It's a Jolly Holiday with Holly: GLee-style!

AAAAHHHH!!!

Where do I start? I loved this episode of Glee! (I know I'm pretty biased because I really love the show) However, the past few weeks, I wasn't loving it as much as I did when I first fell in love (ie. I was past the honeymoon stage and into the "comfortable" zone). There were songs that I liked here and there, but I was missing a lot of the singing and big end numbers from the first season (or was it that I haven't been paying attention?) Anyways, everything I love about Glee has returned this week with the grand entrance of Ms. Gwyneth Paltrow! (I like to think of Gwyneth as one of my good friends, ever since I had a dream that we were bff's! She totally had my cell number and we hung out all the time...I even called her "Gwynee".) Anyhoo...

As I said last week, I was really looking forward to this episode because 1) my bff (see paragraph above) was going to be on and I know she's an awesome singer 2) Sue was going to be the acting principal and of course tyranny was going to ensue and 3) I thought I heard a snippet of "Umbrella" in the previews...

And just as I knew it would, Glee didn't disappoint.

Getting past the initial grossness of the whole "spray of sneeze" scene, I thought the baby Gleeks were adorable! 

Then the whole introduction of Gwynee as Holly Holiday ("Are you a porn star or a drag queen?") as the substitute Spanish and English teacher (singing "Conjunction Junction" no less) and finally as Mr. Schu's stand-in was so fun (ps. I totally dug her outfits!) I wonder if she will make more than just a fleeting guest appearance on this show? Even my husband was excited about her first song, Cee Lo's "Forget you" (well, we know what the title really is). Also, I have to say that I thought that whole slippery butter floor thing was funny (I enjoy cheap laughs) Esp. when Rachel slipped and quickly got up and said "At least I didn't break my talent."

I was confused about the song that Mr. Schue sang with Mike Chang (or at least danced with M.C to). I mean, at first I was like "What?" but then I thought the choreography was really quite good, so in the end I have to say that I didn't mind that little interlude. Then it all made sense afterwards that he was dreaming! (BTW..How does one run towards, and up a wall, then do a flip? I'd try it, but I'm pretty sure I'd fall on my head.)

Then there was the duet by Gwyneth with Rachel (my husband was like "This is the song that Rachel wanted to do that was glamourous and upbeat?!") Feather boa satin robes? Check! Silly dancing with matching faces? Check. Broadway showtune? Check. Wonderful harmonies? Check.

There was the side story of Mr. Schu and the return of Terri(ble) - From nice (Aw, knowing that "Singin in the Rain" makes him feel better) to creepy (baby talk involving petroleum jelly and a thermometer) to gross (ew Vicks "sex" with his ex) to scary ("You'll regret this!")...that woman is PSYCHO.

But that wasn't the only thing, there was also the side story of Kurt and Blaine's blossoming friendship and Mercedes' third wheeling and use of (tater) tots as a substitute for love...(Perhaps holding up the TOTS sign in the caf was a little too 'Norma Rae'. Then again, who doesn't love tots?) I thought her little hallucination at Breadstix was hilare - and the boys talking about Patty Lupone's latest novel, LOL.

And finally that death threat from bully football player guy to Kurt was actually kind of...terrifying. (I didn't care for this at all. I know that Glee likes to take us from lightheartedness to seriousness and back, but I'm worried that Glee will venture too much to the dark side of this one and I'm scared they won't be able to make it back. I don't want there to be a PSA after the show a la Eminem.).

Oh! I can't forget about Brittany's line: "Mr. Schu taught me the second half of the alphabet. I stopped after M and N. I thought they sounded too similar and got frustrated." Ba ha ha ha! Brittany rules.

However, everything was eclipsed by the last number - a mash-up of Rihanna's "Umbrella" and "Singing in the Rain". AAAHHH!!! I absolutely LOVED it. Probably my favorite song this season! Everything about it, from the choreo to the color palette (aubergine umbrellis?! Delightful!!!) to the duet of Gwynee and Mr. S, was perfect. It gave me a renewed love for both songs! I so enjoyed it. There are not enough exclamation points! I'm pretty sure I was sitting on the couch with a smile of pure glee, for Glee.



"....ella, ella, ella..."

 AAAHHHH!!! And next week...a wedding! Finn in a tux! Can't wait!