The Sue Sylvester Shuffle

It has occurred to me that all the television shows I used to gab about weekly here on the blog aren't around anymore. Something needs to step up and fill the void. And tonight's post-Super Bowl Glee episode made me realize what that show ought to be. I've been watching the series all along, and having watercooler-esque discussions about it with friends for most of that time. Why not make it "official?" So let's kick this off with Glee's most expensive episode ever, The Sue Sylvester Shuffle.

I'm of a mixed mind about this episode. After a two month wait since the last new episode of the show, I was really feeling Glee deprivation. And when this new episode kicked off, it didn't quite feel like authentic Glee to me. The writers found themselves in a tough position here: they had to make the most of their choice airing after the Super Bowl to try and attract even more viewers. But I felt like rather than their "best foot forward," they warped their formula to match what they imagined the sensibilities of drunken football fans might be.

At least, that's why I imagine the hour kicked off with an outrageously boobtastic rendition of "California Gurls." And why the first five minutes featured a Jackass-like stunt of shooting somebody out of a giant cannon. And why there was no true musical performance to speak of until 10 minutes in. And why, when the first song finally was performed, it was a country song. (Oh, I'm sure it's big, if you listen to that genre.) Aside from the Sue Sylvester quips -- which seemed a bit too over the top -- where's my Glee?

But then, slowly, the Glee I love started to poke its way through. The plot about the rivalry between glee club and the football team has been a long running thread. The solution to make them work together was a stretch, but the sort of "buy" that Glee typically asks its viewers to make in the name of getting where it's gotta go -- to a message of putting aside differences and working together.

Then came "She's Not There." Yeah, it was a non-plot driving choice inserted only because the name of the original band was The Zombies... but at least the performance of it was pretty strong. Now the momentum was starting to pick up.

Then came the Warblers' (in reality, the Tufts University Beelzebubs') a cappella take on "Bills, Bills, Bills." Again, no real connection to the plot, but as always, a song from the Warblers is the best thing about any Glee episode in which one appears. Frankly, I'm in no hurry to see Kurt come back to McKinley High School, so more of these gems can keep coming.

Finally, the climactic football game. More outrageous "buys" asked of the audience, but still very much in keeping with Glee. (And I'm willing to forgive a lot in exchange for them giving a big hero moment to the almost-never-featured Tina.)

At last, the moment hyped above all else: Thriller. Mashed up with some crappy Yeah Yeah Yeahs song. (As if there were another kind of Yeah Yeah Yeahs song.) I'd say on the Glee mash-up fluidity scale, this one ranked somewhere in the middle of the scale -- no natural "Don't Stand So Close To Me/Young Girl" but neither the you're-just-singing-a-couples-words-from-one-song-while-you-sing-another of "Start Me Up/Livin' on a Prayer." In their respective vocals, Artie and Santana both nailed their pieces of the mash-up well. The zombie makeup was awesome.

From there, it was a mostly feel good sprint to the finish, save for the odd Katie Couric cameo (but in turn saved by the great "Diane Sawyer" line). And a nice wrinkle for the longtime Glee fans to tease Quinn and Finn getting back together as we head into the Valentine's Day installment in two days.

I rate this installment a B. I might have wished for more personally, but then I do recognize that this particular installment of Glee was not aimed first and foremost at an existing fan like myself. If it gets more people inside the (already considerably large) tent, I have no argument.