Tag Archives: Alex Newell

May 16 2012
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Fox, Glee, quotes, Recaps, TV

glee recapping: nationals

Here’s what you missed on Glee: Props

Story

  • The New Directions are on edge about their upcoming performance.
  • Shuester questions whether he has done enough to prepare the kids for all that awaits them.
  • Finn bets Rick “The Stick” $500 that The New Directions win at Nationals.
  • Wade (“Unique”) doesn’t think he can handle the pressure he is under after his last performance.
  • Carmen Tibideaux comes to see Rachel perform at Nationals in Chicago.

Lindsay doing her best “derp” face.

Well, Obviously: When the New Directions made it to Nationals last year I expected them to win. I thought the point of the show was to make the characters hate each other for their differences and still find a way to win every competition. And, I guess, half of that is true. But this time–I think it’s safe to say–we all knew they had to win Nationals. Their selections were solid and energetic but I didn’t think it was their best. Can Blaine and the Left-Overs do the same thing next year is my question now.

Unique Runner-Up: If you didn’t know by now, Alex Newell (Wade/Unique) was a runner-up on the first season of The Glee Project. He, along with fellow runner-up Lindsay Pearce, were guaranteed a two-episode arc on the hit show. Yes, Lindsay’s “Harmony” character may have given Rachel and Kurt a scare earlier in the season with her amazing performances but did you really remember her character two weeks later? Whereas with Newell’s “Wade” character it seems that he is going to have more staying power. Whether it be because of controversy, another unique storyline (pun not intended but you’ll allow it), or whatever else, I think Newell might be getting a new contract in the near future.

Honorable Mentions:

  • I doubt Lindsay Lohan is still, or has ever been, “America’s Sweetheart”.
  • Speaking of Ms. Lohan, why did both she and Perez Hilton get to play themselves, while Rex Lee (Lloyd, Entourage) was forced to play some made-up nobody?!
  • For a girl who could barely stand just a week ago–I’ll give you three weeks for the sake of TV to reality translation–Quinn was surely twirling and jumping around with the best of them.
  • Finally, Emma. Finally.
  • Did Wade/Unique give us a teaser for his possible transfer next season?
  • Props to Jesse for putting a good word in for Rachel…because he might be the only character that loves himself more than Rachel loves Streisand.

Music*

Edge of Glory – The Troubletones (A) I have no problem saying I preferred the Troubletones performance over most of the New Direction performances from this season. Somehow the addition of Quinn and Tina didn’t hinder or help the girl group dynamic, and Santana can now (un)officially be name Most Improved Performer from seasons 1-3.

It’s All Coming Back to Me Now  – Rachel (A) For the first time in a long time, Rachel gave me chills. This isn’t to say that she lost her “Rachelness”, but she definitely hasn’t had her usual “it” this season, or at least she didn’t until this performance.

Paradise By the Dashboard Light  – The New Directions (A) An unusual song pick? Undoubtedly. As precise as the Vocal Adrenaline offerings? Not even close. However, something about the way they interact on the stage, like best friends or adorably energetic members of the Mickey Mouse Club, is just the type of corny, “we are family” energy no other glee club can touch. Hence, the win.

Starships/Pinball Wizard – Unique and Vocal Adrenaline (A) While Unique’s split, as well as Nicki Minaj and the exemplary usage of props, should have been enough to secure a win, it was only good enough to land them second place.

Tongue Tied – The New Directions (A) I’m sure they’ve done it before, but I can’t recall another time when we heard a song on Glee without some form of performance to accompany it. If this in fact the first time it’s been done, I’d be more than pleased to have it become a continuing thing. If I’m wrong, and this happens all the time, please ignore the first part of this paragraph. Also, finally Emma. Finally.

We are the Champions -The New Directions (A) Instead of everyone saying heartfelt goodbyes and sitting around discussing what comes next, they simply celebrated their collective win and Schue as Teacher of the Year. What a fitting way to head into the end of the season, as well as the original era of Glee. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who teared up quite a bit as the episode came to a close.

Quotes

“Are you forgetting who you are Jesse?  Your Bohemian Rhapsody was, like, the benchmark performance of every show choir competition in the past ten years.” –Rachel
“Most people don’t realize I lost ten pounds during that performance.” –Jesse

“I show up here and there’s not even a red button to push and a chair to spin me around where I can then point at a kid on stage and yell ‘I wanna work with you!’ Really? I’m firing my manager.” -Lindsay Lohan
“Can I use that as an exclusive?” -Perez Hilton

“With Monique down for the count, we are entering The Hunger Games of show choir competition without one of our most powerful voices.” -Sue

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Apr 18 2012
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Fox, Glee, Recaps, TV

thoughts on glee: saturday night glee-ver

Here’s what you missed on Glee: Big Brother

Story

  • Schuester and Sylvester encourage the New Directions to perform songs from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.
  • Schuester is worried about certain members (Santana, Finn, Mercedes) so he singles them out to compete for a replica of Tony Manero’s polyester suit. But what Schuester really wants is for his kids to figure out what they want to do with their lives after high school.
  • Finn and Rachel finally hash out their issues about (not?) moving to New York.
  • A member of Vocal Adrenaline comes to Mercedes and Kurt asking for help about being him/herself during their Regional competition.
  • In an effort to make help Santana famous, Brittany posts one of their sextapes online.
  • Sam does the same thing for Mercedes…except the “sextape” was her performance of “Disco Inferno”. Santana and Brit were involved too if that helps you at all…

 

Destination Unknown: So, Finn and Rachel are talking again. She even thought about his future for a change and decided that she could stay in Ohio for college. Even though Finn initially dismissed the notion, he seemed to reconsider after watching John Travolta strut his way to Manhattan. We still don’t know what or, more importantly, where the couple plan to be after graduation.

Seriously…Where’s the link to the Brittana sextape?

Wishful Thinking: I think it’s safe to give up thinking Finn will ever be able to coordinate the upper half of his body with the bottom in any type of rhythmic function. Not even Booty Camp can cure Solomon Grundy – never thought those two nouns would ever be in the same sentence. Thank you, Sue Sylvester!

Long, Lost Lovechild? Just act like you weren’t thinking the same thing when Wade (Alex Newell) was standing next to Kurt and Mercedes. If you say you weren’t then I still wouldn’t believe you because you’re clearly not an honest person. I definitely wasn’t expecting him to go on stage as “Unique” but would it be weird if I said he was a better looking woman than I could ever be? I want to see how Jesse St. James handles Wade’s rebellion because I’m only sure that Vocal Adrenaline will be at Nationals.

Confirmation: The University of Louisville is, in fact, in Louisville. What would we do without you Brittany?

Well I’ll Be Sam’d: I thought Sam was doomed to be in the background for the rest of the season until now. He didn’t have any other story lines to cling to since his door with Mercedes was closed…or so we thought. I’m glad that Sam made such a bold move. I don’t know whether he did it because he wants to help Mercedes or because he knew it would get him back in her good graces but both are working for him now.

MUSIC

You Should Be Dancing – Blaine, Brittany and Mike (A+): No corny outfits, three of my favorite performers and Blaine redeemed himself for those missteps last week. Best opening performance in awhile!

Night Fever – Will, Sue, Blaine and Joe (A): Schuester needed a break after the Ricky Martin episode debacle, but it was good to have him back. This was great, but it could have benefited from more Teen Jesus singing and Kentucky Fried Stripper body-rolling from Sam.

Disco Inferno – Mercedes, Brittany and Santana (A+): Mercedes definitely proved that she’ll NEVER be just skim milk. I wouldn’t say she’s better than Rachel, only because it’s become evident they have completely different strengths, both vocally and as performers. Anytime Santana and Brittany act as background singers every performance automatically becomes at least 30% better.

If I Can’t Have You – Santana (B): This was my least favorite performance of the night, which is to say it was great when compared to everything else being amazing. Maybe if this song had been dedicated to Brittany and not ‘fame’, Santana would have had more energy. Regardless, she was still an A+(+ + +) visually.

How Deep Is Your Love – Rachel (A): I thought I was over the Berry Ballads at this point. Turns out, I’m not. It’s still cute watching her sing to Finn. Similar to Schue, she benefited form having a little downtime.

Boogie Shoes – Wade/Unique (A): Mr. St. James may have been shocked and appalled that Wade performed as Unique, but clearly the members of Vocal Adrenaline were not. Their performance didn’t falter and yet again they proved why they’re one of the New Directions biggest competitors.

More Than a Woman – Finn, Kurt and Santana (A+): Vocally, this song had Kurt written allll over it, but Finn did just fine taking the lead. The dancing was perfect and I really think the show would benefit if the light-up floor stuck around for a few episodes. And was it just me or did Rachel look especially tan during this performance?

Stayin’ Alive – Finn, Mercedes and Santana (A+): Finn’s strut was a hard walk, Mercedes had a diva walk and Santana walked like she always does. John Travolta’s title as Legendary Strutter is safe for now. Strutting aside, this was yet another great group number, I just hope poor Becky wasn’t required to sew all of those polyester suits!

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Aug 24 2011
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Glee, New for Fall 2011, Preview, TV

glee reborn?

 

The executives behind Glee didn’t take a summer break with the cast,  they were putting twelve potential cast members through summer school. The Glee Project (aired on the Oxygen cable channel) was a competition to find the new class of the FOX show. I honestly couldn’t watch the show faithfully because of my loyalty to the original cast – call me old-fashioned – but I did follow up on the contestants and their personalities to theorize how the new members would mesh with the current crop.

The competitors were given themed performances every week to see how well they could adapt to both singing and acting. Every week the best performer was given “one-on-one” coaching from a different member of the Glee cast.

My personal favorite contestant was Cameron Mitchell. Aside from the obvious dancing prowess, Cameron had the personality and the look for a solid new character. When he left the competition because some physical interactions didn’t sit well with his moral standards it confused and upset his fans and Glee creator/judge Ryan Murphy. (But seriously, who walks away from Glee?!). In doing this, Cameron saved (eventual winner) Damian McGinty from getting cut that week and keeping him in the competition.

Larsen, Newell, McGinty, Pearce

The finale consisted of four competitors : the Irishman Damian McGinty, the indie rocker Samuel Larsen, a Kurt/Mercedes hybrid in Alex Newell, and the snarky Lindsay Pearce. The judges decided that Larsen and McGinty were the overall winners and would get featured in seven-episode-arcs during the upcoming season. Newell and Pearce didn’t leave empty-handed though. Murphy decided that he didn’t want to completely sever ties with the other two characters and gave them two guest star appearances as well.

Going into this season of Glee I already knew that my little “Gleek”-ing heart was going to be crushed by the finale due to some departures from the originals. I doubt that the new talent will make me forget that my world is being crushed but hopefully they are mediocre enough to at least numb the pain.

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