The Glee Project: It's Not About the Money

Last time on “The Glee Project": It was sexuality week! And of course that meant a visit from Naya Rivera (Santana Lopez). She chose Charlie as the winner in the homework challenge. But he was all over the set of their mashup of “Moves Like Jagger” and “Milkshake,” annoying Erik. It lands him in the bottom 3 along with Michael and Tyler. After performing for Ryan, it was Tyler who was sent home for not being quite comfortable in his new body yet. Ten Gleekabes remain, who is sent home tonight? Find out!


Glee!


Charlie and Aylin set some ground rules, going forward as just friends and to cut out the love-dovey stuff. They are just going to be competitive instead. They hug and then shove each other around before Robert shows up. He tells them the theme of the week is “adaptability.” From what I understand, Glee is one of the hardest sets to work on so this is a needed skill. They learn “You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morrisette. They won’t be choosing their own part but assigned. Charlie seems to like this. Mario and Michael think they will both excel at adaptability.


The Gleekabes eagerly open their envelope to see their part. Lily Mae says she prefers to have some control and isn’t too fond of how random this is. Charlie says the key to adaptability is just to say “yes.” And Charlie, Bethesda IS in Maryland.


Anyway, this week’s guest judge is Kevin McHale (Artie Abrams). Alli is happy to see Kevin because she always checks to see if he “cheats” by moving his legs. He talks about how things can change on set. Kevin tells them that they will now be performing the song as a solo. Shanna is worried as she didn’t learn all the lyrics. I think the girls do better than the boys singing wise. Mario and Abraham do well for the boys, I’ll admit.


Kevin and Robert applaud the Gleekabes. Kevin appreciates Michael’s acting choice and praises Aylin’s performance. He liked that Charlie changed the lyrics to make it appropriate for the fact a boy was singing it. He liked Alli’s performance. Shanna forgot the words the most but he didn’t care because she kept going. So, who won? Aylin! I guess right from the video! Aylin is happy and glad to standout. She won the mentoring session and a standout moment in the video…”We’re not telling you,” Kevin announces. Lily’s like “Wha?” They won’t find out about the song until recording with Nikki and choreography will be learned on set. Lily’s still not a fan of this.


Vocals with Nikki! She talks about adapting on Glee. And then announces the song is Jessie J’s “Price Tag.” Aylin is happy to hear that. The boys are like “Umm, what?” Shanna goes in, concerned. Nikki plays the song for them to hear before the Gleekabes record it. Nikki praises Shanna’s ability to learn it fast. Michael redeems himself from last week. Nikki notes he’s having fun with the song. Lily passes as well. We then see Aylin working with Kevin. She talks about forgetting words and he tells her to remain confident. To focus on the emotion and message of the song. Aylin goes in and nails the song.


Nikki talks about Abraham’s breathing and pitchy issues. Alli keeps experimenting it seems and Nikki isn’t to thrilled with it.


Coming Up: Acting? On this show? What?


The Gleekabes prepare for the video shoot. Erik comes in to talk to them about the concept. Rich kids vs broke kids. Because the broke kids are having fun, the rich kids go to have fun with the broke kids until only one rich kid is left (Aylin). He tells them to kill it and adapt. Robert gives a talking ahead about how difficult this is. Charlie talks about his character, Scott Campbell. Robert and Nikki worry about him fitting into the group. Erik talks to Mario about his vibe—which is apparently girls and money. He asks Mario to act more. Mario is confused. Don’t worry, Mario, so is the audience. Erik praises Aylin’s performance as Mario keeps working.


Zach shows up to teach the Gleekabes the choreography. Bland says he worries about learning the choreography on set. He says he practices always and Zach calls the Gleekabes “zombies.” And Zach reminds Bland to smile. Nellie talks about being introverted and pushing out of her comfort zone. Robert and Zach are worried.


Video time! I think Aylin nailed it. And Shanna stood out as well.


Coming Up: A challenge? What?


The Gleekabes report to the stage to face the judges. Robert tells Aylin did a fantastic job all week. She is on the callback list with Shanna, Michael and Lily. And I thought they were setting up Lily to fail at adaptability. Nellie is there because she needs to pop when in a group. Bland has been flying high to my bafflement. Zach says he faded and was thinking too much. Abraham didn’t do well in the recording studio as was Alli. Nikki says she’s too big for the moment. Robert talks to Mario, saying he looked tired. Mario says that he was confused by the direction. Robert says that Charlie didn’t mesh with the group. He announces he won’t pick a final 3. All six will be performing duets and Ryan will pick the final three.


Alli is paired with Abraham. She is happy. Mario is paired with Charlie, who is worried about butting heads with Mario. Nellie and Bland are paired together. Mario and Charlie have “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” Alli and Abraham have “Last Friday Night.” Bland and Nellie have “Waiting for a Girl Like You.” The judges send them to rehearse. Charlie asks to hear the song in the room and Mario wants to listen in the headphones. He talks about how Charlie tends to change the melody. Alli and Abraham practice while Alli says she doesn’t want to go home.


Coming Up: Ryan!


Gleekabe extra: Charlie as Scott Campbell. He is apparently a sociopath.


Ryan and the other judges enter and he asks about why there are six people. Because they all struggled, duh. Robert tells about Nellie’s struggle when in a group while Bland was too focused on getting the choreography. They come in to perform and both are great. Ryan calls it an opera and says they did well. He tells them to up their energy and reminds them it is a competition.


Next is Alli and Abraham. Nikki takes this over as their issues were vocal. Both flirt with Ryan a little. Both seem to screw up the words, I think. Abraham seems to be mumbling which doesn’t help the fact that Alli’s natural tendencies mean she drowns him out. Ryan notes the word problem but calls Alli “a little funny Dolly Parton.” Ryan says Alli is a sexpot and once Abraham gets out of his head, he’s fascinating.


Robert and Zach talk about Mario’s difficulty with directions and Charlie making it all about him. They enter to perform. Both sound wonderful together, their voices really blend. Mario wipes away some tears as Ryan calls it “interesting and powerful.” He liked their relationship. Ryan says these are the tricky weeks as everyone is talented.


The six Gleekabes re-enter the stage. Ryan calls them talented and inspirational. Alli, Nellie and Bland are safe this week. Another week with a bottom 3 comprised of only males! Someone must’ve pointed out the misogyny of last season. Ryan agrees with me that Alli drowned Abraham out and tells him to remember why he is special. Mario is there due to his acting while Charlie is there due to professionalism. He did better this week but he has to be a team player. Ryan dismisses our bottom three as Charlie takes Mario’s hand to lead him off.


Ryan says he admires Mario but he isn’t as great an actor as the others. Backstage, Mario hopes not to have the plug pulled. Ryan talks about how difficult Charlie seems to work with. And Abraham wasn’t so great tonight. Ryan makes a pick as Robert and Nikki agree.


COMMERCIALS!


Robert posts the list and announces it to the Gleekabes. The bottom 3 hug the safe contenders before going to check the list. Abraham confesses that he has so much more to show and more to grow. Charlie says he doesn’t know who will be going home while Mario confesses he’s afraid but knows it will be or the best. Mario reads the Braille. Judging by Charlie’s face, he’s safe. Mario reads the not called back as Abraham tears up. Mario is the one not called back. He says he got professional and social experience. He hopes they see a talented, fearless and inspirational man who is blind not a blind person they let on the Glee Project. Mission achieved, Mario. Everyone hugs him goodbye before he sings “Keep Holding On.”


The Glee Project:


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


I must admit, I’m surprised at who went home. I didn’t think Mario was going to win, but I thought they were going to play up the “doesn’t take criticism well” aspect a bit more before letting him go. But I do like Charlie and Abraham more, so sorry Mario. I did enjoy the video and if Aylin wins, I won’t be too upset.


Next week: Jane Lynch and slushies! Fearlessness!