The “callback”, for anyone in show business, is both the most exciting and anxiety-inducing word a performer can hear.

It means you stood out in the cattle call of an audition and that you’re being considered for the role…but it also means you’ll have to prove yourself once again to wow the casting director and land the part.

Or in the case of Karen (Katharine McPhee) and Ivy (Megan Hilty), one more chance, and then  another chance…and then another chance…

In the second episode of “Smash,” Derek, the director of the new musical about Marilyn Monroe, can’t decide if he should go with the experience of Ivy or the “green”-ness of Karen, and has them return for callback after callback.

And it’s not just the auditioning that gets hearts racing. Things get tense between Julia (Debra Messing) and her husband Frank (Brian d’Arcy James) when he questions her commitment to their adoption process.

“(It’s about) trying to balance a creative life, a creative marriage (with co-writer, Tom) and a real marriage and (still) being a great wife and mother,” Messing said about her character’s role when discussing the show at the CTV Upfronts.

But Julia proves that her commitment to her family is just as fierce as her commitment to the Marilyn musical and confirms this by writing a letter to her baby’s biological mom.

It’s also fascinating to watch how the behind-the-scenes creative process of creating a musical unfolds as Julia and Tom switch around cue cards to try to figure out what order the songs should go in.

Between that and the dance rehearsals, it’s all creative process all the time…

Without offering any spoilers, by the end of the episode, Marilyn will be cast.

But both Karen and Ivy are so strong (and so very different), it’s hard to imagine they won’t end up with big roles in the final production.

“Even crazy dreams come true,” Ivy sings at end of episode. Crazy dreams indeed!

"The Callback" airs on Monday, Feb. 13 at 10/9C on CTV.

About Lindsay Zier-Vogel

Lindsay Zier-Vogel has been working for CTV.ca since 2008. In addition to interviewing the famed American choreographer Bill T. Jones and Canadian prima ballerina Karen Kain, Lindsay’s highlights include criss-crossing Canada on four SYTYCDC audition tours and covering the Juno Awards. Follow her on Twitter!