up next, deborah messing on her new nbc show smash.an emmy as grace adler on "will and grace." she returns to nbc tonight in a new series called smash. she plays a lyricist who's taking a year off to adopt a baby with her husband. but when a chance to write a musical about marilyn monroe falls into her lap she can't resist the challenge. >> it's not a musical. it's one song. >> why can't tom do it with someone else? >> you know what she said in her last interview? she said, please, don't make a joke out of me. the way they treated her. that's not even it. it was just there's something about her. how much she wanted to love and be loved. she glows with it. reminds me of a saint. i don't want anyone else to do her. >> really interesting to watch you and hear you in that role, especially because when they offered you the script you kind of had a similar reaction. you felt you had to do this role. >> i did. >> why? >> i did. i think it tapped into something very pure and fundamental for me. my first love was musical theater. my first love

joining me live is deborah messing. tell us about the premise of the show and the characters. >> well, it is about behind-the- scenes look at the making of a broadway musical. i played juliet, a lyricist. he plays thomas, a composer. we come up with the idea of about a musical of the life of marilyn monroe. the show is about the producer and director, and everyone coming together in the attempt of making this show. the consequences and the price you pay on your personal life for tried to do that. >> it really does take effect on your personal life. we get to learn more about who they really are. >> cedar people are pretty interesting people. it is a group of america has not seen yet. -- theater people are pretty interesting people. >> i agree. how about the musical act? tell us more what viewers can expect to see? >> what is very special is once a week there is an original song. so they are cranking out amazing original musical songs, and we also have contemporary covers. so it is a good healthy dosing of music. >> we h

emmy winner deborah messing returns to nbc in this drama after hr years on "will and grace."lays a lyricist. >> i think it tapped into something very pure and fundamental for me because my first love was musical theater and my first love was the theater world. >> oscar winner angelica houston is also in the cast along with several real-life broadway veterans. it is produced by steven spielberg. that's tonight. >>> the music starts at 8:00 tonight with "the voice." you can critique the performances with news4 and big tigger's going to join her in a special web chat on nbcwashington.com. then the debut of "smash" followed by news4 at 11:00. >>> here are some of the stories coming up at 4:00 -- big tigger will join us in the studio to talk about who he thinks has "the voice." >>> also ahead at 4:00, scary moments for a mother as a baby stroller rolls on to a train track. >>> then at 5:00, parents facing criminal charges for their children being late for school. a family in loudoun county was shocked when a sheriff's deputy showed up at their door with a summons. >>> but, is chro