Exclusive video: 'Smash' Season 2 first look (with Jennifer Hudson!)

Dave Nemetz

After an ovation-worthy freshman season, NBC’s “Smash” is back for an encore in February, and the inside-Broadway drama is adding yet another diva to its already stacked roster. Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson (“Dreamgirls”) joins the Season 2 cast as Tony-winning actress Veronica Moore, and headlines this extended first look at the new season of “Smash” -- which you can only watch right here, at Yahoo! TV.

The clip crams plenty of Season 2 spoilers into four minutes, including: Veronica passing along some hard-won wisdom to Karen (a reunion of sorts for fellow “American Idol” finalists Hudson and Katharine McPhee); a new love interest for Karen, played by “Newsies” star Jeremy Jordan; Karen stage-diving at a gay club (?); major financial stumbles for producer Eileen (her bartender beau Nick is in jail!); a hint of trouble between songwriting partners Julia and Tom; guest stars Sean Hayes and Bernadette Peters (back as Ivy’s mom); another round of fierce competition between backstage rivals Karen and Ivy; and, of course, lots of diva-tastic singing. Yep, looks like the gloriously messy “Smash” we know and love is back in full effect.

Season 2 of “Smash” premieres Tuesday, February 5 at 9 PM on NBC.