Glee Season 3 Begins

I just finished watching the premiere of season 3 of Glee. Maybe I wasn't in the best frame of mind or maybe my expectations were too high. All I can say is that it was okay.
I chuckled in a few places. I liked the closing number of You Can't Stop the Beat from Hairspray. The cover of the Go Go's We Got the Beat could have been fun but the song and the resulting food fight just seemed stupid and out of sync somehow. I thought by far the best performances were Darren Criss' rendition of It's Not Unusual and Lindsay Pearce from The Glee Project singing a mash up of Anything Goes/Anything You Can Do. In fact, I think Lindsay stole the show. She is truly a gifted entertainer and they definitely allowed her to shine. I was not a fan of Lindsay when she was on The Glee Project, but she may have caused me to have a change of heart after tonight's performance.
I'm sad that Sam is gone. While the concept of Sue running for a Congress is interesting, but I think the writing for her was really off. I also wonder if they might not reveal that she is bi-polar. Just last season the New Directions planned and led a wonderful funeral for Sue's sister. Now she wants to destroy the arts programs in all schools. What's up with that? Also, I don't think I get Sugar at all. Maybe there is more to learn about her. Who knows?
I realize that these are my first thoughts and impressions. I may need to watch the episode again online to see if I feel differently. I just wanted it to be better than it was. For me, it fell flat in a lot of ways. In my humble opinion, not that Ryan Murphy cares or needs my opinion, I really wanted this season premiere to shine more than it did. The writing seemed choppy and a bit disconnected from what these characters have already been through. Oh well, it's only the first episode.
Thanks for reading the ramblings of a media critic wanna be. Thank you also for being a part of my journey!

Glee Sneak Preview

I just watched a sneak preview video for the new season of Glee. You can watch it on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQgCrME9FM4 It looks like it's going to be a great first back-to-school episode.
I also read an article that said that Damian is going to be the first contestant from The Glee Project to appear in season three. He will appear in episode four as an Irish foreign exchange student. He will be staying with Brittany's family. The article also said that because they will need to develop a storyline in which we get to see Brittany's home life, they are working now to cast Brittany's mom. A few comments on the article suggested Lisa Kudrow. I think she would be perfect. We will see what Ryan Murphy does.
The article went on to say that Samuel from The Glee Project will not appear in until much later in the first half of the season. There was no word on what his character might be.
If you felt out of the loop on Glee, now you are caught up. I'm really excited about the new characters and story lines for this third season of my favorite television show.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Glee in 3D

I've been filled with anticipation about the Glee Live Concert movie. I was going to wait a few weeks so that the theater wouldn't be so crowded. Then I thought that it might not be in theaters very long. So, I treated myself to a matinee showing of the movie this afternoon. Actually the theater wasn't too crowed. I had a whole row to myself. I was by far at the upper end of the age range of the audience.
I really enjoyed the movie but I think I would have enjoyed the live concert better. However, I'm sure the concert tickets were much more expensive than the movie tickets. I'm not sure I really understand why they had to film it in 3D. Beyond some confetti and streamers at the end that looked like they were flying out into the theater and the end of some hand held microphones that looked like they were going to poke me in the eye, there was really not much to the 3D. The songs were great and it was wonderful to see all of my favorite Glee characters singing and dancing.
I really enjoyed the three stories that they shared that went along with Glee's main theme of acceptance of people who are different than we are. There were some amazing people who really poured their hearts out and allowed us to see them in a whole different way. They talked about how Glee had expressed something to the world that they themselves had been living from day to day. I got a little teary-eyed on more than one occasion when watching these segments of the movie.
So, if you are a die-hard Glee fan, I would highly recommend the movie. If you have never really watched Glee, then you should probably wait until the DVD version comes out. Either way, I think you will be entertained and experience the joy that is Glee.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Moment of Grace

I watched the results show of So You Think You Can Dance tonight. It was awesome as usual. I do sometimes which there would be less recapping and more explanation of why the judges choose to send home the people they send home. I loved Kristin Chenoweth as a judge. She was entertaining and had a lot of what I would call color commentary about the dancers and dances.
One of my favorite parts of each results show is the opening dance number. It's always amazing to me to see what the group of dancers is going to do. The choreographers always seem to push the dancers in new ways.
Tonight's results show was a special treat for me. Dancers from the AXIS Dance Company performed. AXIS' mission is:

• to create and perform contemporary dance that is developed through the collaboration of dancers with and without disabilities
• to teach dance and educate about collaboration and disability through community education and outreach programs
• to promote and support physically integrated dance locally, nationally and internationally

I have never seen anything like this before. It was absolutely beautiful. I could not believe that the dancer in the wheelchair was doing what he was doing with such grace and strength. It stretched my understanding of dance and broadened my understanding of dance.
For me, this was a moment of grace. God both allowed me to see this beautiful dance and celebrate it as art. God also pushed me outside my pre-conceived notions of who can and cannot dance. I've always loved the way Glee has integrated the character of Artie, who is in a wheelchair, on the show in their dance numbers. However, watching the AXIS dancers moved my heart and spoke to my soul in deep and abiding ways. I am grateful that the producers of So You Think You Can Dance allowed these dancers to share their performance with the world.
To learn more about AXIS, check out their website at: http://www.axisdance.org/index.php
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Glee Rewind

I just discovered that the first season of Glee is now on streaming Netflix. I've watched several episodes today while doing laundry and some cleaning around my apartment. I have really enjoyed revisiting the early episodes of the show. It reminded me again of why I like the show so much. I've been singing along and enjoying my quiet day at home.
I am grateful for a day to rest and recharge. I am grateful for the gift of wonderful music and entertainment.
Thank you for being a part of my journey!

The Glee Project

Okay, so besides watching So You Think You Can Dance this summer, my other guilty entertainment pleasure has become The Glee Project. It's on a cable channel. I'm not sure which one. However, that doesn't matter because I can watch it on Hulu.
The Glee Project is a reality show. The winner of the contest will become a part of the Glee cast for seven episodes. My guess is that if the character becomes really popular, it could turn into a more permanent role.
Each episode the cast sings two songs. The first song helps determine who gets to spend one-on-one time with a cast member of Glee during rehearsals for the second musical number. The second song is a musical video in which the contestants show off both their singing and acting talents.
The contestants were selected from open auditions held around the country. They had over 40,000 people audition for the show so these folks are the best of the best. They are really talented. They are also unique people. They don't fit the Hollywood stereotype that only chooses the beautiful people. They are short, fat, nerdy, goofy, flamboyant, and clueless.
I know. This is reality television. I know it's not high art. I know there are probably better ways I could be spending my time. The truth is, I kind of like this show. I really like Glee so The Glee Project gives me a little summer fix of Glee beyond reruns.
So, if you're a fan of Glee and haven't watched The Glee Project, I highly recommend it.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Glee Marathon

Due to commitments for work, I totally missed the last several episodes of Glee. So, today I decided I was going to catch up on what I had missed and have a Glee marathon session. I watched the last five episodes of this season on my computer.
I was not disappointed. I was singing along with many of the songs and laughing at some of the witty dialogue. I even shed a few tears. I was deeply moved by the episode in which Sue Sylvester's sister dies. I never thought of the song Pure Imagination from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as a kind of spiritually deep song but Glee taught me that it could be.
The other episode that I really enjoyed was entitled Prom Queen. When Kurt won the vote for prom queen, I couldn't believe it. I know that's how most high schools would treat someone like Kurt but I hoped that the show would demonstrate what could be. However, when he came out on the stage and faced his fellow students' mockery with grace and humor, I was deeply moved. Of course, I loved that they sang Abba's Dancing Queen.
While there were some episodes that made me wonder what was going on with Glee and the writing. I get a little weary of the boyfriend/girlfriend stealing but I like how they all rise above this stuff through their common love for music. For me, Glee has been a fun ride this season and I am looking forward to another season in the fall. I also saw that there was going to be a 3-D movie. Count me in for that.
I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Glee-ber Episode

I really enjoyed last night's episode of Glee. It was full of fun and good music. I loved the boys doing Justin Bieber songs. I read an article on the Internet that Justin Bieber wrote on his Facebook page that he was truly honored to have his songs covered on the show.
I think I most enjoyed the "diva-off" between Rachel and Mercedes. They sang Take Me or Leave Me from Rent and it was wonderful. I could listen to those two sing all day.
There were some parts of the episode that I didn't really enjoy that much. I'm not sure which weirded me out more: Lauren singing I Know What Boys Want or Sue Sylvester singing in her plaid track suit. Listening to Mr. Schuester and Coach Sylvester sing This Little Light of Mine at the pediatric cancer ward helped me block the former two numbers out.
I continue to think Glee is such a fun show. I find myself singing along and enjoying the ride of pure entertainment.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Glee-ful Valentine Treat

As usual, I really enjoyed tonight's episode of Glee once again. Loved the "Gap Attack" by the Warblers. Maybe the solution to so many dying malls is having people dancing and singing in the stores. Just a suggestion.The other song I loved hearing was P.Y.T. I still have a soft spot for Michael Jackson songs. I always love to hear Artie sing and Mike's dancing mesmorizes me.
The best part of the plot was the back and forth between Puck and Ashley. I love the introduction of Ashely's character into the mix. She is fun and oh-so-self-assured. She really has Puck wrapped around her finger. I am not liking the Finn/Rachel/Quinn/Sam love quadrangle. I wish Finn and Rachel would get back together. I really am not liking Quinn much these days.
Watching Glee was a wonderful escape for me tonight. It was a hard day at work and I was glad to get home and get lost in the music.
We got word from the TriState Habitat for Humanity El Salvador work team. They are doing well. The temperature in El Salvador has been in the 90's. They emailed a photo to us taken at the end of the first day. They look sweaty, tired, and dirty. I'm grateful for their work and committment to Habitat's mission in this way.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

A Super Sunday Evening of Television

Well, the Super Bowl was a real nail-biter there for a while. I was wondering if the Packers were going to pull it off. While I don't really follow sports at all and don't really care that much about sports, I was watching to see our Executive Director's son punt which he did very well several times during the game. I am anxious to hear about the whole game experience tomorrow in the office. I also want to hear about how Lea Michele (from Glee) sounded singing in the stadium.
Speaking of Glee, I was really excited about Sunday night's episode of the show. It was fun. While thin on plot and I missed seeing some of the regular cast members that I have come to know and love (Miss Pillsbury, where are you?), I really thought it was an entertaining show. I must say Coach Beiste is becoming one of my favorite cast members.
My favorite musical numbers were Thriller, She's Not There (sung by the boys dressed as zombies), and the song Bills, Bills, Bills sung by the boy's glee club named the Warblers.
There were plenty of laughs to be had. Sue Sylvester was in rare form as she tried to convince Brittany to be a human canon ball for a cheer leading routine. I also think she had the best line: "I hate  you, Diane Sawyer." which she said to Katie Couric who had a brief cameo at the end of the episode. It was totally fun.
Unfortunately, not everyone agrees with me about Glee. I was talking with one of my co-workers who had never seen the show before last night. She decided to start watching it last night and turned the channel right after Artie got slushied in the first scene. She wondered how I could enjoy a show that shows the abuse of a boy in a wheelchair. I told her that unfortunately, when it comes to the bullying aspects of the show, Glee is fairly close to reality and a lot of people's high school experiences. The show has highlighted the problems of bullying in ways that have caused many in our culture to have a conversation about this very serious topic. I'm not sure my co-worker bought my argument or got my point. Oh well, I guess not everyone appreciates such humor.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow's episode of Glee which, of course, conflicts with The Biggest Loser. I only watch two shows on television and they both have to be on at the same time - ugggg!
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Super Bowl Sunday

Well, I've just finished filing my taxes. I'm glad that I don't owe anything and will be getting a refund back again this year.
I have the television on as I write this. I'm actually watching the Super Bowl. While I have watched the Super Bowl in the past and actually been to a few Super Bowl parties, I am watching the game this year with a different eye. I have actually met one of the players that will be on the field. His name is Tim Masthay and he is the punter for the Green Bay Packers (#8). I found out that a punter is different than a kicker. Who knew?
Tim is the son of the Jean Masthay, the Executive Director of TriState Habitat for Humanity, where I work. While I don't really follow sports at all, it's been exciting to hear from Jean the progress that the Green Bay Packers have been making during the season. Jean and her husband Mark are watching the Super Bowl at the stadium in Dallas. I'm sure their hearts are filled with excitement and pride.
I did tell Jean last week that I was really excited about the Super Bowl this year because I read that Lea Michele from the television show Glee was going to be singing at the Super Bowl. I asked Jean if she would run down onto the field and get Lea's autograph for me. I'm not sure that's going to happen. Oh well.
I am also excited about the special episode of Glee that will air after the Super Bowl. They are going to do a Glee version of Thriller. I saw a clip from the opening number and it looks like it's going to be great.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Glee-fully Entertaining

I just finished watching tonight's episode of Glee. I thought it was wonderful! I had no idea that Gwyneth Paltrow could sing. She was great. Her character was really fun. I especially liked her portrayal of the bi-polar Mary Todd Lincoln.
My favorite two musical numbers where Make 'Em Laugh and the mash-up of Singin' in the Rain and Umbrella. Loved the splashing around on stage. It was marvelous!
I also enjoyed the tater tots bit. Way to go Mercedes! She's my hero for stuffing tots up Sue Sylvester's Le Car tailpipe.
I continue to wonder how new Glee episodes are going to get better but they really seemed to have hit a wonderful groove. It's amazing and so entertaining. I continue to consider myself a complete and total Gleek.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Let's Do the Time Warp Again

I just finished watching Glee tonight. I loved it! It was a  Rocky Horror Picture Show themed show. I loved the issues is raised and hearing the cast sing the songs from the movie. It was so great how the episode unfolded and came out in the end. I never thought I would find myself agreeing with Sue Sylvester but her news commentary made a lot of sense to me. This was another great episode on a great show.
As I heard the music, I thought about the first time that I saw The Rocky Horror Picture Show in the theater with some friends in high school. It was a midnight showing. My friends were regulars and knew all the lines. I had no clue what was going on but I remember how fun it was. We threw toast. We sprayed water. We threw hot dogs. We danced down in front of the screen. It was one of the most unusual movies I've ever attended. There was something truly freeing about it. It was fun to laugh and experience this silly movie with friends.
I'm grateful to the writers of Glee for this episode. What wonderful memories it brought back for me. Fun, friends, and Dr. Frank-N-Furter - what could be better than that?
On a more serious note, we had a big storm move through the area today. The tornado sirens went off several times and I guess some tornadoes were spotted somewhere in the area. The rain seemed to be coming down horizontally. The power to our office building went out at work. We have no windows in my part of the office and it was very dark. I hung around for a few hours hoping that it would come back on because I have a ton of stuff to do. However, it never did and I ended up leaving early. Tomorrow and the rest of the week are going to be very busy for me. I guess I better head to bed. Tomorrow will be a long day.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Grilled Cheesus

After being disappointed in last week's Brittany Spears tribute episode, I loved every minute of this week's episode of Glee. What I loved most about the episode is that the entire episode was devoted to the issue of faith. The show honestly and openly struggled with issues of faith, doubt, God's existence, and the nature of the church. In many ways, it dealt with these things in much deeper ways than many sermons I have heard or ever preached.
In the midst of grief over his father's hospitalization, Kurt Hummel expressed what many feel in life. He doesn't believe God exists. He feels as if the church has judged him and condemned him. He has already lost his mom to death and facing the fear of losing his father, he lashes out when his friends who try to comfort him with words of faith and prayers. It's hard to know if Kurt really doesn't believe in God or if he is just really mad at God.
Sue Sylvester seems to be consumed by this same kind of anger at God. Her sister has downs syndrome and was ridiculed as a child. Part of Sue's meanness seems to evolve from seeing how others treated her sister. She also figures there is no God because why would a loving God allow her sister to suffer ridicule or even be born with downs syndrome in the first place. Of course, her sister, who does believe in God, says that "God doesn't make mistakes." She also offers to pray for Sue. Sue seems to be more of an agnostic hoping to be proved wrong.
Finn seems to be the one who experiences the most dramatic spiritual roller coaster during the episode. He sees the image of Jesus on a grilled cheese sandwich and begins praying to it. His prayers are answered and he feels really good and faithful. However, when he prays to be reinstated as the quarterback of the football team and the current quarterback is injured causing Finn's prayer to be answered, he feels guilty and questions his faith in Jesus or the "grilled cheesus".
I kept thinking about Jesus' parable of the sower and the seeds that were sown on the stony ground as I watched Finn. They have no root and when the sun comes up, they wither away. Jesus says that many people find faith and are filled with good feelings but when hardship comes, because their faith is not rooted in the Word, they are easily discouraged when tested. By the end of the episode, Finn eats the "grilled cheesus" and seems to be floundering in doubt and at the same time sincerely searching.
Mercedes for me is the kind of Christian I'd like to be. She does not hide her faith. She accepts that not everyone shares her faith but she still is not afraid to witness to her God and even invites Kurt the atheist to church. Mercedes invites Kurt to have faith and to lean on that faith. Of course, she sings a wonderful rendition of Bridge Over Troubled Water that pulled at my heart strings.
Mercedes' church is loving and accepting. They offer God praise and invite others to know the love and grace that they have discovered in their lives. It was this church scene that seems to have had the deepest impact upon me as I reflect upon the episode. While I know that this television representation of the church is rather shallow and doesn't represent the fullness of what the church is, I found myself wishing that I could discover such a church in real life.
I have never left the church, even when I didn't much feel like being a part of the church and I felt like the church didn't want me to be a part of it. I still believe that the church, as the Body of Christ, can be a community of hope for the world. While I know that all churches have their problems and challenges because they are made up of sinful human beings, I just wish that more of the churches I encountered in my ministry would have erred on the side of grace rather than the side of judgment. I wish that in those times when I most needed acceptance from my fellow Christians, it would have been offered. While I forgive them, sometimes it still hurts.
Watching this episode of Glee reminded me again of how the arts allow us to express things that we find hard to express in other ways. We can sing of our love for God and cry out to God for help. We can express our faith and even dare to express life's unanswerable questions. Like prayer, art allows us to communicate with the God Who loves us and claims us and gives us the freedom to doubt.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Glum about Glee

I'm feeling a bit glum about the Glee episode tonight. It just didn't do much for me. I've never been a fan of Brittany Spears' music. I can't say that tonight's episode of Glee changed my mind. I did love John Stamos as the dentist. I'm happy Finn is back on the football team. I'm glad Rachel and Finn are still together. I still feel sorry for Artie. I also still need to get a life.
I hope you have a life and are having a good week. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Glee Is Back!

Glee is back! Yea!!!!!!!!! The second season premiered this evening and I loved every moment of the show. It was good to see those characters I know and love and to hear them sing together again. I was a little worried about the introduction of new characters. For me, it's hard to keep with all of the characters from the first season. Also, with the introduction of new characters means there is less time to spend on developing the story lines involving the rest of the characters. However, after watching the first episode, it's hard to know if the two people who tried out for the Glee Club will return as regular characters or not.
Sue Sylvester was in rare form. She was an all out bully to the new female football coach. I couldn't believe that Will joined her. He finally came to his senses in the end but I'm afraid the damage is already done. Rachel continued to think that it's all about her and Finn is off the football team. Quinn is a cheerleader again and Tina and Artie broke up. The whole Glee universe seems to be in complete turmoil.
I think I most loved the ballads Listen from Dreamgirls and What I Did for Love from A Chorus Line. I'm not so keen on the hip hop stuff. I guess that means I'm old.
They can definitely count on me to keep watching. I'm looking forward to the new season. It's like seeing old friends after a long absence. Again, I probably need to get a life.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Book 'em, Danno!

I'm really looking forward to the new fall television season for some reason. Usually I don't pay much attention to it. However, I have been intrigued by some of the new series offerings. In just a few minutes, I'm going to watch the premiere of the new Hawaii Five-O. I have fond memories of watching the original series when I was growing up.
Tomorrow evening will be a huge night of television for me. Glee premieres for its second season as does a new round of the Biggest Loser. Of course, the two shows that I really enjoy watching are on at the same time on different stations. I plan not to miss Glee so I will catch what I can of the Biggest Loser.
I guess this is all proof once again that I really need to get a life. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Reruns

I've been watching Glee reruns this summer. They come on right before the results show of So You Think You Can Dance. I've really been enjoying watching them. The second time around I see new things. I enjoy hearing the songs and watching the performances. It all reminds me again of how much I really like Glee. It makes me really grateful for reruns.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Flash Mob

I heard on the local news that there might be some congestion downtown Cincinnati because some people were staging a flash mob at Fountain Square. I had heard of flash mobs but wanted to know more about them so I did a little research about their origins and purpose. I have seen videos of a few on YouTube. There have been several Glee flash mobs and I must say that they are delight to watch.
If you're not familiar with flash mobs, here's what Wikipedia says about them:

A flash mob (or flashmob) is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and pointless act for a brief time, then disperse. The term flash mob is generally applied only to gatherings organized via telecommunications, social media, or viral emails. The term is generally not applied to events organized by public relations firms, protests, and publicity stunts.

I'm not exactly sure how they choreograph these things. Everyone seems to be in sync and it seems rehearsed. I wonder if they get together before hand to rehearse. It is most likely not nearly as spontaneous as it seems. Anyway, I still really like the concept.
Here's a link to one of my favorite Glee flash mobs from last spring at Ohio State University. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDNOB6TnHSI  I especially love it when the mascot comes in at the end.
While I don't think I'm coordinated enough to participate in a flash mob, it seems like it would be a lot of fun. I just think life would be so much better if we all randomly broke out into song and dance every once in a while.
One more day until the weekend - yea!!!!! Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Alexie Goes Home

Tonight was the last night for Alexie as a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance. I was a little surprised that it was her. I thought that it was going to be Melinda. I didn't think her tap dancing was all that good tonight. Of course, I'm no dance expert. Evidently the judges thought otherwise and I will trust their expertise in these things.
I also got to watch a rerun tonight of Glee. It's the episode with Josh Groban's first appearance on the show. He is great. Also, the guy who plays Sandy is absolutely hilarious. Watching this episode reminded me again of why I like the show so much. It was entertaining and brought a smile to my face.
It was an evening of good entertainment. Now, I'm headed to bed. I'm pooped again tonight. I can't seem to get enough sleep this week. I am really grateful tomorrow is Friday.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!