( EW.com ) -- Two Four characters on NBC 's `` Smash '' are expected to leave the show -- and we suspect fans are not going to be disappointed . Philandering fiancÃ© Dev ( Raza Jaffrey ) and devious assistant Ellis ( Jaime Cepero ) will not be regulars in the show 's second season , sources say . It 's possible one or both actors could appear in an episode or two to wrap up their storylines , but that 's it . The plan is to have neither character as a recurring presence in the show 's new-and-improved second season . Dev annoyed fans by cheating on Karen ( Katharine McPhee ) while Ellis infuriated viewers all season with his overeager meddlesome scheming . Fans and critics have been pretty outspoken that the second season would be better off without either character ( Ellis , in particular ) and it seems producers and/or NBC listened . NBC plans to return `` Smash '' in midseason , giving time for new showrunner Josh Safran ( `` Gossip Girl '' ) to creatively polish the series . NBC had no comment . UPDATE : Brian d'Arcy James , who played Julia 's ( Debra Messing ) husband Frank , and Will Chase , who played Julia 's former lover Michael , are leaving `` Smash , '' too . In the finale , Frank saw Julia comforting Michael on stage and assumed the duo were back to their old , ahem , tricks . See the full story at EW.com . CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved .
Dev , Ellis , Michael and Frank will not be regulars in `` Smash 's '' second season . The plan is to have neither NBC as a recurring presence . Dev not Ellis plans to return `` Smash '' in midseason .