The Ultimate Gleek

Hey Bloggers..

Sorry about Friday and yesterday. I went to Nantucket with my peeps for "a little nonsense now and then, which is relished by the best of men." I just made it to the airport on Friday morning by the skin of my teeth and had limited access to Internet all weekend. Ahhh the life of a working woman. 

While I was there, I heard the tragic news of Corey Monteith's passing at the age of 31. I immediately knew it had to be drugs and demons, although at this time that has not been confirmed. What else would take a young man so soon?

Why? What happened? And how will Glee ever be the same? Truth be told, I hardly watched this season because I work too damn much and my leisure time on the sofa usually ends up with me passed out cold within 5 mins. But I watched enough to fall madly in love with the show and Mr Monteith's character, Finn Hudson. What a tragedy. What a waste of a completely life of a young man who seemingly had the entertainment/career world by the kahunas. 

So I have to ask, how does a TRAIN WRECK like Amanda Bynes stay alive while Corey is gone? 

Don't get me wrong, I don't wish Amanda Bynes' death at all. On the contrary, I hope Amanda figures her problems out and regains her star status because I think she's a real talent. But you have to admit that her behavior lately is somewhat of a blueprint for deadly disaster. So how did Corey slip through the cracks? Sources report that Corey and Leah were madly in love and that he was cleaning up his act for good. 

Terrible, terrible, terrible, which is what we should say when we loose someone so young too soon. There will truly be one less voice to warm our hearts this fall when the show that made him a superstar returns to TV.

And a lot less Glee.

Glee-ful Noise

(don't click to watch, it's disabled)

Glee returned true to musical form last night, in the episode entitled "Yes/No" and kicked off the show with a sentimental favorite, Grease's "Summer Nights". Sam and Mercedes, pursued by their friends to tell the story of their romance, sing this adorable classic to perfection and keep to the original. To say I LOVED it, is an understatement, and any self respecting Grease fan was loving it right there with me.

Love and marriage was in the air when Coach Bieste tells Emma that she and Cooter eloped! This news sends Emma scrambling for answers as to why Will/Mr. Shue hasn't proposed. Emma goes into an internal song, singing the Laura Nyro and the 5th Dimension "Wedding Bell Blues" with Bieste and Sue as back up. While this song was cute, nothing was funnier than Sue waltzing down the hall behind Emma, dressed in full on bridesmaid, wearing Princess Beatrice's abominable hat from last year's royal wedding. It's the little things like this that make me love Glee.

That and little things like casting reality star, Real Housewives of Atlanta's NeNe Leakes, as the synchronized swimming coach. Sam, determined to get a letter man's jacket to win Mercedes' heart, joins the synchronized swim team. While most of her lines were overly cliche and questionable, "I had a dream," and "40 acres and pool", NeNe was spot on and surprisingly worthy of the role.

Becky decides that Artie will be the object of her affections as we learn in her internal dialogue, complete with Dame Helen Mirren's elegant voice overs, "In my mind I can sound like whom ever I want, so lay off haters!"Not wanting to hurt Becky, Artie invites her to come and see him perform the mash up, "Moves like Jagger/Jumping Jack Flash". Could you guess that this would be My Download Pick Of the Week? Am I that predictable? Maybe so, but even though I was moving like Jagger myself, it's a toss up for two songs this week, this one being the first. This was pure magic. Artie, the strongest male voice on the show, handled it with ease and I can hardly wait for this one to make it onto my beloved iPod.

Finn learns that the truth sucks. He grew up thinking that his dad was a war hero, and he tells Mr. Shue that he is contemplating enlisting in the army so he can honor his father. A concerned Mr. Shue calls his parents and Finn's mom breaks his heart by telling him the truth. His dad was dishonorably discharged and then died of a drug overdose in Cincinnati. Poor Finn. Why must they turn this kid into a loser? A depressed Finn, Rachel and Kurt console each other over dinner and Rachel sings David Guetta's "Without You" to Finn. I'm a sucker for love and this one pulled me right in, as it was intended to and my second Download Pick Of the Week.

A somber girls chorus sings Roberta Flack's, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" for Mr. Shue. Rachel, Santanna, Tina and Mercedes do this sultry classic justice with the right amount of emotion and soul and prove that soulfulness transcends generations.

Sam tell Mr. Shue he has an idea about his proposal to Emma, and the next thing you know we are at the pool, with the synchronized swim team and the glee club while they serenade Emma with Rhianna's "We found Love". At first, I thought this was an adorable way to propose(even if Artie and his wheel chair made it into the pool), then they ruined it. Mr Shue in a cheesy white tux with a white satin top hat walking on water? No..please...because if that wasn't bad enough, he then dives into the pool and comes out soaking wet for the proposal. A little too much for me, and I love this show. Emma evidently didn't feel the same way I did, because she said yes.

But will Rachel say yes? Finn proposes to Rachel and while the actual proposal does not seem out of place, the fact that the story line has left Finn with nothing else even slightly redeeming for his future is tragic. He went from hero to zero, all in the span of 4 seasons. The show ended without Rachel's response so we will have to wait till next week for Rachel's answer.

But for now, we have the music. Ah yes, the glorious music.

Merry Music

It was a heck of a Glee-full Christmas last night, power packed with plenty of holiday music for every Christmas music fan. Matthew Morrison's (Mr. Shue) Glee directorial debut was a holiday "special" about the making of a holiday special. Plot lines-a-plenty, I'm reviewing the music today because it truly was a holiday treat, disguised in a retro, Star Wars themed, weird, but politically correct world of Artie's holiday TV special.

My girl Mercedes got the show off on a bang, like only she can, with a Mariah holiday anthem, "All I Want for Christmas is You." Man, this girl is good. Too good, and she covered the Carey instant classic with just about the same amount of range and passion as the original. Was it predictable? Yes, but who cares, because I loved the high energy and cheer this song provided for the beginning of the episode.

Rory, the new kid, (and Glee Project winner Damian McGinty) crooning "Blue Christmas" with a smooth and tender soul, way past his teen-aged years. I enjoyed his celtic, folksy spin on this blues-y great. Channeling a boy in a foreign country, without his family at Christmas set up a Sam/Rory buddy story line based upon their mutual hard luck. Sam invites Rory to spend Christmas with his family.

When Artie is tapped to produce the local PBS station's Christmas special for under $800.00, he auditions the Glee club for musical numbers. Rachel belts out a Joanie Mitchell tune, "River", complete with sparkling Christmas trees and lots of falling snow. I felt like I was thrown back to the days of a celebrity variety show, with musical guests performing Christmas songs. Rachel was stunning, as usual, but safe and minimally memorable. Too bad, because there are so many great choices for a power house like Leah Michelle.

Rachel and Blaine perform for the Glee Club, "Extraordinary Merry Christmas". Anything with Blaine singing and count me in, but this was unexciting and just ok but I don't hate it. I LOVE both of them, and I will still download this song in the spirit of the season. But the real Christmas gold came from Artie's Christmas TV special.

Opening in black and white, Kurt and Blaine's bachelor chalet provided the perfect backdrop for the duet, and yes, My Download Pick Of The Week, "Let it Snow" . I loved the whole big band feel with the perfect blend of Kurt's mezzo soprano and Blaine's dreamy Dean Martin-esque pipes. These two have scored another holiday classic that rivals last year's, "Baby It's Cold Outside". And the dance number? Sensational and entertaining.

When did Roger's and Hammerstein's "Favorite Things" become a Christmas carol? This double team group number with Rachel, Mercedes, Kurt and Blaine was pleasant and festive but seemed a bit out of place to the Christmas music die hard. Musically this number solidifies the talent that this cast has and their star power.

Next, a ridiculously dressed Finn and Puck, as Luke Skywalker and Hans Solo, enter this pseudo soiree and perform my second favorite of the night, "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". This Springsteen version of the song is great, even if they didn't change it up at all, but I'm not sure the Star Wars thing worked. It was awkward and pointless, and I'm not sure of the significance, yet Finn and Puck jamming with their instruments made me forget about their costumes momentarily.

The Cheerios and Brittnay rocked some sexy, Santa's helper's costumes with "Christmas Wrapping" and some rhythmic ribbons for effect. Great fun this was, and those girls made me smile and Brittnay was singing LEAD!!! I did not loose the power of the message of Rory's Christmas reading, and thank you to the creators of Glee for helping us to remember the peace that true Christmas story brings us.

The show wrapped with the Glee club showing up, unannounced at Sue's homeless shelter dinner for families, and made amends for canceling on her to film the PBS special. They performed the famous, celebrity packed recording "Do They Know it's Christmas". Inspirational and carried by the entire cast of Glee, I enjoyed the unity this song stands for. I even saw a tender moment where Sue Sylvester's Grinchy heart was touched by the kids from the glee club, sharing their passion to benefit others.

I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for a cute, sappy, Christmas story. Couple that with some great Christmas classics and my heart is filled with all the joy of the season. This episode did just that for me, and I have all the merry music to remember it by.

Sweet Sixteen

Just like the legendary John Cougar Mellencamp song says, you have to hold on to "sixteen as long as you can", and those changes will come around real soon making us all women and men for sure. Sam (a reinstated Chord Overstreet) knows this only too well, as he had to become a man real fast by becoming a stripper (named White Chocolate) to help support his family. Rachel and Finn convince Sam and his parents, (was that Luke Duke from Dukes of Hazard?) to let him stay with them and help the Glee club win sectionals.

Quinn, armed with her dirty little secret about Puck and Shelby sleeping together, decides she's going to hold on to her quest to destroy Shelby's life and get Beth back. Interestingly enough, it is Rachel who provides Quinn with the morality lesson she needs to change her course. She tells Quinn that by getting Shelby fired and Beth taken away from her, she would only be destroying Beth's life in the process.

The boys are pretty much all that is left of the New Directions, save for Tina and Quinn, (Rachel has been suspended from sectionals because of last weeks disciplinary action) so they take control but not without controversy. They immediately clash over dance choreography, resulting in a division of Finn and Blaine. Finn, always the moral grown up, admits to Blaine that he has been hard on Blaine because he was jealous of his "crazy talent". They align and decide to do whatever it takes to win Sectionals.

Sam seeks out Mercedes and lets her know he is hot for her and that he will fight to get her back, which I hope happens soon, because Mercedes had been short in the story line lately and she is one of my favorites. Tina decides that she is going to be a "Tiger Girlfriend" to Mike and she goes to see Mike's dad. With a bit of attitude, she tells a displeased Mr. Chang that Mike was born to dance and that he should be allowed to pursue his dream and "honor his gift".

Then we get to the best part of last night's episode: THE MUSIC!

Starting with Sam's triumphant return song, "Red Solo Cup." This Toby Keith song I was not familiar with, but I thought Sam's vocals were spot on as he sang this fun and light hearted song. The subject matter was perfect and it was nice to see Sam back with the New Directions.

Sectionals were held at McKinnley High, the first time since 1963, and the show opened with the show choir The Unitards, singing "Buenos Aires", Madonna. Glee project co winner Lindsay Pierce lead the Unitards in this Vegas style performance. I think this girl has crazy talent and is destined to be a star.

The Trouble Tones took the stage, but not before pissing off the New Directions by announcing before that after the New Directions loose, they can join the Trouble Tones for Regional. They performed a new twist on an old classic by mashing up "I Will Survive/Survivor". This was great and got the crowd going. With plenty of high energy vocals and lots of "hairography" the Trouble Tones put on quite a show.

They always save the best for last, and The New Directions did not disappoint. 3, count em, 3 songs, all Jackson songs, "ABC/Control/Man In The Mirror" just about performed to show choir perfection. Tina, Blaine, Kurt, Finn, Quinn, Artie and even Mike Chang all had their moment in the spotlight. Seriously, can we have more Artie? The guy has one of the best voices in the cast and most of the time he is seriously under utilized. But not here. It is for sure my Download Pick Of The Week and no surprise that The New Directions took home first place.

Lady Love

Lady love is in the air at McKinnley High and the Glee club helps Santana find acceptance with her sexual identity. It's all about Santana, and as much as she resists. she is shown the glee club's support support by dedicating an entire weeks lesson of music to her. This is lead by none other than "fetus face" himself, Finn.

Finn saves Santana from certain suspension, after slapping him across the face for outing her in public, then bribes her into getting the Trouble Tones and the New Directions to come to a "summit" two weeks before sectionals. Meanwhile Brittnay is bribing the student body with Pixie Styx for votes in the Student Body President race with Kurt. "But they are so delicious, " a sugar high Principal Figgins exclaims. Everyone is certain she will be crowned the winner and Kurt actually contemplates cheating by stuffing the ballot box to ensure the win which will be a "brass ring" resume piece essential for acceptance to NYADA.

Sue, interestingly enough, confesses that she is not gay, in her journal writings, even though people mistake her for a lesbian. She plots to get a guy so that she can show the voters that she is not a "friend of Ellen's", and gets out her little black book. Her secret Weapon? Cooter Mankins, Coach Bieste's new object of affection.

Blaine and Kurt dedicate the first song of the week to Santana and sing, Pink's "F**king Perfect"and it might just have been that if it were only Blaine singing. Sorry I love Chris Colfer, and I loved his asymmetrical sweater, but Blaine is a freaking rock star here and YES! I want some more of that, please. Then Puck knocks out a sexy,"I'm the Only One" to the glee club and sings almost entirely to Shelby, who is clearly not pleased with this performance. Quinn seated in font of Shelby, picks up on this sexual tension immediately and questions Puck about it after, in the hallway. She then tries to use her sexuality to seduce him by offering herself, to which he turns her down and even insults her.

Finn tells Santana that she means something to him and that he cares about what happens to her, and I'm thinking "cut the bi*ch loose" after the way she had insulted and humiliated him in the past few weeks, but he ends up singing her a classic girl anthem, turned ballad, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." Finn sounds great and Artie and the boys take this version to a whole new level. I really like this unique take on this song and it seemingly broke down the wall between Santana and Finn.

While Sue seems to have stolen Cooter from Coach Bieste, the show stealer and My Download Pick of The Week is, "I Kissed A Girl and I Liked It". This Glee cast ensemble pug the swagger back in Santana's step and showcased all of the talent this show has to offer. It was fun, it was naughty, it was sexy and it worked. The boys really seemed to like it too.

Kurt gets called into Figgins office where he is told that although he won the election by 119 votes, there were more ballots than seniors and that they think he cheated. Kurt admits to thinking about cheating, but swears that he did not do it. He did not cheat. Unless he can prove that he did not stuff the ballot box, Kurt will be suspended and Brittnay is named Class President.

Puck gets a call during class, which he rudely takes and leaves class citing a "family emergency". Shelby is at the hospital, distraught because Beth had fallen, causing her tooth to go through her lip. Puck demands that she see a plastic surgeon and a ridiculously helpless Shelby is seemingly grateful for Puck's assistance. We all know what that means...and of course, it happens. Shelby has post-coital regret and decides to throw Puck out before it goes any further. Puck is pissed off so he goes to the next best place, Quinn's house. After anger sex and some pillow talk Puck tells Quinn that he slept with Shelby. He tells her to keep it a secret. Like that's going to happen...

Santana tells her Abuelita, you know, the one that "raised" Santana on insults, that she is gay, and for the first time in a while I see Santana relax and come out of her nasty shell. But, her abuela is horrified, preferring Santana kept it a secret and she bans her from her home and her life forever. She sings a montage to "Constant Craving" with both Shelby and Kurt craving for their own resolutions.

The episode ended with some big wins and losses.
Burt won the Congress election.
Brittnay won the Class President election.
Santana lost her grandmother and
Rachel admitted to stuffing the ballot box for Kurt and is now suspended for one week, and lost for sectionals.

What's going to happen at sectionals now?

Back To Basics

Glee finally got it right last night.

It was back to the basic reason that I love the show, in that last night's episode was all about the music. So instead of telling you who did what and why, I'm going to tell you about the musical mash-up melodies that made last night's episode so great!

Right from the get go-the show opened with Puck's slammin' rendition of the Van Halen classic, "Hot For Teacher". His latest obsession, Shelby, being the object of this student's desire but, hold on...Blaine and Mike Chang singing and dancing backup??? Can you say HOT for back up? I mean is there anything that Blaine (Darren Chriss) can't do? This was just smokin hot on all aspects, with Puck playing front man and Finn holding court on the drums.

Shelby and Shue then tried to bring together the competing Glee clubs by presenting a united front. They performed a mash up of "Just You and I/You and I". How genius of producers to mix up current Lady Gaga mega hit, "You and I" and the Crystal Gayle/Eddie Rabbit cult favorite, "Just You and I". Shue and Shelby worked the mash up accompanied by guitar and Shelby showcased her pitch perfect vocals on the Gaga song. This number has something for everyone, but the Glee clubbers are not so convinced.

So much at odds are the two competing clubs that they decide a dodge ball showdown is the way to settle this score. Finn and Santana have a seemingly simmering rivalry and the entire dodge ball game is showcased to a fitting mash up of"Hit Me With Your Best Shot/One Way Or Another". Pat Benetar and Blondie, sung lead by both Santana and Finn, was a power packed montage of face slammin, body flying, world rocking dodge ball that was at times, hilariously fun. Of course, it's always funny until someone gets hurt. A victorious Santana finishes off Finn then, she and the Troubletones take it too far when they gang up on the new kid and he ends up with a bloody nose. Santana got some anger issues, that's for sure.

The Mash-Off begins with the New Directions rendition of the Hall and Oates 80's classics "You Make My Dreams Come True/I Can't Go For That". The costumes were great with some of the guys sporting neon t-shirts with Miami Vice Blazers and others rocking cheezy moustaches ala Oates. It was an 80's spectacle with big hair and lots of sparkle that was a lot of fun to watch. Especially if you grew up in the 80's like I did.

BUT was it good enough to win the great McKinnley Mash-Off?

Sorry, but the Troubletones brought the house down with, my Download Pick Of The Week, "Rumor Has It/Someone Like You". Sexy, sultry, Adele mash up lead by Santana and Mercedes, had not only relevance (cuz who doesn't love Adele right now), but with Santana's character struggling with her sexuality, it gave this number a hauntingly engaging element that was emotionally palpable.

I will say that the episode ended on a sour note when Santana viciously attacked Finn and slapped him across the face for "outing" her in public. I'm sorry, but if Finn doesn't punch her in the face I'm going to. Really? She keeps attacking him with a venom filled tongue, so what does she expect? I would have flattened that bit*h out 3 episodes ago. Just sayin.

Anyway, I got the music in me today because last night was a virtual playground for my iPod.
Keep the mash up's coming Glee, and we'll keep coming back for more.

Tony And Maria's First Time

Do you remember your first time? I do and I think that would make for a great blog post at another time. This blog post is about Glee's episode last night entitled "The First Time". McKinnley High's Glee clubbers, Rachel and Blaine are starring in the school's production of, "West Side Story". While rehearsing, Artie notes that the two leads lack a certain passion that comes with having experienced the "most basic primal experience", sex. He questions that without having had sex, could they convince an audience of their connection on stage.Rachel being Rachel, decides this form of character study is worth pursuing. Blaine, decides that he and Kurt should not rush to have sex and that they should both be ready when it happens.

As a viewer, I'm watching all of this with great anticipation but as a parent of two high school students, I'm thinking and wondering if my children are having these conversations also. I know I thought about these things, talked about these things, and experimented with these things in high school. Why wouldn't they? And now here it is, played out by their peers on TV. This episode, for me now takes on a whole new meaning and will be a catalyst for an open conversation with my kids. Thanks Glee.

Blaine returns to Dalton Academy in time to find my Download Pick Of The Week, Billy Joel's, "Uptown Girl" by his old group the Warblers. They embrace him with open arms and beg for his return and Blaine meets Sebastian, the new Warbler hottie. Sebastian is not shy and he openly flirts with Blaine, telling him he now believes the hype about Blaine's legend at Dalton. This is played out accompanied to a TV mash up of sorts, with Rachel and Santana performing, "A Boy Like That" from West Side Story. Sebastian asks to see Blaine again. They meet for coffee and Kurt comes in surprised to see his guy talking to Sebastian. Blaine invites him into the conversation and Sebastian offers up some fake ID's and an invitation to do some underage drinking at the gay club on the other side of town. Kurt, seemingly a bit jealous, accepts Sebastian's offer. Apparently Burt taught him that you keep your friends close and your enemy's closer.

Rachel and Finn decide to use Finn's house for their first time destination, seeing that Burt and Carol are campaigning around the district for Burt. When things start getting heated, Finn stops to question why Rachel decided that now is their time? Why is she offering herself to him now? After a mumbo jumbo of excuses, Rachel blurts out that she needs to "get it over with" before opening night and Finn puts the brakes on that pronto. He's not interested in competeing with her ambition for a little something something...

Rachel then holds an emergency meeting of the Celibacy Club and asks the girls for their opinion. Quinn tells her to wait. That obviously (Beth) unprotected sex can have extreme consequences, and that it changes everything. Santana tells her that she should wait because Finn is terrible in bed and Tina gives us a look into what the teenaged "First Time" experience should be when two people are consenting and in love and want to make it special and memorable. She makes it sound so wonderful that I am almost swept away by the touching and poignant way she described her "absolutely perfect" experience. I said almost because the mother in me jumps out and reminds me that the girl and her moving story has a direct effect on my very own kids. I'm so having that conversation with them. Thanks again Glee. Rachel is clearly swayed by Tina's story.

Kurt and Blaine have their own near-sex experience, when they meet Sebastian at the gay bar and Blaine gets a little tipsy; er, um, I mean drunk. He accosts Kurt in the parking lot and tells him he wants to do it right there in the parking lot, in the back seat of the car. Kurt is not amused and being sober he finds nothing sexy about this offer of Blaine's affections. They fight and Blaine then walks home form the bar leaving Kurt alone with his thoughts.

On a story line side note, Coach Bieste has the hots for Cooter Mankins, the college scout who's coming to look at her team. Finn gets excited at the prospect of possibly playing college ball, and Artie plays matchmaker for Bieste and the Cooter successfully. Sadly it is not all happily ever after for everyone. Bieste gets her man, but Finn is passed over and is heartbroken that his life will at best be average. Rachel then tells Finn that he is special and she proves it to him by giving him something that "no one will ever get again", her virginity. Simultaneously, Blaine and Kurt also cross over into their first time experience.

While I thought the story line was handled with truth and candor, I couldn't keep the mother in me from rearing her head. Arguably, the first teen, gay couple to have sex on TV was handled with care and compassion, and ditto for Rachel and Finn.

Call me crazy, but I couldn't help but feel like I'm never going away for the weekend with my husband and leave my teens home alone.

Sex and underage drinking and fake id's? Nothing good can come of it.

Thanks Glee.

What The F?

Last night's episode, entitled "Asian F" left me thinking, "what the F is wrong with what used to be the best show on television?".

Mike Chang and his dad are in Principal Figgins office because Mike's dad is concerned over Mike's A-, an Asian F, on his chemistry test. He demands Mike be drug tested and insists that he is on fast track to academic ruin. He wants him to quit the Glee club and all other extra curricular activities, including his girlfriend, and focus on his studies.

When Mercedes new boyfriend Marcus spies her hugging Rachel in the cafeteria, he questions why she would hug her rival for the female lead in the school play right before the audition. He tells her to believe in herself because he believes she is better than Rachel and something inside Mercedes changes. She pulls out the Diva within her and nails her audition with a wonderful rendition of "Spotlight". A more serious Mercedes impresses Coach Bieste, Emma and Artie.

Will finds a stash of bridal magazines in the pantry and confronts Emma. He agrees that, yes, they are possibly headed for marriage, so he wants to know why has he not met her parents? Emma wants to avoid the topic completely and tells Will, her parents are dead. "They're ghost parents," she replies when Will explains that she was just on the phone with them the night before.

While Mike continues to be conflicted over his father's disappointment in him, Tina is the opposite. She encourages him to audition for "Riff", the second male-lead, a role that is more than just dancing and tells him to be honest with his father about his love of the performing arts. Mike ends up in the dance studio working out the demons in his head and decides to audition despite his father's strict protests. He performs, "Cool" from West Side Story with some help from the football team as backup dancers. This was a treat for all major theatre geeks like myself and a validation of the talent of this young cast.

Then there's Kurt. He confides in Rachel that while no one else has entered the race for class president, he believes he has the clear edge over Brittany. No one takes her seriously anyway. Santana and Brittany, trying to win votes, play the war of the sexes card and point out that the school presidency has been strictly male for years and look where it got them. "Oil spills, a recession, the war in Afghanistan," Brittany says. They then rally the female student body with a pep rally and sing "Run the World (Girls)". Kurt is shocked by the show of female camaraderie and this race is going to be a hot one.

And so here's where it gets good, so I think.

Beiste, Emma and Artie can't decide between Mercedes and Rachel in who to cast as "Maria", the female lead, so they have a " Ultimate Maria off" and give the ladies the same song to sing. "Out here on my own", from the musical Fame, sets the stage, but it's really Mercedes who sets the tone when she refuses a good luck hug from Rachel with a snarky, "hug me after I've landed the part."

Both ladies are stunning, and although Rachel decides that Mercedes was better than her, and that she will not land the part, the role is double cast for both Mercedes and Rachel. Mercedes asks if any other roles were double cast, to which the answer is no and Mercedes pulls the ultimate power play and declines the role. She confronts Rachel and forces her to admit that she was better than her. Citing the fact that she will not be part of "The Rachel Berry" show this year, Mercedes walks out on a lot more than the role. She pulls the diva act at Booty Camp and Mr. Shue isn't going to put up with it. Mercedes cops a serious tude, calls Shue out for always picking on her and trying to make her look like a fool, then pulls the ultimate diva move by telling Shue and the rest that she has out grown them. But this time Shue tells her if she walks out, she's out of Glee for good. Evidently Mercedes keeps going because the cast then performs a dream sequence from Dream Girls, "It's Over."

Haven't we been here before with Mercedes? I feel like the Diva act is getting old and just when I think they will take an episode or two to kiss and make up, Mercedes walks into Shelby's choir room and joins the other glee club. "You're going to need some star power," she tells Shelby and I'm left wondering where this will go.

Emma comes home to find Will with both her parents awaiting her arrival for dinner. Emma has a mini meltdown when her mom somewhat lovingly refers to Emma as her little "Freaky Deeky" and she admits to Will that she is embarrassed by them. "Ginger Supremacists", is how Emma describes them and they admit to living a lifestyle that will further the future of redheads as a "species". When they criticise Emma's compulsive cleaning and her mother says she thinks it "weird", Will explodes and explains that if Will and Emma are blessed with a child, he wouldn't care what it looked like and that OCD needs to be treated with compassion not criticism.

Later Will tells Emma he was wrong for not getting why she didn't want him to meet her parents. Emma gets down on her knees to pray and Will, unsure of what to do, does the same in support of Emma. He sings, "Fix You" by Coldplay and during the song the cast list for West Side Story is revealed. No secrets there and I'm not sure if this dividing of the Glee clubs is a good thing.

One thing I do know? Last night's episode, while it furthered the plot lines for some characters, it was a sleeper at best. The music was uninspiring and sub par.

Where did all the magic go?

What the F?

All Things B's And Glee's

So today is a mash up of two of my favorite things. B's and Glee's!

A Daily Dandy shout out to our boys in black and gold, as they travel to Vancouver for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Championship. Let's take it home tonite boys and we will be waiting with open arms on Monday.

And for all you Gleek's out there, this was just too precious not to share: Check it out!

I LOVE HIM!!! How cuuuute! Rumor has it his grandma made him the Warbler suit!

Happy Friday Bloggers! May all your Teenage Dreams come true.

The City That Never Sleeps

Glee hit the big city last night for season two's finale; the big city of New York. Although the Glee club arrived in the city that never sleeps, I have to say that this episode, for me, was a yawn fest.

The episode opened to much Time Square footage, with Rachel, dressed in some sort of Mary Tyler Moore throwback outfit announcing, "I made it!". Interestingly, the kids arrived in New York without their song to perform at Show Choir Nationals. (this would only happen in a Glee made for TV universe) Rest assured, the kids were in lock down in their hotel until they banged out a show stopper.

Mr. Shue snuck out of the hotel to hit the Broadway stage of "CrossRhodes", a show he is slated to join the cast of and live his dream. After a solo performance of "Still Got Tonight" to an empty theatre, an usher approaches Mr. Shue and tells him "he's got what it takes" and evidently this is enough for Will and he ditches his Broadway dreams for his kids. (this would only happen in a Glee made for TV universe)

The kids decide to sneak out and experience New York and let the city write the song for them. (this I believe would happen) We are then treated to a montage of color, and song mash ups of more than I few songs I don't recognize. Were they originals? I think I hear "New York, New York" and some remnants of a few others, but I would have to watch it again to be sure. One thing I know for sure is I'm bored.

Back to writing what will be the most important song of their lives (why wait till the last minute?) in their hotel room. Brittany and Artie belt out a hilarious original song homage to a cup, and we see that Brittany just may be able to sing. The boys advise a "zombie whose trying to poop" Finn that he should ask Rachel out on a date while in New York. He texts her to meet him in Central Park, dressed up, and he takes her to world famous Sardis for dinner. While there, Rachel meets none other than Broadway legend Patty Lupone who tells her to "never give up". In a touching street scene, Puck, Artie, Mike, and Sam serenade the two with, "La Bella Notte", but just before the deal-sealing kiss, Rachel tells Finn she can't kiss him and leaves Finn alone on the street. (not really because the other boys are still there singing)

Kurt wakes Rachel up the next morning and tells her they are going to breakfast at Tiffany's, which consists of bagels and coffee outside the closed flagship store. While there, Rachel confides to Kurt that although she loves Finn, she realizes that she needs to got to New York and fulfil her dreams of stardom and nothing can deter her from that. Kurt takes her to the Gershwin theatre and suggests they break in so that she can make her decision. Once inside they are discovered by a theatre usher who knows exactly why they are there, and he give them 15 minutes onstage. If you haven't already guessed, my Download Pick of the Week is, "For Good", which Rachel and Kurt sing on the actual Wikid stage. I don't think you need to be a Wikid fan to feel the power of this one. Rachel now knows that the stage is her number one love.

On to Nationals! A stellar all girl show choir perform Usher's "Yeah" and we see Sunshine from Vocal Adrenaline have a moment with Rachel in the girls bathroom. Rachel coaches her through her stage fright to make things right after she wronged her when she came to McKinnley. Sunshine and Vocal Adrenaline sing, "As Long As you're There", which was good, but at this point my eye lids were beginning to get a bit heavy.

Just before New Directions were to take the stage, Finn and Rachel have a moment and they open to sing the Glee club's original, "Pretending" which is evidently so powerful, the two end the song with a passionate kiss. They then pump up the tempo with their original, "Light Up The World". If the Glee club, wrote, choreographed and performed that song in one night, then the kids don't need to travel back to Ohio, because they should all be working on Broadway. (this would only happen in a Glee, made for TV universe) It, of course, gets the crowd jumping.

Jesse tells Finn and Rachel that their kiss was unprofessional and that it may cost them the title. Which it does. The New Directions place 12th overall and travel back home.

So they didn't win at Nationals. You had to know that they wouldn't. We need a set up for next year and while I'm on that topic, are they all going to be seniors next year? I know this is the finale of Season Two, but it seems like three years/seasons. Anyway, stay tuned next season for more Santanna, Brittnay love, Rachel and Finn love, Kurt and Blaine and newbies, Mercedes and Sam!! Will Shue and Emma finally get it on?? Or will Shue and Sue?

We will have to wait a summer to find out, but I'm hoping it's worth it.

Glee Goes To Prom

Oh, the excitement of Prom! After weeks of posturing for Prom King/Queen by members of the Glee club, the moment finally arrived. Figgins, in a meeting with Shue and Sue, revealed that Air Supply, the Prom entertainment, had cancelled, leaving Prom without any musical entertainment. He offered the Glee club the job with payment, to which Shue accepted. Shocker, I know.

Mercedes, dateless and depressed about it, aligned with Rachel to offer Sam the opportunity to not only escort both Mercedes and Rachel to the prom, but they pooled their money together so that no one would need to be financially stretched by costly attire and such. My question is was there enough left over for the booze? Rachel, while rehearsing Adele's, "Rolling In The Deep" gets a surprise visit from none other than Jeese St. James. He apologizes to Rachel for hurting her and she not only accepts, but invites him to join her and Sam and Mercedes to Prom. Sucker. I can't wait to see what the evil Jesse has up his red satin sleeve.

Blaine reveals to Kurt that he is less than excited about the prospect of going to Prom with Kurt since the last time he went with a boy to a dance, bullies beat them up. Kurt, child-like in his innocent excitement, urges Blane to face his demons and buck up. Kurt models his version of the Prom tuxedo, complete with a kilt. Quite edgy and fashionable if I do say so myself. Finn agrees when he exclaims, "Dude, that rocks! It's like gay Braveheart", but both Burt and Blaine are worried that the gay Braveheart look will only put them in danger.

Karofsky and Santanna, both Bully Whip protectors at school, escort Kurt to all his classes so that he will not be bullied by slushie tossing homo-phobes, but as Kurt opined to Karofsky, no one seems to care about Kurt's being gay anymore. Wasn't it Karofsky that Kurt was being bullied by? But Kurt gets the ultimate closure on the subject when a tearful Karofsky sincerely apologizes for torturing Kurt.

Meanwhile, Brittany is pondering the age old question of which came first, the chicken or the egg in cooking class, when Artie, determined to win her back, sings a Prom proposal of, "Isn't She Lovely" that was brilliant. Brittany declines and announces that she is going alone and will dance with everyone else's dates. Quite a coup! Artie, now resigned that he has "nothing to live for" decides that he will help Puck to spike the Prom punch. When Sue catches him, she takes him into her office and hilariously interrogates him with the threat of some seriously scary tooth pulling tools, but Artie won't give up Puck. Besides, the "spike" in the punch was only lemonade.

My download pick of the week, surprisingly, is Artie, Puck and Sam's rendition of "Friday" that turns an oh-so-bad song into something good. Leave it to Glee. Rachel, singing solo, "Jars Of Hearts" grabs the attention of Finn, who is NOT distracted by the beautiful Quinn, much to her amorous advances. He only has eyes for Rachel and proves it when Rachel and Jesse are too close for Finn's comfort dancing and he steps in and a shoving match between Finn and Jesse ensues on the dance floor. Where are the punches? I kept waiting and it never happened but resulted in Finn and Jesse being tossed from the Prom. This caused Quinn to slap Rachel across the face in anger. Now, I would have flattened Miss Cinderella right there in the girl's bathroom, but Rachel says "she appreciated the drama of it".

The Prom Queen and King are announced and looky here, it's Karofsky and Kurt! Shocker (not really, cuz Beckeye dropped that spoiler weeks ago). The announcement sends Kurt running and Blaine running after him. Kurt is in tears because all the hate he thought had subsided had now bubbled to the surface. He decides to face up and go accept his crown and Figgins announces the dance between the King and the Queen. (do you really think this would happen in reality?) Kurt whispers to Karofsky that this is his chance to come out, and Karofsky runs out, unable to do seal the deal. The ever adorable Blaine steps in and dances with Kurt to Mercedes and Santanna's rendition of "Dancing Queen".

With all the drama that is Prom, the one thing that is for sure is the bond that the Glee clubbers have with one another. With two episodes left, and one taking place in New York for the Finals, the story takes an interesting New Direction. Jesse St. James is back, but what trouble does he have up his sleeve for the New Directions? AND I don't like or trust him. But I'm so glad to see him back. It gives the Finn, Rachel and Jesse love triangle so much more cred.

It should be an exciting next two episodes.

Circling The Waters

Someone shoulda wore one that said "Jumped Shark".

You know I love me some Glee.

But last night was not the best episode I've ever seen. What's going on here with what used to be the best show on TV?

Rachel needs a nose job when Finn dorkily punches her in the face during dance rehearsal? Coulda saw that one coming. Poor suffering Rachel does not like what she sees when she looks in the looking glass. Which, of course, turns into this week's lesson. Embrace your least likable qualities because they make you unique. And evidently annoying too. WHO gets the consent of their Glee club before deciding to get a nose job?

Queen Quinn decides that Prom Queen is the only way she and Finn will reach the top of the social hierarchy, so she begins a full out campaign and will take down anyone who tries to stop her. Finn and Quinn are so sickeningly annoying in the choir room, that I want to scream and Santana is at her evil best as she hatches a plan to get Kurt back to McKinnley to win the votes of everyone for Prom Queen. A closet lesbian/Lebanese, she figures out that Karofsky is gay and threatens to out him or be her "beard" so that they can both hide the fact that they are gay behind their relationship.

Is everybody on Glee gay? It certainly seems that way.

Lauren and Puck decide that they too are throwing their hats into the Prom King and Queen contest and Lauren digs up the dirt on Quinn. Seems she was a fat, awkward kid named Lucy who got teased at her old school. Story is that she lost weight, got a nose job and bleached her hair and "Lucy Caboosey" is a thing of the past. Until Lauren pastes her Lucy image all over the school. And this is endearing? More like ridiculous.

McKinnley and the Glee club get Kurt back, but not before a serenade at McKinnley High from Blaine and The Warblers. The way I see it right now, The Warblers are the only redeeming thing about last night's episode and the prospect of no Darren Chriss/Blaine Warbler music is depressing at best.

Last night's message, while well intended, got lost in a sea of sub par music (save for "Somewhere Only We Know"/Warblers and "I Feel Pretty/Unpretty"/Quinn and Rachel ) and mixed messages. Even Gaga anthem, Born This Way, was un-extraordinary, at best.

When did my favorite show jump shark?

Loser Like Me

Last night it was all about being an original.

Song, that is, and the McKinnley High glee club decided that they would write and perform original songs for Regionals. Kurt's Dalton Academy Warblers opened the show with a fantastic cover of Maroon 5's "Misery". With Blaine at the lead, once again, Kurt found the nerve to complain to Blaine that he was tired of Blaine leading all the solos. He even called the Warblers, "Blaine and the Pips." Boo fricken hoo. I could watch and listen to Blaine (Darren Criss) all night long. After Kurt's beloved parakeet Pavorrati died, a sullen Kurt sang my favorite Beatles tune , "Blackbird" in his memory. And something magical happened. Blaine saw Kurt for the first time through different eyes. He later tells Kurt, “There is a moment when you say to yourself, ‘Oh, there you are. I’ve been looking for you forever.’ Watching you do ‘Blackbird’ this week, that was the moment for me, about you. You move me, Kurt.” And then they kissed! It was a sweet moment we have all been waiting for.

Rachel sang her latest attempt at an original song, "Only Child" to Finn in the choir room. Finn told her he thought it was better than her last attempt, but that she needs to write from deep inside and only then will she succeed. Quinn, standing outside the choir room, observing Rachel and Finn, gives us an inside look into the inner workings of her brain. She wonders how someone like Finn could like someone as annoying as Rachel, but she concedes that Finn is a good guy. She decides that without him she will not get what she truly desires; prom queen and that she knows that only Rachel stands in her way. Quinn then puts into work her plan, keeping her enemy Rachel as close as possible. Quinn and Rachel decide to write an original song together, but when Rachel shows up to write she instead confronts Quinn about what's going on with her and Finn. Quinn mercilessly tells Rachel that she will end up heartbroken and Quinn will end up with Finn, kids, a successful career as a real estate agent and Finn taking over Kurt's dad's tire shop. "You don't belong here, Rachel and you can't hate me for helping me send you on your way." Rachel storms out, heartbroken and writes her song on her own.

Santana and Brittney continue with last week's lady love plot line. Brittany asks Santana why she won't talk to her and Santana tells her that she blew her off for Artie. Sue sees them in the hall, and after being more than nasty to them she tells them that she likes to play dirty. The girls then open their lockers which are full of dirt, which sprays all over both of them. The glee club continue to perform originals. Santana's "Trouty Mouth" for Sam and Puck's, "Big Ass Heart" for Lauren, but the best of these offerings was Mercedes', "Hell To The No." All good, but inappropriate for Regionals. The club, using Coach Sylvester as fuel and Mr. Shue's Rhyming Dictionaries write their new anthem.

Onto Regionals where Sue's Aural Intensity sing a perky, pop, version of ,"Jesus is a friend of mine." The crowd and the judges loved it! The Warblers are up next and Kurt and Blaine sing a duet. "Candles" from Hey Monday, which is nice, a bit too vanilla for me but I like Pink's, "Raise Your Glass" with Blaine at the lead much better. The New Directions are next and Rachel takes center stage with her original, "Get It Right". I must admit that Rachel (Leah Michelle) can do no wrong vocally in my eyes, so I loved this. And in what must be no surprise to anyone, my Download Pick of the Week is the glee club original, "Loser Like Me." Complete with fingers raised in the shape of an L on their foreheads, the New Directions capped off their song with confetti filled slushie cups tossed into the audience.

The New Directions win the competition, Kurt wins Blaine, and Rachel wins the competition MVP. "all I’ve ever wanted was to feel special and to feel chosen, and I just wanted to thank you guys so much for giving me that.”

Sometime the losers finally win.

Glee's Bringing Sexy Back

They're also bringing substitute teacher Holly Holiday, (Gwyneth Paltrow) back and that usually means some sort of sexy shake up. The sex-packed episode started out with a meeting of a three member Celibacy Club which consisted of Rachel; to help her get over Finn, Quinn; to also get over Finn and Emma to just get over it. She has her issues with sex.

In walks super sexy Holly, who Will Shuester is more than delighted to see, and she immediately clashes with prudish Emma over how the kids should be educated about sex. I'm thinking all the kids really needed to do is watch the scenes between Holly and Will and then just fill in the blanks. Damn, these two have some serious chemistry, and I'm glad to see Will back to his sexy self, and not the babbling fool chasing after a married Emma.

There seemed to be a lot going on here, as Santana and Brittney, "The Lesbian Years" takes center stage. Santana decides that Brittnay is the girl she really wants and tells her she misses her sweet lady kisses. Awkward. But this story line reveals a kinder, gentler Santana and her spot on clueless, target of her affection Brittnay. They decide to talk to Holly about their feelings. Holly told the girls they needed to be able to talk to each other and express their feelings or better yet sing a song about them! Holly and the girls performed the Stevie Knicks ballad "Landslide", and Santana's vulnerable side was on display for the glee club's consumption. I have to say, I think there is potential for this girl on girl relationship, as these characters develop into what could be a tender love story, but Brittnay's love for Artie stands in the way. Stay tuned.

Let's talk about Puck and Lauren. This is fast becoming my favorite Glee coupling. Lauren Zizes is brilliantly torturing sexy Puck by making him wait and want whatever it is she is selling. And it's working! Last night she decides that she wants fame, fortune a reality TV show and a fragrance and they way to get that fame is through a sex tape, a la Kim Kardashian and Pamela and Tommy Lee. Puck can hardly believe his good fortune, and all he can think about is "motor boating those twins". While plotting their cinematic triumph, they are approached by Holly who shares with them the fact that they are minors who could be arrested for child pornography if a sex tape were released. Talk about a buzz kill.

Then there's Blaine and Kurt. In their Dalton Academy hangout coffe shop, Sue shows up with some Regionals info. She tells the boys that McKinnley is hitting the sex factor for Regionals and Kurt and Blaine decide to up the Warbler's sexy stakes. Not very convincingly. Blaine compares Kurt's attempts at "sexy" as looking like he has gas pains. Blaine decides to tell Kurt's dad Burt that Kurt needs Sex Ed stat! In a wonderful moment for TV, Burt awkwardly but lovingly, has "the talk" with Kurt and tells him he matters. Great TV right there.

The Celibacy Club, complete with new member Noah Puckerman, decide to perform for the Glee Club , "Afternoon Delight" with an under utilized John Stamos at the drums. When Holly discovers that Emma thinks an afternoon delight is a dessert, she agrees to meet with Emma and Carl to discuss their sexual issues. (Cuz Holly's a sex therapist who teaches Spanish and algebra??) We then learn that Carl and Emma have yet to consummate their marriage. Holly drops the big bomb when she asks Emma, "Do you still have feelings for Will Schuster?" Emma can only reply that her feelings are complicated, sending Carl to a hotel.

The episode ends with Holly and Shue saying goodbye and the sexual tension here is so thick you can feel it. Then it happens...Holly gives in and tells Will, "I know a lot about sex but maybe it's time I learn about romance." Shuster has the line of the night, as he grasps Holly, and Rhett Butler-esquely dips her, then whispers to her before kissing her, "I am an excellent educator."

Steaming hot! and now I gotta go take a cold shower.

A Thrilling GLee

The big news yesterday was not that the Packers won the Super Bowl. The big news was the return of Glee immediately following the big game.

If you stayed up late to watch it, congrats. After the onslaught of all those finger foods and Pizza pies, to then go back to McKinnley with the Glee club was certainly a victory in my book.

Sue Sylvester, bored and ready for some action, sits viewing the Cheerios latest routine for competition. After the "biggest and most elaborate" Cheerio spectacle, complete with blue wigs, bicycle stunts, and sparkler coned boobs, and Katy Perry's California Gurls, Sue is bored and needs more oomph. She decides that Brittney needs to be shot out of a cannon so that Sue can find her excitement for competition again. She gives the Cheerios an ultimatum; Glee or Cheerios, but not both. Principal Figgins tells Sue no way on the cannon stunt, and Sue goes ballistic, tossing papers and throwing things all over the office...And she gets away with it. She is Sue Sylvester, after all.

After Artie is showered with the biggest slushy bath in Glee history, Shue and Bieste, combine forces to bring the football team together as one, and Bieste makes the football team join Glee club. The team, on the verge of winning their first championship concedes and when Sue announces that she bullied the Ohio Cheerleading board into changing the night of the cheerleading competition to the same night of the championship game. This poses a problem for McKinnley because this means no cheerleaders and no cheerleaders means no half time show.

(which somehow becomes more important than the game)

Shue makes it all better by coming up with a solution: the players will play in the game AND perform in full on make-up at the half time show. AND this is a plausible solution because they are going to perform a mash up of Michael Jackson's, "Thriller" and Yeah Yeah Yeah's, "Heads will Roll". And some how in the craziest of Glee alternate universes, this works! The football team, especially Karofsky (the biggest closeted bully on TV) seem to be enjoying their new status, until the hockey team showers the football team in slushie.

In the aftermath of the slushie bath, Karofsky and the rest of the team decide to walk out and quit the team, leaving the remaining five football/Glee clubbers to field a team. Really? Is their social status more important than a championship game? Apparently so. Left without a team, the girls of glee club come up with a solution. They decide to "suit up" and show up so that McKinnley can play in the game. Tina almost runs the ball in for at TD but gets banged up just short of the goal line and this sends Finn into a full out plan to get the whole team back together.

Thank goodness Sam can fill in at QB because, I'm getting the distinct feeling that this is all a bit much when Finn goes off the field to convince Quinn, Santana and Brittnay to quit the Cheerios and come back to the glee club, to which he does with ease. Good thing Brittnay didn't have time to think about the "baby cannons" and the mama cannon with fibro myalgia. They leave Sue and the Cheerios high and dry. Like Brittnay says, "that sucks for you." Puck takes to task getting the real members of the football team to come on board and perform in the halftime show and come back to the game. The thriller mash is good, but not as legendary as expected, after all that drama leading up to it.

You know what happens next. The football players come back, the halftime show goes on without a hitch and McKinnley wins the championship game. Karofsky even feels the music and joins the team on the field for the half time show and then onto the field for the rest of the game. Oh happy, joy. Finn makes the dramatic final touchdown, and is awarded game MVP, and you just know that Finn is everybody's MVP since he saved the day!

Sue is left with the biggest Loser of the Year award, and an interview with Katie Couric, which can only lead to no good. Karofsky show his complexities when Finn tells him in order to become a full fledge Glee clubber he has to make up with Kurt. Karofsky rejects the notion and returns to his old, bullying form. But in the most surprising twist......Quinn tells Finn how amazing he was over the past week, then she kisses him.....right on the lips.

Oh no, Tuesday night's episode is already promising to be a great one considering it's plot revolves around a kissing booth.

Stay tuned bloggers and Gleek's alike...

Baby It's Cold Outside

I must admit that I bought Glee the Christmas album on Friday, whilst decorating my holiday hearth and enjoyed MCKinnley Highs versions of the classics. After viewing last night's episode, I decided that the music warmed my heart all over again, but in a different way. Last night's episode also dealt with ice cold heartbreak against the backdrop of the most cheerful time of the year.

Brittany, Santa, gifts, magic, innocence and reality were woven into a touching/cheesy story line for Artie and Brittany. Brittany still believes in Santa. Could this be possible? I know a woman who told me once her high school-aged daughter still believed in Santa, so it's plausible in my world. What's even more plausible is the romance blossoming between Artie and Brittany right before our eyes. Cheese aside with the entire Glee club conspiring to keep Brittany in dream land, Brittany asks Santa, who can do anything, to make Artie walk again. Artie, determined to save Brittany from disappointment, enlists Coach Bieste to don a Santa suit and go to Brittany's house and tell her sometimes miracles don't happen. Bieste does a great job giving Brittany her spoon full of sugar with her dose of reality, but Brittany is devastated. I know I had a lump in my throat when the sight of Artie standing and almost walking with the help of modern medical advances. I gotta wonder what kind of insurance Bieste has to afford the latest in medicine.

Rachel and Finn, estranged since Rachel's indiscretion with Puck, awkwardly dance around each other until Rachel decides to ask Finn to meet her in the auditorium. In the backdrop of lighted blue (the color of Hanukkah) Christmas trees, Rachel tries to apologize in the best way she knows how, with a song. Finn confused and torn tells her he's not interested and leaves. She then sings a lovely cover of the Karen Carpenter, "Merry Christmas Darling". She somehow convinces him to accompany her to buy a new tree for the choir room, but ends up stealing a kiss. Finn, disgusted by betrayal by both of his recent girlfriends officially breaks up with her and leaves her alone. Did he leave her there or did he drive her home? That's what this mother was thinking, but I have to say I have been where Finn is and I can't blame him.

Shue, alone for the holidays and wrestling with Emma's new marital status, pulls Sue's name in the company Secret Santa. A hilarious and classic story line plays out as Sue and her sidekick Becky, pull of the Grinch-iest caper. Sue rigged the Secret Santa to have only her names in the hat. Furious, Shue takes the presents back from Sue with the intention to donate them to a local children's charity. He is unable after Sue and Becky give the Glee's/Who's down in the choir room/Whooville the Grinch treatment. Right down to the green face, gloves and song, (accompanied by artist K. D. Lang). I predict this will become a classic and will be funnier and more relevant after viewing it again. I loved it. I have to say that I like this humble Shue. Especially when he's not pining after Emma. Sue breaking into Shue's apartment after the sound of the Glee club singing causes her heart to grow two sizes that day, was a fitting ending to "A Very Glee Christmas". Sue Sylvester just may be the most lovable villain in recent times.

Finally, we can't forget Kurt, who seems to be right where he belongs at Dalton Academy. "Baby It's Cold Outside" sung with Warbler, Blane, is my Down Load Pick of the Week, but that's probably got more to do with the fact that "Baby It's Cold Outside" is my favorite Christmas carol. Blaine and Kurt did a fine job with the duet in the fabulous Dalton study, and I even sense a bit of chemistry brewing between the two. This should get interesting.

In the end, this week, it was all about the music. The music that accompanies our holiday spirit and fills the soul with memories of Christmas' past, present and future. And at this time of the year, I couldn't think of a better gift.

Happy ThanksGLiving

Bullets for a Thanksgiving edition of the Daily Dandy and not all Glee......spread around just like side dishes on your plate.

• So here's what you missed on Glee.....Glee clubbers at McKinnley tackled some seriously relevant and topical teen issues last night. Bullying and gay bashing were addressed in McKinnley school principal Sue Sylvester's office, where she took a staunch "no tolerance" policy and expelled the bullying student. But not before she bashed gay student Kurt by calling him "Lady". After Kurt protested, she softened her gay bashing by dubbing him with a more tame, "Porcelain".

• Kurt's dad and Finn's mom got married and the glee club was the band. A righteous ceremony production ensued and Finn serenaded his family and new brother Glee style, with "Just The Way You Are." Everybody danced and a few tears of joy were shed.

• I bet you though I was gonna say that "Just The Way You Are" was my download pick of the night, but you are wrong. Did you see Mr. Shue doing his Buble impression during "Sway with Me?" Dead sexy...I'm downloading that one pronto.

• Baby won the Silver Ball trophy. Dancing With The Stars newly crowned champion, Jennifer Grey took home the coveted prize and nobody shot out their TV and held a standoff with police!!

• I'm not cooking tomorrow and I'm not happy about it. My family will be celebrating at a club. The nice thing is that we will all be together and no one has to do any dishes, but Thanskgiving is about being at HOME with your family and unbuttoning your belt buckle just a tad while putting your feet up on the couch. My kids are pissed, so I bought a turkey and I will cook it tonite so we can have leftovers. Besides, My Tommy is playing tomorrow and I'd rather be in front of the TV instead of in front of the stove. For that, I am thankful.

• Come to think of it, there are so many things and reasons I am thankful this year. What are you thankful for?

• I'm also thankful to be part of this blogger community. I wish you and all of yours a healthy, happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Peace.

Bieste's Boys

Ok, so she's no Giselle.

In fact, she's not very feminine at all. But I would have say that when the Glee club's boys told Coach Bieste that she's pretty, I agreed with them. I think I'm lucky because I can see beauty in almost anything, and last night I saw Coach Bieste (Dot Jones) for her beauty. That was, of course, after her character gained my sympathy. I couldn't believe Mr. Shuester told her that the Glee Club boys were using a lingerie clad mental image of the coach to "cool off" their amorous advances to their girlfriends who won't "put out". There's a time to lie and a time to not lie, and this was most certainly a lie situation.

Then he had the nads to tell her not to take it personally. But, this is Hollywood and Glee is the brain child of a bunch of Hollywood writers, and they of course tried to make it all better by cheeze-ily having Shue give Bieste her first kiss. Cheeze.

Anyway, lets talk about the Glee club's new competition for sectionals, Dalton Academy. Hello to Blaine (Darren Chriss) who meets Kurt in the hallway of the all boys school. (Kurt is being bullied by a football Neanderthal and does not feel "challenged" at McKinnley) Dreamy Blaine explains to Kurt that the Glee Club at Dalton are like rock stars and he takes Kurt by the hand to an impromptu performance of "Teenage Dreams" where dreamy Blaine sings lead. The actual singing of "Teenage Dreams" was recorded in August and are really the voices of acapella sensations "The Beelzebubs" from Tufts University in Medford, MA. Hell ya! This coming from a mom of an Acapella group member.

Back to Blaine, who is absolutely dreamy and GAY, much to Kurt's pleasure. He tells Kurt not to run from his troubles but to stand up and have courage as the only out of the closet gay kid at McKinnley. Kurt finally has the courage to confront the bully who daily slams him into his locker, and WOW, the jock ends up kissing Kurt on the lips!!! I did NOT see that one coming at all. I'm not quite sure what happened next because it took me a second to re-group, but we find out that Kurt has never been kissed before that.

Puck is back from juvie, and he and Artie, who I think has the best male voice on the show, sing a sick rendition of Bob Marley's, "One Love" which is my download pick of the week. They form a strange partnership that revolves around community service and chicks and scheme to get Brittney and Santana to go out with them. Puck's probation officer does not find Puck's idea of community service appropriate and threatens to send him back to juvie if he does not comply. Artie tell him he's going to tutor Puck in Geometry if Puck will tutor Artie in chicks. Please don't send Puck away again. Thanks. Glee is much better with him.

The girls of Glee put on a smokin' hot mash-up of two of my faves, "Living on a Prayer" and "Start me Up", by two of my favorite rock and roll bands, and the costuming is seriously HOT! The boys dedicate their mash-up performance of "Stop in the Name of Love" and "Free Your Mind", to Bieste, who they serenade, all handsome in their vintage inspired jackets and ties. Bieste accept their apology somewhat by telling the boys she really liked the performance and the episode ends in a big Bieste group hug.

Last night's episode was weak at best, and that's partially because there were not enough musical numbers for my liking. I'm liking the new Dalton Academy boy's Glee Club though. More of Blaine, please and thank you.

Oh, The Horror

I must admit, here and now......

I have never seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

I know. You're shocked. Someone as well read, sophisticated and cutting edge as myself, (insert chuckle here) having never experienced the cult classic, Rocky Horror Picture Show. But I have not, so I was more than looking forward to the Glee interpretation of the show.

Slightly disappointed and majorly confused is how I felt about Rocky Horror after last night's Glee episode. What last night was really about had more to do with Emma and Mr Shuester and less about Rocky Horror.

I don't live under a rock, so I have seen a few bits and pieces of the show here and there and I have seen images from the original. I will say that the Glee casting was great and that more than a couple of the musical numbers were entertaining. The shows open had me mesmerized. Those lips....Was that Quinn? I'm thinking the lips belonged to Quinn (Diana Argon) so anyone else want to venture a guess here, be my guest.

Rachel and Finn were cast in the lead roles of Janet Weiss and Brad Majors and the casting of the rest of the show scattered among the Glee club aside, Emma's new boyfriend Carl, (John Stamos) as Eddie, decked out from head to toe in leather singing was NOT a complete waste of my time, to say the least. "Whatever Happened to Saturday Night", was performed to perfection with the rest of the Glee club joining in, left me thinking it's no wonder Will is worried about Emma and Carl. These two have chemistry, and Will is beginning to feel that Carl is "winning" by making Emma a better person. She even left the crusts on her sandwich. Shocking.

Sam, cast in the part of Rocky, is a complete no brainer and he wins the award for the best one liners of the night; describing his shirtless, gold mini-shorts costume as "abulous" and the classic, "Can I get some longer shorts? I'm afraid I'm going to show some 'nuttage'." Sue is up to no good, planning an expose of the show for TV. The idea was piched to her by Meatloaf and Barry Bostwick, in a nod to the original cast members of the movie. The basis of the expose is that the show's content is far too racy for high school, but Shue won't admit to anyone, including himself that he is pushing the limits for Emma.

Shue decides that maybe the show is a little too risque, and that Sam seemed out of his comfort zone, so he tells Emma that he will now be playing Rocky and that he needs her to rehearse 'Touch-a Touch-a Touch-a Touch Me'. She agrees and needless to say it's quite steamy and
Emma and Shue almost kiss....
*note to producers: Matthew Morrison is a HOT hunk of man...If you are going to flash us that ABULOUS body of his, please...wax the hair from his chest. thank you.*

Finn, freaking out about having to do a scene in his underwear, decides that he's going to walk through the halls of McKinnley High wearing nothing but boxer shorts to try and embrace his sexy-ness. He almost gets suspended. And can someone please tell me when Finn is going to haul off and punch out one of those bulling football jocks, who are always giving him shit about being in Glee club? I'd REALLY like to see that happen soon, considering he's about 3 or four inches taller and could take both of them in a fight, I'm sure...just saying.

In the end, after Mr. Shue finds out about Sue's TV expose, Mr. Shue realizes that he is putting the school, the kids and his reputation on the line for Emma. He tells her he is canceling the show and admits that he only did it to get closer to her. He drops the classic and cheesey, "If I really love you I need to back off and accept the fact that, at least for now, being with him is the best thing for you."

And I am left with burnt toast.
Maybe I'll take it with me when I go to a REAL showing of the movie. I think I need to do it and soon, otherwise I'll loose my theater geek credentials.

I'll leave you with this, which was my download choice of the night and a song even I have heard before. Not bad for a bunch of misfits....which is really what the Rocky Horror Picture show is really all about.

Wednesday:Take 2

Dear Grilled Cheezus:

I want to do a re-do of today. Instead of blogging about the spiritual episode that was inspired by your face on a grilled cheese sandwich, like I was supposed to, I ended up spending an entire day in the hospital after what I thought was going to be an early morning follow up appointment with my doctor. AND I am still in one piece.

You know what Grilled Cheezus, I want to do an entire week re-do, because this has to be one of the worst weeks of my life. But I'm sick of me being sick of sick, ok? I want this crap to end almost as badly as Finn want to touch Rachel's boobies.

After the week I have had the sight of a doctor is enough to turn me into a screaming, insulting Sue Sylvester. The one that doesn't believe in God, not the soft one who loves her special needs sister like I normally am. I believe in you Grilled Cheezus. I know that the medical events of the past week must somehow be a test of my faith in you. Yet, I still choose to believe. Because I believe that I'm at the finish line and today's developments were just a test of my strength. And I'm strong.

Did I pass Grilled Cheezus?? Can I go back to normal now? I promise I will NEVER go to an emergency room and not use the hand sanitizer. Swear. And I promise to do everything I'm told so that I feel better soon. I'll even go to church like Kurt AND wear a fabulous hat, Grilled Cheezus. I'll even make more of your fabulous grilled cheese sandwiches in my (how brilliant) George Foreman grill!

And I promise, Grilled Cheesus, I won't even eat you.

You gotta promise to make this all go away. OK?

We got a deal?

xoxox-

Candy