Yes! They could have just ... developed Kyle as a character. Or developed Jimmy as a character. Or realized that Jimmy was a failed experiment, apologized to Jeremy Jordan, and written him off to focus on more likable characters. Although given how much Smash seems to loathe likable characters, that last one wasn't very likely.

But instead ... nope, cheap melodrama by way of exploiting a real-life tragedy.

(I almost threw something at the screen when Julia accused Scott of exploiting Kyle's death to promote Hit List. SELF-AWARENESS, WRITERS, GET YOU SOME.)