I can't think of another show that debuted this year that has gained the level of notoriety and popularity that Glee has. It's not just a television show - it's a phenomenon. What other show has put out two hit CDs, inspired millions of downloads of its songs and resulted in a concert tour, an appearance on Oprah and a live performance at the White House? All of this just goes to show you that the TV viewing audience loves to embrace the underdog - provided the underdog is an incredibly talented singer who is also funny.
Glee has been on hiatus since the tail end of 2009 and it's been a long wait for its fans until April 13, when the show returns. This past week, FOX released three new episodes to the press for screening. I had the pleasure of sitting through three straight hours of my favorite new show a few days ago and wanted to give all of you a heads-up on what you can expect, without spoiling anyone too much.
Two Broadway veterans join the cast for guest appearances in the second half of season 1. The first of Lea Michele's old Spring Awakening co-star, Jonathan Groff. Groff plays Jesse St. James, the lead singer of Vocal Adrenaline and is a perfect addition to the cast. Not only is he cute, sarcastic and funny - which means he completely fits in with the rest of the absurdly attractive and hilarious characters - he is also an incredibly talented singer. It may be corny, but his rendition of a Lionel Richie song in the April 13 episode had me swooning (okay, it's totally corny, but it's true). His chemistry with Michele is vibrant and the two of them work well together. Groff appeared in all three episodes that I previewed and I hope he sticks around for a bit longer.
The other veteran is Idina Menzel, who plays Vocal Adrenaline's music director - basically Will Schuester's counterpart. Idina appears briefly, but I suspect that her role will continue to grow as the tension between Vocal Adrenaline and New Directions continues to heat up on the way to Regionals.
The Madonna episode is nothing short of EPIC. Firstly, it's heavy on Sue Sylvester, which is always a good thing. The Cheerios also take center stage and they are an entertaining bunch. The "Vogue" video is genius and is sure to become a YouTube hit. The episode also features a terrific dance sequence by the glee club girls. I've always thought that the show has focused more on the kids' singing talents, so seeing more dancing was lots of fun, especially when you realize they have a real talent for it.
The best thing about these episodes is the increased air time of cheerleaders/glee singers Brittany and Santana. The two of them are hilarious - the perfect blend of sarcasm and sardonic delivery. Brittany is still insane and stupid in equal measure and, next to Sue, she has some of the best one-liners on the show.
If you've missed Glee, you won't be disappointed with the new episodes, at least not the three that I've already seen. And we're in for more treats as the season continues - including guest appearances from Molly Shannon and Neil Patrick Harris, and an episode directed by Joss Whedon. Glee is back, kids, and it's definitely better than ever.
Here is a collection of our recent Glee posts:
2 1/2 Minute Promo - Scenes from several upcoming episodes
Photos - Episode 1.14 "Hell-O" (April 13)
Sneak Peeks - Episode 1.14 "Hell-O" (April 13)
Photos - Episode 1.15 "The Power of Madonna" (April 20)
Email: clarissa @ tvovermind.com
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So jealous, man… I can't wait for this show to come back and carry me into the summer. Sue Sylvester is the best thing since sliced bread, I am sorry, but that's true….
i think that last night's episode was one of the most amazing hours of TV this year. It was awful when the last 2 minutes of "Just Like A Prayer" got cut off – thankfully, I was able to see the whole clip this morning – it was my favorite song from last night's show! http://thesmogger.com/2010/04/21/gleecap-the-po…..