photo: fox
The Purple Piano Project
Original Air Date: Sep 20, 2011
Alyssa Silva – Sr Reviewer
alyssa@thetwocentscorp.com
It’s been a pretty tumultuous hiatus for gleeks everywhere. From Chord Overstreet’s sudden axing, to Ryan Murphy’s foot-in-mouth comments about graduating students, to the (much-needed) hiring of new writers. A return to core characters and a return to basics was the theme of the day whenever the cast was interviewed about Season Three, but considering the vast ensemble of members that make up Glee what does this really mean?
Did the season premiere salvage my hope that Glee could return to the show that I first fell in love with, or did it just inspire similar frustrations leftover from last season?
The first minute informed us of who the seniors were:
Seniors – Finn, Rachel, Kurt, Mike, Brittany, Santana
Juniors – Artie, Tina
The status of Puck and Quinn are so far unknown, though I think Puck was a senior too. Unless his aversion to class has resulted in him being held back. I would also like to alert everyone to my immense dissatisfaction with the lack of Noah Puckerman in this episode. He’s shown character development throughout the two seasons and while Mike and Tina should get their share in the spotlight, I think Puck deserves his time too.
(Yes he is one of my favorite characters, alongside Rachel and Santana)
In any case Mr Schue is determined to bring glory to McKinley High’s Glee Club. Putting their puny twelfth place Nationals trophy next to the enormous first place trophies they’ve secured at Sectionals and Regionals, Will implements a Purple Piano Project to help them recruit three new members. Quinn’s MIA, Sam has moved to another state which means Mercedes is now dating a football player named Marcus, and Lauren dumped Puck (that girl must be trippin’!). The idea is to break into song whenever they see a piano, and let the beat point them towards people of similar ilk. This leads to Sugar Motta, who apparently has self-diagnosed Asperger’s, trying out with a truly hilarious and horrendous audition. Will then struggles to tell Sugar no, making me want to shake him. Rachel is right Mr Schue – if you want to win, you don’t need people like Sugar holding you back.
Hummelberry
This was the best part of the entire episode for me, seeing Kurt and Rachel map out their mutual ambition to make it big on Broadway and support each other when they suffer humiliation at the NYADA mixer. I liked how both of them realized that despite how talented they were in the bubble of McKinley, there were literally others out there who were more talented and with more in-utero credits padding out their application forms. That scene in the car with the two of the bawling their eyes out before Kurt delivered pep talk that had me squeezing my pillow in commiserating gratitude, and Rachel telling Kurt that he was going to make it out of Lima just like her? Perfection. Focusing on core characters should be handled exactly like this, because the long-term narrative that has developed the friendship between the two has been natural and organic. If nothing else, I would completely watch a spin-off starring these two, Blaine and Puck.
Klaine
C’mon, we all knew Blaine was going to make it to McKinley sooner rather than later. The relationship between Blaine and Kurt continues to go from strength to strength and I’m happy that Blaine’s ditched his Warbler’s blazer for adorable bow ties polo shirts and rolled up pants.
Finchel
For those who haven’t read my previous Glee reviews, I am not a fan of this relationship. I was at the beginning, but I simply do not enjoy the effect Finn has on Rachel (read this for further clarification), and am now happily ensconced in my love for Puckleberry. The only thing I could pick up on on the so-called Glee power couple was that Finn still isn’t sure what he wants to do with his life. Juxtapose this against Rachel’s carefully mapped out plan to win a Tony by twenty-five. I felt in New York that these two have put an expiration date on their relationship, and I’m sticking by that assertion.
Quinn
I admit I full on laughed when Quinn walked in with her new hair and very tasteful Ryan Seacrest tattoo. I am so not buying this fit of rebellion, especially considering the longing look she was giving her former Glee Club at the end of the episode. I would have bought this charade at the start of Season Two, considering she had just given up her baby, and if she hadn’t been so focused on winning Prom Queen at the backend of last season. Until she reverts back to the Quinn I know and can sort of tolerate, I will continue to giggle as she smokes cigarettes under the bleachers with the apropos titled “Skanks”.
Santana
I admit I was shocked when Will banned Santana from Glee after she artfully maneuvered the Cheerios to setting that piano ablaze (technically, Quinn did it but oh well). I thought Santana was going to choose Glee when Sue asked her which side she was on, but Santana wouldn’t be Santana if she didn’t play both sides. I love how manipulative and deceitful Ms Lopez is, and if anyone should have self-diagnosed Asperger’s it would be this Cheerio. Santana has one of the stronger female vocals of the group, in my opinion, so I wonder how they will replace her.
Sue, the Congressional Candidate
Sue’s thirst to destroy Will, and by extension Glee, has morphed into a platform promise to get rid of the Arts in public schools in favor of upping literacy and numeracy stats. And she’s gaining in the polls.
Overall it felt like Glee was re-airing an alternate version of its Pilot episode. The characters, though we know who they are more or less, felt like they were being introduced to us again for the first time. There was no preachy message, no underlying theme. Everything – especially the songs – fit organically into the story. So for now I’m giving a tentative yes to Glee salvaging my hopes, but I’m still wary. You never know with Ryan Murphy at the helm.
The Songs
The great
You Can’t Stop the Beat – Infectious! Full of energy! Beautiful solo by Lea Michele at the start! Rachel’s dress! Although if you listen to the full-length version, I’m curious as to why the NAACP would help either Kurt or Artie…
The good
We Got the Beat – This one gets into your head, whether you want it to or not. Liked Rachel, Santana and Brittany taking lead.
It’s Not Unusual – Darren Criss can do no wrong. Most times. This was one of those times. The Cheerios twirling around him, and the way he moved, made this a stand-out audition piece.
The okay
Ding Dong The Witch is Dead – It was good, but I felt it lacked energy for some reason.
Anything Goes/Anything You Can Do – That Harmony girl scares me. Also I don’t care how long you think you can hold your note, Rachel Berry will hold it longer.
What did you think of the premiere? Was it a good starting point? Does it feel like a return to basics? What were your favorite and least favorite parts? Give me your TwoCents below.
TheTwoCents 
I could watch hours of Kurt and Rachel. I love their friendship and how it’s slowly blossomed from their original rivalry.
I could really do without any of the adult stories.
I think Puckleberry is just fanfic at this point 🙂
at this point i ignore everything related to will/emma. over it. i liked how their lunch boxes were Superman and Wonder Woman…the two parts of the Trinity that never worked out because clearly Supes has Lois Lane and Wondy has Batman.
as for Sue, it would be pretty funny if she won the election. and then went after the Tea Party.
yes i know how much Puckleberry is a pipe dream…but i will continue to pray and hope. and read copious amounts of fic to satiate my hunger.
Completely disagree! (with the comment discussion – I actually agree with most of what you wrote in the review). I think that the adult stories are essential and, in some cases, more enjoyable than the kids ones. And I know I’m not alone in my thinking. As an older (I’m 22 – I consider that old in the Glee world) watcher, I sometimes feel a little distance from the kids struggles – don’t get me wrong, I enjoy watching them, but I know that teenage relationships are inevitably going to be tumultuous, and that knowledge ruins the fun sometimes. There’s nothing to invest in. Will and Emma captured me from the very beginning because in terms of ‘end game’, they’re the safest bet. Now that they’re in a relationship, and assuming (and hoping) that it will actually last this season, I’m extremely excited to watch some ‘adult’ stories (managing Emma’s OCD, eventual marriage, kids, etc.) juxtaposed against the kid’s problems.
Plus – it helps that I think they’re absolutely a-dor-a-ble together.
We all have our ships, right?
Btw, I love that your soft spot is Puckleberry. I’ve always liked them too. 🙂
as an older (i’m 23 so i might be ancient!) i admit sometimes i look at Glee and think “i’m glad high school is over”.
but i just cannot stand will schuester the character. so maybe that’s influencing my perception of wemma. i admit they are adorable but i started watching not because of will, but because of rachel and the rest.
hey, you have to admit putting puck and rachel together would be infinitely more entertaining than finchel. at least they have chemistry (real and reel)! but that’s just my POV…
I am actually far older than both of you, lol. I just find Will and Sue’s battles to be repetitive at thus juncture. 🙂
i find will and sue repetitive period. i don’t care about will’s relationship with emma, and sometimes jane lynch says funny things. but other than that, eh.
Lindsay is supposed to have a two episode arc, so I suspect we’ll see her again next week. She’s also supposed to be the star of a rival choir. Well, one rumor is that “another TGP member” is, and another rumor is that *she’s* that leader.
I knew Emma and Will had stepped up their romance, but my jaw about hit the floor when it was revealed that they’re living together. I’ve been rooting for them for a long time.
I never liked Lauren, so I’m glad she’s gone from my screen for a bit.
Speaking of gone from the screen, Chord was *NOT* axed, he QUIT!!! During contract negotiations, they told him they were not going to offer him a series regular contract but keep him at guest star status. He said no thanks, I want to try my luck elsewhere. Get over it already!
Samantha and Alyssasilva, I’m the same age as the two of you put together. I guess that means archaeologists would be interested in me . . .;-P
i only just discovered that harmony was on of the TGP winners. i could not watch that show at all. i tuned in and the guy with the dreadlocks was screeching his way through a song…
i shall amend the chord comment! but i disliked the way they treated his situation. at least have the decency to tell the guy straight to his face, not let him hear it through the press while he’s still on tour. furthermore i actually do believe they wanted to get rid of him, but recanted when the fans expressed outrage.
I had to hand off this show because I hated it so much. This episode solidified it for me as officially completely horrible. The only saving grace was Lindsay’s amazingness and the awesome Anything Goes/Anything You Can Do mashup.
You Can’t Stop The Beat is not meant to be slow and I’m so over Lea Michele (Joan Rivers said it best over the weekend: “could her ego get any bigger? who does she think she is?!”). Jenna’s solo at the end didn’t even seem to matter because we were looking at Lea while Lea was singing. Horrendous.
Talking about the age of the kids, not sure what kind of audience they’re supposed to have but I’m NOT a fan of how Santana inappropriate was when the Cheerios were dancing with Blaine, as she usually does.
I think this show has strayed so far from where it started and I’m not sure it can recover. If this episode was any indication, they’ll be canceled before the contract runs out.
i think lea michele and them should move on after this season. i think, for them, glee has run its course.
i don’t subscribe to this hate for lea michele. personally i don’t seen any of that “diva” attitude that the minority of people claim she has. she’s got a good voice, and she is supposed to be the lead of the show. cut the girl some slack!
Good point about Chord hearing it thru the press, and them maybe taking it back after fan outrage. I’m still not sure it didn’t get blown out of proportion, like the whole Leno-Conan thing. But you’re right, enough about it.
There were four winners of TGP, and we’ll be seeing them all on our screens. Including Mr. Dreadlocks, who was one of the two winners who got the longer arc, and whom Ryan Murphy evidently sees as an eventual replacement for Puck. Who supposedly is a senior this year?
My understanding (LOL Farrah, I get it from Joan, too!) is that Lea is a diva off-stage, like on the red carpet at the Emmys she was really snotty. I guess she was really pissy about Sarah Hyland’s imitation of her camera poses on Fashion Police, which Joan had asked her to do, and made a big stink about it, but then when E! cut to her on the red carpet as Giuliana was asking Sarah about it, she was doing that exact pose! All four of the FP agreed that she needs to be able to laugh at herself, and honey, when Kelly Osbourne is telling you you need to laugh at yourself, you listen!
But I have to disagree with you, Farrah, about how bad the show is. I think this is how it’s going to get back on track, at least, that’s what they’re planning. Of course, that’s probably because I was a total nerd in high school, with no chance of show choir saving me because I can’t sing a lick, but I *am* an actress, so I totally relate.
WHAT? Dreadlocks replacing Puckerman? i think not. the only reason i’m still watching the show is because of the original cast, so once they leave i doubt i will continue.
for the record lea michele didn’t say a word about sarah hyland’s posing! it was her fans who got all up in arms about it. i love watching Fashion Police but i really dislike the way they equate lea’s posing with her having a horrible attitude. every interview she’s been in she’s been nothing but adorable! it just irritates me because i have seen no evidence. and furthermore G was praising lea michele’s posing skills at the emmy’s (during her interview with Darren Criss), and then slamming her on FP. URGH. okay, i’m done with my rant =)
i thought the premiere was HEAPS better than most of season 2 combined (Quinn’s makeover not withstanding). ali adler used to be on Chuck, so i’m hoping her being an exec producer means good things are ahead.
Dreadlocks isn’t replacing Puckerman…he’s part of Puckerman’s family.
what? that’s even worse.
Loved this episode. Ding dong the Witch is Dead is fast becoming one of my favorite Glee songs. I can’t wait for the CD to come out. Once again though, Sue’s antics spoil what otherwise would have been a 10+++ episode. I just DVR the episode and fast forward through alot of her stunts. It’s really, really getting old. Glad to see Will finally stand up for himself, unfortunately it backfired and only helped Sue. Also, I hate to say this, but I’m not so far I’m not liking Will and Emma living together. I hope it gets more interesting with them.
i thought it was weird how quickly they showed will and emma living together. you’d think it’d take SOME time for emma to work out her issues. in any case, Mr Schue’s morning wood has scarred me for life and i am more than happy never revisiting their apartment in the future. ever.
granted sue’s schemes are tired, but if i had to pick between her or will – i’d take sue in a heartbeat. mr schue continues to be the whiny, annoying, spineless teacher he’s always been. over it.
Lea Michelle’s singing is so overrated. She’s good, but she is definitely not great by any means. Neither is Chris.
i think the whole cast has good voices, some stronger than others. it’s a subjective choice for every viewer. out of the females i like lea and naya’s the best, and for the males i think mark salling takes the cake for me (only because i heard his solo album before glee came out and it was amazing).
as for chris, what sets him apart is his falsetto.