The Boss to the Beatles to Madonna to Rod Stewart, GLEE's emotional and invigorating season finale was pretty much everything a gleek could have asked for in a grand send-off to the original crew of McKinley High's New Directions - at least insofar as we have seen them thus far - as the musical dramedy series ends its third season and heads into uncertain new terrain with Season Four and the purportedly revolutionary new dual-show concept GLEE mastermind Ryan Murphy and company plan to incorporate while bringing in guest stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Kate Hudson and THE GLEE PROJECT winners. As seen in "Goodbye", the future looks quite uncertain for many of the McKinley graduates - Rachel (Lea Michele) may have gotten into NYADA at the eleventh hour and arrived on Broadway to fulfill her theatre dreams, but Finn (Cory Monteith) and Kurt did not get into their performing arts academies of their choice. So, what now? So, too, will Quinn (Dianna Agron) assumedly head for the East Coast and Princeton, while Santana (Naya Rivera) will apparently be joining Rachel in New York - but, to do what? The future is evidently more promising for some than for others, but what we will see play out is infuriatingly indeterminable at this stage of the game. Anticipation is building, in any event - and GLEE continues to entice. What's next for the rest of the glee club we will have to wait until next season to witness, but we can rest assured that Blaine (Darren Criss), Sam (Chord Overstreet), Joe (Samuel Larsen), Sugar (Vanessa Lengies) and Artie (Kevin McHale) will be around, with the fates of some of the original glee clubbers who graduated a little less cut and dry as far as their character's trajectories are concerned - particularly Puck (Mark Salling), Mike (Harry Shum, Jr.), Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) and Mercedes (Amber Riley). And, as for Mr. Shu (Matt Morrison), Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch), Coach Beiste (Dot-Marie Jones) and Emma (Jayma Mays)? We will definitely be seeing much more of them in September. While we can always rely on GLEE to provide us with outrageous jokes, outlandish characterizations, unexpected dramatic and thematic twists and turns, shockingly touching domestic drama and many incredibly heartwarming moments and socially progressive messages, the music - more importantly, the musical numbers - is what makes GLEE stand out from every other serial television series before or since and why the show will unquestionably be remembered as something revolutionary and indisputably idiosyncratic in the scheme of TV history.
Samuel Larsen News
Gleeks rejoice! Oxygen revealed that the broadcast premiere of THE GLEE PROJECT season two's 'Edge of Glory' music video, a song made famous by Lady Gaga, will air during the network's fourth 'Glee' marathon on today, May 19 from 12PM-12AM ET/PT.
Gleeks rejoice! Oxygen today revealed that the broadcast premiere of THE GLEE PROJECT season two's 'Edge of Glory' music video, a song made famous by Lady Gaga, will air during the network's fourth 'Glee' marathon on Saturday, May 19 from 12PM-12AM ET/PT.
Tonight, May 15, FOX will air two back-to-back GLEE episodes, entitled 'Props' and 'Nationals'. As the countdown to graduation continues, the kids of New Directions prepare a high-concept routine for Nationals. When Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) bumps her head, the world of New Directions is turned upside down in her eyes. Then, New Directions face off against Wade (Alex Newell) and Vocal Adrenaline at Nationals in Chicago, where they perform in front of celebrity judge Lindsay Lohan (guest-starring as herself).
Lea Michele, Broadway star who plays Rachel Berry on FOX's GLEE, will be the first guest mentor on Oxygen Network's THE GLEE PROJECT for its season two premiere episode, to run June 5.
"Prom-asaurus" proved that GLEE can still pack a powerful pop culture punch when required to do so; and when it wants to - and spike it with some effervescence and make it pop, too. Even those among us who don't partake in drinking the GLEE Kool-Aid, all must agree that there was more than one episode's fair share of fun, frivolity, twists and tunes, with some very fitting dramatic and musicals moments that we have by now come to anticipate from the genre-hopping musical dramedy enterprise - all of it integrated effectively into the stream-lined storyline, as well. Prom. It's all about prom this time of year and GLEE always makes a point to pay tribute to the month of May in this way. It is in pop culture melding mega-moments like last night's One Direction cover by way of GLEE - "What You Makes You Beautiful" - that we are again reminded of the special place GLEE holds in the American pop pantheon of the 21st century - using real, of-the-moment pop songs and utilizing them to comment on current events while musicalizing and dramatizing the lives of high school students. The classic cuts that come along are a bonus, really, when one considers GLEE from this viewpoint, though the contemporary covers have become the bread and butter of song sales for the mega-music-selling series - "Teenage Dream" by Blaine & The Warblers, as well as the Troubletones's Adele "Someone Like You/Rumor Has It" mash-up sold nearly as many copies as their predecessors - the originals - as far as iTunes sales go. Though FOX channel-mate Simon Cowell of course discovered and shepherds the international pop smash super group One Direction, their musical appearance on GLEE this season marks the continued exposure of the of-the-moment boy band phenomena we have not seen the likes of in over a decade - not since the days of N*SYNC and the Backstreet Boys - after the New Directions success with The Wanted's "Glad You Came" a few episodes back and their upcoming continued presence, no doubt, in addition. What makes GLEE must-see-TV week after week is more often than not the try-anything approach of the creators and cast - some sequences shockingly come off brilliantly and hit all-too-squarely their intended targets, while others fall far short and flop completely, even embarrassingly so. To crib a phrase from One Direction's hit single, what makes GLEE beautiful is that GLEE does not always know what makes it beautiful - experiencing drama coming to us delivered from that rocky, risky-to-mount precipice is sometimes frustrating, sometimes rewarding, but almost always somehow more than merely satisfying.
On May 15, FOX will air two back-to-back GLEE episodes, entitled 'Props' and 'Nationals'. As the countdown to graduation continues, the kids of New Directions prepare a high-concept routine for Nationals. When Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) bumps her head, the world of New Directions is turned upside down in her eyes. Then, New Directions face off against Wade (Alex Newell) and Vocal Adrenaline at Nationals in Chicago, where they perform in front of celebrity judge Lindsay Lohan (guest-starring as herself).
A previously announced event at the Gallo Center for the Arts has taken on added star power with the news that performers from the Fox Television hit "Glee" will be appearing. The television show's casting director Robert Ulrich of Modesto, and his wife, actress Kim Johnston-Ulrich of Ripon, are to be honored in April at a "Hometown Heroes" event, a continuing series at the Gallo Center that salutes area residents who have achieved national success in their fields.
Significantly more right than wrong and much more than merely just OK, last night's GLEE tribute to the song catalogue of pop/R&B icon Whitney Houston was a welcome return to Season Two levels of euphoria and razzle dazzle entertainment value that GLEE has proven time and time again it is the one stop shop for on TV these days, as dazzling in their own way as sequences on SMASH may be as that freshman musical-themed series increases in popularity and GLEE, now nearly finished with Season Three (and almost 60 episodes in as a series so far), is seeing a decline in viewership and a dip in popularity.
A previously announced event at the Gallo Center for the Arts has taken on added star power with the news that performers from the Fox Television hit "Glee" will be appearing. The television show's casting director Robert Ulrich of Modesto, and his wife, actress Kim Johnston-Ulrich of Ripon, are to be honored in April at a "Hometown Heroes" event, a continuing series at the Gallo Center that salutes area residents who have achieved national success in their fields.
In an absolutely uncannily coincidental occurrence last night, the Valentine's Day episode of GLEE included among its song-stack the all-time most memorable Whitney Houston ballad of all time, originally sung by Dolly Parton in 1974 but made famous by Houston on the soundtrack of the 1992 film THE BODYGUARD, in which she also starred, "I Will Always Love You". While this episode was filmed weeks ago - long before Houston's sudden passing, of course - the fact that this was the moment GLEE finally tackled one of the biggest songs ever - a single that originally stayed atop the chart for more than 3 months - comes as a definite shock and surprise; and, also, somehow, a fitting tribute. The tasteful "We Will Always Love You" card at the end of the program dedicated the episode to Houston's memory, in a last minute addition to the long-wrapped show by the powers-that-be. It hit just the right chord - as did the effervescently enjoyable if slight episode. Amber Riley wrought the high emotion out of the Houston barn-burner in a manner that surely would do the gospel singer of Whitney's own roots more than merely proud and the overall show was a sure success as far as knockout musical numbers go. As for the rest of the "Heart" Valentine's show, we were treated to a number of well-played guest appearances, such as Rachel's two dads, essayed all-too-deliciously by Jeff Goldblum and Brian Stokes Mitchell, in addition to THE GLEE PROJECT winner Samuel Larsen's much ballyhooed debut on the show. Former TGP finalist and Season Three GLEE featured player Damian McGinty also got more focus than usual, as did Amber Riley, who emerged as the star of this particular episode. Courtesy of a lively and raucous "Love Shack", Darren Criss made his welcome return after a few episodes out. The rest of the songs added to the overall candy-coated allure of the sweet and sugary confection of a show. No, "Heart" was not an episode that will linger forever in the memory like some in GLEE's past, but the music made the night - and, in the case of "I Will Always Love You", made it really pack a punch when we needed it. It most closely resembled the wedding episode from last season, I thought - which is certainly a compliment. Plus, "Heart" featured the return of Karofsky - in gorilla suit, no less - and many dramatic twists for the gleeks we have all come to know and love. And, just how adorable is Sugar Motta?!
Samuel Larsen, winner of the first season of Oxygen Channel's THE GLEE PROJECT will appear in his first episode of Fox's musical drama on the February 14th episode entitled 'Heart'.
Samuel Larsen, winner of the first season of Oxygen Channel's THE GLEE PROJECT, will appear in his first episode of the Fox musical drama on February 14th in an episode entitled 'Heart'. Check out him performing the Gym Class Heros' 'Stereo Hearts'!
Samuel Larsen, winner of the first season of Oxygen Channel's THE GLEE PROJECT will appear in his first episode of Fox's musical drama on the February 14th episode entitled 'Heart'.
"I don't want to see the spectacle that is Michael, I want to be the spectacle." And so goes the motto of GLEE giving Michael Jackson his musical due. Much like MJ brought together the worlds or pop and R&B and broke down racial barriers through his music and message, GLEE set the stage by placing our favorite gleeks in a battle with the Warblers - not unlike the Sharks vs. Jets of the recent WEST SIDE STORY tribute. And it was quite a sight to see - and hear. Like the memorable Britney Spears, Lady Gaga and Fleetwood Mac tributes before it, last night's "Michael" episode of GLEE was the realization of a life-long dream for many gleeks in the audience and the epic convergence of two pop culture dynasties. Series creator and show musical sequence mastermind Ryan Murphy penned the episode himself and the razor sharp dialogue was as biting and bizarre as always - in a good way. A very good way. And, the musical numbers? Even better. Filled with fun facts relating to the man in the mirror being honored and with more musical numbers than one could envision even fitting into an hour of network TV with story, too - and what plot developments - once again, GLEE made us remember that this is our very own spot in the entertainment universe, right at corner of Hollywood and Broadway. The joy that standing on that corner can make us all feel through sheer osmosis is transcendentally exciting, and, even more than that, exquisitely exciting. My, oh my - how we have missed thee, GLEE! True, it's only been a few weeks, but Season Three has been so consistently strong as to make each and every episode unmissable thus far and each pause positively interminable. After all, in just the last episode alone we were left with three marriage proposals! No more scattershot scenarios ala Season Two or heavy focus on the adults like Season One, Season Three is all about the cast of characters that comprise New Directions - and, Ma Ma Se, Ma Ma Sa, thank goodness that is the main subject being taught at McKinley High this semester. "Bad" to "Ben" to "Black Or White"; "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" and "Smooth Criminal", "Scream" and more, GLEE's MJ tribute was a true OMGLEE moment.
Last season, many of GLEE actress Lea Michele's co-stars - including Darren Criss, who completes his limited run in HOW TO SUCCEED today - appeared as mentors to the contestants. When the show returns this summer, Michele will make her 'Glee Project' debut with it. 'So excited to announce that I'll be guest mentoring on the season 2 premiere of the Glee Project,' the Broadway vet tweeted. 'I[t] was such an amazing experience! All the kids are so talent! Can't wait for you guys to see it!'
In an interview with TVGuide.com, GLEE star Cory Monteith confirmed that Samuel Larsen, winner of the first season of Oxygen Channel's THE GLEE PROJECT has begun filming scenes for his upcoming story arc on GLEE. Shared Monteith, 'He's here today. I can confirm he's here, but we haven't been formally introduced yet.'
Oxygen has picked up a second season of the competition series 'The Glee Project' for a summer 2012 debut.
Oxygen has picked up a second season of the critically acclaimed competition series THE GLEE PROJECT for a summer 2012 debut. The spinoff competition series, which awards one winner a seven episode arc on 'Glee,' will return with Ryan Murphy and Dante Di Loreto continuing as executive producers along with series executive producers Michael Davies and Shauna Minoprio of Embassy Row.
'Bring It On: The Musical' opened on Friday, November 11 at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. Currently in previews, the production will continue through December 10. BroadwayWorld brings you photo coverage from opening night below.
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