<p>But at our house, we were calling BS on Neil Patrick Harris only getting the role of “townsperson” in Les Miz. The writers should have chosen a show with just one strong male role; the viewers know that Les Miz has 5-6 really strong male roles. Are we to believe that 5 other men who auditioned were better than him? I know, just turn off the brain and enjoy. [It should have been South Pacific!!!]</p>
<p>Another thing…did I hear Sue say that the school didn’t have PE? So her ONLY job is to coach the cheerios? No wonder she has so much time to harrass students in the hallway.</p>
<p>I also thought that Idina might be Rachel’s mom from her earlier appearances on the show. It’s a nice storyline, though, and I loved hearing them sing together! (I usually don’t like Lea on her own, though that’s just my preference)</p>
<p>missypie - I thought Sue said that the school didn’t have daily PE, though I could be mistaken. Most schools I know have PE twice a week or so.</p>
<p>I love the attention some of the other characters (i.e. Kurt, Artie) have been getting in recent episodes, though I for one would really like to get back to Quinn’s pregnancy for an episode.</p>
<p>South Pacific only has one strong male role? I count at least three! You don’t think getting to sing “Some Enchanted Evening” or leading the drag team in the base show counts as “strong”?</p>
<p>Anyway, I just want to mention that last night was also the long-awaited Joss Whedon-directed episode. I’m not certain what difference it made or what impact he had, except perhaps on the way the camera picked out extras during the “Safety Dance” number at the mall (which was one of the best numbers ever on Glee).</p>
<p>The Safety Dance was a good way to handle the issue of the actor who plays Artie not really needing to be a wheelchair. I’ve heard that they have been wrestling with the issue since they started doing live performances (like at the White House) - they felt disingenuious having the guy perform in a wheelchair, but they knew that that’s how his character was identified. Now the viewing public knows.</p>
<p>What was amazing was what a great dancer Kevin McHale is. I mean, there would hardly have been much incentive to audition him on that score to cast him as Artie. (It also boggles my mind that anyone whose last name was McHale would have named a child “Kevin” in the late 80s. That would be like someone named O’Neal naming their child Shaquille today.)</p>
<p>I was referring to the real ages, missy, which is why I mentioned the crazy age issues on TV. Idina, in no way, looks old enough to be Lea’s mom.</p>
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<p>There aren’t many former boyband members who cannot dance. :)</p>
<p>That “Safety Dance” number was wonderful on all levels: choreography, drama, cinematography, direction. I loved it. I often lose patience with “Glee,” then something like this keeps me watching.</p>
<p>D and I thought the episode last night was really good. Since she is a theatre “geek” she knew about the mother/daughter with Idina and Lea. I loved their duet and told D she needs to buy it today for my IPOD.</p>
<p>Safety Dance was really great and I loved Dream On. The whole auditioning for Les Miz was fun, but they could of cast Neil Patrick Harris as Javert!</p>
<p>I would have been blindsided by the mother/daughter revelation, but someone in the Midwest posted it on Facebook and I saw it before watching:( I do buy them as mother-daughter. Idina can pass as a little older or younger. What is getting increasingly harder to buy is Michelle Lea playing a 16 year old. But if you can buy that (and you have to accept the premise), then it works. I am curious to how they will deal with the problem that all high school shows have faced in the past – the kids needing to eventually graduate. They are already sophomore/juniors it would seem.</p>
<p>I’m not a huge Neil Patrick Harris fan, but I loved him last night. I am really hoping he will have a recurring role. I dislike the addition of the Jesse character and I’m glad we finally got some explanation that made more sense for his school transfer, weak as it was. The whole plotline was silly – why can’t Rachel just ask her invisible Dads about her mom?</p>
<p>The show balances surreal with real so plot twists can have moments of hyper-realism while being in a totally insane context. </p>
<p>I really liked seeing Artie out of his chair and him and Tina have a bigger role this show. I knew that Quinn would pat him on the back at the end but it still worked. The Safety Dance number was great and I loved the way they integrated cheap cellphone looking footage into the cut so it looked like a real flash mob.</p>
<p>Her name is Lea Michelle, not the other way round, and my daughter had picked up on it from the mother’s first appearance because of the resemblance - which they’ve made stronger and stronger. I like the Jesse character. Finn could never go to these places with Rachel. Lea’s voice is extraordinary. She can do a pitch perfect Barbra Streisand and more.</p>
<p>I don’t understand the problem with Menzel/Michele. According to the show last night, Rachel’s mom had her when she was 19 or 20. That character could easily pass for 35-36. And the real difference in the actors’ ages can’t be less than 16-17 years. Menzel could easily be Michele’s mother. And they DO look alike, almost creepily so – parthenogenesis comes to mind.</p>
<p>Their song duet was bo-ring, though.</p>
<p>Anyone who isn’t a Neil Patrick Harris fan has not seen Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. Go watch Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. It will only take an hour of your life. It won’t necessarily make Neil Patrick Harris your favorite performer, but I think it will make it impossible not to appreciate him.</p>
<p>For me, best episode ever; on soooo many levels…story line and all…</p>
<p>Highlights: Dream On (even though Neil Patrick Harris is a little too “tenorish” on it except for the last note, which was awesome)</p>
<p>Mall Safety Dance: omg; no idea Kevin McHale could dance like that; really enjoyed the direction and camera shots through the lenses…</p>
<p>Idina/Lea: what voices…love them both…any Broadway revivals that would involve them together come to mind to anyone? would love to see it…</p>
<p>In terms of “leaking” plots, I was reading The Jewish Standard published in Bergen County, NJ just yesterday morning and the mother/daughter thingy was in it for Menzel/Michelle…so I wasn’t surprised (but actually surprised it was leaked in advance)…</p>
<p>JHS: are you trying to make us all feel stupid?? lol</p>
<p>as an aside: Tuesday night TV has really turned into a marathon in our house; thank goodness Lost is over…</p>
<p>I don’t know about the two of them together, but Lea HAS to do a Broadway revival of *Funny Girl *before she gets much older. I felt so vindicated when Rachel said it was one of three parts she just has to play. (but Laurey???)</p>
<p>Cripes. I’m posting about a TV show aimed most significantly at teenage girls and their moms. I’m gossiping about the actresses’ ages, and recommending online supplements for appreciating an actor’s performance. I’m not in a position to be making anyone feel stupid!</p>
<p>(Re Funny Girl – Didn’t you all like the boyfriend’s line?: “You playing Fanny Brice to a packed house on Broadway – that’s not a dream, that’s an inevitability.”)</p>
<p>All I can say is, thank goodness there’s a safe place to revel in my gleekiness! Last night’s episode was fantastic. The fantasy sequence with Artie dancing was a little bit of a cliche, but moving nonetheless. Who knew he had those moves? Please do more episodes Joss Whedon!</p>