Are you a celebrity? Do you like to sing? Then maybe you should make a cameo appearance on Glee! On last night’s episode, Academy-Award winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow joined a growing list of celebs who have appeared on the show, as she played the role of substitute teacher Holly Holiday. A character that is neither a porn star nor drag queen…
Luckily, this was much more than a moment of gimmicky stunt casting, and the episode was packed with several moments that reminded me why I watch this show in the first place. This is an improvement over other episodes, which left me sitting on my couch and asking myself–“Why did I even start watching this show in the first place?”
If you’re wondering my opinions on Glee are so harsh, I should clarify that they come from a place of love. This show has so much potential to blow our minds, yet it consistently sells itself short with hasty plot lines, preachy monologues and superfluous musical numbers. While I’m certainly willing to give credit where credit’s due, I’m nowhere near “gleeky” enough to worship the ground the cast walks on. Got it? Good. Let’s move on to this week’s review…
– Dewitt
To watch the episode, hear the songs and read more, follow the JUMP:
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FULL EPISODE:
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NEXT WEEK:
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Forget You (Gwyneth Paltrow): Principal Figgins has the monkey flu, so Sue Sylvester takes over as acting principal. But he’s not the only one who gets sick. Mr. Schuester feels faint in the middle of a lesson, and he’s forced to take a few days off. Obviously, he’s replaced by Gwyneth Paltrow… er, Holly Holiday.
So Gwyneth Paltrow was suprisingly charming in this role, eh? This would have been especially delightful if she performed Cee-Lo’s original version “Fuck You”, but I understand network television doesn’t really allow such language. This song loses a lot of its edge in the radio edit, to the point that it’s not even worth listening to. However, the cast’s energetic, animated performance made this entirely enjoyable. A pleasant surprise! (4 Points)
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Make ‘Em Laugh (Matthew Morrison & Harry Shum Jr.): Terri Schuester steps in to take care of Will, bringing along one of his favorite movies, Singin’ In The Rain. Cue the dream sequence with an unfortunately clothed Mike Chang!
If there had been anything original in this performance, we would have given them major props. However, this is basically a shot-by-shot remake of the 1952 movie scene. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. As a tribute, Matthew Morrison and Harry Shum Jr. really managed to make this work, and we’ll support anything that doesn’t involve Mr. Schue’s rapping alter-ego. (4 Points)
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Nowadays / Hot Honey Rag (Gwyneth Paltrow & Lea Michele): Holly Holiday confronts Rachel about her tendency to act like a boner killing bitch-tart. Then they sing together! Because that’s what always happens when substitute teachers say terrible things to their students…
It’s only been eight years since Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones performed this number in Chicago. While it’s charming to pay homage to a classic film like Singin’ In The Rain, ripping off from this choreography just seems downright lazy. They could have at least done something original, right? (3 Points)
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Umbrella / Singin’ In The Rain (Gwyneth Paltrow & Full Cast): When Schuester returns to the classroom, he suggests “Singin’ In The Rain” as a potential song for sectionals. The kids aren’t very enthusiastic about this option, so he asks Holly to contribute a modern twist to the tune. OMG, a mash-up with Rihanna’s “Umbrella”! Isn’t that so clever?
Not quite. How many times do I have to tell this show to kill the mash-ups? This takes a place as one of the most horrible musical moments of the entire series. There were hardly any transitions between the two songs, and the chorus of “Singin’ In The Rain” doesn’t even come close to fitting with the beat of “Umbrella”. With that said, I’ll give half a point for combining choreography and visual elements from both of the sources. (1.5 Points)
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BREAKDOWN OF POINTS SYSTEM:
- 5 Points = Excellent or exceeding expectations in regards to vocal performance, choreography and arrangement. Fits well within the context of the episode, and potentially better than the original version.
- 4 Points = Not too shabby! May not be entirely on par with the original, but a fantastic effort by the actors and vocalists.
- 3 Points = Tolerable. Did not induce eye rolls or kept them to a minimum.
- 2 Points = Could be a variety of factors, including poor song choice or lackluster performance. Boring or uninspired. May be an insult to the original artist.
- 1 Point = Absolutely painful. Couldn’t wait for it to be over.
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BONUS EYE CANDY:
I like Schu with chest hair better
The Make ’em Laugh number wasn’t just a snoozer because it was a rehash of the original, but it wasn’t nearly as good as Joseph Gordon Levitt’s LIVE version on SNL a year or so ago. With the Glee version, not only had I seen it before, I’d seen it before before..
Actually my favorite number from last night’s episode was the Singin’ in the Rain mash-up–precisely because it showed that the creators of the show have their own sensibilities and can surprise me. I love Singin’ in the Rain, and so didn’t enjoy the shot-for-shot Make ‘Em Laugh bit–unless they’d have given Harry more of the dancing. (And I wonder if Morrison is angling for some remake of Singin’, and this was his audition reel.) I was very impressed with Paltrow overall–as comedic actress, singer, dancer. Who knew?
I do think, however, in this second season they still haven’t broken out of the “here’s a number” model. The innovation of the post-Oklahoma musical is that songs are there to forward the plot. That was the genius of the first season (just assessing the show as a musical) was that they repurposed and reimagined songs so that familiar tunes gained new meaning by being placed in the show in unexpected ways. I hope we get back to that instead of the “variety show” 1930s musical model that the show now has.
I will say, though, that I like that Sue got more air time last night and that we didn’t have to sit through lots of inexplicable Chord shirtless scenes. And I cannot WAIT for Carol Burnett next week. She better get a song, that’s all I’m sayin’.
I was excited when Shue took his shirt off in the episode but then was mad when I found no chest hair…
And I completely disagree with you about Umbrella/Singin in the Rain. I thought it was very well done and I would have given it a 4.5.
I think the review is pretty much spot on. However, I think I enjoyed the singing in the rain/umbrella sequence more than Dewitt. I liked the choreography and performing it as a sectionals style number was good. And I agree that Gwyneth was great, but when isn’t she great?
I do wish Glee would get back to performing stripped down and believeable glee club versions and less produced video-style scenes. The version of rehab on the first show is a great example of an unexpected take and something a show choir might actually do. I’m fine with the daydreamy scenes like Kurt’s performance from Victor/Victoria, but sometimes less is more.
Man Dewitt. Another week where you couldn’t bash Corey (Finn). This must be killing you.
N ot only did he lose his sweater vest, he lost his natural sweater. What a shame, I think he is super hot when he left his chest au natural.
Gees, Glee…..
Matthew Morrison goes and shaves his chest to do be a cover man…
I would go and buy the mag. if he had kept the fur….
GRRRRR…!!!
I actually thought the episode was amazing. In my opinion it did touch something, what is really important to lots of young people. The issue of being bored at school… I think Gwyneth Paltrow did an amazing job in Glee, and she had a nice role as a substitute teacher 🙂
And I totally diasgree about Umbrella/Singing in the rain, That was an amazing version of these two songs, and I thought the singing in the rain bit actually did fit the songs beat 🙂
Umbrella/Singing in the Rain would have been an excellent performance if I had watched it on mute. Instead, I sat slack-jawed throughout its entirety, wondering what in the world would possess someone to attempt to “mash up” two songs that are so polarizingly, painfully different. I understand that sometimes songs can sound good together (e.g. Halo/Walking on Sunshine.) But just because you find the use of umbrellas in the rain to be an acceptable reason to put those two songs together doesn’t mean you should. Picking two songs that have similar subjects and forcing them together is like hammering a square peg down a triangular hole. Music shouldn’t be this difficult.
The music was just okay .I thought that whole dinner scene with Kurt/Blaine/Mercedces was really funny and the baby glee members adorable! I got the feeling Kurt’s bully is headed for a really sad ending but i hope not i think he and kurt would make a cute couple.
What happened to Shu’s chest hair!? Photoshop or a wax?
But yes, I agree with your reviews!! I think they should have just done Umbrella on it’s own rather than mash it up. There was really no great attempt at making the two mix well.
I was surprised how little singing there was from the students this week… I am also loving Kurt and Blaine hehe.
I absolutely loved Gwenyth Paltrow too 🙂
I thought Singin’ in the Rain/Umbrella was….interesting. Not terrible, but not fantastic. I say the biggest plus in this episode was Gweneth. I didn’t expect so much out of her, and I’m kinda hoping she comes back again. The episode was much better than last weeks, and next week has tons of hope in it.
And I’m probably gonna be the only one, BUT. I actually like Mathew without the fur too, and his character was a little more likeable in this episode too.
This was my favorite episode to date. In part because of Gwyneth, and her amazing acting and singing. Also, Loved, loved, loved the Singin’ in the rain/Umbrella mashup.
Not that I like Terri(Terry?), this episode made me hate Schu even more. He’s such a slut?
Loved the entire show myself Im a new Gleek.. but man Matthew and all were gr8 Love Gweneth too she is very talented and again who knew! Hopefully she will put out a single of the Forget you id download and buy it in a heartbeat.
Now back to the furry chest I agree with most he def. looks better with his fur WOOF!