under her belt,
08:26but she also knows the importance of nuance.
08:29Well, how is it?
08:30Well, this one's actually really good about the Arthur Miller,
08:33Ilya Kazan stuff.
08:34Not so good on the movies, but there's so much of that
08:37in some of the other ones, I don't really miss it.
08:39How many have you read?
08:41A lot.
08:42And the movies?
08:45All of them.
08:47Come on, even Clash by Night?
08:48Even Monkey Business.
08:50You can tell she studied Marilyn's every move,
08:52adding those subtle touches that any fan would recognize.
08:56Ivy channels Marilyn's fierce, magnetic energy
08:58that won her legions of fans.
09:00If you ask us, Ivy and Karen combined make one multifaceted character.
09:05Let there be fire
09:16So make it hot and bloody bad
09:18Winner, tie.
09:20Round five, audience response.
09:22Karen's journey had a lot of promise,
09:25and seeing her go from a newcomer to a Broadway star is pretty engaging.
09:28Are they seeing more people?
09:30Just me and one other person.
09:32Somebody new, Karen something.
09:34They didn't see her do a dance audition,
09:36so they're calling her back for that.
09:37We're both getting called back for scene work,
09:39but I don't have to dance.
09:40It's classic, you put in 10 years in the chorus
09:43and Karen something shows up.
09:44But not all audiences warmed up to her as Marilyn.
09:47Don't get us wrong, she's super talented,
09:49but her lack of experience often seeped through,
09:52which made some people skeptical about really seeing her in the role.
09:56What's next?
09:57Well, I can't even give you a hint,
09:59but boys, that's a wrap.
10:01So cut, print, movie on and on
10:09After all, this character needs to be played by someone
10:12with a big personality and history.
10:14It makes you wonder how many aspiring principal actors
10:17watching the series rolled their eyes at the idea of a total newcomer
10:20landing the role over a seasoned veteran.
10:22Yeah, they weren't buying it.
10:23Where's Karen Cartwright?
10:25Here. I'm here.
10:28You're going on as Marilyn. Tonight.
10:31Outside of the show's realm,
10:33Ivy's not exactly the nicest person.
10:35Well, not at first.
10:37We get it, her mom's tough on her,
10:39and she's been working in a ruthless business for years
10:41with little payoff.
10:43This is so silly.
10:44I don't know. You sound amazing on everything.
10:47I don't know why I need you to take singing lessons from a chorus girl.
10:53That's not what I was going to say.
10:55No?
10:56But does that justify how she treats people around her?
10:58We're gonna say no.
11:00However, if we're only focusing on her appeal as Marilyn,
11:03there's no denying she was a fan favorite.
11:05I knew the song from before. It was my callback piece.
11:08Oh, your callback for what?
11:10For Marilyn.
11:11Well, I'm singing it now.
11:13She looked the part, had the talent,
11:15and most importantly, she wanted it so badly
11:17that she worked relentlessly to bring authenticity to her performance.
11:21Say what you will about her, but she'd more than paid her dues.
11:36Winner, Ivy.
11:38Round 6, Vocal Performance
11:41Catherine McPhee's got a beautiful singing voice, no doubt.
11:44But does it have that Marilyn Monroe charm?
11:47Effortlessly seductive, sweetly fragile, and with that warm, breathy tone?
12:04Sometimes, McPhee's voice has its own appeal,
12:07effortlessly exuding innocence and allure and packed with emotion.
12:11We'd happily listen to her sing anything from Let Me Be Your Star
12:14to 20th Century Fox Mambo to Don't Forget Me on repeat.
12:32But if we're being honest, we'd probably love her versions of those tracks
12:35just as much if she dropped them as singles rather than as Marilyn.
12:39No wonder she's a hit in Hit List later on.
12:49Despite what Derek might think, Ivy has that soft, airy quality,
12:53almost a whisper at times, that we've come to associate with Marilyn.
12:57But thanks to her and Megan Hilty's Broadway background,
13:01she has one incredible belt.
13:09Ivy might actually be more of a vocal powerhouse than Marilyn,
13:18but she shares that magnetic sound that's almost hypnotic.
13:21She's got the feel of Marilyn down,
13:23but she also brings a playful confidence that adds some much-needed depth.
13:28If we owned the Bombshell soundtrack, we'd be listening to her
13:41belt out those iconic numbers non-stop.
13:44Is it any wonder she ends up winning a Tony Award for the role?
13:47Winner, Ivy.
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14:08When we first meet Karen, she's got plenty of talent
14:11but is a little short on star power.
14:13That's exactly why we love her journey.
14:15I am just as good as any of you guys.
14:17Shh, what?
14:18Not you.
14:19True.
14:20I am the same as you.
14:23You were all beginners too, and I'm good.
14:25Sure, it's not always the most realistic,
14:27but her rise-from-nowhere narrative is one many of us can relate to,
14:31and it mirrors Marilyn's climb to fame.
14:33Karen's arc is compelling as she steps out of Ivy's shadow
14:36and starts carving her own path in the business,
14:39eventually leading her to Hit List.
14:46It's an injustice that the series got cancelled so soon,
14:56especially when Karen's story clearly had so much more to unfold.
15:00We were robbed of seeing just how far she could go.
15:16Ivy's got star power in spades,
15:18and she barely needs to break a sweat for it.
15:20It's in her bones.
15:32Her voice, her confidence, her charisma,
15:34they all work together in a way that makes everything she does effortless.
15:38It doesn't hurt that she was raised by a leading lady,
15:40so she's had a front-row seat to the workings of the biz from early on.
15:44But I know how heartbreaking this world is,
15:47and I can't stand to watch you go through everything I went through.
15:52Even now, I wish you'd find something else.
15:55Like Marilyn, when she takes on a role,
15:57she totally immerses herself in it.
15:59She couldn't have an easier time lighting up the stage
16:02since that star power is practically written into her DNA.
16:05And believe us, she was born for the spotlight.
16:08Now a new Monroe Doctrine is in effect,
16:11so go tell Mr. Zeg to read him and weep,
16:16cause I'm not just here to dig, I'm here to dig.
16:20Winner, Ivy.
16:21And with that, our overall winner today is Ivy.
16:24It's all for the taking,
16:27and it's magic we'll be making.
16:30Let me be your star.
16:34Who's your ultimate Marilyn?
16:36Tell us why she's your star in the comments.
16:38I'm what you've been needing.
16:42It's all here and my heart's bleeding.
16:44Let me be your star.
16:55Do you agree with our picks?
16:57Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
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