The TV Chick

Glee might be on hiatus, but I am excited to offer this great giveaway! I have 2 copies of Glee Season 2: Volume 1 to give away! Start the Year on a high note with the students from McKinley High School and experience all the heart-pounding musical performances when “GLEE” SEASON 2: VOLUME 1 hits shelves January 25, 2011 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. The unforgettable GLEE cast returns in TV’s most spectacular musical sensation. Despite school budget cuts and a setback at Regionals, New Directions is more energized than ever. As fresh romances develop and old ones are tested, the club embraces an exciting new year of challenges.

“GLEE” SEASON 2: VOLUME 1 contains the first 10 episodes as well as special features and never-before-seen footage including a bonus song recorded exclusively for the DVD release. Find every memorable season two performance thus far, including Britney/Brittany and The Rocky Horror “Glee” Show.

Continue reading “GIVEAWAY: Glee Season 2: Volume 1 DVD – CLOSED” »

It’s “A Very Glee Christmas” and as far as Christmas episodes go, I enjoyed this one. There was a good message, a sweet story (Brittany still believes in Santa!) and a lot of the amazing Dot Marie Jones (Coach Beiste). This Jew enjoyed most of the Christmas songs and the overall plot. There was more music than the past few episodes but I feel like they went back to what makes them successful in terms of musical numbers: Rachel belting it out, maybe a Finn/Rachel duet and a couple of numbers with the whole Glee club. I think we all agree going back to what made us fall in love with the show is necessary and I thought this episode was a good start. This is not to say that I don’t enjoy every episode, and that I think that Darren Criss is a gift sent from Moses above, but I just like when they focus in on the tangible instead of the visceral.

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Last night’s episode of “Glee” was the big sectionals episode, and I can tell you I was very eagerly awaiting this one. Last year’s sectionals episode was one of the best of the series (um, hello, Will kissed Emma in spectacular fashion!) so I had high hopes for this episode. The creative team continued to cut down the music — there was only one song 30 minutes into the episode — and there was a lot plot wise, but a key couple broke up and someone got married and broke my heart just a little. But I’ll have a lot more to say on that later. As the Glee kids prepare for sectionals, Emma tells Will to use the other members of the Glee Club for their set list and change it up a bit. She points out Quinn’s beautiful voice and I was so happy to hear this somewhere other than my own reviews. Schue decides to heed her advice, and of course this doesn’t please many Glee club members.

Continue reading “REVIEW: Glee “Special Education”” »

Tonight’s episode of Glee is a big one. The Rocky Horror Glee show pays homage to the 1970s cult classic movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and it does so in spectacular fashion. Whenever Glee takes on an artist (or a movie in this case), it can be epic (Madonna and Lady Gaga episodes), great music wise but not so much plot wise (Britney episode) or classic Glee (Beatles episode). The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a beloved movie with a lot of racy scenes, but Glee tackles them with respect. The basic premise of the episode is that Emma (yes she is back for A LOT of this episode!) went to see Rocky Horror with Carl. It was a dirty movie theater and people were throwing things (you know how they do), yet Emma was having so much fun she didn’t even think about her OCD. Side note, this TV Chick went to a screening of Rocky Horror in college where they put a V on my head (for RH virgin) and I danced the time warp in the aisles. It’s all a blur. But I digress. So Will realizes that Emma’s really hitting it off with Carl and decides to put on a production of Rocky Horror with the Glee Club to impress her. He asks Emma to come on as the costume designer, and she’s pretty thrilled. Carl may be helping her, but in my opinion, she really wishes she were with Will. In any case, on with the show!

Continue reading “ADVANCE REVIEW: The Rocky Horror Glee Show” »

Last night’s episode of Glee was a perfect balance of story and music that were woven together seamlessly. I always adore Glee (with a few minor bumps in the road) but last night’s episode was a perfect example of what made me fall in love with the show in the first place. The episode starts with Puck absent and in juvie and Sam becoming a new member of the Glee club. The assignment for the week is — you guessed it — duets (or as Brittany so hilariously put it — a blanket). However, this week it’s a competition and the winner gets dinner for two at Breadsticks. But before the duets pair off, Santana and Brittany make out. Holy crap! I’m surprised this made it on at 8 pm but basically Santana is using Brittany because Puck is gone. I kind of loved this moment. I enjoy them together and I liked that later Brittany stood up for herself.

Continue reading “REVIEW: Glee “Duets”” »

I am not alone in saying I was not entirely thrilled with last week’s episode of Glee. I didn’t write it off as the worst hour of television ever, but I felt it was mostly a series of (albeit awesome) music videos as opposed to any plot advancement. This week’s episode, titled “Grilled Cheesus” is the exact opposite. It is one of the best, most emotionally resonant episodes of the series to date. Despite it’s somewhat goofy title, “Grilled Cheesus” is anything but, as it takes on the super sensitive topic of religion. Whenever a show decides to tackle a subject this big and touchy, there’s always the worry that not every point of view will get expressed or someone will be put down for their particular views. I can tell you from my perspective, every religion that’s represented in the McKinley High School Glee Club was given a fair shake, including no religion at all. Non-believers deserve their time too. However, the non believers (for those wondering, Kurt and Sue) explain why they don’t believe in God and what God means to them. Some people heartily disagree with them, but the point is, no one is put down for what they believe in. In times like these, with gay suicides running rampant throughout the country, it’s important for everyone to know their viewpoint is respected and most importantly, no matter what you believe in (or what your sexual preference is), you are supported and welcomed. But I digress.

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We all knew the Britney Spears episode of Glee was coming. I expected epic, and epic is what I got. Perhaps not epic plot-wise but we all watch Glee for the music right? So in that sense, I was blown away. The Glee kids (mostly Kurt) is advocating for New Directions to perform Britney Spears, but Schue won’t have it. Brittany, the character, not the pop star was the real star of this episode that centered around Spears music. She had the best dance moves (seriously AMAZING), the best songs and the best one-liners. One of those was that her name is really Brittany Spears because her name is Brittany Susan Pierce and she has constantly been tormented by living in the shadows of the musician. Oh man, amazing!

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Glee is back. No seriously, I kind of can’t believe it’s back myself. There were a lot of complaints about the back 9, the use of guest stars, the HUGE onslaught of music vs. stories, the list goes on and on. I was not as disappointed in the back 9 as my fellow critics and bloggers alike, but I see their point. Ryan Murphy had promised he wants to focus on the main characters and then announced a ton of guest stars. So what’s the story? Here’s what I say: Glee is amazing. You may be cautious about the number of guest stars but we only really have a few ultimately confirmed and remember how amazing Kristen Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff and Neil Patrick Harris were? Have faith, Gleeks!

Continue reading “ADVANCE REVIEW: Season 2 Premiere of Glee “Audition”” »

What a journey it has been. The little show that could which started way back last May until now has become a phenomenon. I knew there was something special from the moment I saw it. But even I could not have anticipated the level of success it has achieved — and it is all so deserved. Honestly, can the Emmys just leave the awards at a table for Glee and call it a day?!

I didn’t think anything could top the mid-season finale. I was wrong. “Journey” brings everything full circle. Regionals are finally upon us and the judges are Sue, local newscaster guy, Olivia Newton John and Josh Groban. Right before they perform, Finn tells Rachel that he loves her! (She had previously kissed him in the hallway). Unlike a lot of the pairings this season, this felt wonderful and genuine. They love each other! Finn was once throwing slushees at Rachel’s face and now they are a couple. They have both come such a long way. The New Directions crew perform a Journey medley and they are amazing. I was wary of a remake of “Don’t Stop Believing” because it was done so well the first time, but this remake blew me away. Vocal Adrenaline, led by Jonathan Groff, sang a Queen medley. Besides the fact that Jesse St. James is apparently evil (I had really hoped he wasn’t), this medley was amazing. However, I have to agree with Rachel, they didn’t have the heart that New Directions had. I also am holding out hope that Jonathan Groff will be back, even if only for a few episodes. Ryan Murphy wrote a part for him, so in my mind, it wouldn’t make sense to write him off so quickly. Perhaps he can come back as a Vocal Adrenaline coach?

In any case, Quinn’s mom shows up and tells her that she ended it with her dad and wants her to move back in. Of course she goes into labor at this moment, and the entire Glee club (minus Rachel) rush her to the hospital. In the first of many teary eyed moments (for me, not Quinn), Quinn asks that Mercedes be with her in the delivery room. I love this friendship. I know I have mentioned it before, but I adore Quinn and Mercedes together.  I want to commend the writers on making Quinn’s giving birth scene funny and heartwarming at the same time. I loved when she yelled “You suck! You suck! You suck!” to Puck. Dianna Agron is such a fantastic actress, and I love that she got her moment in the finale to shine.

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For the most part, everything I’m hearing about last night’s Glee echoes my own sentiments. I can sum it up in one word: Wow. I realize I have never-ending love for Glee, but if you read my review from last week, you would know that from time to time, I’m not super crazy about an episode. However, “Dream On” completely blew me away. The episode, directed by Joss Whedon, starts with Mr. Schue meeting Brian Ryan (the unstoppable, super talented Neil Patrick Harris). They have been rivals since high school and Brian has basically come back to make Schue’s life a living hell (and shut down the Glee Club but what else is new?) One of the best moments was when Brian is shown participating in a show choir support meeting. Brian decides to ruin the Glee kids dreams by telling them they will never achieve them. What a way to deflate hope, NPH! You redeem yourself later though.

The episode centers around the concept of dreams: Artie dreams that one day he’ll be able to dance, Rachel dreams about meeting her mom and Brian Ryan dreams about being a star again. Tina and Artie have their first of many heart to hearts at the beginning of the episode. She found out Artie’s dream, and he thinks it’s stupid and he’ll never become a dancer. Tina asks Artie to do a project with him (since Schue didn’t assign one) and asks him to dance with her. Tina and Artie rehearse and he gets up on crutches but then falls over and yells at Tina to go away. This scene has gotten a variety of different critiques. Personally, I don’t think the purpose of this scene was to pity Artie. He is a strong character with strong viewpoints who has a great personality. It was a sad moment, but it did show us that Artie had pride in himself and hopes and dreams like the rest of us.

Rachel’s dreams are quite obvious (to be a Broadway star), but she confides in Jesse (Jonathan Groff, so so happy you are back!!) that the thing that is missing in her life is her mom. Jesse wants to help her find her mom, and seems extremely overzealous about this. Rachel thinks her mom is Patti Lupone. She researches her and does the math and it was quite hilarious. Jesse asks why she’s so afraid of finding out the truth. They are going to investigate in her basement, at Jesse’s suggestion. We find out why he is so into this later in the episode.

But back to our favorite high school rivals, Schue and Brian Ryan. We find out that Terri Delmonaco was the one that got away from Ryan, and thus finally finding out Terri’s maiden name! I know she’s back soon, and I am so excited to see what happens. Schue explains to Brian that music gave him the strength to get out of a terrible marriage. Brian admits to being miserable since he stopped performing. He sneaks to NY to see Broadway shows. They sing “Piano Man” which was fantastic. This was one of their two duets on the show and both were amazing. Schue convinces Brian to try out for a local production of Les Mis. It is at the audition where they sing “Dream On.” Can I just stop for a second and praise Neil Patrick Harris. Not only is the guy a brilliant actor, comedian, magician and overall awesome guy, but he can sing his heart out. “Dream On” probably ranks in my top 5 musical performances of the entire season, and that’s saying a lot.

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