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Jane Lynch To Host The 2011 Emmy Awards

Travis Woods — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 22:33:58 +0000

Well, the search is over for the host of this year’s Emmy awards—whew, you were really on the edge of your seat for it, too, huh?—and, unfortunately, it isn’t Ricky Gervais (c’mon, that would have be awesome). Since the show will be presented on Fox this year, star of the Fox program Glee will host the award ceremony—Jane Lynch.

Known for her role as tracksuit aficionado Sue Sylvester on TV’s Glee, Lynch has also made a name for herself in films like The 40 Year Old Virgin and Best in Show.

And, according to the Washington Post, Lynch was the only name that Emmy produce Mark Burnett was searching for, as he revealed in a recent statement:

“Jane was my first – and only – choice as the host for this year’s Primetime Emmys, and I am glad she said ‘yes.’”

Lynch then followed suit by releasing a statement to that bastion of new reportage, US Weekly:

“I am tickled pink to be hosting the Primetime Emmys on Fox… I’m looking forward to singing, dancing and sporting my finest tracksuit.”

So expect a ton of Glee references on Emmy night—although I still think allowing Gervais to come back and insult Hollywood all over again would’ve been great.

What do you think of Lynch’s upcoming hosting gig?

Paul: Movie Review

Krystal Clark — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 01:20:52 +0000

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost reunite on the big screen this weekend for their new comedy Paul. Like they’re previous works, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, which poked fun at the horror and action genre, Paul places the focus on science fiction. It’s a comedic take on what would happen if you mixed the movie Alien with Fanboys. Check out our review…

The Players:

Director: Greg Mottola
Screenwriters: Simon Pegg and Nick Frost
Cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, Jason Bateman, Bill Hader, Joe Lo Truglio, Sigourney Weaver, Jeffrey Tambor, Jane Lynch, Blythe Danner, John Carroll Lynch
Cinematography By: Lawrence Sher
Original Music By: David Arnold

The Plot:

Clive and Graeme are two sci-fi enthusiasts who travel from the U.K. to the U.S. to attend San Diego Comic-Con. After the convention wraps they take a road trip across the Southwest, where they visit several famous UFO landmarks including Area 51. During one of their stops they meet Paul, an alien who’s on the run from the government. He enlists the help of Clive and Graeme, who dodge FBI agents, red necks, and Bible thumpers to get him where he needs to be.

The Good:

Simon Pegg/Nick Frost: The chemistry between these two is undeniable. They’re naturally funny apart, so when they’re together comedy ensues. If you’re a fan of their previous collaborations, you won’t be disappointed with their performances in Paul.
Paul: Paul is a pleasant surprise. At first glance, he comes across as a rude, slimy, untrustworthy creature but he’s actually a heartwarming character that you learn to love as the movie progresses.
The Big Guy: Sigourney Weaver plays the main villain, who’s affectionately called The Big Guy. Her casting in this role is pure genius considering her longstanding battle with aliens for the majority of her career. There’s only a choice few actresses who can pull off masculine characters believably and she’s one of them!

The Bad:

Throwaway Characters: There are more than a few oddballs who interfere with Paul, Clive, and Graeme’s journey including a couple of agents in training, some hillbillies, and a religious zealot. All of them are one dimensional characters who serve no purpose to the story. They could have scrapped them and given more screen time to those who mattered.
Agent Zoil: I love Jason Bateman, therefore it hurts me to say this: Agent Zoil dropped the ball. The majority of the film, Zoil is the straight man against all the other goofball characters, a role that Bateman is used to pulling off (Arrested Development anyone?) but his character wasn’t fun, witty, or interesting. Anyone could have played Zoil. It didn’t have to be Bateman. His talent was wasted here.

Overall:

Paul is a road trip movie that pokes fun at the sci-fi genre and the fan boy culture. It’s campy and comedic fun.

Rating: 7.5/10

Paul opens in theaters everywhere on March 11th.

Photo Gallery:

Trailer:

Will you be seeing Paul this weekend?

Anne Hathaway And Others Push Obama On Same-Sex Marriage

Travis Woods — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:01:27 +0000

Actress and recent Oscar host Anne Hathaway has redeemed herself in the eyes of humanity (seriously, that Oscar gig was… not good) by signing a letter to President Obama endorsing same-sex marriage.

The letter, posted to Obama last Monday, was also signed by Ellen Degeneres, Jane Lynch, Martin Sheen, and Portia De Rossi.

According to Irish Central, the letter, “entitled ‘Say I Do Mr President,’ is the latest move by the marriage equality group ‘Freedom to Marry.’”

“In February, you made a powerful statement about the law. We ask you now for your leadership on ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage – an exclusion that harms millions of Americans each day. Whether to end discrimination in marriage is a question America has faced before, and faces again today… We ask you to complete your journey and join us, and the majority of Americans, who support the freedom to marry.”

It’s refreshing to see members of Hollywood actually pushing for something socially worthwhile, as opposed to pushing awful Bruce Villanch jokes down the throat of the American populace—seriously, Hollywood, stop it, just stop it. Stick with using celebrity a fulcrum for social change instead of dropping yuck-yuck zingers during award ceremonies, ok? Thanks!

What do you think of the letter to Obama?

Glee: Season 2, Episode 11 – The Sue Sylvester Shuffle

Kathleen Dailey — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 06:48:53 +0000

The “Glee Super Bowl” episode — It just sounds wrong, doesn’t it? Of all the shows in its repertoire, FOX made the bold, ironic choice to air “Glee” after the biggest, testosterone-fueled sporting event of the year. And THANK GOD, because I was just bored enough by time “The Sue Sylvester Shuffle” came on to think it was any good… at first.

The Players:

Director: Brad Falchuk
Written by: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuck, and Ian Brennan
Cast: Jane Lynch, Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Jayma Mays, Chris Colfer, Dianna Agron, Kevin McHale, Heather Morris, Amber Riley, Naya Rivera, Mark Salling, Jenna Ushkowitz

The Plot:

Mr. Schue and Coach Beiste try to keep the conflict between the glee club and the football team from escalating by making each group watch the other practice. Sue is busy choreographing the Cheerios to Regionals greatness with an epic dance routine set to “California Gurls” that features fire-spitting bustiers, flaming hula hoops… and a cannonball.

The Good:

Football!: If the NFL tackled a football game like Glee did, maybe I’d know what a linebacker did. This week we finally got to know the other members of the football team; Dave Karofsky, Kurt’s former tormentor, has become one of the most interesting characters on the show. It was great to see Finn, Puck, Sam, and Mike actually PLAY football instead of just seeing them in the locker room. Also noteworthy was the introduction of the McKinley High ice hockey team, a potential new enemy for the glee club, led by a cute Ryan Gosling look-a-like.
Change of venue: “Glee” should make it a habit to get off campus more. The two best scenes of the episode took place outside out McKinley High. Over at Dalton Academy, The Warblers reminded us all how badly the world needs a Destiny’s Child reunion. Over at a local coffee shop, Kurt, Blaine, Mercedes, and Rachel met up for a catch-up session that provided more plot movement and more laughs in one scene than the entire episode achieved.
The Katie Couric special: The best part of the episode, hands-down, was Katie Couric’s cameo. Like most of the celebrity guest stars who have come before her, Ms. Couric raised the bar and the interview scene was one of the few truly hilarious moments of the episode.

The Bad:

Epic fail: Remember the banks that Wall Street deemed “too big to fail?” This weeks episode was so overly hyped and promoted that to meet expectations, “The Sue Sylvester Shuffle” would’ve had to stage a live, flash-mob type performance featuring a mash-up of the greatest pop hits of the last century DURING the actual Super Bowl. What Gleeks got instead was…
The “Thriller” mash-up: Why did they have to go and mess with Michael Jackson? The man isn’t even here to defend himself. This number was such a mess that its difficult to know where to start; the zombie theme was too obvious, and the auto-tune use was blatant. The biggest insult, though? Mashing up the 80′s classic with “Heads Will Roll” to make it more modern, or something… as Sue Sylvester would say: “Pretentious.”
Acting Auto-Pilot: Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG award-winner Chris Colfer was barely in this episode. Piling onto that, this was not Jane Lynch’s best week on “Glee”. Considering Colfer and Lynch’s performances are the high points of this show, that should give you a general idea of how poor the acting was this week. Matthew Morrison’s saccharine earnestness and Cory Monteith’s absolute awkwardness (especially in the final scene) were notable examples, but it felt like every one was coasting through this one like 3rd period Health class.

Overall:

Moral of the story? Don’t try and out-do the Super Bowl. Memo to FOX- next year, just follow up the big game with “American Idol.” It puts so much less pressure on the situation, and the network will save millions.

Rating: 5/10

Glee airs Tuesdays at 8 PM on FOX.

Glee: Season 2, Episode 9: Special Education- TV Review

Kathleen Dailey — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:59:57 +0000

GLEE SEASON 2: Last year’s “Sectionals” was one of the best of Glee‘s first season; there were great Will and Emma moments, one of Lea Michele’s single most exhilarating performances, and a fantastic, closing Kelly Clarkson cover. Did “Special Education,” which also focused on the glee club’s Sectionals competition live up to its predecessor?

The Players:

Directed by: Paris Barclay
Written by: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan
Cast: Jane Lynch, Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Jayma Mays, Chris Colfer, Dianna Agron, Kevin McHale, Heather Morris, Amber Riley, Naya Rivera, Mark Salling, Jenna Ushkowitz

The Plot:

There is major drama happening at McKinley in the wake of Kurt’s exit and with Sectionals on the minds of every glee club member. Mr. Schue decides to make major last-minute changes to the New Directions’ set list, Puck finds a replacement for Kurt, and Rachel finds out about Finn and Santana. Over at Dalton Academy, Kurt tries to land a solo in his new glee club’s Sectionals performance.

The Good:

Shaking things up: Finally, Glee moves away from the standard repertoire of Lea Michele solos and Mercedes high notes. Mr. Schue takes Emma’s advice and makes the command decision to let the back row (Mike, Brittany, Sam, Quinn, and Santana) take center stage. It also gives Rachel, who is fast becoming the most grating character on network television, a much-needed wake-up call; she has a major meltdown over being passed over for Sectionals solos.
New Talent: One of the best things about the Sectionals and Regionals episodes of the past is that we get to see and hear other, fresh talent. Two of the better songs of the episode were performed by New Directions’ competition- The Hipsters, the geriatric glee club from Warren Township Continuing Education Program, and The Warblers from Dalton Academy. It also provides an opportunity to showcase other styles of entertaining, as New Directions rarely strays from theatrical, free-for-all performances.

The Bad:

Rushed storylines: There was a ton of conflict this week, but the bulk of it came out of left field or felt forced. First- Emma got married?! Not only does this seem way out of character for the über-careful guidance counselor, but Emma has not even been in the last few episodes. Then the entire Finn-Santana fling which was briefly mentioned last week; by the end of the episode suddenly became old news. The speed at which these relationships are turning are completely unbelievable, especially when they take so long to set up.
Too Much/Too Fast: Not only the relationships suffered from the speed issue, but so did the overall feel of the show. It felt like the quality and time that they usually put into writing and make the show just wasn’t there this week. Instead of being a grand finale, it felt more like something thrown together.

The Music:

“Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina,” from Evita- Kurt comes to Rachel for advice about which song to sing for his Warblers try-out, and she suggests this show-tune. The song cuts between the two: Rachel sings out her hurt and anger over Finn’s betrayal and the glee club’s (according to her) resentment of her talent, while Kurt sings to get a solo in Dalton’s glee club. He ultimately does not get the solo because, as Blaine tells him, he is not a team player. Usually the one-two punch of Lea Michele and Chris Colfer really delivers, but this was a weird and altogether unimpressive attempt that barely registered next to the other songs in the episode.
“The Living Years,” Mike & the Mechanics – Despite what some may assume given their age, The Hipsters nailed their cover of the 80′s hit. The aging crooners gave an unexpectedly vibrant and engaging performance.
“Hey Soul Sister,” Train - The Warblers, led by Blaine, covered Train’s latest Top 40 single for their Sectionals song. Darren Criss’ voice is great, and overall the performance was great, if only because it was so wildly different from New Directions’ overly theatrical performances. It was understated, refreshingly so; with their matching blazers, simple dance steps, and snapping fingers, the boys from Dalton were reminiscent of 50′s boy bands like The Four Seasons.
“Time of My Life,” from Dirty Dancing – Sam and Quinn, winner of the Duets challenge, land the big solos in New Directions’ first performance at Sectionals. Though the two of them have great chemistry, Chord Overstreet and Dianna Agron’s voices are not quite as suited to this song, which took the performance down a notch.
“Valerie,” The Zutons – Luckily, New Direction’s second Sectionals song made up for the mediocrity of the first. The performance overall was excellent; Santana’s raspy voice is perfectly suited to this song, and the stellar choreography, as performed by Brittany and Mike, was fantastic. Taking a chance on second-string glee members paid off- New Directions tied for first place with The Warblers.
“Dog Days Are Over,” Florence and the Machine – Mercedes and Tina led the show’s closing performance. It was nice to really hear Jenna Ushkovitz’s voice, which is lovely and sounds great next to Mercedes’ .

Overall:

It was great to see the second-tier cast members get a serious chance to shine, and there certainly was not a dull moment in “Special Education.” However, in its rush to cram in as many plot lines as possible into one episode, this week’s episode felt overstuffed and random.

Rating: 6.5/10

The next episode of “Glee” airs on December 7th at 8 p.m on Fox.

Season 2 Trailer:

Glee: Season 2, Episode 8: Furt – TV Review

Kathleen Dailey — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:51:59 +0000

Another dramatic week, with tons of love, tension and even a little Nazi humor! Kurt’s dad and Finn’s mom tied the knot on last night’s episode of “Glee“, but the drama did not start or end with the wedding. “Furt” delivered some romance, some action, and a few surprises for the students, teachers, and parents at McKinley High. Overall it wasn’t a bad week for the gang…

The Players

Directed by: Ryan Murphy
Written by: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan
Cast: Jane Lynch, Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Chris Colfer, Dianna Agron, Mike O’Malley, Kevin McHale, Heather Morris, Amber Riley, Naya Rivera, Mark Salling, Jenna Ushkowitz

The Plot

When Burt Hummel and Carole Hudson announce they are getting married, instead of hiring a band the couple gets New Directions to perform at their wedding. At McKinley, Sue’s mother (guest star Carol Burnett) arrives unexpectedly, and Kurt’s ongoing confrontation with his bully comes to blows.

The Good

Family matters: “Furt” featured a some family drama that gave excellent insight into the characters’ dispositions and provocations, and showed how far these characters have come throughout the show. Sue’s mom Doris (Carole Burnett) returns to Ohio after her Nazi-hunting duties are finished, but her daughter does not exactly welcome her with open arms. The more we learn about Sue, the more her abrasive and often absurd behavior makes sense. Her “life is tough, get a helmet” attitude is a result of having to basically fend for herself and parent her disabled sister while her parents were off doing something, in their minds, more important.
The Gay Issue: Finn has long been reluctant to befriend Kurt let alone rise to his new brother’s defense, because he is uncomfortable with Kurt’s homosexuality. When Mike, Artie, and Sam take on Dave Kronofsky in Kurt’s defense, Finn’s absence from the ensuing fight raises more than a few eyebrows in the choir room. This is an ongoing issue on the show that it well addresses and much like real life not easily solved. This weeks episode once again raises the stacks on the issue once again. One wonders how far they will go?

Love in the air: Burt and Carole’s wedding prompted examination of the many couples on Glee, and how each are

Rachel and Finn’s relationship seems almost perfect these days, but may soon be rocked by a revelation about Finn’s (nonexistent) virginity and his one-night stand with Santana. Though Finn dealt with Santana, how long will/can he keep the secret from Rachel?
Sam offers Quinn a promise ring, which, among other things, promises to catapult the adorable golden-haired couple to Brangelina status on the McKinley social structure. What are Sam’s real motivations, though? Early on in the episode, he confesses to Finn that his desire to be popular that made him want to be with Quinn; later on, he tells her he loves her, and sounds convincing.
Sue, on the other hand, has identified the person who she most wants to spend her life with: herself. Though played for laughs, this declaration of proud single-ness was refreshing in the midst of a couple-centric ep. This was another example of the genius of Sue Sylvester- though harsh, she is who she is without apologies and embraces her life for what it is without complaint.

The Good/Bad

Major Plot Maneuver: After suffering extreme emotional and physical distress because of Dave Kronofsky’s repeated bullying, Kurt decides its time to make a serious change. *SPOILER* He, along with his parents, decide it is best for him transfer to Dalton Academy after Kronofsky’s expulsion is overturned by the school board. This signals a major change for Kurt and for the show, and will certainly heighten the stakes at Sectionals, where as Rachel points out, Kurt will compete against New Directions.

The Music

“Ohio,” from Wonderful Town: Mother and daughter duet in a hilarious, theatrical performance on the auditorium stage. The two casually trade barbs between verses, and we finally get to hear Sue really sing!
“Marry You,” Bruno Mars: All of the glee couples dance and sing down the aisle at Burt and Carole’s wedding. It started out slightly awkward, but overall was a charming performance featuring great character moments and solos from almost every member of New Directions.
“Sway,” Michael Buble: Mr. Schue sings this Michael Buble tune for the newly married Hummel’s first dance. It is a great solo performance; Matthew Morrison’s voice is totally suited to the song and he radiates confident charisma.“Just The Way You Are,” Bruno Mars: This tribute to Kurt, led by his new brother Finn, was a solid cover of the Top 40 hit. It was an emotional performance- the look on Mr. Schue’s face really said it all.

Overall

Though “Furt” had its sentimental moments, the major character insights and developments, couple with swift plot movement kept the episode from getting too sappy. It was definitely a game-changing hour for “Glee” on a multitude of levels, most prominently Kurt’s decision to leave McKinley High and Finn.

Rating: 8/10

The next episode of “Glee” airs on November 30th at 8 p.m on Fox.

Photo Gallery

Glee: Season 2 Episode 7: The Substitute- TV Review

Kathleen Dailey — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:38:59 +0000

On last night’s episode of “Glee,” McKinley High and the glee club get some new leadership when Principal Figgins and Mr. Schuster fall ill, leaving Sue to take charge of the school and a fun new substitute teacher, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, to take over glee club. Paltrow’s Holly Holliday breathes new life into New Directions, just as “The Substitute” renews the spirit of “Glee.”

The Players

Directed by: Ryan Murphy
Written by: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan
Cast: Jane Lynch, Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Jayma Mays, Chris Colfer, Dianna Agron, Kevin McHale, Heather Morris, Amber Riley, Naya Rivera, Mark Salling, Jenna Ushkowitz, Darren Criss

The Plot

When Mr. Schuster is out sick, quirky substitute teacher Holly Holiday (Paltrow) becomes the new faculty advisor of the glee club. Sue takes over as principal of McKinley in Figgin’s absence and immediately starts to implement new rules and regulations. Off-campus, Terri returns and Kurt’s relationship with Blaine causes tension between him and Mercedes.

The Good

Gwyneth: As the ultimate substitute, Paltrow’s casual sexy and fresh Holly Holliday brings a fresh perspective to glee club and a new dimension to the show. Holly describes herself as the “cure for the common class.” She is like a super permissive parent; she presents Lindsay Lohan as a topic for class discussion, suggests a trip to Taco Bell and nonchalantly drops a medical marijuana reference. She also points out a ton of flaws within the club, namely the fact that Schue never asks the kids THEIR opinion on what songs to perform. She even charms Principal Sue, threatening Schue’s place as glee club leader.
Excellent social commentary: Glee functions as an excellent arbitor of pop culture and social commentary, and this episode provided a platform to discuss a multitude of relevant issues. When Schue confronts Holly about her laissez-faire teaching style, she makes a few excellent points about how education needs to adapt to the 21st century in order to reach students. Last week’s commentary on bullying continued this week, as the confrontation between Kurt and his tormentor escalated, resulting in a death threat that will likely be a major issue in coming episodes.”The Substitute” also weighed in the debate about nutrition in schools, via Principal Sue’s ‘war on junk food.’
The Will & Grace effect- Kurt and Mercedes: Kurt embracing his more flamboyant side via his blossoming relationship with Blaine makes Mercedes feel left out. Kurt is not just her best friend; he also he fills the male presence void typically assigned to boyfriends, just with a little more flair. For Mercedes, being unable to connect with Kurt about a new dimension to his life is frustrating and saddening. This is a tale as old as time- straight girls with best gay friends the world over have felt this rejection when, suddenly, their BGF has someone else, who is theoretically better suited as a confidant. Exploring this dynamic will make for excellent conflict in future episodes.

The Good/Bad

Will finally sees some action: Mr. Schue was a major presence this week, and mostly redeemed himself for the jealous weirdness and questionable decisions of episodes past. He really does care about his students; it is clear that losing leadership of glee club is more about losing this beautiful relationship with the students and not about a selfish need for control, like Sue. Terri returns, crazy eyes, baby voice and all, to bring out the worst in her ex-husband. She takes advantage of Will while he is sick, though he does bear some responsibility for sleeping with a woman who is clearly unstable; when she comes flying into his apartment in a jealous rage, it is hard to feel sorry for him.

The Music

“Forget You,” Cee Lo: Holly radiates infectious charm throughout one of the peppier choir room jams. Paltrow’s voice rocks, and the whole number feels like a great impromptu dance party.
“Make Em Laugh,”: Mr. Schue has a dream in which, accompanied by Mike Chang, he performs . The engaging choreography and cool retro vibe combine to create a unique performance, which showcases Matthew Morrisson’s B’way skills.
“All That Jazz,” from Chicago: Holly finds a way to win over the last member of glee club standing in the way of her takeover by encouraging Rachel to pursue her dream of doing a . The two perform the high-energy number from Chicago, complete with excellent choreography and great vocals from both women.
“Umbrella,” Rihanna/ “Singing in the Rain”: An inspired collaboration of modern and classic made for an amazing mash-up to close a great episode. This number was led by Schue and Holly, who have great chemistry and a combined charisma factor that is off the charts. The only drawback was that the choreography was straight from Rihanna’s music video, which somewhat lessened the impact of the performance.

Overall

“The Substitute” was the return to form that Gleeks have been waiting for. Engaging, infectious performances supported a rich plot, snappy dialogue, and developing characters. In fact, the only true downside to this episode was the realization that Gwyneth Paltrow is not coming back next week.

Rating: 9.5/10

The next episode of Glee airs on November 23rd at 8 p.m on Fox.

Photo Gallery

The Muppets: Billy Crystal, Jean Claude Van Damme In, Jane Lynch Out

Krystal Clark — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:41:52 +0000

The Muppets cast continues to grow at an alarming rate with this latest bunch of actors. Over the past week we’ve heard that nine actors have come on board for various supporting roles and now three more have signed on. According to THR, Billy Crystal, Oscar winner Alan Arkin, and Jean Claude Van Damme (yes, him too!) have joined the cast of the film. There’s also been some clarification about who won’t be involved, as confirmed by actress Jane Lynch. Find out who’s staying and who’s going…

Last week, Lynch was said to be joining the film but according to the actress it’s not true. She stated, “I’m not doing the Muppets movie – they haven’t asked me.” Even though a formal offer hasn’t been made, she’s more than willing to spend some time with the puppet folk if they extend an invitation. “I would do it if they asked me.”

On a more positive note, the trades are reporting the trio of Crystal, Arkin, and Van Damme are legit. They’ve all been confirmed to make guest appearances but no character descriptions have been released. We’re assuming they’ll play themselves considering that the movie centers on The Muppets putting on a show to raise money for their movie studio. What’s a fundraiser without random celebrity appearances?

What do you think of the newest members of The Muppets cast?

Source: Press Association

Glee: Season 2 Episode 6: Never Been Kissed- TV Review

Kathleen Dailey — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:40:22 +0000

The lack of developing story lines in “The Rocky Horror Glee Show” provided an open plot field for last night’s episode entitled “Never Been Kissed,” which found the New Directions crew pitted against each other in a ‘guys versus girls’ sing-off. This episode of “Glee” definitely offered up more drama and conflict than the last one- but at a cost.

The Players

Director: Bradley Buecker
Written by: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan
Cast: Jane Lynch, Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Jayma Mays, Chris Colfer, Dianna Agron, Kevin McHale, Heather Morris, Amber Riley, Naya Rivera, Mark Salling, Jenna Ushkowitz

The Plot

Mr. Schuester announced the second-annual “Boys vs. Girls” mash-up competition, but this year the boys must use traditionally feminine songs while the girls perform typically masculine music. Meanwhile, Kurt tries to combat homophobia at school, Puck gets back from juvie, and Finn’s advice to Sam has an unfortunate consequence.

The Good:

Poignant subject matter: The bullying story lines, especially Kurt’s, delivered some of the show’s best moments.

Kurt’s has been bullied for being gay since the pilot. This week, the problem is finally addressed, not just by Kurt but by the show. The conflict is certainly relevant and timely, given all the publicity over homophobia-related bullying happening at schools across the country. A new friend, Blaine (Darren Criss), encourages Kurt to face his attacker instead of resigning himself to a lifetime of harassment. The resulting confrontation was intensely dramatic and quite surprising.
On Finn’s advice, Sam starts to visualize Coach Beiste (Dot Jones) as a “buzz-kill” to snap him back to reality during hot make-out sessions with Quinn; it isn’t long before most of the glee club knows, along with Mr. Schue and Sue. When Mr. Schue inexplicably tells Beiste about the situation, she is so mortified and hurt that she tries to quit. This story line was really uncomfortable in the best way, because it made an excellent, though rather depressing, point about our society—high school never ends for most people. Bullying, whether direct or unintentional or seemingly harmless, happens at any age.

Acting performances: Chris Colfer earned himself another Emmy nomination this week- the scenes in which Kurt confronts his bully, first in the locker room and then on the stairs, were simultaneously heart-breaking and inspiring. Mark Salling plays Puck with an innate swagger and roguish charm, but is also able to convey the simmering anger, resentment, and fear that lingers beneath Puck’s attractive exterior.

The Bad:

Musical Performances: Music took a back-seat this week, and it showed. There were only four performances throughout this entire episode and none of them were particularly engaging or energetic. Maybe it was a lack of Lea Michele?

The Music:

“One Love,” Bob Marley: Puck decides to wheel Artie around to fulfill his community service requirement. The unlike duo put on a little duet for some extra cash outside on the school steps. This performance of the classic reggae tune shied away from the standard “Glee” choir room set-up and managed to avoid seeming utterly awkward in doing so, which was great. Also, only Puck could sing a song about free love and peace with an open guitar case full of donated cash at his feet.
“Teenage Dream,” Katy Perry: Kurt is sent to spy on a rival glee club at Dalton Academy, an all-boys private school, where he meets Blaine, a dark-haired and openly gay student. Blaine leads the Dalton glee club in a catchy cover of Katy Perry’s summer hit. Its hard to say which really caught Kurt’s eye- the students’ snazzy red-trimmed blazers or Blaine’s silky smooth voice.
“Livin on a Prayer”/”Start Me Up”: The girls combine classics from Bon Jovi and The Rolling Stones for a performance that sounded great, but mostly looked and felt like an excuse to dress the “Glee” girls in black leather ensembles.
“Stop (In the Name of Love)”/”Free Your Mind“: The boys mash-up “The Supremes” and “En Vogue,” dedicating their performance to Beiste, who, like their song, manages to be both tough and feminine. Sam’s solo was the highlight- his throaty, sexy voice perfectly complimented Artie’s clear and powerful belt, and provided a welcome break from Finn’s frequent solos.

Overall:

Topical, interesting subject matter and great acting managed to overshadow the mostly bland musical numbers in “Never Been Kissed.”

Rating: 7/10

The next episode of “Glee” airs on November 16th at 8 p.m on Fox.

Photo Gallery:

New Photos from Simon Pegg, Nick Frost Comedy Paul

Krystal Clark — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 00:33:09 +0000

If you’re a fanboy, Nick Frost and Simon Pegg’s latest film was made specifically for you. The comedy duo have reunited for the Comic-Con inspired road trip movie Paul, which centers on an alien who falls into the laps of two unsuspecting sci-fi geeks on their way to the annual comic convention. Over on Empire, they’ve premiere two new photos from the film, one of which features co-star and “Saturday Night Live” regular Bill Hader. Take a look…

Official Synopsis:

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) reunite for the comedy adventure Paul as two sci-fi geeks whose pilgrimage takes them to America’s UFO heartland. While there, they accidentally meet an alien who brings them on an insane road trip that alters their universe forever.

For the past 60 years, an alien named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) has been hanging out at a top-secret military base. For reasons unknown, the space-traveling smart ass decides to escape the compound and hop on the first vehicle out of town—a rented RV containing Earthlings Graeme Willy (Pegg) and Clive Collings (Frost).

Chased by federal agents and the fanatical father of a young woman that they accidentally kidnap, Graeme and Clive hatch a fumbling escape plan to return Paul to his mother ship. And as two nerds struggle to help, one little green man might just take his fellow outcasts from misfits to intergalactic heroes.

We have to be honest, the photo of Bill Hader looks really bad ass. He’s attempting to channel his inner FBI agent, by being as stone faced as possible. It looks like someone’s been taking a few notes from Hugo Weaving in The Matrix.

Paul opens in theaters on March 18, 2011.

What do you think of the new photos for Paul? Does the film look funny to you?

Halloween Shorts on iTunes With Jane Lynch and Emily Blunt

Krystal Clark — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 01:13:38 +0000

If you want to watch some awesome and refreshing Halloween shows this weekend you should visit iTunes. No, we’re not talking about old TV episodes or movies, we’re referring to new horror shorts that feature some of today’s most popular stars like “Glee’s” Jane Lynch and British actress Emily Blunt. Find out how and what you can watch below…

Shorts International released a special Halloween Shorts collection of over 25 terrifying short movies, available for download on iTunes in the US, Canada, UK and Germany. This celebrity-filled release includes Lynch in Alex’s Halloween, Blunt in Curiosity, and John Simm in Devilwood.

As a special treat, Roar, a Hitchcockian-style thriller, will be available FREE for a limited time in the US and Canada. The film stars Russell Tovey (Being Human, Doctor Who) and Jodie Whittaker (St. Trinian’s), in a chilling tale about a shy key cutter who takes drastic action after a girl rejects his gesture of goodwill.

You can view each film by visiting the iTunes store. Here are the links for both the United States and Canada.

What do you think of the Halloween Shorts collection? Will you watch?

Glee: Season 2 Episode 5: The Rocky Horror Glee Show – TV Review

Kathleen Dailey — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:47:15 +0000

Last night, “Glee” returned from its short break (okay, one week, but it felt like a long time) not just with a new episode, but with the show’s highly anticipated take on cult horror classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Last night’s episode has a lot of hype and expectations to live up to and only partly succeeded. After the sweet and simple “Duets” episode, this special tribute definitely shook things up, but was it a little overkill?

Let’s discuss…

The Players:

Director: Adam Shankman
Written by: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan
Cast: Jane Lynch, Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Jayma Mays, Chris Colfer, Dianna Agron, Kevin McHale, Heather Morris, Amber Riley, Naya Rivera, Mark Salling, Jenna Ushkowitz. Plus, special guest stars John Stamos, Barry Bostwick, and Meatloaf.

The Plot:

Mr. Schue encourages the glee club to perform “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” for the school’s fall musical, in yet another attempt to win back Ms. Pillsbury, who is a fan of the racy film. Smelling a scandal, a cable news outlet taps Sue to report on the production, as “Rocky Horror” is not exactly a Disney film.

The Good:

Boy’s night: The men of “Glee” really shined in this episode. Mr. Schue and Finn both experienced serious self-doubt and insecurity, and it was interesting to watch how they both dealt with and eventually figured out how to overcome their respective issues. Conversely, Sam and Dr. Carl’s wicked self-confidence was engaging, sexy, and so fun to watch. It would be a crime not to point out the “ab-ulous” shirtless-ness happening last night, too.
Character development: Ms. Pillsbury, as Mr. Schue points out, is actually getting better! Though Emma has had moments of candor in episodes past, this episode was the best illustration yet of how far she’s come from the buttoned-up, meek prude she was.
Realistic subject matter: So much about this show can border on questionable in terms of realism, but this week was different. For one thing Sue actually had a legitimate point – “Rocky Horror” is kind of scandalous for a high school musical. Second, using the school musical as a device via which the kids could perform songs from “Rocky Horror” was a lot more realistic that the hallucinogenic dreams used to introduce Britney Spears songs. Also, everything about the body-image subplot felt genuine, from Finn not feeling sexy or even remotely comfortable with how he looks sans clothes, to Rachel instinctively comparing herself to Santana and Brittany, to Sam’s rigid workout and eating plan to ensures his body look a certain way.

The Bad:

Plot relevance? Okay, it was a special tribute episode- but does that mean no plot development at all? The Mr. Schue-Ms. Pillsbury storyline does not count- that has been dragging on forever and always ends up having the same result, tonight was no exception. It felt like there were so many story lines from weeks past still hanging in the air, and no new developments whatsoever.

The Music:

“Damnit Janet”- Rachel and Finn call dibs on the Janet and Brad roles, which was a smart as evidenced by their adorable performance of this duet in the rehearsal room. Oddly, Finn/Cory Monteith’s portrayal of the nerdy Brad was much more impressive than Rachel/Lea Michele’s moony Janet.
“Whatever Happened to Saturday Night?”- Who would’ve guessed that a dentist (even a hot one) could be such an entertainer? His audition for Eddie was energetic, and had the whole glee club dancing, Mr. Schue fuming with jealousy, and Ms. Pillsbury beaming with pride. Stamos’ voice is quite good, too.
“Sweet Transvestite”- Mercedes claims the lead (and typically male) Dr. Frank-n-Furter role after Mike has to pull out of the production. Amber Riley hits all those high notes, and her intense voice continues to impress, but there was something slightly off about the rendition as a whole. It lacked the soulful swagger that Mercedes usually brings to a performance.
“Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me”- Emma finally lets loose in the best way during this sexy number, amping up the already wicked hot sexual tension that exists between her and Will. The best part of this song, though, were Santana and Brittany singing back-up while gleefully watching Mr. Schue and Ms. Pillsbury sex each other up.
“Time Warp”- Every week I watch this show thinking of how much fun it must be making it- this performance was the perfect illustration of that. The whole cast just looked like they were having a ball. Plus, Kurt showed off his range by taking it down a few octaves, and Quinn totally rocked her solo.

The next episode of “Glee” airs on November 9th at 8 p.m on Fox.

Overall:

There were some good things about this episode, namely the gratuitous eye-candy and snarky Sue-isms, it felt like nothing really happened story-wise. Luckily, it looks like the next episode will provide some answers to a few of the lingering questions from the past few episodes, primarily “When is Puck coming back?!”

Rating: 6.5/10

The next episode of “Glee” airs on November 9th at 8 p.m on Fox.

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