SOUND OFF: Hey, Ya! GLEE's Lovely & Grand Gay & Lesbian Wedding Extravaganza

By: Feb. 20, 2015
Get Access To Every Broadway Story

Unlock access to every one of the hundreds of articles published daily on BroadwayWorld by logging in with one click.




Existing user? Just click login.

Tonight we prove how one is the most powerful number of all, not the loneliest, with a very special kind of Sound Off review.

At Last

Marriage is a union between two people that signifies the pair becoming one under the law. OTP = One True Pairing. Taking that theme to heart (pun intended), tonight's look back at GLEE's "A Wedding" episode - written by Ross Maxwell and directed by Bradley Buecker - will be all one big paragraph. Yes, there were two weddings - both Santana (Naya Rivera) and Brittany (Heather Morris) tied the knot, along with fan-favorite couple Blaine (Darren Criss) and Kurt (Chris Colfer) - but it's all about the 1 with weddings. And, not only does marriage mean joined as one, but together forever, too. Revisiting the hallowed hallmarks of the multiple wedding episodes in the show's vast history - Season 4's "I Do" (Will & Emma), Season 2's "Furt" (Burt Hummel & Carol Hudson) and Season 3's "On My Way" (Rachel & Finn; well, almost) - tonight's heartrending show featured a myriad of familiar faces from over the years coming together to fete the two duos of paired-off newlyweds, including Burt Hummel (Mike O'Malley), Carole Hudson-Hummel (Romy Rosemont), Sugar Motta (Vanessa Lengies), Maribel Lopez (Gloria Estefan), Alma Lopez (Ivonne Call), Pierce Pierce (Ken Jeong) and Wendell Pierce (Jennifer Coolidge). Additionally, the New Directions welcomed back their premier corps in the form of Puck (Mark Salling) and Mike (Harry Shum Jr.) in addition to introducing some prominent new personalities thanks to Blaine's mom, Pam Anderson (portrayed by Gina Gershon, not the actual Pam Anderson, natch). Appreciably, the mother figures joined in a riotous and dynamic presentation of the iconic Pointer Sisters pop smash "I'm So Excited" alongside the GLEE club members, both old and new (Troubletones included), displaying their more than merely respectable vocal abilities in addition to joining the wacky, wild, weird and wonderful world of GLEE as we now know it all the while. Speaking of the songstack, the ep eventually closed with a quartet reworking of the romantic and all-too apt anthem "Our Day Will Come", as well, which was popularized by Ruby & The Romantics. Although those two pop gems were well-represented in the proceedings, the vocal highlight of the entire enterprise was unquestionably a positively riveting cover of the oft-sung Etta James standard "At Last" courtesy of Mercedes (Amber Riley) and Artie (Kevin McHale). Simply sensational. On that note - or, those notes, as the case may be - Artie also led the entire GLEE universe in attendance at the nuptials with a spunky and funky cover of the ubiquitous early 21st century mega-hit "Hey, Ya!" by Outkast - and, given his already proven adeptness with tricky modern R&B/rap-flecked pop, it was an absolutely excellent choice for an Artie-led wedding ceremony entertainment selection. As far the tear-jerking moments go - and, indeed, there were quite a few - Burt hearkening back to the unforgettable Hummel/Hudson union was impossible to experience without a few tears for us diehard gleeks. Laughs were also in generous supply - as always - with the Pierce crew in full force. Yet, GLEE would not be GLEE without a last-minute twist of the plot or two and Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) made her dramatic mark with her unexpected proposal to Mike near the close of the hour - and an appealingly overwhelmed explanation made the moment land in the heart and the tear ducts, particularly given Mike's wise and measured response. And, proving that Hell itself can freeze over from time to time if we are really lucky, Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) even got her wish - Klaine combined under the law at long, long last! Who could ask for anything more?! Nobody - or, given the coupling theme, nobodies.

Photo Credits: FOX



Videos