The Angry Gay

Glee Season 4, Episode 3: One-Act Play

2012-02-10T01:35:00.000-06:00

At the notice board in the hallway: Blaine, Ian, and Tina are waiting for Tyler to post the cast list. They are joined by Sugar, Artie, and Sean. They discuss various casting possibilities as other students gather around for the cast list. Down the hall, Tyler emerges and starts to walk towards the board with a sheet of paper in his hand.

(Opening Credits)

Dominic Barnes as Trent Davies

Doug Conway as Jason Alvarez

Darren Criss as Blaine Anderson

Vanessa Lengies as Sugar Motta

Chris Loyd as Ian Johnson

Kevin McHale as Artie Abrams

Trina Medellin as Tonya Alvarez

Matthew Morrison as Will Schuester

Leigha Murray as Michelynne Jones

Rose Richerson as Vi Carter

Hillary Shurtleff as Gabrielle Sanders

Jenna Ushkowitz as Tina Cohen-Chang

Joe Zimmerman as Sean Fortney

(Guest Starring: Carly Cason as Miranda Zwick, Ricky Martin as David Martinez, Ken Avenido as Howard Bamboo, Nickolus Covill as Tyler Cox, Nicole MacDonald as Mary Ann Sanders, and Molly Shannon as Brenda Castle, with Jamie Westfall, Jessica Mikolaj, Kristal Ramirez, Brent Davidson, Tyler Tennell, Cristin Yates, Jennifer Crump, Jacob Scott, and Josiah Hernandez as the Theatre Students)

Flashback to the previous day, choir class: The girls have just finished practicing a potential number for Sectionals. As they sit down, we hear a voiceover from Michelynne:

“Okay, so here's the thing: I am not my sister. I'll carry on the Jones tradition of bringing much needed soul to the New Directions, but my first love is and always will be the stage. Who cares about a solo when you can get a monologue? But I've never auditioned for a show before, not even those -not-really-plays we did in grade school. I've rehearsed with Sean a couple of times, but what if I freeze up while on stage? Mercedes has told me to strut my stuff, but I'm nowhere near as divatastic as her... at the moment. Focus, Michelynne! You're auditioning for The Crucible, which has a black character in it. You got this!”

Will calls everyone to attention (we see that the boys also have a number they are working on). He has their competition for Sectionals: Vocal Adrenaline, The Warblers, The Unitards, The Jane Adam's Academy, and Aural Intensity, along with newcomers Musically Inclined, Voice Unlimited, The Beat Goes On, and Pitch Perfect. Artie, Tina, Blaine, Sugar, and Trent are all dumbfounded. Tonya asks why and Artie explains that Vocal Adrenaline has won or placed every year for the last seven years, and that the Warblers are one of the best show choirs in the state. Tina calls it a gauntlet and wishes for the days when they competed against the elderly and deaf. The newer members promise that they won't backtrack. Will tells them not to worry: as defending champions, they get an automatic entry into Nationals. They will be competing in Sectionals and Regionals for practice and to hopefully knock at some of the harder competition.

As they leave, Blaine hangs back and asks Trent if he will be auditioning for one-act play. Trent says he doesn't really have time for it, and Blaine asks what Trent is doing besides Glee. Trent doesn't really answer the question and leaves before Blaine can question him further. Blaine watches him go with a questioning look on his face.

Lunchtime: Tina, Artie, Blaine, and Tonya are talking about the play. Tonya isn't going to audition so she stands a better shot at the solo. Tina wants a smaller part, and Artie wants to co-direct. Blaine wants to go for the lead, and hopes he can get the solo for a later competition. They all agree that they don't know many of the theatre people since Emma and Coach Menkins directed the musical last year.

Biology class: Michelynne and Sean talk about whether or not it will affect their casting since they are freshman. Miranda, another freshman, leans in and with a pointed look at Michelynne says that talented people don't have to worry about it. Michelynne asks what she means, but Mrs. Castle tells them to keep quiet and focus on their work.

Teacher's Lounge: Will tells Tyler that he will meet him at the bar after auditions to help with the rehearsal schedule so that the two won't affect each other as much. Tyler asks if Emma is coming, but Will tells him that bars aren't really her thing.

Spanish class: As Mr. Martinez goes over the lesson, Gabby tells Ian that she can't wait to watch auditions that evening. Ian is looking a little nervous about it, and as the class leaves, he starts in on “Perpetual Anticipation” from A Little Night Music, joined by Michelynne and Artie as all head for the auditorium.

Once inside, Tyler walks out and lets them know where audition forms are and what sort of schedule they will have. He also lets them know that if anyone has a question about the cast list, they can come by his room after the list is posted and he will be glad to discuss it with them. Artie asks about co-directing, but Tyler brushes him off, saying that any tech positions will also require an audition form.

We go through various auditions from Glee clubbers and those not in Glee (of which Gabby's sister Mary Ann is among). Tyler calls on Michelynne to read a scene with Ian, and as they wander off to rehearse before reading, Miranda stops them and lets Michelynne know that Tyler responded very well to her reading earlier in the audition. Ian prevents Micheylnne from going after her, but while walking onto the stage to read, Michelynne catches eyes with Miranda, and the two break into “What is the Feeling?” from Wicked:

Michelynne: What is this feeling, so sudden and new?

Miranda: I felt the moment I laid eyes on you?

Michelynne: My pulse is rushing, my head is reeling!

Miranda: My face is flushing.

Both: What is this feeling fervid as a flame!
Does it have a name? Yes,
loathing! Unadulterated loathing!

Michelynne: For your hair!

Miranda: Your voice!

Michelynne: Your clothing!

Both: Lets just say I loathe it all.
Every little trait however small,
makes my very flesh begin to crawl, with simple utter loathing!
There's a strange exhilaration!

In such total detestation!

It's so pure so strong!
Though I do admit it came on fast,
still I do believe that it can last
and I will be loathing,
loathing you my whole life long!

Suddenly, the theatre students join Miranda in the seats, and the Glee clubbers (plus Mary Ann) join Michelynne on stage.

Theatre Students: Dear Miranda you are just too good!
How do you stand it? I don't think I could!
She's a terror! She's a tartar! We don't mean to show a bias
but Miranda you're a martyr.

Miranda: Well, these things are sent to try us.

Glee Club: Poor Michelynne forced to reside,
with someone so disgusticified!
We just want to tell you, we're all on your side!
we share your

Theatre Students and Glee Club: Loathing!
Unadulterated loathing!
For her face, her voice, her clothing!

Lets just say “WE LOATHE IT ALL!”

Every little trait, however small,

Makes our very flesh begin to crawl!

Loathing!

So strong!

(at the same time as prior)Michelynne and Miranda: What is this feeling so sudden and new?

I felt the moment I laid eyes on you?

My pulse is rushing! My head is reeling!

Oh what is this feeling?
Does it have a name? Yes, loathing!
There's a strange exhilaration!
In such total detestation!
It's so pure so strong!

(Just Michelynne and Miranda)

Though I do admit it came on fast!
Still I do believe that it can last!

And I will be loathing you forever!

Truly, deeply loathing you my whole life long!

Michelynne returns to reality and proceeds to nail her reading of Abigail with Ian as John Proctor.

After auditions, Sugar, Gabby, Mary Ann, Ian, and Sean go out for pizza. Blaine promises to meet up with them, then makes a phone call.

At the pizza place, casting theories abound. Popular opinion is that Blaine will get John Proctor, Vi will get Elizabeth Proctor, and that Michelynne will get Abigail Williams. Sugar thinks she has an outside shot at Abigail, but would settle for any role. Mary Ann wants Mary Warren. Gabby decides that she wants to audition for Grease based off of what she saw at auditions.

Sheets N Things: Blaine talks with Howard Bamboo (who is now the manager), who leads him to the back, where Blaine finds Trent in uniform. Trent asks what he is doing there, and Blaine admits that he called Ms. Davies. Turns out that Trent's parents got a divorce, and Mr. Davies left them with pretty much nothing, which is why Trent is at McKinley now, and why he is working. Blaine wants to know why Trent didn't tell him, as he wouldn't have judged him for it. Trent admits that he is ashamed of his situation and doesn't want anyone else to know. Blaine agrees to this, but recommends that Trent talk to Mrs. Pillsbury about it.

That night, at the bar, Tyler goes over the rehearsal schedule with Will. He wants to avoid any major conflict with Glee rehearsals, but Will promises to rotate the schedule between the girl's number and the boys number so that it isn't too bad. Tyler agrees to not hold rehearsals on Mondays so that Will can rehearse the big finale with all of the students. With that decided, Tyler begins casting.

Back to the present: Tyler walks up and posts the cast list. It reads:

John Proctor: Blaine Anderson

Elizabeth Proctor: Tina Cohen-Chang

Abigail Williams: Mary Ann Sanders

Betty Parris: Miranda Zwick

Mary Warren: Vi Carter

Mercy Lewis: Sugar Motta

Susannah Walcott: Valerie Van Pelt

Rev. Parris: Jason Alvarez

Rev. Hale: Ian Johnson

Judge Danforth: Wesley Alexander

Judge Hawthorne: Mark Devereaux

Rebecca Nurse: Luanne Ynostrosa

Giles Corey: Luis Cardenas

Tituba: Michelynne Jones

Ezekiel Cheever: Tommy Marshall

Stage Manager: Artie Abrams

Lights: Kristy Jones

Sound: Angelina Carpenter

Alternates: Sean Fortney, Ashley Gutierrez

Miranda walks up and looks at Michelynne:

Miranda: “You only got Tituba because you're black”

Michelynne: “You only got Betty because you look ten.”

Both walk away from each other while everyone is either excited or disappointed by the cast list.

Theatre room: Artie goes to Tyler to ask about co-directing. Tyler rather gently tells Artie that while he has an impressive resume from the prior year, Tyler doesn't want a co-director for this show. He does leave open the possibility of Artie helping with Grease.

At the end of the school day, Will walks by and sees the cast list. He is somewhat surprised that so many Glee students are in it, and worries that it will create far more of a conflict than he initially though.

Glee Season 4, Episode 2: Double Date

2012-02-05T12:24:00.001-06:00

Journalism classroom: Mrs. Benson reminds the class that they need to turn in information to their respective editors as the bell rings. Gabby, Sugar, and Tonya leave together. Gabby launches into a long monologue about her day as we go into voiceover:

“You know, sometimes people say I talk too much, and I do, because I have quite a lot to say. I'm going places! I'm only a junior, yet already I am editor of the yearbook, a valued member of Glee, president of the writing club, vice president of FBLA, and a co-founder of the McKinley High Gay-Straight Alliance. I was going to be in band and cheerleading also, but Ms. Sylvester said I did cheers like a meerkat overdosing on mescaline and Mr. Lalonde wouldn't let me join varsity band even though my breath control is off the charts. But still, I have a can-do attitude that will totally help me get elected student body president for my senior year and into the Ivy league school of my choice. And some might compare me to Rachel Berry, but unlike her, I know when to shut up.”

The voice over stops as Sugar tells that to Gabby. She stops talking, but the voiceover continues.

“I just want to get out of Ohio. The farthest I have ever been out of Lima was when I visited my grandmother in Cleveland, and that wasn't even out of state! But other than that, I have everything going my way.”

At this point, Ian walks by and waves to the girls, with Gabby stopping to stare at him as he walks on. The voiceover continues

“Oh, Ian, you are so dreamy! I know you are only a sophomore, but the cuteness factor totally makes up for the age difference. And since I am an empowered woman, I am going to ask you out myself... as soon as I get the courage.”

She turns to ask Sugar and Tonya something, but sees that they have walked away.

“Damn, third time this week they've escaped me. Ah well, onward to Chemistry!”

(Opening Credits)

Dominic Barnes as Trent Davies

Doug Conway as Jason Alvarez

Darren Criss as Blaine Anderson

Vanessa Lengies as Sugar Motta

Chris Loyd as Ian Johnson

Kevin McHale as Artie Abrams

Trina Medellin as Tonya Alvarez

Matthew Morrison as Will Schuester

Leigha Murray as Michelynne Jones

Rose Richerson as Vi Carter

Hillary Shurtleff as Gabrielle Sanders

Jenna Ushkowitz as Tina Cohen-Chang

Joe Zimmerman as Sean Fortney

(Guest Starring: Jayma Mays as Emma Pillsbury, Christopher Meloni as Mr. Johnson, Kim Snell as Tara Benson, Nickolus Covill as Tyler Cox, Domonique Stephens as LaShawnda Paul, Dot-Marie Jones as Coach Menkins, Jeanine Anderson as Waitress, Lisa Landry as Teresa Preston, and LeRoyal Tutt as Quinton Stone, with Special Guest Star Chris Colfer as Kurt Hummel)

Will and Emma are in the teacher's lounge discussing her increased duties and his plans for New Directions. Will mentions that he will be receiving an information packet from the state show choir assembly detailing new rules that year. They are soon joined by Tyler, who wants to recruit Will to be vocal director for the musical in the spring. He offers to discuss it with them that night at Breadstix. Emma is initially reluctant, but agrees to come when Tyler promises that his girlfriend will be there also. He also invites them to join him and LaShawnda at the bar afterwords.

In choir class, Will is going over the new rules for the Glee contests. Sectionals will now have ten schools, with the top three advancing to Regionals. Each team will perform four songs, one of which must be a solo. Tonya interrupts to ask how he will pick the soloist, and Will tells them that he will hold auditions closer to Sectionals to decide. He then goes on to explain that each choir must have a minimum of eight members, down from twelve, and that a new maximum is being enforced due to several overly-large choirs dominating the awards. The limit is sixteen. Will is glad that they are right in the middle, but encourages all of the class to continue to invite people who might be interested.

In Coach Menkins office, we see her visiting with a man who turns out to be Ian's father. Mr. Johnson is not happy that Coach Menkins encouraged Ian to join Glee, nor is he happy that the football coach is a woman. Coach Menkins argues that several of her top players the last two years have been members of the Glee club, but Mr. Johnson doesn't want his son doing any 'sissy' activities. Coach Menkins tells Mr. Johnson that Ian will not remain on the team unless he stays in the club, since it will help him develop focus and stay light on his feet – especially since he is the backup quarterback and won't be seeing as much playing time. Mr. Johnson allows it for the time being, but will file a formal complaint if Coach Menkins encourages him to do any other activities he doesn't approve of.

Back in the choir class, Ian asks if Sectionals is going to conflict with one-act play. Will doesn't know what that is, and Ian explains that it is a competition that the theatre department is doing this year. Will promises to check with Tyler.

As class ends, Gabby asks Ian to walk with her, and then proceeds to ask him out. He's a bit surprised, but agrees to go. Blaine overhears this, and mentions that Kurt is coming into town and asks if they want to double date at the bowling alley with them. Gabby enthusiastically agrees. After Blaine and Ian leave, Gabby bursts into “I Think I'm in Love With You” by Jessica Simpson. She dances down the hall and is joined by Sugar, Tonya, Tina, and Vi on the chorus. Once the song is over, she squeals and heads to her next class.

That evening, at the Johnson household: Ian and his father are eating dinner. Ian brings up the One-Act play competition and how he wants to audition. Mr. Johnson isn't happy that Ian wants to do it, but relents once Ian mentions that he has a date the next night. Ian lies that he asked Gabby out, and doesn't tell his father about the double date with Blaine and Kurt.

At Breadstix, Will and Emma arrive and are waved over by Tyler. He introduces them to his girlfriend, Teresa, who happens to be the theatre teacher over at Carmel High. Will asks how things are going over there with Figgins, and Teresa is less than impressed with him so far.

Tyler then launches into his plan to do Grease for the musical that year, since it will make enough money to pad the budget for the following year. He wants Will to assist him with the vocal work, and the choreography if he has the time. Will agrees, but cautions that he might be busy with Glee at that time. Teresa mentions that she used to be in Glee, and had tried for the Carmel position the prior year. Tyler is less than happy they gave it to Jesse St. James, given that he isn't a teacher, and Emma expresses surprise that he wasn't fired like Dustin Goolsby. Teresa explains that they are giving him another chance despite their third place finish at Nationals the prior year.

As they finish eating, Tyler asks if Will and Emma are joining them at the bar. Will and Emma both demure, so Tyler and Teresa extract a promise that they will join the following week, after auditions for the play.

The next morning, at football practice: Ian sits along the sideline waiting for Coach Menkins to have him go out and run some plays. He is approached by a fellow football player named Quinton, who asks if it is true that he is going on a date with Gabby. Ian confirms, and Quinton wishes him luck, as Gabby never stops talking. Ian counters that he likes to listen, and Quinton tells him to prepares to listen all night.

Later, in choir class, Gabby confirms the plans to meet up with Kurt and Blaine at the bowling alley. Blaine confirms. Will calls the class to attention, and tells them to get in place for their final number for Sectionals.

We then cut to the Teacher's Lounge, where LaShawnda and Emma are chatting. Will enters and says that he is really looking forward to the numbers they have prepared.

Gabby's house: As she gets ready for her date with Ian, she starts singing “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” joined by Kurt. Once both are done, their respective dates arrive to take them out.

Bowling alley: Kurt, Blaine, Gabby, and Ian share a pizza and comment on how Ian is kicking ass. Ian mentions that his dad was really big on him doing sports, so he learned to bowl fairly early. The date goes fairly well, until it is interrupted by Mr. Johnson. He asks who Blaine and Kurt are, and Gabby explains that they decided to double date with them. Mr. Johnson is not happy that Ian is hanging around them and offends Kurt and Blaine with how he refers to them. He gives Ian two minutes to say goodbye then meet him at the car. He apologizes to Kurt and Blaine, and hopes that Gabby will date him again even though his father ruined the first date. She tells him that she would love to. He turns and leaves.

Teacher's lounge, the following Monday: Coach Menkins is talking with Will about Mr. Johnson, and how she doesn't care too much for him. Will mentions that Kurt said something similar on Sunday before heading back to Kent State.

Glee practice: Ian apologizes again for his father, but Gabby tells him not to worry. He asks if she is auditioning for the play, and she tells him no, but she will come watch him audition. He thanks her.

Will calls everyone together and tells them that solo auditions will be two weeks after auditions for the play, and that the competitions won't conflict, but it will be harder for anyone in the cast to get the solo for Sectionals since there will be less time to work on it with them. He calls it a day.

Ian hangs back a bit to use the restroom before leaving. Once he is sure no one else is coming in, he turns to the mirror and lifts up the back of his shirt, where a large, ugly bruise is now present.

Glee Season 4, Episode 1: Changes

2012-01-31T02:15:00.003-06:00

(Previously: New Directions won Nationals, Kurt and Rachel decided to go to Kent State after being rejected by NYADA. Practically everyone graduated, except Rory who went home to Ireland, promising to visit. Will and Emma got married. Thus concludes what I assume/hope will happen during the rest of Season 3 of Glee)

We open up on Will and Emma pulling into the parking lot of the high school. An emergency teacher's meeting has been called a week before school starts. They meet up with Coach Menkins (i.e. Beiste) and discuss what could possibly prompt Figgins to call the meeting. They walk into the cafeteria with the other teachers for the announcement.

Turns out Figgins has taken the Principal position at Carmel High and is introducing his replacement: Principal Shelly Lee. She steps forwards and promises to fix all the mistakes of her predecessor (earning a look from Figgins) and lets the assembled teachers know that she has cut several programs and reduced many others budgets. She also introduces a new theatre teacher (Tyler Cox) and a second counselor (LaShawnda Paul) to help Emma with her increased duties for the year. She then invites anyone who wishes to speak with her to stop by her office.

(Opening Credits)
Dominic Barnes as Trent Davies
Doug Conway as Jason Alvarez
Darren Criss as Blaine Anderson
Vanessa Lengies as Sugar Motta
Chris Loyd as Ian Johnson
Kevin McHale as Artie Abrams
Trina Medellin as Tonya Alvarez
Matthew Morrison as Will Schuester
Leigha Murray as Michelynne Jones
Rose Richerson as Vi Carter
Hillary Shurtleff as Gabrielle Sanders
Jenna Ushkowitz as Tina Cohen-Chang
Joe Zimmerman as Sean Fortney

(Guest Starring: Jayma Mays as Emma Pillsbury, Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester, Joanna Gleason as Principal Shelly Lee, Iqbal Theba as Principal Figgins, Nickolus Covill as Tyler Cox, Domonique Stephens as LaShawnda Paul, Dot-Marie Jones as Coach Menkins, Nicole MacDonald as Mary Ann Sanders, and Kim Snell as Tara Benson)

Will walks into the choir classroom and greets Sugar, Blaine, Artie, and Tina. He asks two new students to introduce themselves. They are Tonya and Jason Alvarez. They just moved into town over the summer and are brother and sister.

As Tonya introduces herself, we cut to the auditorium where she signs Monica's “The First Night.” Once she is finished, it immediately goes to Jason singing “Meet Virginia” by Train.

Will welcomes them and starts brainstorming recruiting techniques when another student knocks at the door. It is Trent, former Warbler and now student of McKinley High. Blaine gives him a big hug and asks what brought him over, but Trent changes the subject to joining the Glee Club.

As soon as he talks about joining Glee, it cuts to the auditorium again, where Trent sings “You Really Got Me” by the Kinks.

Once he finishes, it returns to the classroom, where Tonya is also big on joining Glee, with Jason along for the ride. Will says they are welcome to audition this Friday and encourages them to bring anyone else that shows interest.

In the halls of McKinley, Artie, Tina, and Blaine all discuss their forthcoming senior year and their plans afterwords. All three plan on applying to NYADA, but Blaine mentions that he might also go to Kent State since that is where Kurt and Rachel went after being denied entrance the prior year.

Journalism room. The teacher (Mrs. Benson) is letting the class know that because of the budget cuts, they will only be doing the school newspaper and yearbook, and that the newspaper will only be published on a monthly basis, as opposed to the prior year when it was weekly. It turns out Sugar and Tonya are in this class. As the teacher divides the class into Yearbookers and Newspeople, Tonya tries to get inside info on getting into Glee from Sugar. Sugar says that basically anyone who auditions makes it in as the two join the yearbook side.

They are then introduced to the yearbook editor: Gabrielle Sanders, better known as Gabby. Gabrielle lives up to her nickname by talking a mile a minute and promises a super-fun year.

Sugar: “You're annoying.”

Gabrielle doesn't miss a beat and continues to ask everyone to list any extracurricular that might interfere with yearbook. As everyone fills out the form, she approaches Sugar and Tonya about possibly joining Glee.

In the auditorium again, we now see Gabrielle singing “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid.

In the theatre class, Artie, Tina, and Blaine look around for anyone that might be interested in joining Glee. Blaine remembers Vi as an extra in West Side Story and proposes asking her. After mentioning her, we cut to...

Vi in the auditorium, singing “Hopelessly Devoted to You” from Grease.

It cuts back to the theatre room, where another student, Ian, asks if underclassmen are also welcome and Blaine tells him all are.

History class: Will is handing out a syllabus to the class, as Sue steps in and demands to speak with him. Once in the hallway, she asks if he has spoken to the new principal yet. Will tells her no and asks why.

Flashback to Sue asking about a budget typo for the Cheerios that year. Apparently the amount is too small. Principal Lee firmly tells Sue that since the Cheerios haven't won Nationals in two years, her budget is being reduced. Sue will not stand for this, but Principal Lee tells her that with only two sports left for the Cheerios to perform at, she cannot promise anything more. She cuts off Sue before she can rant further, and warns Sue that she will cut her budget further if she wastes her time any more.

In the present, Sue warns Will that Lee is someone to be worried about: “Not the easily led pushover that was Figgins. I think we have someone smart in charge now.”

Will knocks on the door to Principal Lee's office and asks for a moment to speak. She welcomes him inside and lets him know that as defending National Champions, New Directions wasn't hit as hard as other clubs in the budget cuts. He thanks her for that, but she interrupts to let him know that unless he can get ten kids in his class by the end of the next week, she will eliminate choir as an elective due to lack of interest. Will says that they use choir as extra practice for Glee, but Principal Lee is firm.

Teacher's lounge: Sue, Emma, and Will talk about the budget cuts and are joined by Coach Menkins, who tells them that the only sports left now are football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, and softball. In addition to coaching football and basketball, she is serving as athletic director. Tyler asks to join them and asks if it is normal for the theatre department to only do two shows a year and it turns out the prior year they did four. Will learns that Tyler is in charge of the musical that year, and that it has been moved to the spring.

Choir class: Will lets everyone know that they need three more people in the class or they will only have after school to practice their numbers for Glee. Tonya asks if this means that herself, Trent, and Jason are in New Directions, and Will tells her yes, but that he will still need them to audition on Friday. Tonya squeals with excitement.

Fast forward to Friday: The choir class is there, plus a few other people. Turns out that the performances from throughout the episode were the auditions of the prospective new members of Glee. In addition to those already introduced, Michelynne Jones (little sister to Mercedes) auditions with “24 Hours of Lovin'” from The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and her friend Sean auditions with Marvin Gaye's “Let's Get It On.” Another student, Mary Ann, is also there, but she was just watching her sister Gabrielle audition, and declines to audition herself.

Will then invites the previous year's members to perform, but only Sugar does, going onstage to sing Melissa Etheridge's “I'm the Only One”

Will thanks them all for auditioning and welcomes them to New Directions.

Outside the auditorium, Ian watches in a football uniform with a look of longing on his face. Coach Menkins happens upon him and asks if he is auditioning. He explains that his dad doesn't want him doing anything but football. Coach Menkins tells him to go in and audition, and she will talk to his father if necessary.

Ian walks in and Will allows him to audition. He goes onstage and sings Semisonic's “Closing Time”. Will welcomes him to the team and tells everyone that they will need to make sure they are in his choir class. Michelynne and Sean worry about leaving their theatre class, but Will assures them that there are several theatre classes throughout the day and they should be fine.

That night, at the Schuester home, Will and Emma discuss the upcoming year and the adjustments both have to make. Will is worried about having eight new people in New Directions, and Emma worries about having to deal with being in charge of scheduling for the students in addition to counseling the children that need it. Both are hopeful however.

So... Glee....

2012-01-25T09:20:00.000-06:00

So here's the thing.... I have serious love for Glee. It tickles a part of my soul and causes sunshine and happiness. However, there is a darkness to this love. Glee toys with me, it hurts me, and it confuses me with it sometimes inexplicable awfulness.

This is not a healthy relationship.

And what kills me is that all the tools are there for this show to be great: Talented actors/actresses, good writers, a treasure trove of story/song opportunities. But somehow it far too often goes astray.

Take for instance, the last episode "Yes/No." Helen fuckin' Mirren as the inner monologue of Becky, a killer storyline for Becky, an Emmy-worthy performance from Romy Rosemont. These were all wonderful things.

But then...

Emma's awful parents (why would Will feel the need to ask their permission?), the out-of-nowhere Beiste marriage (is she Coach Menkins now?), the sudden douche-ification of Shane. Not so good things.

Far too often Glee skips the buildup (and sometimes the climax) of storylines and gives us unearned resolution. It's cheap, and it sucks, because killer episodes like "Yes/No" and "Asian F" suffer when you just... resolve issues without actually addressing them.

I want to go episode by episode and do a critical analysis, but I cannot do that when entire plots take up less than half an episode. I want to delve into the characters, but who outside of Finn/Rachel/Kurt has really gotten more than an episode's worth of character development. It is a credit to Jenna Ushkowitz, Darren Criss, and Diana Agron that the characters of Tina, Blaine, and Quinn make any sort of sense at all.

I'm all for ensemble shows when more attention is paid to the ensemble at large.

And even then, Ryan Murphy has said that they are bringing back several cast members who should, by all rights, be graduating at the end of this season. They are denying us payoff, and also denying the show the opportunity to grow.

And I'm honestly afraid the next episode is going to suck. We went from "Asian F" to "Pot of Gold" (which sucked), and then from "Hold On to Sixteen" to "Extraordinary Merry Christmas" (which sucked even harder). While bitching about this, I made the comment that I could come up with a better season of Glee literally making it up on a weekly basis.

And then I decided to follow up on that.

Here's what I am going to do: I am going to write up an episode synopsis weekly until I hit 22 'episodes' and see what the end result it. I'm going to put my money where my mouth is and throw this shit up on the Internet and see how it compares to the past couple of seasons where they had months of planning and still gave us shit like "A Night of Neglect".

I don't expect every episode to be a hit. But I bet I have far fewer crapholes than the show proper does.

A few caveats: First, as this will be in episode synopsis form, it will be more a general idea of how the episode will go as opposed to a script. I work 6pm to 6am on a rotating schedule, so full scripts will possibly kill me. I'm going to shoot for about 5ish pages per synopsis, not including when I go into detail on a song.

Second, the seniors will be gone aside from Special Guest appearances. The returning Glee clubbers will be Artie, Tina, Blaine, and Sugar. I am going to drop Rory as the actor sucks and exchange students aren't supposed to be around longer than a year anyway.

Third, the only regulars will be the Glee clubbers (new characters incoming, by the way) and Will. No more forcing Sue and Emma into episodes because they are regulars. And I will also not force someone who is in every episode to be a guest star *cough*ChordOverstreet*cough*

Fourth, I am going to try to throw together a 'spinoff' of sorts for the graduated members, as I'm fairly certain that was the plan at some point. Will see how that holds up.

The Glee Season 4 Project (also referred to as the Alterna-Glee) starts henceforth.

Cleanup

2011-10-25T12:26:00.000-05:00

Looking for Angelo Theatre Critic shit? All that has moved to its own blog.

Focus of this blog is going to shift to TV/movie/music stuff, with the occasional foray into speechifying about politics. In fact, should Maks and Hope get eliminated on Dancing with the Stars tonight, I may have immediate commentary to post.

10 Things to Fix Glee

2011-05-23T19:47:00.000-05:00

As we reach the season finale of Glee, and reflecting back on the previous season, I think it is fair to say that Season 2 didn't quite live up to Season 1. However, I've come up with a few things I think can help the show going into Season 3.

1) Trim the cast a wee bit. I'm not saying get rid of the characters completely. I'm saying that the regulars should be Will and the Glee team members. Sue, Burt Hummell, Emma, and Blaine should all be recurring (I assume Terri won't be next season since she is moving to Florida, but if she returns for some reason please keep her recurring also). Glee has a huge cast, and it is hard enough giving all of the kids their own story lines (Mike and Tina getting together comprises the entirety of their character development this season), but throwing in all the focus on the adults strains the show far too much.

2) Cut back on the musical numbers. Some will call this blasphemy, but think back to Season 1. There were episodes with only 2 or 3 songs in them. I'm all for using music to push the story forward, but look at the Prom episode. Was "Friday" really necessary? Or "Jar of Hearts"? It seemed like having the Glee club sing at the Prom was an excuse to get in a few more songs for the CDs rather than necessary to the plot. I'm not saying we shouldn't have the Musical Extravaganza episodes, but it isn't so special to have a plethora of music for Sectionals, Regionals, or during a tribute episode (The Power of Madonna) when the previous episode had just as many songs.

3) Retire Sue as a villain. Jane Lynch is amazing in this role, but there is only so much you can do with her at this point and have her character make sense. I'm still wondering how she isn't in jail for assaulting whats-her-face at Regionals. Introduce someone new to cause some trouble.

4) Get back Glee's bite. When the show first started, it had a dark, biting sense of humor that I loved. This season, its lost quite a bit of that. Far too many 'very special' moments, and far too much preaching. Yeah, Bullying is Bad, but for the love of all things holy, keep some of the cynicism.

5) Introduce more faculty. I know I said to trim the cast a bit, but the only teacher we see is Will. You have Sue and Beiste (who seems to have disappeared) as the only 2 coaches, then Figgins and Emma. Remember when we would see glimpses of other teachers outside the teacher's lounge? Not only can this be a great spot to get a new villain, but it gives Will someone to react to outside of the other 4 mentioned. We shouldn't need a Special Guest Star in the form of Gwyneth Paltrow or Kristin Chenoweth for Will to get to interact with adults.

6) Plan relationship arcs out in advance. John Stamos disappeared way too quickly for someone who married Emma so recently. When Artie/Brittany, Finn/Rachel, Finn/Quinn, and Sam/Quinn all broke up, it felt more like moving from Point A to Point B than story progression. Sow the seeds a bit earlier to that the entire relationship doesn't fall apart - and the characters move on - in one episode.

7) Bring back the budget troubles. Remember the fundraiser to get a bus that could take Artie? And the need for wheelchair ramps? Will getting a second job? Finn struggling to find a place to work? Figgins and his constant budget-fueled poor decisions? It added much-needed realism to the show, and for much of this season money has been a small concern, if it is even brought up. Sam's family brought a bit of this back, but it hasn't been mentioned since, which brings me to....

8) Please remember past plot points. Mercedes used to be friends with Quinn. Tina used to hang out with Artie. Puck and Quinn had a child. Kurt used to be a Cheerio and play football. There are all sorts of storylines that have been dropped that should have at least been mentioned at various points during the season. Remember all the hardship Quinn went through last season? All dropped during Born This Way in favor of a secret past. Really?

9) Please stop making all of the characters stupid. Finn and Brittany being dumb works. But lately it has spread to Mercedes, Sam, and (to a lesser degree) Jesse. Even the smart characters (Quinn, Artie, Rachel, Mike, Tina) have moments of complete stupidity that seem writer-dictated rather than teenagers being teenagers.

10) Trust the audience. All sorts of people watch Glee. While not all are going to pick up on little subtleties, that doesn't mean you need to hit us over the head with a hammer to drive your point. The best forms of entertainment are the ones with multiple layers. Just because not everyone will catch on to the greater point doesn't mean you should give up on it entirely.

Okay Glee, wow me with the season finale!

With regards to the APO ballot sent out for the May 1st banquet..

2011-04-19T21:39:00.001-05:00

With regards to the APO ballet sent out for the May 1st banquet..

Perhaps I care too much about this, having organized the awards before, but I am at a loss as to the state of this year's ballot. Besides the unbelievably unfair aspect of sending it out before One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest has opened and only giving, at most, 2 performances (one of which is the final dress at 9pm Wednesday night!) before the ballot has to be turned in, the way the categories have been organized show blatant bias towards a select few individuals.

I will once again state that having two best play categories is stupid. Don't put a fucking asterick next to one of the winners with a 'Best Studio Play' title. Either put all of the plays performed for the public in the Best Play category, or don't do one. Don't create a ghetto category to make sure someone doesn't get offended or (the more likely scenario) to make sure someone gets the recognition they (or the ballot maker) want. I Hate Hamlet, The Redeemer, and Eleemosynary were a much stronger group of shows than we have ever had done in the studio, and to shunt them off to a different category is a great disservice to all their directors.

Secondly, listing the supporting actor category before the leading actress category is extremely poor taste. It implies that the men are more important than the women (and let me say, the women have much more to be proud of this year than the men). Group them together - leads with leads, supporting with supporting.

Thirdly, the categorizations of the the various acting awards are terrible. Amongst other things:

1) Every single studio performance is left off the ballot. How nice that the reward for the hard work of Alex Addison, Carly Cason (twice over), Domonique Stephens, Travis Taylor, Tania Estrada, Amanda Sanders, Dorian Serna, Kas Darby, and Meghan Blake (also twice over) is for their performances to not even have a chance of being recognized. All of these actors and actresses had to go through the same process of learning their blocking and lines as the main stage shows. To leave them off the ballot is an insult.

2) The lead categories contain multiple supporting performances: (Lance Turner and Marshall Van Pelt for The Seagull, Chito Hernandez for Lilies of the Field, and Jamie Westfall twice over for Deathtrap and The Seagull). They are all fine supporting performances that have no business in the lead category.

3) The supporting categories. Fucking hell, the supporting categories! So, out of the entire ensemble of Bedroom Farce, the only one worth even listing is Laurie Proveaux? No one else? Did they all suck? I seem to remember laughing quite a bit at Chrysti Friar and Lance Turner. I've heard some people liked Kenedi Doerfer and Ty Matlock. Who knows, maybe others would have voted for Matthew Posey or Jamie Westfall. We'll never know since all of them were left off. As were Molly Schwencke for Deathtrap, the entirety of The Seagull except for Chito Hernandez, Michael Lopez from Lilies of the Field, numerous women of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and everyone but Brent Davidson and Katie Heijl from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

4) I will continue to bitch about the lack of a 'Featured Actor/Actress' category. Sometimes those one-scene parts fucking rock the play and they deserve recognition just as much as the larger parts. Hell, the lack of a featured/cameo category has pushed some of those performances into supporting where they have an extremely unlikely chance of getting a win.

Moving on to the technical categories...

Student Design should be one category if you only have 4 student designs the entire year. I have a feeling that, again, the studio shows were ignored here, but I'm fairly certain that there were more than 4 designs by students throughout the 9 shows done this year.

Best Stage Manager is a stupid category to have. If you don't want 1 general 'techie' award (which I agree with), have a Techie Male - Management, Techie Female - Management, Techie Male - Non-management, and Techie Female - Non-management category. Don't pick one random position (even one as important as stage manager) and decide that only it will get specific recognition.

As for the Best Technician category... who the fuck picked this list? Did we only have 5 technicians through the entire goddamned year? Or are those the only 5 worth mentioning? Because it seems to me the programs would have fewer names in them if only 5 people worked on anything.

Now for the real fucking kicker. They toss in a Best Ensemble category that has a sole purpose of cutting out Deathtrap it seems. Why was that ensemble not up to snuff like the other main stage shows? If you want to use the argument that it was mostly 'two people talking', that is fine. If that was the case, where is Eleemosynary where three actress had to talk around each other on blink-and-destroy-the-show cues? Or I Hate Hamlet where there were often 3 or 4 people on stage at one time - sometimes with half of them having to pretend to not see one of them? This category is pure masturbation: it exists only to pleasure the people making the list, because a real ensemble category wouldn't have this pick-and-choose play method. A real ensemble category would focus on ensembles within shows (the nuns of Lilies of the Field, the whores of Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, or the inmates of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. To just list 5 plays is dumb.

Post Oscars Thoughts

2011-02-28T14:13:00.000-06:00

So, I didn't do to terribly, getting 12 out of 21 (not including Short Films, where I went 0 for 3). A couple of categories surprised me (Original Song, Original Score, Best Director, and Original Screenplay chief among them), a couple of upsets/surprises didn't pan out (Annette Bening in Actress, I Am Love for Costumes).

What's funny is how everyone is talking about how horrible James Franco and Anne Hathaway were as hosts. They weren't the best ever, but they weren't horrible. But I've noticed any year where the Big 6 categories are all but settled leads to complaints about the hosts, because when winners are preordained, it makes it a bit harder to bring excitement to the telecast.

10 Thoughts on the Oscars so I don't ramble on forever:

1) Can't believe they didn't give Best Director to Fincher. I figured if anyone surprised, it would be Aronofsky. But Hooper? Can anyone honestly say that the direction made that movie? I won't begrudge Colin Firth his win because he gave an outstanding performance, but this would be a hard movie to fuck up, directorially. It was the only thing resembling an actual upset amongst the Big 6, and it was the worst possible pick as for where to select a surprise winner.

2) "We Belong Together" for Original Song? I mean, come on, all of Randy Newman's songs sound the exact same! Play that song up against his previous nominations for Toy Story 1 and 2. Geez!

3) Glad Inception won 4 awards. Same will say it was shunted off to technicals, but there is no shame in winning Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, Best Visual Effects, and Best Cinematography. Damn shame it didn't win Original Screenplay because, again, would you really say the dialogue is what made The King's Speech? That was an actor's movie, and any wins outside of the acting category just don't make much sense.

4) Original Score: I thought The King's Speech would get this, with only Inception standing a shot for an upset. When The Social Network won I started feeling much better about predicting it for Best Picture.

5) This is the first time in 8 years of predicting the winners that I got both Foreign Film and Documentary correct. Kinda proud of that.

6) Damn, Short Film categories are hard to call.

7) Tim Burton's Epic Fail won 2 Oscars, ya'll. TWO! What the ever-loving fuck? Costumes wasn't too big a surprise, but damn, Art Direction? Really? You reward it for THAT?!

8) Thank God they showed clips again. Although I don't think they picked well for most of the movies I saw. Colin Firth had some great moments in the film, but they pick the breakdown part as if that is the only reason he got recognized. And what a biffed opportunity not showing Helena's 'He has the most beautiful stammer' speech. Or Amy Adam's punching the sister in the face.

9) It weird that in a year where I think the Academy dropped the ball on quite a few aspects of the nominations, I really don't mind any of the acting winners. I'd argue that Christian Bale is a co-lead for The Fighter but he still gives a fine performance. If Colin Firth hadn't brought his A game (along with co-lead Geoffrey Rush and actually-supporting Helena Bonham Carter), The King's Speech would have drifted off to nothingness. Melissa Leo was a live wire during The Fighter and Natalie Portman was totally committed to Black Swan. All fine performances deserving of their recognition.

10) I very much look forward to watching the Best Picture nominees I haven't seen (Social Network, True Grit, 127 Hours, Winter's Bone, The Kids Are Alright, and Toy Story 3). I think it can be said that this was a good year for film. Just not sure the Academy picked the best representation of it.

Oscar Predictions

2011-02-27T16:02:00.000-06:00

Gonna make a couple of off-the-wall predictions, but that just makes it extra sweet if I turn out to be right.

Best Pictures: The Social Network
Best Actor: Colin Firth, The King's Speech
Best Actress: Annette Bening, The Kids Are Alright
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, The Fighter
Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Best Director: David Fincher, The Social Network
Best Original Screenplay: Christopher Nolan, Inception
Best Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network
Best Foreign Film: In a Better World - Denmark
Best Animated Feature: Toy Story 3
Best Documentary Film: Inside Job
Best Documentary Short: Killing in the Name
Best Animated Short: Day and Night
Best Live Action Short: Na Wewe
Best Costume Design: I Am Love
Best Cinematography: Inception
Best Art/Set Direction: The King's Speech
Best Film Editing: Black Swan
Best Visual Effects: Inception
Best Makeup: The Wolfman
Best Original Score: The King's Speech
Best Sound Mixing: Inception
Best Sound Editing: Inception
Best Original Song: "I See the Light" from Tangled

Probably picking a few too many for Inception, and a few to little for The King's Speech. And I doubt Black Swan has a chance anywhere outside of Best Actress. But it's fun to make an out-there prediction or 5.

To my friends regarding Chick-fil-a

2011-02-21T19:34:00.000-06:00

Howdy all,

I want you to know that I understand. Chick-fil-a is delicious. Maybe not The Best Ever!, but solid and good and worth driving across San Angelo to get. They provide tasty food and do so quickly with a minimum of fuss, which can't be said of some other fast food establishments.

However, when you give money to them, you give money to all the organizations that want to take away my rights. Not rights I don't have/should be granted (like marriage), but rights that the National Organization for Marriage (classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, as are the ones that follow), Focus on the Family, the American Family Association and Americans for Truth About Homosexuality feel I don't deserve.

If a city passes an anti-bullying ordinance that includes LGBT protections, they want it removed.

If a city wants to provide spousal benefits to its employees that are LGBT, they argue to take them away.

If a legislator wants to make sure LGBT people are not discriminated against in housing, employment, or service these groups will gather and try to get the law repealed/the legislator replaced.

Because they don't like the LGBT community.

These organizations had 3 competent judges removed in Iowa under the guise of 'family values'. These organizations had marriage taken away in California. These organizations are at work in Montana right now making sure that Missoula loses its ability to protect its own citizens.

And Chick-fil-a donates to their causes.

I understand that you don't back all that they do. You just want a tasty sandwich or some wonderful nuggets. But when you give them money, you are giving money to those organizations that see me as less than human.

I am no longer eating at Chick-fil-a. I'm still uneasy about going to Tinseltown, since a member of the organization donated quite a bit of money to the Yes on 8 campaign in California.

I won't end the friendship if you continue eating there, but I do ask that next time you head that way, think of someone who has been bullied, beaten, slandered, or harassed because they were gay. And think of who you are giving your money too.

Glee - "The Sue Sylverster Shuffle"

2011-02-07T14:35:00.000-06:00

So, Glee did a Super Bowl extravaganza.

Have to say, I kinda liked it. You had great musical numbers, a somewhat serious storyline (Football/Glee war getting addressed), and a completely ridiculous storyline designed to get Jane Lynch another Emmy.

Music numbers first, since they are the reason I love this show (and as soon as I learn to embed from Hulu without it being the entire episode, I will post musical numbers):

California Gurls: I love the Cheerio numbers. And this actually was a bit of a step back from the ones they normally do (I wasn't looking in opened mouth awe at this like I did for the 'Ray of Life' performance). It was still exceptionally elaborate, but they held back just enough to keep the 'Wow!' out of it, thus starting Sue's quest to feel something again.

Need You Now: I have been wanting a Rachel/Puck duet for awhile now, and I was not disappointed. Beautifully done. And Puck seems to genuinely like Rachel. I want those two together (way more interesting than Finn/Rachel). However, in light of the 'wingman' development, I may not get this development.

She's Not There: One of Finn's best performances, but other than that, pretty forgettable. I didn't get the Zombies reference until someone told me about it.

Bills, Bills, Bills: Quite possibly the gayest moment this series has ever experienced. This song? Really?

Thriller/Heads Will Roll: Great mashup selection, great performance (although the weird thing they did with Finn's voice didn't quite work). I love that Santana is getting more vocal spotlights this season. And from a storytelling standpoint, it worked. Some have said that high schoolers today would not care/know the words to this. But I am not so far removed from high school, and 'Thriller' is one of those timeless songs.

As for the serious storyline: I'm remaining open-minded about The Redemption of Karofsky. Obviously he will either have to leave the school or come out for Kurt to come back. And since they are humanizing him (and the other bullies), I doubt he will be kicked out of the school. And Finn may just be figuring out the situation anyway.

The Sue Storyline: What I love most about Glee: the crayon note from the cannon, the hours-long destruction of school property, pretty much everything Sue Sylvester. God bless Jane Lynch.

Worst Blogger Ever

2010-02-24T20:02:00.001-06:00

I really shouldn't blog. I have too much shit to do. I work 50 hours a week at my store (60 this week cuz my assistant of two weeks thought that was sufficient time to start stealing), put in another 24 hours of play rehearsal (I'm in Carousel, and I'm fairly certain it is going to suck), and in that time I have to sleep/read/work on my play.

Fuck that, man.

I want to blog. I have lots of thoughts, and this is a good way of getting them out. So what I think I am going to try and do is post here only when I want, and stop beating myself up over saying I am going to do an Avatar review and then not following through (By the way, it didn't suck).

So, don't expect updates if you are still looking at this blog semi-occasionally. I will only disappoint. If you happen to check it out now and then, you might see a mildly funny post about the trials and tribulations of being in a crappy show/trying to get a play produced/working in a convenient store. But only if I can fit it in and still do everything else I want to do.

Laterz

Happy New Year

2010-01-02T17:16:00.000-06:00

....Or something.

Just opened up a new store (I'm the manager, so yay) that has taken over my life. 50 hours a week, minimum, but closer to 60. Fun fun.

Inglorious Basterds review upcoming. Same with Avatar.

Hehe

2009-12-06T18:51:00.000-06:00

The Return

2009-11-30T00:28:00.000-06:00

Hey all. Back now.

Can't really say much for why I haven't been posting, other than getting caught up in my own shit. I have recently changed jobs and moved back in with family, and find myself on the Internet reading all the blogs I used to spend lots of time reading (saved the blogs I have lost), playing World of Warcraft, and reading Glee fanfiction. Thought it might be good to come here and post again. Can't promise to keep it up, but an effort is going to be made.

If you're coming back to read after all this time, thanks for keeping me in your mind.

New Home

2008-10-11T13:32:00.001-05:00

The Angry Gay is at a new home now! Sit back, relax, and wait for the posts to start coming!