GLEE Redux • Nationals

Wow, this is the second hour of GLEE-TV we are getting tonight, and once all is said and done, there is only one more hour left for the season, and the senior class will be moving one. Some might come back to visit, and others will have a story Glee will continue to follow. But tonight, the New Directions head to Nationals, and see if they can make their dreams come true, and bring home a championship!

Clockwise: Celine Dion; The Who; Lady GaGa; Nicki Minaj; Queen; GroupLove; and Meat Loaf.

Mercedes comes down with food poisoning, and Sue is trying cold baths and Pedialyte to get her ready for the show. Coach Beiste comes to Mr. Schue, she needs his help. The kids are imploding downstairs, fighting like cats and dogs. He tells them to focus the passion, and it will help the performance. Outside, Rachel runs into Jesse St. James, who tries to shake her confidence. She doesn't let him, and tells him he will lose. Backstage at Nationals, Mr Schue is about to give his speech to the kids, but Finn stops him, and gives his own speech, explaining how Mr. Schue is the teacher of a lifetime, to the cheers of the kids. More cheers when Mercedes comes in the room, thanks to steroids, witch doctors, and Coach Sue. It is their last performance, and Mercedes wants all the girls to join her in a great performance. In the audience, the judges are announced, with a local politician, Lindsay Lohan, and Perez Hilton. Coach Bieste, Coach Sue, and Mr. Schue are freaking out, but soon the curtain opens, and the girls are singing "The Edge of Glory" by Lady GaGa.



They are met with a resounding ovation, and from the wings, Rachel sees that Madame Tibideaux isn't in the seat she reserved for her. Finn grabs her, and explains it is her moment, one she needs to take advantage of having. She walks out on stage, and sings Celine Dione's bombastic "It's All Coming Back to Me Now."



As she sings, she sees Madame Tibideaux taking her seat. After the song, she gets a standing ovation, including from Tibideaux. Quickly, Finn starts the next number, "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" by Meatloaf.



Of course, this song is so over-the-top, the very definition of bombastic,making it a natural for the kids. The audience was on their feet, clapping to the beat by the time they were halfway through. They crowd is in a frenzy, including Tibideaux, who is clapping and whistling. Kurt and Mercedes go to wish Unique to break a heel, but Unique is melting down. The pressure of being the only performer in drag, and everyone is looking at him, has finally gotten to him. They calm him down, offering support. They aren't really enemies, they tell him, that is not the way the New Directions roll. As they leave, he thinks he might need to transfer schools. Unique takes the stage in full drag, and sings "Starships" by Nicki Minaj.



Next up, Unique and Vocal Adrenaline launch into "Pinball Wizard" by The Who, from the seminal Rock Opera, Tommy.



At the end, they get a standing ovation, and the McKinley coaches look worried. The judges are meeting trying to name the top three groups, with Perez constantly blogging about Lohan, and the politician coming out of the closet as a show choir groupie. They are arguing, and no one knows what is going to happen. In the lobby, Jesse St. James stops Madame Tibideaux, to tell her that Rachel is the most talented person she would want to have in her program. She remembers his audition two years ago, and gives him a nice compliment. Back on the stage, it is time for the awards. Unique is named the MVP, an honor Rachel was hoping to get to make her NYADA dream come true. The Portland Scale-blazers are in third place. As tons of confetti falls, the New Directions are named National champions. There is screaming and hugging all around. This leaves Vocal Adrenaline in second place, and a handsome but disappointed Jesse St. James on stage empty handed.

After a commercial break, the kids and Mr. Schue walk into McKinley high, and are met with slushie cups filled with more confetti, and there is joyous celebration everywhere. Then we hear the kids sing "Tongue Tied" by Grouplove.



Thinks are happening, like Rachel being asked for an autograph, and Mr. Schue getting laid. They bring the trophy into the school, and put it in the case. They are smiling. Rachel and Finn are called into Principal Figgins' office, congratulated for winning. He also tells them he wishes kids didn't get married until they were 29. But he really wanted to invite the New Directions to sing at an event tomorrow. Mr. Schue and Miss Pillsbury are basking in the afterglow a day later, only to speak of their love, not lust. They are walking to the ceremony, Sue stops them to tell Mr. Schue she thinks she will be named teacher of the year. Mr. Schue agrees she deserves it, for helping the New Directions win at Nationals. In the auditorium, Principal Figgins brings out Finn and Rachel, who announce Mr. Schue was named Teacher of the Year. They both thank him sincerely, and then the curtain opens and the New Directions sing "We Are the Champions" by Queen.



The kids pull him up on stage, and there are hugs to everyone. Even Coach Sue is smiling, and singing along. Soon, the whole student body in the auditorium is on their feet, celebrating the music geeks and the geeky teacher with a standing ovation. Next week is the final episode of the season, looking at graduation and those final goodbyes...

Dark Monday - Rocky Horror Picture Show

With all talk for the last two weeks about the GLEE Rocky Horror episode playing tomorrow night, I thought it might be nice to talk about the original movie, a cult classic I remember going to see when I was in college in Reading, Pennsylvania, back in the prehistoric days... Rocky Horror was released in 1975, and was based on a campy stage production started in London. The show was put together by Richard O'Brien, who wrote the book and lyrics, with music by Richard Hartley. The play opened in 1973, and was considered quite the camp-fest. With the success of the stage production, the film was made, directed by Jim Sharman, who worked with O'Brien on the book.



While it wasn't initially greatly successful, the movie became the cult classic with midnight shows throughout the US. Soon people not only lined up to see the show, but they were showing up in costumes, and re-enacting the show in front of the audience. They brought props, which included toast to be tossed when the characters make a toast at dinner.



The movie is a natural for this type of treatment, for at its core, it is a movie about outsiders, those outcast from society, most of whom would have been mocked and bullied for being different. Be it the nerdy heroes, Brad and Janet, the bisexual transexual mad scientist, the ne'er-do-well rocker and his girlfriend, the party guests who range from little people to older folks, all with a different idea about fashion, they all play central roles in the story. The movie is an homage to the early sci-fi movies of the 50s and 60s, with more than a few twists. Check out the trailer.





The opening sequence for the movie is a great set of lips singing the theme song, Science Fiction/Double Feature, with constant mentions of the old movies to which the show pays homage.



Next we Brad and Janet attending a wedding, where Brad proclaims his feeling for Janet. Soon they are driving and the car has a flat. They go up to the closest house, since they notice a light on at the Frankenstein place, and go to make a call for help. They are greeted by Riff-Raff, the butler who, along with maid Magenta, seems to have boundary issues as Riff-Raff takes off the clothes of the guests to make them 'at home.' While waiting to make the phone call, nerdy Brad and Janet are brought to the party and get to learn a new dance, The Time Warp.



As Brad and Janet politely try to find their way out of the crazy party, they stumble upon and elevator as it descends. First we notice the tapping, almost stomping high heel as it comes down to rock music, and finally Dr. Frank-N-Furter announces his own arrival with the song Sweet Transvestite.



Next we are introduced to Dr. Frank-N-Furter's latest experiment, the creation of a perfect man. He introduces Rocky, with blond hair and a tan, as he explains that in just seven days, he could make you a man. Rocky is a gorgeous strapping young man in a gold lamé bikini, there for the enjoyment of his maker. Soon the party has another visitor, much to the delight of Columbia. Eddie drives his motorcycle out of the freezer and disrupts the party, much to the chagrin of the host. This is Hot Patootie/Bless My Soul.



Soon everyone retires for the night, and we learn Dr. Frank-N-Furter is somewhat insatiable. He visits both Brad and Janet, wanting to partake of his guests, and he does. This ignites a passion in virginal Janet, who then sets out to find Rocky, cause she wants more. They get a visit from the Dr. Scott, a wheelchair-bound teacher. Then things hike up to a new level, with hedonistic celebrations with all the characters in bustiers, stockings and feather boas, playing in pools, and thoughts of unbridled lust. This doesn't last, as Riff-Raff and Magenta want to return home, and are willing to shoot to do it.





This roller-coaster ride was cast to perfection. Actor/Rocker Tim Curry was tapped to play Frank-N-Furter and did so with great bravura. A young Susan Sarandon played Janet, showing she has a voice, those incredible eyes, and a banging body. Barry Bostwick had appeared many times on the Broadway stage, and took the role of Brad to great level, playing the nerd and looking fantastic in his underwear. Put a boa on him, and the boy can dance, too! Creator Richard O'Brien took on the role of Riff-Raff, showing off his amazing voice and exotic looks to creep many people out. He went on to write many more shows. Patricia Quinn appeared in the BBC series I Claudius, as well as playing Magenta. Her iconic voice and perfect line delivery made her stand out. Little Nell Campbell was perfect as Columbia, tap dancing her way to perfection. Later, she was the owner and ran the club 'Nell's' in NYC. Eddie was the perfect role for Meat Loaf, the bombastic singer who tackled the song with ease. Peter Hinwood was gorgeous as Rocky, although he was the one actor whose singing was dubbed by a singer. Charles Gray played the villain in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever. His role as narrator was a great send up of a Masterpiece Theater type of show. Jonathan Adams played many roles on British television, but none might ever top the popularity of playing Dr. Everett von Scott. Together, this cast will remain icons to the fans of this cult classic.

Worth Another Listen - Meatloaf

I don't think we could have possibly made it to the end of a party during my freshman or sophomore year of college with listening to Bat Out Of Hell by Meatloaf. After imbibing or whatever of the substances available to us, there would always hit that point in the party when someone would put the record on the turntable, and we would go wild with delight. And there was no more fun time when you were of questionable sobriety and performing Paradise By The Dashboard Lights with friends. Good times!