Just curious to see how many of you tuned in last night to watch the series premiere of FOX's musical dramedy Glee.While you read my advance review of the series premiere ("Showmance"), now that the episode has aired, I'm curious what you thought of the episode. Did it live up to the hype? Did you enjoy the mix of music, comedy, and soapy shenanigans? Was it tonally balanced with a good mix of light and dark or did you find it inconsistent?
What did you think of the three big musical numbers: "Gold Digger," "Push It," and "Take a Bow"? (Were you as amazed as I was that Matthew Morrison could pull off Kanye West's "Gold Digger" with such aplomb?) Did you find the show endearingly cheerful and optimistic or frustratingly peppy?
And, most importantly, will you be tuning in again next week?
Talk back here.
Next week on Glee ("Acafellas"), Will forms the Acafellas, an all-male acapella singing group and gets a visit from Josh Groban; the glee club decides to hire a well-known choreographer to help coach them to Nationals; Mercedes suffers the sting of unrequited love.
Comments
From the pilot, I was hooked and last night's episode did not disappoint. The wife is annoying and I can't wait for the whole 'fake baby' plot line to blow up in her face. I thought "Take a Bow" was just perfect and amazing.
Jane Lynch is the perfect baddie in this scenario and I cannot wait for the very obvious showdown between her character and Schuester.
Sure, the musical numbers are good, but "Push It"? Really? I didn't buy any of it for a second. By the time they got to "Take a Bow", I wanted the episode to be over and these characters off my television screen. (And I've seen with Morrison do far more impressive things. Not that he was bad, just that's just the tip of his talent.)
I really want this show to work, because it could be funny if I cared. It's just so tonally all over the map, I keep expecting Famke Jansen to walk through any moment and start trying to seduce an underage child.
So, I'll be there next week cheering for the club and singing along.
JP
I have less of a problem with Jane Lynch, because you're supposed to hate her. Jessalyn Gilsig just has no redeeming value and it doesn't make sense in the context of the show.
Otherwise, the obvious lip synching was my only other quibble. I'll give it another shot.
I think that with the abundance of different talent shows on television today (American Idol, and SYTYCD just to name two) people have gotten more discriminatory over the talents of singers, dancers, and all performers. We expect more and I just don't think that Glee is giving it to us. I think that these actors are talented and I just wish they could find a way to showcase those talents better.
That said:
Will's wife is annoying. I'd like to see her show a more sympathetic side (so far she's been pure, unreasonable Stepford-wannabe), or possibly interact with other characters (so far the only person she interacts with is Will. It makes her feel limited.)
Also, my main concern is that, well, the stereotypes are too narrow. Evil Christians, ambitious woman/cheerleading coach who doesn't menstrate, geek in wheelchair, etc. etc. I'm also keeping an eye on the Token Minorities---if they're fleshed out, they'll be really interesting, but so far they've been put on backburner so we can watch the Pretty White Leads. I was slightly disturbed by the way that (a) the gay kid, (b) the Asian girl, (c) the wheelchair dude, and (d) the Sassy Black Girl ALL got sidelined for the sake of White Teacher, White Female Lead, and White Male Jock Lead in these pilot episodes. Especially since I find Will kind of bland.
I think GLEE can be something really great...or it could fizzle. I hope it turns out great. I'll be watching.