GLEE Redux • The First Time

Above: Scenes from Wet Side Story and a shot of Billy Joel.

The show kicks off with Arnie discovering his true passion - bossing people around. In his position as co-director. And part of that is talking to Rachel and Blaine about the lack of passion in their version of Tonight, from West Side Story.



In fact, Artie thinks Rachel and Blaine should recall the first time they had sex and bring that quality to the song, and to their performances. However, neither Rachel nor Blaine have done it yet, and it gives them both pause to think. We also discover Coach Beiste is a virgin, and has the hots for the Ohio State recruiter, Cooter Menkins, the same one that is coming on Friday to check out the football team, and Finn. Blaine returns to Dalton to invite the Warblers to his opening night at McKinkley High School, and hears them singing Billy Joel's Uptown Girl.



Sebastian is singing the lead, and Sebastian is singing lead. Blaine didn't recognize the new singer, who takes less than a minute to start flirting with Blaine. As the flirting begins, we cut to Santana sings A Boy Like That with Rachel.



In fact, all the flirting is giving Blaine time to think, for he is intrigued by the attention. Finn goes to Puck for advice on condoms, only to learn he never uses them. Blaine goes to see Kurt, and dances away to Roxy Music's Love Is The Drug.



Blaine talks to Kurt about living life to the fullest, to go a little toward the wild side. Arnie finds Cooter and convinces him to ask Coach Beiste out on a date, despite her previous rebuffs. Arnie tells him to be obvious, for he knows Coach Beiste... Blaine is getting coffee with Sebastian, who is a new arrival at Dalton, since his family just moved in from Paris. Paris, France. Sebastian continues to come on strong to Blaine, show tries to explain he has a boyfriend when Kurt walks up, and immediately knows Sebastian is scheming on his man. Sebastian asks them to join him in an evening out at the local gay bar. Not to worry, he will get the fake IDs.

Rachel goes to Finn's house for dinner, and soon they are making out in front of the fire. Finn wants to know why now. She explains she loves him, and wants to do it before the opening. A very hurt Finn flees the scene. While at his locker, Mike Chang is confronted by his father, who just discovered he is still dancing. They have an argument, and Mr. Chang disowned his son. Cooter finds Coach Beiste in the weight room, pumping iron. He asks her out, and she at first refuses, feeling not as pretty as the girls she thinks he should be dating. He tells her he isn't into girls, he likes beautiful women. Like her. [Wipe the tear away...] Rachel seeks advice from Brittany, Santana, Quinn and Tina. While the first three suggest she wait for reasons of their own, Tina points out her first time was amazing, because she really felt something for the guy, and he for her.

Kurt and Blaine go to the designated gay bar, complete with bad fake IDs. Sebastian immediately resumes his flirtation with Blaine. While sitting at the bar, who should come up to Kurt? Yes, it is Dave Karofsky, Kurt's bully. But instead of a hard time, he has a nice conversation with Kurt, including warning him about his boyfriend, who is dancing with Sebastian. The music playing is ABC's Poison Arrow.



Soon, Kurt takes to the dance floor, getting between the two as much as he can. When it is time to leave, Blaine is a bit tipsy from his one beer, and gets a little frisky with Kurt. He is not happy nor flattered, wanting their first time to be special, not alcohol-induced in the back seat of the car. Rachel and Blaine are concerned their virginity will keep them from giving an honest performance for the audience. Artie is panicked as well, fearful everything is wrong. The cast, however, are grateful, and he is moved. Soon we are watching Puck singing America with an amazing Santana.



Mike Chang looks out in the audience to see the empty seat his father is not in. After the show, Blaine is practicing a dance move he missed in the show. But soon he is talking to Kurt, and both are apologizing for being silly the other night. Instead of the after-party, Kurt wants to go to Blaine's house, for a special evening. Rachel also skips the party, and goes to see Finn. He is down, for the recruiter thinks high school is the end of the line for his football career. Finn is crushed, seeing no future for himself. Rachel is uncharacteristic in her understanding, and wants to just be his girlfriend, and to make the night memorable. At his house. So, the couples are looking to head home to do it. Cut to a flashback of Rachel and Blaine singing One Hand, One Heart from West Side Story.



We see Coach Beiste glowing next to Cooter, Finn looking on lovingly from the audience, and Kurt smiling from the wings. Soon, we cut back to the happy couples cuddling in their respective homes, kissing.

Saturday Rocks - Simon & Garfunkel

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel reunited for a free concert in New York City's Central Park on September 19, 1981, after having split up the highly successful collaboration in 1970. Friends since grade school in Queens, New York, they started performing together as a duo while still in high school. At first they used stage names, referring to themselves as Tom & Jerry, making their first professional recording in 1957. Having met with little success in the music business, they went their separate ways to college. By 1963, they were back together and taking part of the vibrant folk scene in Greenwich Village under their own names, and were signed by Columbia Records. They recorded and released their first album in 1964, only to break up shortly thereafter, when Simon went to England, where he recorded some solo stuff. There he learned of the delayed success of Simon & Garfunkel in the US. The producer of the album had remixed the folk sound to add a more electric sound, making the folk-rock sound come to success. The song was Sound of Silence, and it hit #1 on the charts in January of 1966.



Homeward Bound was the first release off the Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme album. The song was clearly folk, while the instrumentation On the heels of the their new success, 1966 was turning out to be a big year for them. Homeward Bound went to #5 on the US Pop chart.




In 1968, they had success with a traditional English ballad, Scarborough Fair, the date of which is unknown. But many thought it was based on a 17th Century Scottish ballad. Nonetheless, it was in the folk tradition to take on traditional music. Used in the soundtrack to the movie The Graduate, the made it to #11 on the Pop chart.



The Graduate featured another sang that became a strong part of the Pop Culture lexicon. Mrs. Robinson shot up the charts, landing at #1 on the Pop chart. The song went on to earn the Grammy Award as Record of the Year.



The next single was released in 1969 and again earned them at Top 10 single, coming in at #7 on the Pop chart. The Boxer was more an anthem, huge in sound and meaning.



Following the incredible success of the Bridge Over Troubled Water album and single, the pressures of being Simon & Garfunkel seemed to take its toll on the duo. By the end of 1970, the collaboration was ended. However, the record label put out a Greatest Hits collection, with some of the biggest songs of the 60s, as well as some new music. Returning to their folk roots, the song America showed the simplicity as well the beauty of their music and harmonies. While it was far from their most success track with sales, it remains a strong point of their time together.



In the last 40 years, Simon & Garfunkel have reunited for tours and special appearances. One of those was the free concert in Central Park in 1981, where all of these videos were taken. For more information about Simon & Garfunkel, check out their official website here.