Smash Season 2 – Krysta Rodriguez is Katharine McPhee’s Friend, Leslie Odom Jr. Gets Raise

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Last month we found out that NBC’s Smash would be bringing Jennifer Hudson along for its upcoming second season and now we have another addition to the cast, and a promotion for an existing one. First, let’s deal with existing Smash family, as Leslie Odom Jr. has been promoted to a series regular for next season. He played “Sam” last season, the interest of Christian Borle’s Tom. Previously, Odom has made spot appearances in several shows, including  Supernatural, House of Lies, Grey’s Anatomy, Gilmore Girls, NCIS LA,  and an extended arc on CSI: Miami a few years back while also recently appearing in the film Red Tails as Walter “Winky” Hall.

Joining the Smash cast is Krysta Rodriguez, who according to Deadline, will be Karen’s (Katharine McPhee)  new roomate and friend, named “Anna”. A broadway/stage actress, you may have also caught her once getting fresh with Chace Crawford on CW’s Gossip Girl.

There has been a lot of  casting changes since the first season of Smash ended, as a decision has been made that Jamie Cepero (Ellis), Raza Jaffery (Dev), Will Chase (Michael), will not be returning, and Brian D’Arcy only for a bit role to close out his character’s arc. Joining the aforementioned Hudson as a new face on Smash will also be stage actor Jeremy Jordan.