So here we are, back in high school, and we find Sue and Shue back in Principal Figgins' office. Oh no, they're at it again. C'mon, Sue, give some of your Cheerios budget to the Glee Club. I know they didn't beat Vocal Adrenaline last year (despite the fact that you fought for them) but they need the money just as much as you do. I'm sorry? They're not fighting over eachother's budgets? The football team? But, why? The football team's terrible and we haven't even seen Coach Tanaka so--MEET COACH BEISTE. And, yeah, it's pronounced "BEAST." And she--yes, she--is ripping apart the Glee Club's and the Cheerio's budgets, so now Sue and Mr. Schue are in the same boat.
Solution: more members. And based on last season, how does the Glee Club inspire people to audition for them? Why, they sing of course! Song of choice: "Empire State of Mind." OK. I love this song. I think everyone loves this song. It's a great song. But when the Glee Club members ambushed lunchtime, dressed in New York tees (where did they get the money for those?), and started performing it, I got a little sick of the song--or maybe I just got sick of the glee clubbers? It's more likely the latter. I know. I should get excited, right? But I just sort of found myself rolling my eyes at the whole thing, thinking, "Here they go again, with a big group performance." As a "fan" of Glee, I shouldn't be reacting like that? Right? Sigh, moving on.
New members a.k.a new cast members would be found as both Finn and Rachel (now a couple) came upon two possibilities. Rachel ran into a foreign-exchange student in the bathroom named, Sunshine Corazon, played by newbie Charice. Now, I know we're only in the first episode, but unfortunately, I'm not a fan of this addition to the cast because of articles like this one. You can be on either side of the argument, but reading the article just rubbed me the wrong way. And on top of that, I really don't think Glee--the actual show, not the global monster of a phenomenon--needed new cast members; particularly in the club itself. Yet here we are, seeing Rachel and Sunshine in a sing-off of "Telephone" in the ladies' room. Meanwhile, in the boys' locker room, while posting fliers for auditions, Finn stumbles upon a voice. An 80's rock kind of sound, coming from the showers. Sound familiar? Yeah, uh, in the premiere of the first season, Mr. Schue came upon Finn singing "Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore" and now, in Season 2, Finn comes upon a fresh-faced boy named Sam Evans singing "Every Rose Has Its Thorn." I get it. It's the whole throw-back thing, but again, do we need yet another member? I don't think we do. But given that these two auditioned and everyone just LOVED them, they're in. So I guess I'd better get used to it.
The Cheerios were also holding auditions and it was a big day (in some cases, literally) for people. Quinn was back. She had her baby, it was adopted, and now that part of her life is closed. She can return to being the popular, celibate cheerleader. She even convinced Sue that it would be a good idea to make her captain of the Cheerios, especially because a certain someone (ahem, Santana) had a certain procedure (ahem, boob job) performed over the summer. And this was actually a high point for me. I give props to the writers for letting Sue effectively (and comically, thanks Jane Lynch) chew Santana out for getting plastic surgery at such a young age. I don't want to get all after-school-special, but I do think that is a good message to send. Finn was also auditioning. Yes, Finn. Madame Beiste (c'est francais) kicked him off the football team in a moment of insecurity--which Sue and even Mr. Schue were actually responsible for.
But by episode's end, things seemed to be on the up and up. Mr. Schue apologized to Coach Beiste for being unwelcoming and they were off to a better start than before. Sunshine's and Sam's audition impressed everyone, so they were in. Which of course led Rachel into a "things are changing" performance of the A Chorus Line classic, "What I Did for Love." But just when we think the Glee Club's added new members, we suddenly see Sunshine clearing out her locker next to a strange man, who turns out to be the new coach of Vocal Adrenaline (played by Cheyenne Jackson--this, 30 Rock, and Broadway? Geez, the guy is busy.). Is Sunshine really going to leave? To be honest, I hope so, she already gets on my nerves.
So, looking at the premiere overall, I have to say that I'm a little let down. The show is pop culture monster. People love it. So I'm sure people loved this premiere because it meant that Glee and everything about it was back. But for me, it felt like the people behind the show are almost too aware of how popular it is, and it crossed over into the story. I'm still going to stay loyal to it. And believe you me, the promo for next week's Britney Spears episode got me way more excited for the season than this episode did. So, I suppose we'll take it from there. Who knows, perhaps next week's episode will get me completely "gleeked" out. Yikes. Even that made me feel a bit uncomfortable.
I'm looking forward to:
- Mike O'Malley as Kurt's father. I pretty much love every scene he's in.
- Jane Lynch. I have no qualms with her.
- Those quiet yet loudly hilarious lines from Brittany (played by Heather Morris).
- Matthew Morrison singing showtunes (I'll admit it, his voice makes me melt).
- John Stamos (the Beach Boys will be there, right?)
- Lea Michele and her belters (though I kind of believe the rumors that she's a diva on set.).
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