Glee: Good Night, Sweet Prince

Yes, I know I haven’t recapped a Glee episode since pretty much the first season. But after Cory Monteith’s death, I knew I had to recap this episode.

Before we continue, let’s get this out of the way first: They do not reveal how Finn died. It’s not important as this episode is not about how Finn died, but how the people around Finn grieve and find the strength to go on. Yes, it may not give some fans closure in regards to the character of Finn but it was a choice the producers made. Some people thought they should’ve killed Finn the same way Cory died and I’m glad they didn’t. While Finn’s father became an addict, it wouldn’t have been true to the character to make Finn one either. And if Glee had chosen this episode to be the “drugs are bad, m’kay?” episode, I would’ve been mad. When Glee gets preachy, it gets very heavy-handed in my opinion.

Anyway, on with the show…

My Top 10 of 2010

Where did 2010 go? Seriously, where did it go? Anyway, as the year draws to an end, many lists start popping up all over the place. And I love lists! So, while I go search for where 2010 went, you can read my top 10 list of memorable events from TV, movies and Broadway from 2010!

10. Bebe Neuwirth and Nathan Lane at the Tony Awards. Months later, when I’m still trying to remember who won all the awards, I still remember these two. They came out and had a series of jokes that were quite funny before revealing they were presenting the awards for Best Actor and Actress in a Musical, the very categories in which they were snubbed. Their reactions were even more memorable. Bravo to the two!

9. Betty White’s Snickers Commercial. I am not a big sports fan. You can ask my former co-workers who teased me mercilessly when I confused rules and terms. So, I am one of the hundreds who watch the Super Bowl for the commercials. And I loved the Snickers commercial that saw Betty White running around on muddy field and insulting the other players.

8. “Nothing Suits Me Like a Suit” from How I Met Your Mother. For the show’s 100th episode, the creatives finally let Neil Patrick Harris have a song of his own. When Barney is given an ultimatum—lose the suits or lose the girl—he sings this song about how much he loves his suits. Ted, Robin, Marshall and Lily even get involved as well. Great song, great sequence.

7. Tangled and Toy Story 3. Of course, I love everything Disney. Well, most things Disney. I can admit that I hated the fact that they took over “Doug” and ruined everything. But, I loved Tangled. Rapunzel and Flynn were great heroes to root for and Mother Gothel has to be one of Disney’s cruelest villains. And Toy Story 3 was a great addition to the series and nearly made me cry. Long live Woody and Buzz!

6. Neil Patrick Harris as Bryan Ryan on “Glee”. Glee’s premiere season was awesome. For a new show, it managed to secure some great guest stars—Josh Groban, Eve, Kristin Chenoweth, etc. But in an Emmy-winning turn, Neil Patrick Harris starred as Bryan Ryan, a former member of the Glee club and rival to Matthew Morrison’s Will Shuester. Their duet of “Dream On” was a highlight. Bravo!

5. Ann wins “America’s Next Top Model”. She limbered into the competition as one of the tallest models in the most recent cycle. She took best photo a record breaking 5 weeks in a row. Sure, she wasn’t the best runway nor the best commercial, but Tyra was focusing on Vogue this year. And Ann won one for the awkward girls!

4. Jane Lynch recreating Madonna’s “Vogue” video. Glee knew this was so epic, they released it ahead of the episode. It was a shot-by-shot remake of Madonna’s video and proved that Jane Lynch could hold her own with the other cast members. I half-expected Benny Ninja to actually show up as well! And extra points for all of Sue’s shots at Will’s hair.

3. Brandy is eliminated from “Dancing With the Stars.” In the first results show, hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke teased that there was a surprise elimination that night. But the real surprise came during the semi-finals result show when Brandy and her partner Maks was eliminated from the program. Derek Hough’s face said it all—he did not hide his surprise. Both Lacey and Jennifer Grey also did not applaud for Bristol’s safety. While many believed every Republican and Tea Party member was voting for Bristol, I think Maks was the pair’s ultimate downfall as his teaching methods had been called into question and he argued with judge Carrie Ann Inuba.

2. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1”. Probably one of the year’s most anticipated movies, Harry Potter’s seventh film delivered. It set up part two and kept viewers on the edge of their seats. Bring on July!

1. David Tennant Passes the Torch to Matt Smith. Okay, I’m a big Doctor Who geek. And the “End of Time Part II” is still with me, despite airing on Jan. 2 of this past year. While it had a good plot with the possible return of the Time Lords and excellent performances by John Sims and Timothy Dalton, it was really a good-bye to David Tennant. He visited past companions and some special guests (though I would’ve liked one more appearance from either Dr. Ida Scott or Jenny) and then regenerated into Smith, who has been doing a wonderful job as the Eleventh Doctor.

Honorable mentions:

“Memphis” wins Best Musical. This musical had music from Bon Jovi’s David Bryant and was up against a musical filled with music from Green Day. But the story of a radio DJ who integrated the airwaves in Memphis and put colored music (Rock and Roll) in the center of the dial won the Tony voters. And my family.

Paul Byrom leaves Celtic Thunder. While this wasn’t an earthshaking moment nor even one that made the mainline news, it was still an important event. Celtic Thunder is very popular here in the United States and Paul has a lot of fans—myself included. While I am certain the group will continue, it will be interesting to hear how their sound changes. And I wish Paul all the luck in the world on his solo career.

The Chilean Miners are rescued. For months, the fate of these men was world news. They were stuck underground, trapped but alive. And the government was racing to get them back to the surface. Their predictions said they could free the miners in time for New Year’s and they kept the miners alive with assists from NASA. Then in October came the word that they were able to bring up the miners sooner than expected. As every news station broadcast, the first miner was lifted to the surface and embraced by his son. The rescuers sang the Chilean national anthem. Thirty-six hours later, all miners were rescued. Since then, one has ran in the New York City Marathon and all have been invited to Walt Disney World. It was the feel good story of the year and only made the honorable mention because I needed another countdown to remind me of it. And this is the list of things that made 2010 memorable to me.

So, that’s my list. Agree? Disagree? Find 2010? Share!

To Dream the Impossible Dream…

Last week on Glee: Rachel lost her voice! Kurt tried to be straight!

Will goes to the Principal’s office and is introduced to Neil Patrick Harris (Brian Ryan). NPH and Will went to school together. We flashback to Glee way back then, with NPH singing “Daydream Believer” and he does magic! Like Barney! NPH says they may cut the Glee club because of budget worries. NPH was in Glee, he did shows and the cruise ship circuit. But he became a has-been, met Jesus—his social worker, turned his life around, and now runs a support group. We see Brenda (Molly Shannon) who turned to drugs after a bad audition. NPH says “Show choir kills.” NPH just wants to talk to the kids and the Principal forces him to. NPH tells the kids to write down their biggest dreams. He rips out Artie’s and throws it out. He tells them they will never happen and will never leave their town. As he mentions show biz dreams, Rachel and Kurt share a look. NPH uses Will as an example. NPH makes Tina cry! Will throws him out but not before NPH threatens to cut the Glee club.

In the library, Tina helps Artie get a book. He says he’s now considering a career behind the camera. She saw Artie’s dream—“dancer.” Tina tells Artie they should do an assignment on their own since Will was distracted by the awesomeness that is NPH to assign them one. And it’ll include dancing! Speaking of dancing, we see Rachel in the ballet studio. Jesse’s back! And talking to her! Rachel wants to play Evita, Funny Girl and Laurie from Oklahoma! She was practicing Laurie’s Dream Ballet. Jesse tells Rachel her performance of “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina” is an inevitability. They are back together again! He asks her what her dream is, what’s missing. Rachel says her mom. She doesn’t need to meet her, but just wants to know her name. The Dads never told her and Rachel never asked them. But Jesse pushes her to find her mom.

We see Tina and Artie practicing. Tina is very good a tap. He asks for some crutches he borrowed from a kid with cerebal palsy. He can stand up and then drags himself a few feet before falling. Artie kicks Tina out. Meanwhile, Will finds NPH, who is taking stock of Home Ec supplies. Will wants to convince NPH he’s wrong about Glee, take him out for a beer. For old time’s sake. NPH considers this. Can they go to New York to visit MacLaren’s? Can Brian Ryan be Barney’s doppelganger?

Rachel whispers that she found her mother in the library. She believes her mother is Patti Lupone. Rachel tracks Lupone’s movements in 1994 to discover she was in Ohio. Jesse is able to shoot it down so Rachel asks if he wants to hear how Bernadette Peters is her mother. Jesse asks why she’s scared and Rachel reveals her fathers’ kept everything about her. Jesse knows they have a starting point.

NPH and Will bond over beers. NPH says Terri was the one that got away. Will reveals they got married and divorced. You dodged a bullet there, NPH. Will credits Glee as giving him the strength and drive to get out of the marriage and something to live for. He fortune cookies about expressing yourself through Glee and NPH admits he’s living a lie. He misses performing. He sneaks off to see Broadway shows and a box of Playbills hidden, like porn. If this was Barney, it would be porn disguised as a box of Playbills. Will starts Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” and sings along. NPH joins in. Can we bring NPH back to Broadway? Please? Will tells NPH they are both trying out for a production of Les Mis.

Twilight. Blah.

Artie rolls along as Tina runs up alongside him. She apologizes, he apologizes. He says he’s hopeless, Tina doesn’t agree. She’s done research. She tells him not to give up on his dream. Aww. They kiss as the sun shines behind them and it’s sweet.

Rachel brings up several boxes to investigate. She finds her baby teeth, Jesse finds her sonogram, Rachel finds her first singing trophy. Jesse is surprised it was when she was 8 months old. As Rachel is distracted, Jesse takes out a tape from his pocket. It says “From Mother to Daughter.” He tries to play it but Rachel freaks out. We cut from that to a woman singing “Big Spender” from Sweet Charity. Will meets with NPH. Both are trying out for Jean Valjean, first with “The Impossible Dream” from Man of La Mancha but now with Aerosmith’s “Dream On.” They argue until the director tells them to sing it together. And they do. They prance around what I assume will be the barricade scene and kill the song. The director rushes out.

Artie and Tina go shopping where Artie bought tap shoes. She goes to get pretzels but needs to leave him there. He says his doctor has started him on the therapy Tina suggested. He says they’re working, stands up and starts dancing. About time that got Kevin McHale out of that chair. He sings and dances to the “Safety Dance” in a mall. Is this a tribute to all the flash mobs Glee’s promotion teams sent out? They even have people taping it! It is a tribute to all the flash mobs! Wait, did I see Mercedes in one scene? The song ends and Artie’s in his chair, alone, as Tina gives him a pretzel. He says he’s going to dance someday.

NPH meets with Sue, saying he is going to be in Les Mis next month. He tells Sue that the Cheerios’ budget is crazy. NPH brings out research showing that the arts helps intellect while Sue argues that the country is obese and that sports help with teamwork and confidence. NPH is turned on, as is Sue. Even though he is still cutting half her budget.

What would Barney say?

Jesse runs in the rain to a car where Idina is waiting. He tells her he gave her the tape but she won’t listen to it. Jesse asks why she just doesn’t walk up to her and say, “Hi, I’m your mom.” A million fans are now screaming “I KNEW IT!” at their TV. She said she answered the ad, hoping to go to New York to become an actress. She never held Rachel and that’s her one regret. She signed a contract not to have any contact with her until she’s 18 but if she hears the tape, Rachel will try to find her.

Artie goes to speak to Emma to get therapy to adjust to his life walking. She tries to let him down gently, saying he may not walk for a long time. She agrees to let him see her once a week for a while. He leaves without Tina’s research. NPH announces that the arts matter and he gives him jackets, dance wear and sheet music from every Broadway show ever. Sue comes to congratulate the boys—Will got the role of Valjean while NPH is just a townsman. NPH reverses everything he just said and cuts the program.

NPH practices his one line, saying he is saving the kids from becoming bitter. Because cutting the one thing they have is taken from there. He tells NPH that these kids were labeled from the moment they entered the building. But he sees beyond that and sees stars. When stars die, they become black holes that suck everything. He tells NPH he’s creating thirteen black holes by cutting Glee. Will also gives up his role and lets NPH play Jean Valjean to remember what the arts can do for a person. NPH agrees to the swap and to not cut the Glee club. NPH ambushes the director.

Rachel goes home and Jesse plays the tape. And we here Idina Menzel’s voice start singing “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Mis. We cut to her singing it on a stark stage. Rachel joins her. This is slightly meta because Lea did play Young Cosette in the Broadway production of Les Mis. They slightly rewrote the song so that it’s not about a guy who left her, but her mother. At least it’s still keeping with the song’s theme. Aretha Franklin’s version? Completely missed the mark. She made it a “I will survive” song that it isn’t. The song ends as we see Idina in her car, rain beating against the window and Rachel crying in her room.

Tina and Artie talk. He pulls out of the routine. He fortune cookies he needs to focus on dreams he can make come true. Tina asks him to at least sing the song. Will announces Glee is saved. Puck asks if he died but NPH was going to be distracted by his lead role of Les Mis. He says he’s trading his one dream for their thirteen ones. Her dance partner is Mike, one of the other football players we never really see. Artie sings the song, “Dream a Little Dream of Me.” You should hear Miss Piggy’s rendition in MuppetVision down in Disney. Tina and Mike dance. Quinn offers support as they dance and Artie sings.

Next week: The Lady Gaga episode. And Finn moving in with Kurt.

That was legend…NPH was great, but when isn’t he? Even in the How I Met Your Mother episodes where Barney merely puts in an appearance. He and Matthew Morrison were great playing old rivals who could be friends, if they wanted to. Or weren’t so competitive. And I’m glad Idina is really Rachel’s mother and this isn’t really some ploy to bring down New Directions like I worried it was when Jesse first took out the tape. And everyone had been commenting on the similarities between Lea Michele and Idina Menzel before Idina was even cast! Also good character development for Tina and Archie. Now, we need to bring on some of Matthew Morrison’s Broadway co-stars. Marissa Jaret Winokur, Harvey Fierstein, Laura Bell Bundy, and/or Kerry Butler from “Hairspray” or Victoria Clarke and/or Kelli O’Hara from “Light in the Piazza.”

Also, today, the third Glee CD was released! I need to go order it and I encourage everyone else to do so as well. And yes, it is available for download on iTunes.

Quote of the Episode:

“I sound like someone put tap shoes on a horse and then shot it.” –Artie

Your Inner Voice

Last week on Glee: Someone posted a Glist—a ranking of the Glee members according to hotness. Sue got to duet with Olivia Newton-John. Emma learned about Will’s escapades with two of the Witches of Oz. Rachel blew it with Jesse, Puck and Finn with just one song. Kurt, Tina, Artie, Mercedes and Brittany tried to be bad and backfired. And in case you were wondering, Quinn posted the Glist.

People whisper in the hallways. They stare. The Gleeks fall silent. Puck has shaved his head! GASP! Brittany doesn’t even recognize him. He tells Santana about how his mom found a mole and freaked out. So she took him to a dermatologist, who shaved his head to find it was nothing. He says he feels like the guy who lost all his hair and his strength. “Sampson?” Santana guesses. “Agassi,” Puck replies. She says she’s not turned on and leaves. Outside, the geeks surround Puck and throw him into the dumpster. Mostly because he lets him. As he lies there pondering his life, he hears Mercedes singing. He thinks she’s suddenly become popular. He needs to do that. And he’s going to do it by dating Mercedes.

Can this girl get a real boyfriend who isn’t gay or just using her, please?

Meanwhile, Rachel takes out a pharmacy. She’s exhausted and needs the vitamin supplements. She thinks it is because she is singing too many solos. She knows she has perfect pitch, sensitive hearing and knows no one is singing. So she made a deal with the AV club to bug the room. We hear Rachel drown everyone out and watch as she makes a Glist of her own. The members who aren’t pulling their weight.

Meanwhile, Puck tries to proposition Mercedes. She turns him down flat. Atta girl!

Will asks why some of the members of his club aren’t singing. Finn stopped because he’s no longer getting the male leads. That would be Jesse. Santana just doesn’t give a damn, Quinn blames hormones and Brittany just can’t remember the lyrics. Will tells them to work together as one. He tells the Glee members to pick a song that represents them, their voice and sing it.

Kurt sees his dad, who is taking Finn to a game. Cue the green-eyed monster!

Puck continues to try to woo Mercedes. Rachel will be singing “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus. She insults the team. She starts to sing but is off. The Glee don’t know whether to laugh or stop her. Will tells her she’s lost her voice.

Dun dun dun!

Sue comes to ask Sue about Kurt’s absence from the Cheerios. He confides in her. Sue actually gives him somewhat decent advice. She says that his generation is too wrapped up in labels and that he shouldn’t label himself. He tries to go on about his song choice but Sue leaves him. We next see him dressed like a hunter and asking his dad about John Mellencamp’s “Pink Houses.” They go bond.

At the doctor’s, Finn supports Rachel. The doctor tells her she has tonsillitis and that her tonsils should’ve been taken out. She doesn’t want it to affect her vocal chords so the doctor starts her out with antibiotics. She asks Finn for advice. He tells her to ask her boyfriend. Oh, she can’t. He’s on spring break and hasn’t really talked to her since the Run, Joey, Run incident. Finn tells her that Jesse wouldn’t support her like he does. Rachel tells him that she still loves Jesse and he loves her. Cue “Jesse’s Girl.” And Rachel knows what it’s about.

Will is pleased by Finn’s choice. Puck decides to go next. He even brings in a jazz band. He says that Sammy Davis, Jr. was an inspiration. He sings “Lady is a Tramp.” That’s one of the best part of this show—the mixing of styles. They can swing from an 80s pop hit to a 60s lounge number like that. Santana thinks she’s losing Puck. The Gleeks swing while Mercedes duets with Puck. Now Santana gets a visit from the Green-Eyed Monster.

Mercedes glides down the hall on cloud nine till she spots Quinn. The song apparently worked and she decides to go with him. Quinn tells her to go for it because he’s annoying her. But she warns Mercedes first that Puck’s using her. She knows but she likes the attention. Then she warns Mercedes that Santana is a force to be reckoned with.

At Glee, a trucker hat supporting Kurt performs his song. Slight applause. Will doesn’t think Kurt got the right song. He tells Kurt to be himself. And gives Kurt even better advice: don’t be someone because it’s easier. But Brittany continues on her quest to be the biggest slut in McKinley High and flirts with Kurt.

Rachel looks like they threw together a mixture of Eponine’s costume and Lea Michele’s Ragtime costume as she eats soup. Finn’s sick of her pity party and decides to introduce her to a friend of his.

Kurt and Brittany make out. Mike O’Malley is surprised to find the two in his son’s room. Mike thought his son was having a murder mystery dinner. Not making out for real. Mike is a bit surprised. He tells Kurt that he’s free to be whoever he wants and he’ll support Kurt either way. He leaves, telling them to use protection. Brittany wonders if that’s a house alarm.

Meanwhile, Mercedes can’t stand listening to Puck go on about Super Mario 3. She tells him she likes frozen coffee drinks. As he goes to get one for her, a nerd flinches. Puck is back to his old reputation. Puck is overjoyed as smiles at Santana. She and Mercedes sing the Monica-Brandy duet “The Boy is Mine.” They start a shoving match as Will referees.

The nerd ends up in the dumpster. Mercedes does not approve. Finn and Rachel visit his friend, Sean. He flirts with Rachel. Sean was injured in a football injury. Paralyzed from the chest down. He asks if she’s pissed about losing her voice. He said he was and even tried to commit suicide. But it was Mom to the rescue. He’s not happier now but he’s accepted that there’s more to him. He’s good at math and can sing. He wished he could have had the courage to join his school’s glee club. Rachel thanks him as she and Finn leave.

Back at school, Mercedes quit the Cheerios. She tells Sue that being a Cheerio wasn’t her. Sue worries about their routine and figures she’ll have to do a diatribe on immigrants. Mercedes tells Puck that he needs to evaluate who he is. Because Mercedes is pretty sure the nerd-dumpster-throwing guy isn’t Puck.

Meanwhile, Brittany is admiring how soft Kurt’s hands are when Mike O’Malley shows up. He has plans with Finn tonight. You can see Kurt’s heart break. Mike tells him they’ll be other times to hang out.

Kurt gets “Rose’s Turn”? That’s awesome.

As Kurt finishes, his dad claps. He tells him he blew off Finn because he knew Kurt was not fine. Not with how he sung. He tells Kurt he’s supporting Kurt and whoever he loves. Kurt knows he’s a disappointment. Mike stops him. He tells Kurt to be himself and Mike is going to love him. They hug and this is so sweet. I really love their relationship.

Rachel goes back to visit Sean. She thanks him for showing her that singing may be what she does best, but it may not be the only thing. She offers to give him singing lessons. Her voice is back after a massive dosage of antibiotics, herbal remedies and silence. She starts to sing “One” by U2. This brings back fond memories from my Youth Group. We sang a lot of U2. And “House of the Rising Sun.” Don’t ask. Sean’s pretty good but we segue into…

Finn singing the song as the group performs it.

Next week: Neil. Patrick. Harris.

Good episode. It was good to see the friendship between Finn and Rachel again. And now I can’t wait for Kurt’s boyfriend next season. And I still want John Barrowman to join the cast as a mentor for him. Turn the tables on dad, even if I love Mike O’Malley and how the role is written. And can we give Mercedes a real boyfriend now? Please?

Quote of the Episode:

“I’m like Tinkerbell, Finn, I need applause to live.”--Rachel

Hello, Glee, It IS You We’ve Been Looking For

Last time on Glee…Way back in December…Will discovered his wife wasn’t pregnant, just borrowing a soap opera cliché. Finn learned that Quinn’s (Prissy Cheerleader’s) baby was really Puck’s. The gang went to Sectionals, where their entire set was stolen by their rival schools. Finn comes in to save the day and they rock their performance, winning. Sue gets suspended and goes away, promising revenge. Meanwhile, Will wins Emma.

And now…The Return of Glee!

Kurt, Rachel and Mercedes walk down the hallway, reveling in their win. They feel powerful, on top of the world…And then a jock tosses a slushy in their faces. Same old Glee. Meanwhile, Will learns Glee, despite their win, is still on the bottom of the food chain. He fights for the auditorium, but the Cheerios need a place to practice in the winter. Will wonders who is couching the Cheerios. Sue is back! With more insults. She has been reinstated, much to Will’s shock.

Meanwhile, Finn voiceovers that football season is over and now he is trying basketball. But he’s off his game. He and Rachel are dating and she even has his and hers calendars made up complete with all their dates. But he’s not listening. He still isn’t over Quinn, who is having issues with Puck and her pregnancy. Finn is confused.

As is Will. He wants to know how Sue got reinstated. We see her at dinner, slipping a roofie into the Principal’s drink and then blackmailing him. She’s back and she’s got the power.

Will relates a story of how Bell wanted everyone to answer the phone with “Ahoy, ahoy” while Edison thought “Hello” was better. He segues this into how the club has not moved in their position in the school. He tells them that New Directions has to go in even newer directions. He tells them to find songs with “Hello” in the title.

Will then goes to visit Emma and there is adorable awkwardness. Will goes for a kiss. Emma protests that she has to put her face on and grabs a case. Will stops her, saying he doesn’t need that to kiss her. He then asks her to go out on a date so they can get to know each other. Like that Will cooks. Emma agrees.

Sue scolds Britt and Santana about how they didn’t bring down Glee. She tells them to mess with Rachel and get her to leave. No Rachel, no Glee. Sue, didn’t you try this before? And failed? Cabaret? Ring a bell?

Will continues to mentor Finn, comparing their respective loss of fatherhood. He tells Finn that he is a new man and it’s time to get to know him. Finn gets to sing whatever he wants. He sings Morrison, singing to Quinn and then Glee. After his performance, Britt and Santana asks him a date. He wants to know which one. They respond: “Both.” Somewhere, Barney is trying to get to Ohio to tell Finn to go for it.

After the commercials, Rachel catches Finn talking with Santana and Britt. She asks what they want and he replies the time. She and Finn have a pow-wow where Finn tries to let her down. Rachel lets him have it, saying he was humiliated when Quinn dumped him and that she’s the only one who can see him for him. But he can’t see her for her and she runs off crying. She’s so pissed, she decides to focus on the “hell” part of the assignment and lets Finn have it. Will, though, isn’t thrilled. He tells the group that while they won Sectionals, so did Vocal Adrenaline. Vocal Adrenaline—the group that performed “Rehab” in the pilot from May—has been the winner at Nationals three years running. This, he says, is the big leagues.

Rachel takes this seriously and goes to a music store to find the perfect “Hello” song. She is looking over Lionel Ritchie when someone finds her. It is Jesse St. James AKA Lea Michele’s Spring Awakening co-star Jonathan Groff! He’s also part of Vocal Adrenaline. He tells Rachel that her performance at Sectionals was flawed but she has talent. He reveals he’s a senior looking to go out in a blaze of glory and head off to UCLA. He flirts with Rachel and performs “Hello” with her. As they finish, the crowd applauds and Jesse asks her out on a date. A bell rings.

We cut to the date. Britt and Santana send their plates back, even though they ate most of the plates. They are rude to their waitress and then start talking about how Finn could increase in hotness by losing Rachel. He’s sitting right across from them. They tell him he pays for dinner, they make out for him. Barney thinks this is a win and sends this message to Finn. But when Britt and Santana trash talk Rachel, he sticks up for her. They banish Finn to the car. Meanwhile, Will and Emma’s date is going better. They dance and Will sings! He and Emma collapse on the couch, kissing but Emma stops. She reveals she’s still a virgin, throwing Will for a loop. She doesn’t think he’s okay with it, but he insists he is. He says they’ll watch a movie but it’ll have to be either Armageddon or Bad Boys as those are the only DVDs Terri didn’t take. Emma looks torn as explosions go off in the background.

Finn approaches Rachel and apologizes. Rachel accepts it but tells Finn she found someone else. She reveals that her new beau is the lead of their competitor, setting alarms off in Finn’s mind. Rachel doesn’t find anything suspicious and thinks that Finn’s just jealous. He goes to find Will and tells him they have a problem.

Santana and Britt get reamed for failing in keeping Finn’s attention. But they impress her by revealing about Rachel’s new relationship.

We cut to Vocal Adrenaline’s rehearsal, singing “Highway to Hell.” Will sneaks in. And there is Idina Menzel! HI IDINA! She isn’t thrilled and tells them to put on a show face. She says they want it so bad, it should hurt. Will goes to talk to Idina. She is surprised that not only is the competition is there, but that they are competition. He talks about Jesse and Rachel’s relationship, saying they might be spying on them. Idina says they aren’t and that the heart wants what the heart wants. This leads to…

Will and Idina making out on the couch? He does stop, making Idina question herself or Will’s sexuality. They go to Will’s kitchen where Idina reveals she lives for Vocal Adrenaline. She hasn’t been on a date but notes that she did see Will back in the pilot. Will says he understands about work, saying that Glee played a part in bringing down his marriage. Idina asks how long he’s been divorced for. He isn’t yet and he’s dating Emma…She tells him to slow down. He went from one relationship to another. She tells him to take a breather and gives him her number.

At school, four of the original Glees confront Rachel about her relationship with Jesse. They are suspicious too. Rachel pleads for relationship—how often could she get this chance. The gang tells them to dump him or she’s out. She says they won’t be able to replace her. Kurt says they can. Mercedes tells Rachel that she knows Rachel always wanted them to succeed and be something great. She asks if that’s still true.

Glee’s on DVD!

Rachel goes to see Sue. She introduces her to the McKinley High Old Maids club. Sue says that Finn went on a date but she’s flirting with Jesse St. James but that the club is betrayed. Rachel is floored. Britt and Santana gives Sue the information. One girl reveals that was in love with an opposing wrestler but her team was against it. She crushed him. Sue encourages Rachel to think of herself and go after Jesse. Or join the Old Maids Club.

Emma sets up a perfect table as Terri walks in. Emma says she is surprising Will. Terri insults Emma and Emma tries to kick her out. Terri says she’s there to get the rest of her DVDs and finds “The Jazz Singer” on the TV. She asks about it and Emma tells her that Will says “Hello” is their song. Terri reveals that the song was their prom song. She tells Emma to look it up in the yearbook. She knocks a spoon out of place and leaves.

Rachel goes to visit Vocal Adrenaline. She is surprised when a spotlight turns on, saying she has a rape whistle. Jesse tells her to calm down and turns it off. She asks if he is just dating her to get one up on Glee. He reintroduces himself, not as Jesse St. James, star of Vocal Adrenaline. But as Jesse, the guy who is crazy about Rachel. They kiss and Jesse shares a look with Idina in the shadows.

Back at school, Emma shows Will his yearbook. He realizes why Emma left without eating the other night. He says he forgot about the night and Emma believes him. She echoes Idina’s earlier statement: Will’s only been in one relationship and he’s entered a new one on the heels of the old one. He needs time. He agrees to take it, discover who he is alone. She says that when he’s ready, maybe she will be too. He leaves her so she can cry.

At Finn’s locker, Rachel tells him that she and Jesse are over. She was taking one for the team. He says that he hopes they can be a couple now. That he was thinking about them and wants to be a couple. Rachel says no, because the team doesn’t need the drama. She’s thinking about the team. Finn tells her that he won’t just go away.

And Glee performs “Hello, Goodbye.” Emma watches as Will is dejected. Rachel looks ready to cry during the performance and walks off after the song is over.

Did they get Benny Ninja to do Sue’s “Vogue” video? Or is that archive footage from the original Madge video? Or am I imagining Benny? Wonder if he’ll be on ANTM this season…

The Madonna episode is going to be WIN.

Next week: Madonna.

GLEE IS BACK! I’d say that was worth the wait, though it would’ve been nicer back in January so I didn’t have to wait. Anyway, this new love triangle is going to be interesting. And Idina was great. Can’t wait to see more from her.

Quote of the Episode:

“That was a surprise attack like a Pearly White Harbor.”

The Superbowl Shuffle

“Single Ladies” play while Kurt dances with back up dancers. He imitates Beyonce’s music video. He has a sequined glove. Mike O’Malley is his dad? Awesome. He asks what his son is playing and Kurt lies that it is what the jocks wear to practice. Tina and…Britt…lie that he is on the football team. The kicker. Dad buys it. And asks to get a ticket.

Will helps Terri through Lamaze. Kendra, her sister, berates him. Calls him too nice. Terri tries to avoid Will touching her stomach and pretends to have a craving. She confesses to her sister that she’s not pregnant. Kendra convinces her sister to remain deceptive. It’ll help the marriage, she claims.

Will spots Emma and Coach eating together, tries to avoid them but they are the best option in the teacher’s room. Emma talks about the evening news. We zoom to the news where they introduce Jane, who has her own segment. She talks about how caning works. She wants to bring it back. Will is surprised that she got her own segment. Jane says it’s because she’s a local celebrity. And says the overnights were through the roof about her segment. She insults Emma, Coach and Will before leaving for an interview.

Glee time! Will surprises Rachel by giving “Tonight” to Tina. She reminds him that she claimed anything from “West Side Story” at the age of one, talking about Natalie Wood. Umm, Rachel, you do know that Natalie Wood didn’t sing Maria in the movie right? That it was Marni Nixon, singing voice to the famous? When Will says that others need their time to shine and that Tina is keeping the role, Rachel storms out. Glee is apparently used to her diva tantrums.

Meanwhile, Kurt asks Finn for help.

Football practice. Finn gets Kurt a try out. Jock mocks Finn. Coach yells at his kicker and demotes him to water boy. Ouch. Kurt runs up and says that he is “audition for the part of kicker.” Coach allows him and Kurt dances on the field to “Single Ladies.” He kicks and scores. Everyone is surprised. Coach is thrilled. Meanwhile, Jane gets hate mail about her pro-littering stance. The station manager reminds Sue she is famous because she’s a champion. And he’s heard that her cheerleaders are defecting to show choir. Jane needs to win another championship to keep her status.

In other news, Prissy is pregnant. Apparently, Finn’s driving trauma isn’t working on calming little Finn down. He learns this in Prissy’s hot tub, even as she yells, “Think of the mail! Think of the mail!” And apparently, she’s now pregnant. And Finn’s stupid enough to believe he could impregnate her in the hot tub. He probably also believes you can get herpes from a public toilet.

Jane goes to visit Sandy, who has a doll collection. Creepy. He serves her tea and bemoans his life. Jane offers him control of the arts program. Turns out, she has blackmail on Principal Figgins. They focus on Glee and Rachel. They tempt her with Cabaret and Celine Dion. She performs “Taking Chances” and Sandy gives her Sally. She’s excited. Rachel, you do know that Sally is supposed to be a B-rate singer, right?

Will flips out and goes to tell Rachel he needs her. She thinks Will hates her. He tells her he is trying to make everyone work as hard as her. It’s Sandy v. Will while Rachel asks why he hurts her to make other feel good. He asks her to come to Glee rehearsal before she leaves.

Tina sings “Tonight.” She’s very good. Tina needed a spotlight song. Tina critiques herself but Will gives her a pep talk. She offers the song to Rachel. Finn cries into Will’s shoulder. They go for food and discuss Prissy’s pregnancy. He doesn’t like the future he sees now. Finn says he needs a football scholarship. But the team sucks. So he wants Will to teach the football team how to dance. It’ll help the team win while recruiting new guys to Glee.

Will tells Terri about Prissy. She gets an idea. You know where this is going if you’ve ever watched a soap opera.

Nigel Barker in a camera commercial with Peyton Manning and Justin Timberlake!

Jock is not happy with learning how to dance. Coach supports it. Pride was lost when they lost to the school for the deaf. Will and Kurt lead the guys through the choreography. Coach ends practice. When Jock says Finn is in love with Kurt, Finn spills about Prissy. Turns out Prissy and Jock slept together. Still can’t believe Finn believed the “I got pregnant because of your sperm in the hot tub” myth. Prissy runs crying in the rain to her car, where Terri is waiting. She gives Prissy neo-natal vitamins. Prissy is confused.

Football game. Emma cleans a seat before Will takes it. The school needs a new version of the National Anthem. Jock uses “gay” a lot and the team is unsure of the dancing. They get creamed. Mike O’Malley shows up. Kurt’s excited. Fourth quarter. Finn calls a time out. He tells the team to do the dancing. Jock agrees after silencing a heckler from the opposing team with the information he had sex with the player’s mother. “Single Ladies” plays, throwing off the defense. Offense starts to dance. Mike can’t believe what he’s seeing. Finn makes his play. Touchdown! Emma and Will have a Moment. Game is tied, Kurt needs to kick the conversion to win. The crowd is hushed. He dances, he kicks and scores! Go Kurt! He’s a hero. Prissy kisses Finn while Jock looks downtrodden.

Mike tells Kurt he’s proud of him. Looks like Mom is dead. Poor Kurt. Kurt comes out to his father, who says he’s known since Kurt was three. And yay, supportive dad. That’s refreshing and sweet.

At school, Finn gives Prissy his old baby blanket. He promises to be a good father. Jock mocks Prissy’s weight, Finn stands up for her and Jock backs down. Three football players (including Jock) join Glee. Will lets Tina keep “Tonight.” Rachel quits Glee for Cabaret full time. Jane tells everyone to act like they are being cheered.

Next week: CHENO!

Quote of the episode: “If I was out to get you, I’d have you pickled in a mason jar on my shelf by now.” –Jane to Will

Enjoy the Kurt/football/dancing storyline? Seeing how the Terri/Prissy’s pregnancy storyline will play out already?

I Have Confidence!

Last week on Glee: Terri learns she isn’t pregnant but doesn’t tell Will. Glee performs a raunchy song at a school assembly. Emma begins dating Coach while Finn and Rachel share a passionate kiss. Prissy Cheerleader and her friends join Glee in hopes of getting Finn back and destroying Glee.

Will’s parents come over for—holy crap, Will’s dad is Victor Garber! And his mom is Debra Monk! Will spills about the non-baby, scaring Terri. She shows mom-in-law the nursery while Dad apologizes for being a lousy dad. He talks about being a lawyer—nod to Eli Stone?—but went into insurance instead. He tells Will to find some courage. Ladies and gentlemen, tonight’s theme!

At school, Glee doesn’t like Will’s choreography. Prissy and Friend trick Rachel into mentioning a professional choreographer. Prissy asks Will if he ever performed again after school. And we’re back to Will’s courage question as he blathers on in Emma’s office. He asks about her date with Coach. She says great rather quickly. They flash to the teachers’ lounge to celebrate shop teacher Henri’s birthday. Henri is depressed because his dependency on OTC drugs caused him to lose his thumbs. After a lovely round of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” Will gets an idea.

He forms the Acafellas. Will, Henri, Coach and Howard (Terri’s coworker) sing hip hop acapella. Meanwhile, Terri increases her marriage’s sex life but fails to get pregnant. Will thinks it’s about his new confidence and being in a boy band—a nod to LMNT?

Will begins missing Glee practices. Rachel makes him cookies to apologize about her comments. He says they can hire Dakota Stanley and thanks her. Rachel and Finn worry about Will while Prissy gets Dakota. Rachel and Finn talk about their kiss and relationship status. Rachel flips out on him and Finn is so confused.

Prissy and Friend report to Jane. She’s happy to hear about Will’s distraction. Prissy thinks Dakota will cause the Glee kids to quit. Mercedes and Kurt talk about kissing. He tells her of Glee’s standing then invites her to the mall. Prissy and Friend try to help Mercedes “get” Kurt. Wrong first victim, girls. Mercedes can break you.

Acafellas perform “Poison.” They get applause and Emma remembers to cheer for Coach. Debra and Victor are there, selling CDs. Principal Figgins invites Will to perform at the PTA to keep the parents happy after the announcement the children will be eating prison food. Sandy, though, wants in and dangles Josh Groban in front of the Acafellas.

Glee visits a rival squad and are warned away from Dakota. The group performs “Mercy.” Dakota turns Glee down, saying he works for $8,000.

Hey was that Ben in the Audi commercial?

Will and Coach work on dance moves. Howard quits while Coach worries about Emma possibly breaking up with him. She says Henri downed 6 bottles of cough syrup and now is going to rehab. Emma encourages Will. Finn says he is quitting Glee too. Will says he hasn’t quit and encourages Finn to stay. He also asks about Acafellas. Finn’s football buddy offers to join the group—for the cougars. Coach threatens him and then welcomes him.

Will works with Finn and Jock. He tells them to work the hips and swing bats. It works. Rachel and Tina give Mercendes a “gayvention.” She is still in denial and bemoans their social status. Mercedes is happy with Kurt. The cheerleaders help Glee with their car wash fundraiser. Jane and Emma banter while Kurt tells Mercedes he is in love with someone else. He means Finn, but Mercedes sees Rachel. Finn lies that that’s who he meant. Mercedes breaks Kurt’s window and performs with the cheerleaders. She is AMAZING! Kurt flips but feels bad when Mercedes tells him he broke her heart.

Glee gets Dakota, who gives them personalized menus. He then kicks Mercedes and Artie out, tells Rachel to get a nose job and calls Finn “Frankenteen.” The original Glee quits before Rachel reminds them of people who were different but succeeded (like Barbara Streisand. Come on, they had to mention her at least once). She rallies Glee and fires Dakota. At the performance, Finn thanks Will as Sandy says Josh Groban is in the audience. Acafellas perform. Terri loves watching Will, even if they are singing Color Me Badd. They get a standing ovation. Wow, they got Josh Groban. He brings his security and gives Sandy a restraining order. He loved the show anyway.

Terri apologizes to Will and praises him and Acafellas. Victor asks if anyone has seen Debra. Turns out Josh likes cougars as well. He liquors Debra up. Seems Acafellas are over, but Will still has his confidence. Victor is going to go to law school—shout out to Legally Blonde as well? Mercedes apologizes to Kurt, who admits he’s gay. Anyone surprised? Course not. He’s a walking stereotype, writers. She tells him to be himself but he doesn’t have confidence. Dakota’s gone, Will’s back and Jane tells Prissy and Friend they smell of failure. She revokes their tanning privileges.

All’s well in Glee.

Let's Talk About Sex

Welcome to the world of “Glee”! For those of you who missed the premiere episode last May, here’s a recap: Teacher Will Schuster decides to rejuvenate the school’s glee club and bring back the heyday from his time in the club. He gains a few new recruits: diva Mercedes, leading-lady-in-training Rachel, the stereotypical musical nerd Kurt, wheelchair-bound Artie, and shy Tina. Will eventually recruits football star Finn and gains support from smitten school counselor Emma. Standing in the club’s way is the school cheerleading squad, nationally known and the queen bees of the school, and their domineering coach.

The second episode opens as Will pulls into the lot to be attacked by Rachel, wielding song choices. He spots the other members of Glee with Kurt ending up in the dumpster once Will’s gone. Will runs into Emma as a prissy cheerleader tells him to go see her coach—the awesome Jane Lynch. She wants the program to fail and has even done her research. Turns out, the current roster falls six short of the requirement to make Regionals (Okay, according to Jane, it would be six-and-a-half as she counts the wheelchair kid as a half). She tells him to kill the club and work as her assistant. He politely declines.

Meanwhile, Rachel overhears Finn and Prissy Cheerleader (AKA Quinn) argue about him being in Glee. She tries to persuade him with a promise of second base but fails. She warns Rachel to stay away from her man. Rachel tells her she has other suitors and this point is accentuated by…facefulls of slushies. This cuts to a half-hearted rendition of “Le Freak Chic.” The gang protests the song choice but Will says they’ll be performing Friday and can’t get something new. With groans, Glee continues.

In the world outside of school, Will and Terri try to find a new house now they have a baby on the way. Her sister encourages the couple to buy a new house in her subdivision as her unruly kids run amok. Will knows he they can barely afford but he caves, voicing over he knows he needs extra income now.

But first—more Glee! He gives the gang a new song—Kayne’s “Gold Digger.” Will and Mercedes rock the song. Later, though, Emma finds Rachel trying to throw up. She brings Rachel back to her office where Rachel swears off bulimia but confesses she likes someone. She asks Emma if ever loved someone so much she locked herself in somewhere and just listened to sad music. With a glance to Will and a curt “no,” we zoom to Emma locked in her car, pouring rain pounding on the windows, mascara running down her face as she sings “All by Myself.” She counsels Rachel to find some common ground with her crush and a connection will follow.

We next see Rachel with Finn, Will and Jane in Principal Figgins’ office. Jane caught them doing something horrible—they were making copies of a Glee flyer ON THE CHEERLEADERS’ COPIER! The horror! Will offers to have them pay the cheerleaders back for the 17 copies they made. Principal Figgins likes this idea. Finn and Rachel get a warning while Jane gets clean up duty. Will tells the two not to put up the flyers and to suck it up regarding the song choice. Rachel tries to get closer to Finn, but he says he has Celibacy Club. Terri and Will take a bath but Terri flips out about their financial situation and wanting her dream home. This prompts Will to offer to be the janitor in wake of school cut backs.

Rachel joins the Celibacy Club, which Finn joined to get Prissy Cheerleader to break her vow. The guys talk about coming too soon and we see Finn’s traumatic driver’s ed experience. As they make out using balloons, Rachel flips out. She drops a bombshell: Girls want sex just as much as guys. The guys are floored and I’m sure Lea Michele feels like she’s back in “Spring Awakening.” After school, Emma discovers Will’s new side job. She promises to keep his secret and offers to help. Will asks Emma about her impulsive need to clean everything. She admits it is from a childhood experience at a dairy farm when her brother pushed her into a pile of manure. Will tries to help her but they have A Moment, so she leaves.

Rachel calls a meeting of Glee Club sans Will and says they will give the students what they want: Sex.

Cue the assembly where the gang performs Salt-n-Pepa’s “Push It.” The cheerleaders are scandalized but Principal Figgins taps along. Will’s stunned but the students love it. Jane drags Principal Figgins and Will into his office. Jane wants Will to resign and Glee Club to be disbanded. Principal Figgins refuses, saying Glee is talented. But he does have a list of approved songs. He also cuts Jane’s budget for new costumes for Glee. Will scolds Rachel for her tactics. Lea Michele’s teary face brings us to commercials.

Emma polishes off each grape before she eats it as she tries to dissuade the coach, who is smitten with her. He warns her away from married men and tells her she can’t do better than him. In other romance news, Rachel runs scales with Finn. They stop for food and Finn confesses he wants to be as good as her. They have several Moments before she gives him permission to kiss her. He does but as he gets excited, his traumatic driving experience pops up. He flees.

Terri goes to get a baby check-up. Except there’s no baby. The doctor thinks she wants a baby so much, she’s mimicking the symptoms.

The cheerleaders try out for Glee, Prissy wanting to be near Finn. Jane is surprised but Prissy explains why. Jane makes them her spies, charging them to bring Glee down. Across the school, Emma cleans the water fountain while Will offers antibacterial wipes. Emma says she has a date while sad music plays. At home, Terri surprised Will with dinner and candlelight. He says he is doing this for her and the “little guy or gal.” Terri lies that it’s a “little guy.” She agrees to give up the dream home and tells Will to drop the side job.

Rachel is brokenhearted to learn Prissy is getting her solo. Will apologizes for his behavior and says he forgot that Glee Club is about having fun. Rachel lets this pass before asking to use the gym. Lea Michele then delivers an amazing rendition of Rihanna’s “Take a Bow,” saying good-bye to her relationship with Finn. They will be releasing a soundtrack, right?

Yes, it’s on iTunes! Laptop, don’t fail me now!

Tune in next week!