Variety PANS 2 new eps of GLEE...

...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.

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Da Bomb - and not in a good way!

Updated On: 9/8/09 at 04:43 PM

"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...

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THIS is a pan, no question!

Updated On: 9/8/09 at 05:35 PM

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

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."

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

It's just so bad.

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.

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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.

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

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