"The Glee Project" Contestants Perform on The Today Show, And It Sucked

Glee is one of my favorite shows, so it pains me to say this.

If any, and I mean any of these kids end up getting a serious role on Glee, I will cease to watch the show.

The twelve finalists of The Glee Project, a reality competition where people fight for a seven episode guest role on the popular TV show, performed Katy Perry's "Firework" on The Today Show this morning. Try and blame it on nerves or whatever you want, but every single one of them were terrible. No one sang on key, some were overdramatic as hell, and everyone was so stereotypical that it was almost painful to watch.

Now I actually want to watch this show, just to see what the hell Ryan Murphy was thinking?

If you can bare it, check their performance below and share your thoughts. Do you think any one of them can stand against Lea Michele, Darren Criss, or hell, even Harry Shum Jr?

Brandon's Lists: The Best Glee Duets Ever

Glee is a show about singing.

Duets are a big part of singing.

So, Glee does duets, right?

Excuse my attempt at propositional logic, just had to get it out of my system.

Most of the characters in Glee are obsessed with getting solos, but when they actually team up and sing together, some great moments occur. In fact, some of the best Glee moments were duet performance.

With some input from one of my best friends Marc, I have compiled a list of the best (aka my favorite) duets from the past two seasons of Glee. Just a note: if you aren't a big fan of Rachel, you're probably going to hate my list, since she accounts for 70% of the list. Let's be honest though, as annoying as Rachel can be, she is easily the best singer in the group.

Check out the list after the jump:

Brandon's Lists: The Best Glee Season 2 Performances

This past season of Glee has brought us a lot of excellent performances from its young cast. There were a few that stood out from the rest to stand amongst the iconic musical moments of the first season. So, without further ado, here are my choices for the best Glee performances from the second season:

5. Get It Right (sung by Rachel) - Rachel's declaration of love to Finn was really more of a vocal showcase for the character's powerhouse actress Lea Michele. Still, of the four original songs, this was the most emotionally satisfying and believable. Plus, Lea Michele is a freaking powerhouse.

4. Landslide (sung by Holly, Santana, and Brittany) - Holly Holiday was a pretty awesome guest character (and Gwyneth Paltrow a pretty good singer), but that is not what made this song for everybody. It was Santana's heartbreaking performance, as she professed her conflicted feelings of love to Brittany. It was a turning point for the character, and the best bit of "music-as-character-development" that Glee did all year. My only wish is that Santana sung it by herself.

3. For Good (sung by Kurt and Rachel) - I just wrote about this yesterday, and it just happened the day before that, but it's obvious to anyone with eyes and ears that this performance was a classic. Flawless vocals, dramatic staging, and an excellent song from Wicked made for something truly magical in that theater, and in the hearts of millions.

2. Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again (sung by Rachel and Kurt) - This reboot of the Barbra Streisand/Judy Garland classic was such a no-brainer, yet such a wonderful stroke of genius on Ryan Murphy's part. The iconic duet fit Rachel and Kurt to a tee, and just like they would do in New York, they created pure magic. Arguably the best duet in Glee history.

1. Teenage Dream (sung by Blaine and the Warblers) - It's the song that started it all. When we watched Blaine (played by the so-charismatic-it-hurts Darren Criss) and his group at Dalton Academy perform a showcase featuring the Katy Perry smash, everyone fell in love. It is the most successful Glee song on iTunes for a reason; who could forget the flawless harmonies and Criss' soaring vocals? It would only be the beginning of Blaine's numerous scene-stealers throughout the season.

Download of the Day: "For Good" by the Glee Cast (featuring Lea Michele and Chris Colfer)

Rachel (Lea Michele) and Kurt (Chris Colfer) are my favorite Glee duo

Glee is one of those rollercoaster shows for me: when they aim high, they touch the stars. When they are low, they are down in the dirt (sometimes literally).

But once in a few episodes, there will be a magical moment that completely restores faith in Glee's role as a pop culture touchstone.

That moment occurred on last night's episode, the season finale, when Rachel and Kurt snuck into the theater that houses the Broadway smash Wicked and sang the show's closing number, "For Good". Not so ironically, the original singers of the song, Kristen Chenowith and Idina Menzel, have appeared on the show before. I've never heard the original before, nor have I seen the musical, but I could tell that it is one worth seeing.

Back to the song. Glee has been really good at choosing songs that really match well with the storylines of the show. What made this song truly special was that it was about more than just them singing their hearts out, imagining their future. "For Good" served as a nice capping off on Rachel and Kurt's evolving friendship, especially this season. I've always thought that Lea Michele and Chris Colfer had the best vocal chemistry (especially after their epic duet "Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again"), and it follows through here in spades. Colfer has never been better, and Michele had a brilliant mix of diva belting and duet grace. When the two sing in harmony in the song's climax, it is one of the most beautiful musical moments that Glee has ever produced.

While many people will salivate over Finn and Rachel's great duet during Nationals, it was Rachel and Finn's stage dreams that will be remembered as one of Glee's top moments.

The Best Bits from the Glee Season Finale

Last night, Glee pulled the curtain on what I consider an uneven second season, with the New Directions heading to New York City to compete in Nationals. After viewing and re-viewing the episode, here are my top moments from the season finale:

Finn wows Rachel with a classic
New York date

Finn and Rachel finally "get it right" - They have been dancing around each other for months, with an absolutely wicked (in a bad way) detour with Quinn thrown in for good measure. But Glee's star-crossed lovers Finn and Rachel finally reunited, albeit temporary, as Rachel assured Finn that she would leave Ohio to pursue her dreams in New York. Still, Finchel fans will surely consider this a landmark episode, one where Finn finally fought for his girl, wining and dining her in Central Park, and kissing her twice, once after their duet "Pretending" and again on the floor of the library. Here's to hoping that they will keep it right through Season 3 (serious Ryan Murphy, don't break them up again, at least not until the season finale).

"I Love New York/New York, New York" mashup - Of all of the mash-ups that Glee did this season, this was by far their best. It was fun, funky, spunky, and just all-around fun, and the fusion of the Madonna track and the standard classic was a stroke of genius. Plus, there is no better backdrop than the streets of the Big Apple.

Rachel and Kurt Singing "For Good" - It's official; Rachel and Kurt account for two of the top five music moments of this season. Their performance of the Wicked closing number was an emotionally resonant, flawless showstopper that put their two Nationals numbers to shame. Maybe if they performed this there instead of in an empty theater, New Directions would have won.


Kurt and Blaine's Catch-Up - I think I speak for everyone when I say that Blaine is the best addition to a television show in ages. So, seeing him was a treat, even though he was just staring dreamily at Kurt. The "I love you" totally came out of nowhere, but it seemed very natural and another perfect moment for the little couple that can.

Santana's Spanish Rant - It was only a few seconds, but seeing Santana scream at Finn and Rachel in Spanish was literally the greatest thing ever. The best part? We finally know about the "wrong side of the tracks" that Santana goes on about. I would cross "Lima Heights Adjacent" off the tourism list.

The Sam/Mercedes Surprise - Ryan Murphy hinted at a new couple, but who would've thought Sam and Mercedes? It does make sense, though; maybe they got closer after the prom on a budget date? Still, it was very cute, seeing them try to hide it from Blaine and Kurt.

Download of the Day Christmas Edition: Last Christmas by the Glee Cast

Christmas is supposed to be a happy time for all, where you spend time with family and share in the experience.

There are times, as Glee's Finn Hudson and Rachel Berry can tell you, when Christmas can be quite painful and sad. The couple saw their relationship fall apart as they shopped for Christmas trees for the Glee club. Of course, singing their feelings was easier than actually saying them, so to express them, Rachel and Finn chose to sing the Wham classic "Last Christmas".

Last Christmas, Rachel gave Finn her heart,
but the very next day...

The pop ballad, sung by 80's icon George Michael, translates awesomely into the new decade, sounding as fresh as it did twenty-something years ago. Commenting on Lea Michele's voice after all of the songs she has sung on this show is a bit redundant, but I will say that this is one of her best, if not most restrained, vocal performances yet. Cory Montieth continues to improve with his vocals, even hitting some pretty impressive power notes. Lea and Cory have some of the best duet chemistry in television history, and this song perfectly highlights how and why.

Once again, Glee has worked its magic, making a relatively old song sound fresh enough for a new audience to enjoy. It's excellent evidence for the claim that Glee is a pop cultural game changer.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Glee's Matthew Morrison Joins Leona Lewis In London For "Over The Rainbow"

UK pop star Leona Lewis had a big surprise for her fans at the O2 Arena last night.

Leona, in the middle of her Labyrinth tour in the UK, invited Glee star Matthew Morrison on stage to perform a duet of "Over The Rainbow".

Morrison plays Will Schuester, the charismatic Spanish teacher who revives the Glee club and takes it all the way to Regionals. He sang "Over The Rainbow" on the show's season finale, which aired last week in the United States. Morrison and other Glee cast members are in London for a promotional tour for the series.

There are rumors swirling that Leona may be doing an episode of the highly popular show in its second season, and this performance will surely help fan the flames.

Check the great performance below:

TV Review: Glee Goes to Regionals!

SPOILERS AHEAD

It's all about the "Journey".

I would like to say that New Directions' decision to do a Journey medley for their Regionals performance was predictable, but I really didn't see it coming. It was also a wonderful way to come full circle, since "Don't Stop Believin" was the song that put the show on the map back in May of last year.

As I expected, the season finale of the most exciting new show of the year was truly amazing, and definitely made up for the weakness of last week's "Funk" episode. The show was full of charm, joy, hilarity, and more than a few heart-tugging, Kleenex-grasping moments. While there are still some questions, everything for the most part was wrapped up enough for a clean slate this September.

Finn and Rachel fans got their big moment tonight when, just before going on stage, Finn told Rachel that he loved her. The way he said it, coupled seconds later with the power ballad opening number "Faithfully" was an emotional one-two punch. Speaking about that song, it may just be my favorite musical number of the entire season; Lea Michele's voice is revelatory and the high note she hits almost stopped my heart. I'm actually listening to the full version of the song as I type, and this might just make my Top 100. The rest of the Journey medley was amazing, and I was pleasantly surprised to see my girl Santana get a solo in the song (dear Ryan Murphy, Naya Rivera needs more solos. She can actually sing!). Even though there was so much happiness and pure joy in the performance, you can't help getting emotional watching it, especially if you've been watching since the beginning. It was cathartic seeing the kids finally get their chance to shine like the stars they are.

Of course, it would've been too easy to have New Directions take home their first Regionals championship. It turns out that Olivia Newton-John is a mega-bitch who only likes show choirs who sing her songs and doesn't like brunettes, and Josh Groban is attracted to Sue Sylvester and not much else. They were hilarious, even though while watching I could barely suppress my desire to purchase voodoo dolls in their image for voting against the glee kids. Surprisingly, it was Sue who put New Directions as her number-one pick; she clearly feels for those ill-shapen kids more than she lets on.

The other big story was Quinn finally giving birth to the spawn of Puck, to the 5-minute Vocal Adrenaline performance of "Bohemian Rhapsody" no less. Ryan Murphy's gonna have to explain that one to me, because I'm pretty sure women spend hours in labor. Oh well, it was entertaining nonetheless, especially with Quinn yelling "you suck" at everyone in the room as she pushed. Another few gold nuggets: Mercedes was invited to the delivery, as was Quinn's mother, after leaving her husband, who cheated with a "tattooed freak" (ouch, Jesse James dig). Puck and Quinn shared a very sweet, although slightly confusing scene outside of the hospital nursery, where Puck admitted that he loved Quinn both before and now. Not sure what that means for the future, but it could be interesting. The baby story closed in a very surprising way, with Shelby adopting their baby to finally start the family she couldn't with Rachel. Will we ever see them again? Hopefully.

So, with Glee not placing at Regionals, everyone was ready to pack it in, except Emma Pillsbury. In a surprising show of passion, she got into a screaming match with Principal Figgins and then chastised Will for not fighting harder for the group. He countered with an "I love you" and a kiss, even though she's dating her dentist. After the third love declaration of the night, the Glee kids sang "To Sir, With Love" as a thank you for his support. It was touching to hear in the beginning how far they all came since joining the club. We also got another solo from Santana, and Mike and Matt (aka the two boys who aren't Finn, Puck, and Kurt) actually spoke words. As Will packed up the room, Sue revealed that she used her powers of sexual blackmail to get another year for Glee. We also learned that she does admire Will's dedication to his kids. She also admires beating him, and not being able to do that would suck for her. So, Sue came through. Nice touch. After celebrating their renewal, Will gave the gift of song back to the kids, singing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" with Puck.

There were definitely some rocky bits, but the season was wrapped up very nicely with this episode. The music was brilliantly performed, the big moments were awesome, and even though they didn't win, the ending was still satisfying. It goes to show that in the end, the journey is often better than the destination.

Musical Number of the Night: "Faithfully"

How Glee's "Theatricality" Episode is Proof of Lady Gaga's Importance

Last night, television phenomenon Glee dedicated an episode to Lady Gaga. As I wrote in my review, Gaga would be proud of how the show was executed, and not because of the spectacular costumes.

Gaga has said in interviews that one of the goals of her music was to provide asylum for the social outcasts, much like she was when she was a teenager. She wanted to free them from feeling like they weren't worth loving and allow them to be themselves, no matter how different from the social norm they are.

Watching Glee last night, that message was brought home. As Kurt and Tina walked around in Gaga's finest, and Finn, after initial apprehension, stood up for Kurt's right to be who he is publicly, it sent a message that many middle and high school students should be reading closely. Despite what decades, if not centuries, of teenage interaction have embedded in our psyches, it is not wrong to be an individual and express it however you choose.

She may or may not realize it, but Gaga is responsible for delivering that message, and making it stick.

While some may argue I'm giving her too much credit, it is not a farfetched theory. There is no doubt that, in less than two years, Lady Gaga has become a pop megastar. She has sold over 11 million copies worldwide of her first two albums, sold out a world tour well into 2011, and she has had six straight #1 singles on US pop radio. What makes her success all the more staggering is her status as one of the most excessively different, successful pop stars ever.

I italicize "successful" because there are Gaga detractors who argue that she has taken her iconic looks from a variety of artists, from Grace Jones to Roisin Murphy, which ultimately waters down her accomplishments. No disrespect intended to them, but when was the last time they had a global hit, or a successful tour, or a multi-platinum album? Sure, there are many artists who break from the mainstream mold with avant-garde style and music (Bjork comes to mind). What makes Gaga special is her ability to take her avant-garde style and music and break it into the mainstream mold. Not since David Bowie has someone completely shattered the typical image of what a pop singer was, and been truly successful doing it. I mean, no one else is wearing bubble dresses and lobster hats, are they?

And while some people will accuse Gaga of being a buch of gimmicks strung together, it's undeniable that her music and imagery are seamless. "Bad Romance", which may be her signature song, wouldn't be the same without her iconic music video. And that idea is what makes her success so important to the shifting social landscape, especially amongst her young fanbase. "Bad Romance" was a global smash, aided by her image, her completely out-there, never-been-done-like-this image. While an amazing pop song on its own, it was Gaga's visual masterpiece that catapulted it to the top of the charts around the world. The success of her combined musical and visual presentation have proven that conformity isn't always the best policy, if it has to be at all.

Gaga's style, whether it be hair bows or bubble dresses, is highly inaccessible to more conservative factions of society. You know what else is highly inaccessible to them? Differing religious or sexual preferences. As Glee's Finn aptly put it when describing Lima, Ohio, they aren't like New York or San Francisco or other places that don't fry their vegetables. Yet, Gaga's singles are almost guaranteed #1 hits. That wouldn't be possible if Gaga wasn't received in some way by Middle America, which is considerably more conservative than their eastern and western counterparts. If Gaga can reach these people, why can't LGBT or Muslims?

What Gaga has done is shown the world, and in particular America, that being different and showing it does not spell the end of civilization as we know it. While some outlets will accuse her videos of corrupting children, in reality, she has been freeing them of the social chains that have bogged them down for generations. In a world where people are literally killing themselves because they are tortured for trying to be themselves, Gaga has served as the poster woman for a more tolerant childhood experience.

Last night, Finn wore a Gaga-inspired red rubber dress when confronting Kurt's bullies, despite his own season-long fears of no longer being accepted by the popular crowd. What it appears he learned is that, no matter how popular you are, it doesn't matter if you can't be yourself and be happy.

Maybe it was the red rubber, but it seems like Gaga had a lot to do with that lesson.

TV Review: Glee Goes Gaga!

Last night's episode of Glee was marketed as featuring the music (and hilarious styles) of pop princess Lady Gaga. However, something far more profound emerged from "Theatricality", which her Gaganess would highly approve of.

The episode had Will getting the Glee clubbers to expose their wacky, freaky sides to aid Tina, using Lady Gaga as a reference point. All of the girls and Kurt went, you guessed it, "Gaga" over the idea, but the men were less than thrilled. Instead, they took their cues from legendary rock band KISS.

Yet, with all the makeup, glitter, and bubbles, the show proved to be more about accepting the freak inside instead of actually expressing it. The show successfully toed the line between powerful and preachy, thanks to some stunning performances and surprisingly frank and honest writing on Murphy's part. The episode was also able to wrap up some seriously loose strings very nicely, and push other stories further as Regionals approached.

The prevailing plotline of the night featured Kurt and Finn, who were forced to share the basement after their parents decided to move in together. Already uncomfortable with his mom's new relationship, Finn was pushed to the edge as Kurt tried to make the new arrangement work for the both of them. Finn criticized Kurt for not being able to blend in with the crowd, choosing to put his sexuality on display and attracting the bullying. There was considerable truth, if not a full on commentary on middle America, in this quip: "We live in Ohio, not New York or Ohio or some other place where they eat vegetables that aren't fried". Finn recoiled when Kurt tried to help him remove the KISS makeup for which he was made fun of by those bastard jocks in the bathroom earlier. Things hit a shocking pitch when Kurt's efforts to redecorate the room are rebuked and Finn basically loses it. He finally confronts the elephant in the room; that Kurt has a crush on him and that it is so uncomfortable that he has to put on his underwear in the bathroom so Kurt won't look. When Kurt says they can change the room, Finn unleashes the slur "fag" twice describing the room. This didn't sit well with Kurt's dad Burt, who gave Finn one of the biggest verbal smackdowns I have ever seen, ultimately throwing him out in defense of his son. The whole scene was intensely and beautifully acted by all three, but Mike O'Malley was an absolute revelation, and if he (and the show for that matter) are not nominated for Emmys next year, there is no justice. Finn, realizing his grievous error, stood up to Kurt's bullies wearing his own type of a superhero outfit: Gaga's infamous red rubber dress from meeting the Queen. It was spectacular character development for Finn, who has been hesitant about his role in the club since day one, to finally let go and accept that being normal isn't everything.

Rachel finally got her wish when she discovered her mom was Shelby (played by Idina Menzel) as she sang Barbra Streisand's "Funny Girl". Unfortunately for her, it wasn't the slow motion run into each other's arms, as Shelby put it, that either was hoping for. It turns out, despite her machinations, Shelby wanted her baby back, not a 16-year old with an ego the size of Texas. While it did seem rushed, it was pretty smart of them to wrap up the storyline quickly. I mean, how many more Barbra duets can we hear before we get bored? To close the door on their story, the two women sang a great, stripped-down version of "Poker Face".

Another story approaching a conclusion was the Puck/Quinn baby drama. Puck, who's gaining more and more interest in playing daddy, wanted to name his daughter Jackie Daniels, to the utter refusal of Quinn. Realizing his error (or the utter stupidity of that name), Puck sang a tribute to his unborn daughter to the tune of "Beth", KISS's power ballad. "Beth" also served as the name Puck wanted to give the baby. This was my second favorite Puck performance after "Lady is a Tramp" and I find myself looking forward to Mark Salling doing solos.

For the first time really, the show's plot really took precedence over the sparkly musical numbers. There was serious plot and character development, and the actors (O'Malley, Monteith, and Colfer in particular) were really able to shine. But of course, the show had to have some pretty epic music and costumes, right?

I got the greatest kick out of all of the Gaga costumes, which looked impressively amateurish (which was the point; I don't think McKinley High can afford those McQueen crazy shoes). It goes to show just how iconic Gaga has become in her short career. My favorite is actually a three-way tie with different reasons for each one. Quinn looked stunning in Gaga's Grammy red carpet dress, Santana looked ridiculously sexy in the full black lace outfit Gaga wore around London earlier this year, and Finn just looked ridiculous, and hilarious, in the red Queen dress. To be fair to the guys, the KISS costumes were kick-ass, although the only ones I could really discern from were Finn (on the drums) and Artie (in the wheelchair).

The best performance, by far, was "Bad Romance". Everything, from the choreography to the costumes to the vocals, was spectacular, and my favorite Glee performance so far. Rachel and Shelby's "Poker Face" was great. As for the KISS songs, "Beth" proved to be the emotional core of the show, while "Shout It Out" was properly rockin'. 

"Theatricality" was arguably the best show of the season so far. My only gripe was the missed opportunity of having Sue Sylvester and Emma Pillsbury not involved in the Gaga episode. Other than that, it was an emotionally resonant spectacle, and easily one of the best hours of television I've seen all year.