Glee 1.07 "Throwdown" and 1.08 "Mash-Up"

[aycheb]

Musical theatre, especially film musical theatre, is possibly the most self referential and self-justifying of all art forms. It has an entire sub-genre where entire plotlines centre on putting on a show and where putting on a show is the only way to resist the tuneless, flat-footed forces of evil. The killjoys, the bottom line focused, the

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[par_avion]

In poor Gene's defense, I must point out that it's been said that if anyone wanted to film the Nicholas brothers biography, the dancing would have to done by CGI, because no one would be able to replicate it. They were ridiculously talented (and incredibly strong).

The plot often doesn't thrill, but the musical numbers are really entertaining. And sometimes I just want to be entertained. (Sue Sylvester, in the hands of Jane Lynch, is just delightfully absurd. Go Jane!)

[aycheb]

They were unique and I don't think it was just the acrobatics but how precise they were and in tune with each other and I don't know if even CGI could replicate that. But they were never given the opportunity to break out of the novelty act box in movies and what they're doing with Amber and Harry on Glee is a little bit similar, she's there to sing, he's there to dance. But there are signs of them being given chances to show what they can do acting-wise, which would be great.

[angearia]

I spent the last minute of the Nicholas brothers' clip watching with my jaw dropped. The on beat jumping splits down the stairs - WOW.

Thanks for sharing. Very interesting thoughts. And I actually just did a marathon watch of the past five episodes and I've gotta agree that I'm loving Jane Lynch's character.

[aycheb]

They're amazing aren't they. And, I think, really well known by black performers and audiences and by other dancers but never given the chance to get wider recognition at the time - even the "Be a Clown" routine was cut from showings of The Pirate in some Southern cities.

I think my favourite Sue moment comes after they sing Hate on Me and she's ploughing down the corridor to the March of the Valkyries and telling Schue he's a paranoid schizophrenic without looking back or even breaking her stride.

[aycheb]

Arthur Freed wrote "Make 'em Laugh" for the Donald O'Connor number in Singin' in the Rain without realising he'd originally written it some years before as "Be a Clown." The Pirate isn't in the class of Singin' but it's flawed in interesting ways, one of them being so blatant in its themes. It doesn't really have a standout number, I think Judy singing Mack the Black was meant to be that but she was too pill-addled and down-breaking to perform it. I've always liked Gene Kelly's honest assessment of himself as a hoofer. He has the hyper masculinity that works well in ballet but I think the best thing he did wasn't so much his own dancing but his pushing for and introducing ballet style choreography into musicals.

You know, I think Matt Morrison looks a bit like James Masters (but taller) maybe it's the hair. I like all the cast to be honest, they've got a real first season happy ensemble thing going and it shows.