Variety PANS 2 new eps of GLEE...

[Pgenre]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 4:43pm

...and while I usually don't listen to such things, Lowry seems to point directly to the problem I also had with the pilot (director's cut or otherwise)... the almost mean-spirited camp comedy. Let Lynch have at that and make the other characters a little more likeable and the show will work, otherwise it may be too bitter (and bittersweet) for many people. Either way, tomorrow will prove if Murphy has found the right tone yet.

I really hope this show is a big fat hit and Matt and Jane will be in my living room for many Wednesdays to come, but it IS the hardest of hard sells in tv land. I work there, I know. NO ONE in tv has forgotten COP ROCK (and some remember VIVA LAUGHLIN) and Murphy and co. will have to fight against that until the day they go off the air, which will hopefully be a hundred episodes or so from now. I wish them all the best.

P

Da Bomb - and not in a good way! Updated On: 9/8/09 at 04:43 PM

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 5:10pm

Sory, Pgenre, but I believe the review is mixed, certainly not a pan.

The show itself has gotten fairly positive reviews.

It has a score of 77 on Metacritic:

http://www.metacritic.com/tv/shows/glee?q=glee

[Pgenre]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 5:35pm

"Talk about one-hit wonders. The promise and energy associated with the debut of "Glee" last spring largely evaporates in previewing two additional hours, where the musical numbers -- generally less infectious and buoyant than the first time out -- can?t compensate for overly broad characterizations and absurdly soapy situations. A few genuinely human moments emerge, but the series too often undermines the likability quotient of its cast, leaving the audience relatively little to latch onto. Put simply, "Glee" strikes too many sour notes for a series with precious little margin for error."

If that's not a pan, I'd love to read one!

But, then again, perhaps you're right...

P

THIS is a pan, no question! Updated On: 9/8/09 at 05:35 PM

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 5:42pm

I apologize, the link you posted didn't work for me.

I must have been looking at the mixed review for a pilot/preview:


http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117940256.html?categoryid=32&cs=1

[Pgenre]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 5:46pm

Links are fixed, love!

DO check out that link to a Real, Class-A Variety PAN though, and I quote:
"We don't learn who said, "Suzanne, this is a Broadway show," thus denying the audience the chance to chase down that criminal and bitchslap them to the ground with an old Thighmaster."

:) :)

P

Posted: 9/8/09 at 5:49pm

What's funny is the idea that THIS show needs to be NOTE-perfect to develop ANY kind of following. When I think of huge fat hits like Home Improvement or whatever that dismal Raymond show was- they had one note characters and ridiculous plots every week and did just fine.

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 5:50pm

Ouch, yeah, that one is no good.

My favorite quote from the Blonde in Thunderbird review is:

"...if I had my life to live over, I'd assign this show to another reviewer."

[Pgenre]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 6:02pm

What a quote!

LOVE it!

P

[Luckydave14]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 10:24pm

I went to one of the advance screenings of the premiere episode (being aired tomorrow) and it got a glowing reaction from the audience. There was laugh out loud laughter almost the entire episode, and the musical numbers were pretty fantastic. I don't know how next week's episode is going to be, but if it is anything like this week's, people are going to love it.

[ABB2357]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 1:31pm

I also saw a screening of the second episode (airing tonight) and liked it even more than the pilot. I thought the pilot was a bit wobbly in terms of tone - too broad and obvious in certain places, but the musical numbers felt just right.

The second episode corrects some of those problems and feels more settled in now that we've gotten to know the characters. And without spoiling anything, Lea Michele has a (musical) moment at the end of the episode that will blow you away.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 2:28pm

I think this show is just broad enough to appeal to alot of people and it will do really well. JoeKV is exactly right-the shows does not need to be perfect to be a hit. For god sakes, Paul Blart: Mall Cop was one of the biggest movies of the year and that was a steaming turd! I think people will be entertained by Glee and it will hit all the right notes. Actually, many shows take a while to find their footing, it is just that networks today don't allow a show to work out its kinks.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 2:48pm

I actually agree with every word of that Variety review. The show, at its core, is charming idea...but the execution is misguided and (like the characters in the show) brutally unlikeable.

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 4:14pm

I have had people calling me and e-mailing me about it. Most are in their late 30's or 40's. They are pretty excited. They are saying that it takes them back to when they were in choir in school and were part of the "outcasts" that joined choir and glee club. I was surprised that some of the people I talked to even knew about it.

[MotorTink]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 4:16pm

A lot of people I know have been seeing the promos I know that. i don't think a lot saw the first episode, but I constantly hear "hey tink, I saw a commercial for this show with singing that made me think of broadway which made me think of you, you should watch it"

Updated On: 9/9/09 at 04:16 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 4:25pm

Tink, I am getting the same thing. Some of the people didn't see the pilot (And are upset). A few watched the re-broadcast or saw it online.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 4:27pm

Cop Rock!!!!

Posted: 9/9/09 at 8:10pm

Isn't this more Hull High than Cop Rock? (Mainly old songs, though they did have a few new ones, high school, etc For the longest time I thought that Hull High and a song "Soft and smooth ad a peach/this is a figure of speech" or something was a dream from my childhood till youtube proved its existance ot me recently lol).

I've seen the second episode, I actually liked it more than th epilot but I do agree that Ryan Murphy's slightly mean spirited humour (though this is toned down from Nip Tuck certainly and even his work on his first high school show, Popular) doens't quite work especially from some characters and throws the tone off. What I'm more worried about though is what's killed his past shows for me--characterization that's so inconsistant and completely at the whim of random plot changes and dropped storylines... Hopefully he knows this show can't thrive purely on shock situations and scenes like Nip Tuck has...

But I remain optimistic

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 9:34pm

I'm watching the second episode, and I think I can safely say that I would not watch this were there not singing and/or Broadway actors in it.

Also... I really think this storyline would work better as a movie.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 9:37pm

It's just so bad.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 10:10pm

The second episode wasn't as purely enjoyable as the first one; however, I still thought it was a lot of fun to watch. I'm hoping it gets better after the first few episodes. They need to do a better job with the comedy.
Still, the actors are great (Jane Lynch is a comedic genius, though I wonder why she left PARTY DOWN for this when she was so brilliant in it), and it's just such a fun musical theater show. Jane Lynch's HAIR joke made the show worth it for me.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 10:14pm

I guess some of us are watching a different show. I didn't enjoy the first episode but was really entertained by this one. A lot more of the jokes landed, and there was a better balance between the mean-spiritedness and satire. The cast is still great and the musical moments are wonderful, as well. There's still too much going on in each episode and the wife is a horrible character, but this episode was a vast improvement. I'll keep watching to see how it turns out.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 10:35pm

I don't see this show going anywhere. The story is good (mediocre) now and I can't imagine how they could carry it on after a certain point.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 10:47pm

I hated the first episode, but at least I could sit through and be mildly entertained (if only for the fantastic "Don't Stop Believing"). But I turned tonight's episode off during the first musical number. It's just... not a good show. I don't get the praise. Truly.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 11:00pm

COP ROCK was Brilliant.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 9/9/09 at 11:18pm

That's the problem, everytime I'm thinking "This show is so bad, why am I watching it," they start to sing again.