Wednesday, August 8, 2012

The Glee Project: I'm Still Standing

Last time on “The Glee Project”: Darren Criss showed up to see how well the Gleekabes could romance each other. Bland did the best and got a stand out in the video “We Found Love.” But in a twist, Michael excelled in the studio while Bland floundered. Michael even did well on the shoot, which the judges attributed partly to partner Lily. Aylin and Shanna struggled playing lesbians and landed in the bottom two with Bland. In the end, Shanna was eliminated by Ryan. Five Gleekabes remain, find out who will not make it to the finals which are NEXT WEEK OMG!

Glee!


Aylin talks to Michael and Bland about how next week is the finale. NEXT WEEK IS THE FINALE! While we process that, Robert comes in to talk to the Gleekabes about acting…supposedly the most important aspect of being on Glee. Michael thinks Bland has this in the bag. Robert says their homework song is “Addicted to Love” which only Michael knows. Robert teases tomorrow’s judge is one of his favorite actors on Glee before leaving. They practice while talking about acting.

So, who is our guest judge? It’s Dianna Agron (Quinn Fabray). Bland is in love. I myself have what Jenna Marbles calls a Level II Girl Crush on her. If you don’t know Jenna Marbles, YouTube here. We can wait. Anyway, Dianna talks about remembering the others around them before Robert reveals each Gleekabe will be shown a card with a word they have to act.

Michael: Determined
Lily: Scared
Bland: Angry (which once again means “Intense Eyes”)
Aylin: Anxious
Ali: Excited

Robert and Dianna clap at making the monkeys dance. Dianna loved Michael’s look during the song while she wanted Lily to go bigger. She calls Bland “fun” and “fantastic.” And she felt Aylin’s anxiety and Ali’s excitement. So who is the winner? Michael finally wins a homework winner. I didn’t even think of him when I saw the “trailer.” He gets to work with Dianna for “Perfect” by Pink. They are making a movie trailer for Perfect. A coming-of-age story with Erik assigning them characters.

Aylin: Turkish girl, conservative family, who is dating the quarterback and is pregnant
Bland: The quarterback and is a jerk
Michael: Football player who has fallen for Aylin
Ali: Michael’s sister who was an Olympic runner until being injured
Lily: Drove the car when Ali was injured

They only have to face Nikki as there is no choreography. But they will also be improvising the trailer.
So let’s see time with Nikki! She wants a story. Aylin, Michael and Bland struggle. Ali and Lily hit it but Lily has an emotional breakthrough a la Alex in the studio booth. Nikki hopes Lily keeps the emotions to give a good performance.

Coming Up: Filming!

Erik greets the Gleekabes. He tells them to dive in and show him what they’ve got. Robert says it will see if they develop a character and to see the improvising. Erik tells Lily all he wants is a line with the word “perfect” in it. They have a conversation but Erik wants them to get to the point. Zach loves Lily’s acting but she still hasn’t had to get to the line “perfect.” But Ali isn’t being engaged.

Outside a barn, Erik asks for “Darth Blake.” He confronts Aylin, as Ryan wants to see a jerkass side from him. Nikki and Zach are impressed. So is Robert. Zach steps in to help choreograph a fight between Bland and Michael. Which leads to the session with Michael—who has a notebook. Oh he is a geek! How adorkable! She helps him create a backstory. Zach looks like he’s in love. Robert praises both of them.
Aylin puts on the head scarf and gets emotional. She talks about fighting against the Muslim traditions. Erik tells her to use it for the camera. Robert says he’s proud of them.

Video time! Someone, somewhere, is writing that movie. You know they are.

Coming Up: Bottom 3. A gift?

Robert tells the remaining Gleekabes that he’s going to miss working with them. Nikki says she’s loved getting to know of them and gets maternal on them. Zach tells them the judges believe in all of the Gleekabes, even if they don’t win. Robert says that they all deserve a shot of getting into the finale. Ryan’s bringing the entire writing staff and the final five will perform for them. Song assignments!

Lily: “Son of a Preacher Man”
Michael: “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”
Ali: “Here’s to Us”
Bland: “I’m Still Standing”
Aylin: “Fighter”

The Gleekabes go to rehearse. They want to get to the finale.

Who are our writers? I see Ian Brennan. I guess no one else gets to be introduced. They’ve apparently seen videos and whatnot. Michael is up first and Robert tells them he has grown. He comes out to sing “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” My class and I wanted it to be our prom song because, hey, all girl high school. We were told we had to dance with our dates to our prom song. Stupid DJ. Oh, the writers get introduced when they talk. Michael was actually pretty good.

Robert talks about Lily’s growth as an actress. She comes out to sing. I liked her performance. Ian wonders if she can be directed and the judges confess she was difficult in the beginning.

Coming Up: Double or Triple Elimination?

Gleekabe extra: The Gleekabes talking about the elimination.

Next is Ali. Ryan thought she wasn’t great while Robert and Zach blame Lily. Ryan isn’t buying it. She rolls out to sing “Here’s to Us.” The writers talk about Ali and her disability.

Bland is up next and Robert just praises. Time for “I’m Still Standing.” Everyone applauds. But the judges aren’t too sold on him.

Aylin is Muslim and from a conservative family. She sings “Fighter.” One writer thinks Americans are curious about Muslims while another thinks she’s not a replacement but a new character.

The writers debate about the Gleekabes. They decide they have to pick a star. Ryan thinks it’s time for a double elimination. Backstage, Aylin professes her love for everyone.

Coming Up: Who goes to the finale?

And in case you were wondering, here are the other writers: Michael Hitchcock, Roberto Aguirre-Sarcosa, Matthew Hodgson, Ali Adler, and Ross Maxwell.

Robert posts the list. Lily looks minutes away from crying. But she looks gorgeous as well. Michael helps Ali into her chair as they go to check the list. Once again, they want to go to the finale. Neither Michael nor Lily make it to the finale. They hug each other before our finalists—Bland, Ali and Aylin—come in to say goodbye. Michael calls it an amazing journey and Lily says she learned more than she has in her life. Lily and Michael sing “Keep Holding On” before disappearing.

The Glee Project:

Abraham
Ali
Aylin
Blake
Charlie
Dani
Lily Mae
Mario
Maxfield
Michael
Nellie
Shanna
Taryn*
Tyler

*Contestant quit show

I am a bit bummed. On my morning bus ride, I thought Michael might be getting the Damian edit—struggled with something, never won a homework challenge, ended up in the bottom 3 a few times too many, but pulled it out when needed. The only thing missing was Bland having an issue that sent him running from the show a la Cameron. And I have to admit I grew to like Lily throughout the competition. I’ll miss them…even if they getting let out of the house next week to join the finalists like last year.

Anyway, I’m not sure who I want to win. I can see any of the finalists in Glee. I have a poll up—Who do you want to win?

Next week: Damian interviews the contenders? Everyone comes back! There is only one winner (maybe)! The winner is…

Quote of the Episode
“If you can’t act, then you shouldn’t be on Glee.” –Ali

No comments: