Glee Acafellas Review

The networks sometimes make an interesting decision when sending out screeners of new series by purposely providing what they think are the strongest of the early episodes, even if it means jumping over episodes in-between. This was the case with Glee - the advance screener we received had last week's second episode and next week's fourth episode, but skipped over this week's installment. Sometimes that can raise a red flag – does this mean that one episode is lacking somehow? But I was very relieved to find out that wasn't the case at all, as we got another thoroughly entertaining hour of television.

The focus of the episode involved Will, feeling slighted after Rachel wanted to bring in a choreographer, forming a boy band, the Acafellas. This group, consisting of Will, Ken and two other staff members, was extremely funny – giving their all to 1990s hits like "This is How We Do It" and "Poison", despite most of them lacking the looks or moves one would associate with guys daring to perform such songs.

The always-great Stephen Tobolowsky (Groundhog Day, Heroes and a million other projects) returned here as the increasingly off-putting yet funny Sandy – who casually noted he's "Not allowed within 50 feet of children" and that his only creative outlet was "writing Desperate Housewives fan fiction." Though his best line is the one I referenced in the sub-headline of this review, as he angrily yelled at someone who dared not know who Josh Groban was. I loved Will turning down Sandy's requests to join Acafellas by explaining, "We voted. When you're in the group, it's creepy."



We met Will's parents here, including his dad, played by the wonderful Victor Garber (Alias). Garber brought his usual warmth and talent to the role, but what was up with him never singing? Garber's skills as a song and dance man (his ass kicking days as Jack Bristow aside) are well known, so it was quite surprising to never see him get a number on this show of all places – but there's always future episodes I suppose. Will helping convince his dad to pursue his long-ignored dream of becoming a lawyer was sweet, but felt a little undercooked and like it was missing a scene or two.

A subplot had Mercedes – cruelly goaded on by Quinn – romantically pursue Kurt, which was, to say the least, barking up the wrong tree. This led to Mercedes great mid-episode number, as she sang her heart out, backed by cheerleaders in the midst of a bikini carwash (well done, Glee). Amber Riley performed the song terrifically, and the show reinforced that we will sometimes get musical numbers of this sort – that are big, more traditional musical type numbers, which are imaginary sequences within the show's reality.

This wasn't a big episode for Jane Lynch, but I do have to note her awesome "Yeah, I'd hit that" expression watching Puck sing "I Want to Sex You Up" – after Finn, Puck and yes, Sandy, joined Acafellas. Though the best inappropriate sexual moment came from a surprising source – Josh Groban himself, who had a cameo, as he arrived to give Sandy a much-needed restraining order. Seeing Groban come on to Will's hard drinking, heavy set mother was hysterical, and Ryan Murphy gave Groban one hell of a gloriously-speaking-in-the-third-person quote: "You might be thinking, why would a pop star like me come over here and talk to you? But let me tell you something. Throngs of screaming teenagers don't do it for Josh Groban. No, Josh Groban loves a blousy alcoholic. "

Glee's energy is so strong when it comes to humor and music, that sometimes the more earnest, sentimental moments bring the show to a halt and don't fit in as well. That was the case near the end with Kurt and Mercedes, as he came out to her in a scene that seemed a bit too straight-laced (no pun intended!) for the overall tone of the series. Still, that's a minor quibble, as Glee continues to be an extremely fun series.

SOURCE: http://tv.ign.com/articles/102/1025716p1.html
WATCH ONLINE: http://watch-glee-show.blogspot.com/2011/04/glee-season-1-episode-3-acafellas.html