$obj = `ls -sl`
that will return the currently selected object.
If you want to assign differnt levels of smooth to objects I would consider adding an attribute to the object to represent smooth value and then have the object get that value so that rather than changing the polySmooth variable directly you edit the new attribute and then the polySmooth takes it's value from there.
Alan
Technical Director - Framestore
Currently working on: Your Highness
IMDB