Glee: Another Season Begins!

Recaps

By BirschTalk | Thursday, September 23, 2010 | 1:00 pm | 33 Comments
Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in: Featured, Glee, Recaps

Guess what happened on Tuesday night?!? Season TWO of mother frickeen Glee!

Although it seems like forever ago that True Directions placed a disappointing third in Regionals, it’s really only been a few months. Yet within that short period of time, Glee is entering it’s second season with a slew of awards. Probably the most prestigious being the 2010 Golden Globe for Best Television Series- Musical or Comedy,  oh, and it’s 19 Emmy nominations, winning FOUR of them, including Jane Lynch’s Outstanding Supporting Actress… Not to mention it’s commercial success, because, although it’s frickeen evil genius, and hugely successful with it’s soundtracks, concert tours, and merchandise, like a Wii game called Karaoke Revolution Glee, that part kind of grosses me out. Even as someone with a marketing degree, I still want to love the show for why I fell in love with it in the first place… They can have all the acclaim and success they want as long as their underdogs still remain underdogs…  Oh, and hopefully, they’ll cut way down on the artist themed episodes. I did not miss that. (Although in hind site I still love the Madonna ep.) But you what else I missed?

You. I missed you, my gleeloveds… I can’t WAIT for you to point out my incorrect Gleek trivia bits. Or add a word or two to the “Glictionary.” Or even get into heated debate about how Kurt Hummel is too stereotypically gay.  And I mean that… So let’s dive in, shall we?

The first ep of the season starts off with McKinley’s jew fro journalist type,  Jacob Ben Israel, throwing a camera in the face of glee club members with accusations and rumors as to the major occurrences over the summer.  A clever little device used to catch us up on the haps, but also give the writers of Glee an opportunity to address the things that the show often receives flack for, like Will Shuester’s rapping, and auto-tuning.  Kudos, you self aware little writers, you.

A perusal of the various McKinley club lists reveal that nobody is interested in signing up for Glee, and of course, good ol’ Sue Sylvester is there to rub it in Will Shuester’s face. It’s not long before they’re summoned to Principal Figgins office though, where he tells both Sue and Will he’s going to cut their budgets by ten percent.  Shuester is “outraged.” (It’s in quotes because of the bad acting… Sorry Matthew Morrison, most of the time I think you’re a pretty good actor but then sometimes I am reminded that you were plucked from the stages of Broadway.) Sue takes it as a personal vendetta against the new football coach, Shannon Beiste.

Glee.S02E01.HDTV.XviD-LOL.[VTV].avi-1That’s a whole lotta hot man lady in one frame.

In glee, Shue talks the glang into putting on show at lunch so that others will be inspired to join. They’ll need it to win National’s in New York. And since they’re going to New York they serenade McKinley with Jay Z’s and Alicia Key’s “New York.” Oh, good. I’ve only heard that song 8,948,572,984,593 million billion times. I really needed to hear a glee version…  Sarcasm aside, despite using a played out song, I still kinda liked it, but I love watching Brittany and Santana dance hip hop style, and of course, I LOVE when Mercedes does her thing. Or maybe I just really liked their outfits.

Glee.S02E01.HDTV.XviD-LOL.[VTV].avi-6If this happened during my lunch time in high school I would have shit myself.

Goody Two Shues makes a deal with the devil and sides with Sue Sylvester to take down Coach Beiste. It’s the only way he thinks he can get some of his budget back. This is gonna be good…

Finn is putting sing up sheets in the locker room when he hears some hottie new blonde transfer guy sing some G&R in the shower. That poor bar of soap wasn’t the same after.

Glee.S02E01.HDTV.XviD-LOL.[VTV].avi-5“I will love him and squeeze him.”

Rachel is doing the same in the girls bathroom when she runs into a cute little Philippino girl she noticed singing along at lunch. She encourages her to sign up by shouting very slowly until Rachel actually hears her sing. They did really awesome quick little “Telephone” Beyonce/Lady GaGa duet until Sue tells them to shut up.  Oh and guess what I love. Sunshine’s voice. Big time.  It’s poppy but there’s a little bit of a rasp to it. I LOVE the raspy thing.

Glee.S02E01.HDTV.XviD-LOL.[VTV].avi-2What with the different look every scene, Sunshine? This one’s my fav.

BTW, if you haven’t seen the video for “Telephone”, where have you been, and please do so ASAP. It’s really frickeen good. But I’m a sucker for anything set in a female prison.

Speaking of which, Coach Beiste tells the team they’ll all have to try out again to be on the football team, while Will and Sue hide and giggle through the front door of the locker room at a pizza delivery guy claiming Beiste has ordered a bunch of pizzas. The Beiste seems wise to their game though… Oh, and I like that Beiste refers to herself in the third person, but why would she call herself the “Panther,” rather than the “Beast?” Panther seems forced in a character that already seems forced… Not the actor mind you, the character.

Artie talks Finn into vouching for him to join the football team so he can try to get Tina back from Mike Chang. Side note- Tina and Mike fell for each other at an Asian summer camp, teaching kids about the arts. I loved Mike Chang’s camp counsler outfit. Here it ’tis, glays and gladies-

Glee.S02E01.HDTV.XviD-LOL.[VTV].avi-3He’s stepping on a small Asian child. You just can’t see it.

Finn does some persuading of his own and gets the new kid, Sam Evans, to perform Travie McCoy’s “Billionaire” for him and the dudes of glee. He nails it and the guys get him to agree to audition. He should also audition for the Twizzlers mouth guy… (I have to admit that joke doesn’t feel very satisfying cause the writers of Glee had already beaten me to the punch.)

The next day, Mercedes is making fun of Kurt’s sweater when Rachel comes rushing into the the glee room worried about Sunshine. Kurt and Mercedes tell Rachel she’s crazy and they’ll need someone like Sunshine to beat Vocal Adrenaline, but all I can do is stare at that sweater.  I know they did it on purpose. I think this one is by far the most outlandish Kurt get up yet.

Glee.S02E01.HDTV.XviD-LOL.[VTV].avi-8

In the teacher’s lounge, Will and Sue give the Beiste the cold shoulder when she wants to sit with them. It upsets her and after when Finn approaches Coach Beiste about Artie playing football she flips out and throws Finn off the team.  Boy oh boy, I tell ya, the character may seem a bit cartoony but the actress does an amazing job of making her real.  Very genuine. That woman could sing in a death metal band.

At Cheerio try outs, Quinn makes a compelling argument to Sue for putting her back on the team. Even Finn tries out so he can be popular again. Becky, Sue’s really frickeen adorable Cheerio assistant with down syndrome, tells Finn he’s embarrassing himself. Shue hears about Finn’s attempt from Sue and tries to get Bieste and Figgins to put Finn back on the football team. No dice though.

Sue demotes Santana to the bottom of the pyramid and she’s going to have Quinn replace her as Cheerio  captain. Sue has a no plastic policy and Santana got a boob job over the summer. Five or six Sue Sylvester boob job jokes later, Santana is slamming a cheerios outfit sporting Quinn into the lockers. This fight was actually pretty legit, and ol’ pervo Birschy here doesn’t mind seeing Quinn all riled up.

Time’s up in glee club, and it looks like everyone is a no show for auditions. Kurt is channeling the powers of Castle Greyskull and tells Finn he’s not the popular guy he used to be.


Glee.S02E01.HDTV.XviD-LOL.[VTV].avi-4-1

“I have the poooowwer… It’s gettin’, it’s gettin’, it’s gettin’, kinda hectic.”

In Figgins’ office, Sue has Brittney accuse the Bieste of touching her boobs. Shue realizes it’s a ploy and gets Brittney to admit the truth.  Brittney admits she actually wants to touch Coach Biest’s boobs. Awesome… So. Awesome.

Tina and Mike hear through the Asian grapevine what Rachel did to Sunshine and Shue tells Rachel she needs to apologize and make things right. Rachel has Sunshine audition in the auditorium with “Listen” from Showgirls. With a little too much arm flailing, and an amazing vocal, Sunshine easily makes it into the glee club.

In the teacher’s lounge, Goody Two Shues smokes the peace pipe with the Beiste when Sue comes along to satisfy their munchies with poop cookies. Shue calls her out on it and he goes right back onto the top of Sue Sylvester’s poop list. Ha! Poop. Poop is funny.

Finn asks the new guy why he didn’t show up to audition in the locker room and he admits that he’s afraid if he joins glee he’ll have trouble fitting in. What’s more is that he’s now the QB… Poor Finn. I’m sure it won’t be long before he’s somehow back on top, though. I give it about three or four episodes.

Shue is giving Sunshine the deets for glee when the NEW coach for Vocal Adrenaline tells him she’s been recruited to his school. (Sue tipped him off.) His name is Dustin Goolsby, and it was weird seeing the nice guy from 30 Rock play a snarky vocal coach. I looked him up though and he was once dubbed Broadway’s sexiest man. He’s also gay. Which I wasn’t able to tell from 30 Rock. I only bring that up because once again, Glee has us/me talking about a gay man who claims that his being gay has gotten in the way of getting cast as a straight man… But I digress.

In the halls, Finn tells Rachel he talked the glang out of a “code red,” but that she needs to apologize for their losing Sunshine to Vocal Adrenaline. There is a really cute Finchel moment when they both admit that they’d never leave the other.  After, Rachel walks to the auditorium for a moment to herself and sings A Chorus Line’s “What I Did For Love.” Not sure why though. Can anyone tell me? Seriously? What love is she supposed to be referring to? Her love for herself? For Finn? Or is she singing on everyone’s behalf? Anyway, it was at least nice to have an actual show tune in this episode as opposed to a song that’s currently played on the radio hundreds of times a day.

That being said,  I have to say, not a bad start to the second season. Not bad at all. Oh, and if you’re wondering what happened to the three new cast members they promised us at the end of last season, that fell through in June. I did some DEEP research and found out on Wikipedia that Ryan Murphy called off the reality show, documenting the audition process, for fear of distraction from Glee itself.  Apparently, they’ve still chosen several winners from the entrants and plan on putting them in a couple of episodes… Now you know, and you can sleep at night.

Thanks so much for sticking with me, my gleeloveds.

Talk at you next week.

yours and everyone else’s,

BirschTalk


BirschTalk’s Glines O’ the Week

“People thought I went on vacation but actually I spent the summer lost in the sewers.” -Brittney

“Uup, it’s time to feed my gimp.”-Sue

“Swaying in background can be fun” -Rachel, speaking slowly for someone she thinks doesn’t understand English.

“First of all, a female football coach, like a male nurse, sin against nature.” -Sue

 

 

BirschTalk lives in Los Angeles, writing and performing comedy... What, are you writing a book?

33 Comments

  1. 1
    JudgyWudgy JudgyWudgy
    Posted September 23, 2010 at 2:02 pm

    I have yet to see this episode (gasp!) but I’ll probably just catch myself up via recap. I do enjoy Mercedes, but I meant to comment on this last season and never got around to it….she is the type of singer that, to me, is incredibly talented but ruins it by playing with her voice FAR more than is necessary (think Christina Aguilera’s Christmas album. And I love the girl). I’m sure I will stand alone in this, but my personal favorite voice style is Dianna Agron’s. Sure, the performance of “It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World” with the pregnant girls was….odd to say the least, but I blast that song like nobody’s business in my apartment. I’ve just never been a huge fan of the showy-type of talent, precisely because it is just that….showy.

  2. 2
    Brattygrl
    Posted September 23, 2010 at 3:19 pm

    I could be wrong, I was cooking while watching the show, bur wasn’t new guy singing “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” in the shower? Which is Poison, not GNR?

    Okay, back to the recap…

  3. 3
    Gerrit Verstoep
    Posted September 23, 2010 at 4:22 pm

    I noticed that Finn has become Rachel Reilly’s Brendon to Lea Michele’s Rachel Berry. (What does that mean?)

  4. 4
    birschtalk
    Posted September 23, 2010 at 4:40 pm

    Bratty, you are totally right. Thanks for pointing that out. I must have been wearing my Bret Michaels bandana a little too tightly. :D

  5. 5
    birschtalk
    Posted September 23, 2010 at 5:07 pm

    judge, I love that you are throwing your own opinion in there! But, yes, my dear, I must respectfully disagree. Although I DO agree that Mercedes can go into too many runs, but it’s because she can. It’s like using an instrument to it’s full potential… And anyway, if I’m making an analogous instrument comparison, I’d say Mercedes is more like a saxophone, where Quinn is more like a flute. Hard to compare those two!

  6. 6
    C in Chicago
    Posted September 23, 2010 at 6:25 pm

    I took Rachel’s solo there at the end to be her singing to the stage itself. She did it all for her love of the spotlight. Which makes her even more unsympathetic.

    All in all it was a reasonable start to a new season, though I’m hoping that things do improve a notch or two with the pacing. There were new characters to be introduced and new situations that needed to be explicated that slowed things down a bit in this episode, in my opinion.

  7. 7
    zbird
    Posted September 23, 2010 at 6:51 pm

    I can’t get past the first paragraph yet. Is “True Directions” a joke that I just don’t get? Or is it a typo and you meant to write “New Directions”? Now if you had written “Nude Erections” I would have absolutely laughed out loud at that joke (say it out loud), but I don’t get True Directions? Splain, please!

    All right. I’ll just shut up and read.

  8. 8
    zbird
    Posted September 23, 2010 at 7:05 pm

    “Rachel walks to the auditorium for a moment to herself and sings A Chorus Line’s “What I Did For Love.” Not sure why though. Can anyone tell me? Seriously? What love is she supposed to be referring to? Her love for herself? For Finn? Or is she singing on everyone’s behalf?”

    No idea, Birsch. I thought that was really weird too. Maybe for her love to the spotlight? It seemed really ill-timed to me. I hate that they’ve made Rachel sooooo unlikable. I get her whole schtick. I just don’t think they have to make her so shallow and horrible. How can anyone connect with her character?

    I love the glines of the week. Especially the lost in the sewers one. I love how Brittney deadpans her delivery. Her “Stop the violence” was hilarious too.

    Thanks for the cap! Still wondering about true directions, though ;)

  9. 9
    zbird
    Posted September 23, 2010 at 7:07 pm

    Sorry, C in Chicago. I didn’t read the comments before I left mine. I see that you already presented the spotlight theory. I think we’re onto something!

  10. 10
    C in Chicago
    Posted September 23, 2010 at 7:10 pm

    Warped minds think alike! And hey, we share a certain enthusiasm for Nude Erections, too. :D

  11. 11
    baffled
    Posted September 23, 2010 at 8:51 pm

    What happened to the other football player from last season that was in Glee? I didn’t see him on this show. And I have to say I LOVE the new coach! I think she was a coach in my high school…

    I thought the Phillipino girl sang like an angel, but I was pretty sure she was going to throw a shoulder out when she was up on the stage. Looked ridiculous snapping those arms around like she did.

  12. 12
    Sweet_Dee
    Posted September 23, 2010 at 11:45 pm

    FYI: It’s “Filipino”

  13. 13
    Sweet_Dee
    Posted September 23, 2010 at 11:46 pm

    And oh hai, Mike Chang’s abs! DROOL.

  14. 14
    wherewordsfail
    Posted September 24, 2010 at 6:13 am

    “What I Did for Love” is actually about everything you give up and all the sacrafices you have to make for a career in theatre. It’s also a bit about the realization that there’s nothing else you’d rather do than be on stage.

    And as a huge musical theatre nerd – I blast it before every audition and every performance. I guess I have a little (okay, a LOT) of Rachel in me.

  15. 15
    JasonR
    Posted September 24, 2010 at 7:04 am

    baffled (#11) they did have one throwaway line saying something about how the other random guy/football player either graduated or transferred when talking about how they needed new members. Must hurt for that guy to have been on one of the biggest shows around and never make it out of the chorus. Looks like Mike Chang actually got promoted and will have a line or two this season.

    I thought the premiere was solid overall. The oner thing that struck me was how damn hot Quinn (Diana Agron) looked. I had forgotten how striking she was since that had her plain-Janed and with a fat suit on for most of last season.

    Not sure where they’re going with the Beist. She pretty much just seems to be Ken Tanaka with boobs and better coaching skills.

  16. 16
    giffordsaz
    Posted September 24, 2010 at 12:47 pm

    Well I guess I will throw in my 2 cents– My opinion of the final song sung by Rachel, What I Did for Love, is –she sang it in explanation of why she forced Sunshine off the team. Her love is the spotlight, (did someone point this out?) and Sunshine was going to take her shine so for her love she put the team in jepordy. Well not only did she piss off her fellow gleers and Shu— she pissed off Oprah. Does anyone remember where Sunshine got her start?
    http://www.rdasia.com/a-star-is-born-online

    go,look,I will be here when you get back.

    And you know what… I know Biest is going to sing like an angel.

  17. 17
    vallegirl vallegirl
    Posted September 24, 2010 at 1:19 pm

    “Although I DO agree that Mercedes can go into too many runs, but it’s because she can. It’s like using an instrument to it’s full potential…”

    Runs are actually less demanding and require less skill and control than hitting a note cleanly and holding it for 3 or 5 or 10 seconds. This isn’t to say that I don’t think Riley is talented, I just don’t think she’s a better singer than Colfer or Michele or even Kevin McHale. Just different. All four of them have different strengths and while Amber Riley is probably best served by using more jazz/r&b phrasing, I think she, or the show’s producers, think the showier runs are more effective. Which is too bad.

    She should look to the Etta James version of “At Last” and compare it to Xtina’s gruesome version and you see that Etta sings hardly any runs. She uses the more fluid jazz phrasing to slide into and out of notes, but once she hits it, she stays on the note.

  18. 18
    birschtalk
    Posted September 24, 2010 at 1:55 pm

    wherewordsfail, thank you. I’m not too familiar with A Chorus Line and I was hoping someone would put that number into context… Now go back to your vocal scale exercises!

  19. 19
    birschtalk
    Posted September 24, 2010 at 1:59 pm

    zbird, yeah, “True Directions” was just a mix up. I must have had “But I’m a Cheerleader” on the brain… A happy accident though because on your behalf, I will now refer to “True Directions” as “Nude Erections.” Because we’re grown ups, dammit.

  20. 20
    birschtalk
    Posted September 24, 2010 at 2:10 pm

    baffled, I’m with you on Sunshine’s arm “snapping.” A much more accurate description then my “flailing.”

  21. 21
    PottyMouth PottyMouth
    Posted September 24, 2010 at 2:15 pm

    birschtalk,

    I can’t tell you enough how happy I am that you’re back to recap this season. Love your recaps! I was cracking up when I saw “True Directions” I absolutely love that movie, and I immediately thought of it; whether it actually made any sense or not!

    I really loved the opening with AfroJew and his blog interviews. I thought it was a really clever way for them to address the audience on some of the issues we’ve been grumbling about. Also, shirtless Mike Chang was a nice addition, and one I am fully supportive of seeing more of. ;) Yes, I have an obsession with shirtless men, what of it?

    Anyway, thanks again for a great recap. Next week’s Brittney/Brittany episode should be interesting, and I’m don’t even like that wack-a-doodle! This show could probably even make me listen to U2 and I’ve hated them since high school!!!

    SWAK, PottyMouth

  22. 22
    birschtalk
    Posted September 24, 2010 at 2:41 pm

    vallegirl, good to hear from you, sweets!

    Agreed, technically speaking, McHale, Colfer and Michele are better singers… Still, I am much more inclined to feel it in my gut with someone like Aretha Franklin, rather than an amazingly skilled vocalist, like for example, Streisand, or even Etta James, for that matter. I don’t need a singer to always be in control, and actually I like when a singer gets lost in the moment. I mean, if the singer hasn’t accidentally crapped their pants and busted a vein in their forehead, then I probably haven’t been moved… ;) I realize however, this is not of the Broadway mindset, and totally a personal preference…

    THAT being said, I still prefer Etta James’ version to Aguilera’s version any day! There’s more soul and heart in the original, even though it’s a much more controlled delivery.

  23. 23
    birschtalk
    Posted September 24, 2010 at 2:51 pm

    PottyMouth, an honor and a pleasure to have you stop by, always… I promise to include as many screenshots of topless men as possible this season. I too am very much looking forward to next week! Any episode that promises to center around Brittany (the cheerleader, not the talentless hack) has already hit the ground running!

  24. 24
    birschtalk
    Posted September 24, 2010 at 2:55 pm

    Jason, I actually think Ken Tanaka’s boobs are the same size as the Beistes. :D And yes, SO glad cheerios version of Quinn is back.

  25. 25
    birschtalk
    Posted September 24, 2010 at 2:57 pm

    sweet_dee, sorry about the typo, honey… and like i told pottymouth, i will include as many topless man screenshots as possible, including mike chang…

    PS Are you a “Sunny” fan? I am!

  26. 26
    zbird
    Posted September 24, 2010 at 4:58 pm

    LOL on the “But I’m a Cheerleader” Birsh! But I’m a Cheerio.

    So, Nude Erections it is then :) I think C in Chicago will enjoy that too!

  27. 27
    chemgal
    Posted September 24, 2010 at 5:54 pm

    If the producers of Glee stayed true to the meaning of the song from the show, What I Did for Love was the song sung in response to the casting director asking the dancers what would happen if they couldn’t dance. The song was suppose to mean that they had no regrets for the choices they made and sacrifices. I think it may have been meant to mean that Rachel really isn’t sorry that Sunshine went to Nude Erections and if she had a chance to do it over again she would do the same thing.

  28. 28
    chemgal
    Posted September 24, 2010 at 5:59 pm

    I am wondering if Sue and Beiste are going to fall in love? Is Beiste going to sing? The new football player is supposed to be Kurt’s new boyfriend at some point. And as for if Kurt is too gay …… as a former high school teacher, there are students that it is apparent they are gay. But outside a major metropolis or extremely uber-liberal hometown, I highly doubt you would find a teen comfortable enough to be so stereotypical. I have a friend who remembers his dad telling him “Its okay to be gay, just don’t be a fag.” His dad explained he didn’t care if he was gay, he just didn’t want him to be girly and feminine.

  29. 29
    Sweet_Dee
    Posted September 24, 2010 at 8:33 pm

    Heck YEAH, BirschTalk! :D

  30. 30
    giffordsaz
    Posted September 24, 2010 at 11:12 pm

    A great Interview with Dot Jones, new football coach.
    http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/09/glee-dot-jones-unleashes-the-beiste.html

    Nice article about herpast work and a spoiler about the new guy….becoming Kurts boyfriend!!!!!!
    http://voices.washingtonpost.com/celebritology/2010/09/who_is_dot_jones_the_new_footb.html

  31. 31
    birschtalk
    Posted September 25, 2010 at 12:12 pm

    Oooh, chemgal, thanks for the new guy/Kurt’s boyfriend tip… And I LOVE that you took up the Kurt stereotype debate! I think Lady GaGa would disagree with your friend’s dad though. ;)

  32. 32
    birschtalk
    Posted September 25, 2010 at 12:23 pm

    gifford, thanks for the Dot interview, darlin’. I won’t be surprised if the Beiste ends up singing some AC/DC now…

  33. 33
    vallegirl vallegirl
    Posted September 25, 2010 at 1:31 pm

    As soon as she said that I pictured her singing “Highway to Hell.”

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