Lauren likes TV: Get up on this!

Glee (Wednesday, FOX, 9PM) ^[1] — Since the pilot in the spring, Glee has been on my mind. This was the show I couldn’t wait for this fall and it was certainly worth the wait. We were left with the New Directions version of ‘Don’t Stop Believin” in our heads all summer and I was ready for a change. During a commercial break Rosanna Scotto (FOX 5 NY news anchor) mentioned an interview with Salt-N-Pepa following that nights episode of Glee. I immediately thought, holy shit this is the ‘Push It’ episode and I was right. The New Directions surprise version of the 1987 jam left the students and all of us at home dancing in our seats, and the faculty of McKinley High with the their jaws on floor. Leading the disapproval was cheer dictator Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch), the bullish, and hilariously snide head coach of the Cheerios who’s out to get rid of the glee club. I LOL’d many times during the episode and love the music but I find the underlying darkness the most interesting and unique part of this show. When Coach Ken Tanaka confronts OCD Emma about her crush on married Will (“I’d be willing to put up with your crazy”) it was funny, but awkwardly sad. The show’s brilliant like that. Now the pamphlets in the guidance counselor office (My mom’s Bipolar and won’t stop yelling), those were just plain funny. I like this show a lot and it looks like the rest of the country is interested too… it scored 7.3 million viewers last week ^[2]. It’s only downfall was the celibacy club. What were those balloons about? They made me feel weird.

Somewhere In The Middle

90210 — Well, it was good to see the Beverly Hills Beach Club again. As for the show, not so much. That being said, I think I have to watch Annie’s life completely fall apart. Naomi is about to ruin her (sound familiar, Jame?). I’m totally looking forward to that. One upgrade… Silver’s hair. On the other hand, Dixon’s hair. Major downgrade.

Melrose Place — Hmmm, what to make of this. I didn’t hate it, and I didn’t love it. I also didn’t understand it. Is Sydney really dead? How can she be dead? Already? Again? What I do know is that Ashley Simpson couldn’t act her way out of a studio apartment in the Melrose complex. Awful. I’m not gonna hold this episode against the show… but next week counts.

Lowlights

Ellen DeGeneres is the new judge on American Idol ^[3]. I’m a fan of Ellen, but I do not understand this at all. But I am loving the Paula Abdul VH1 Diva commercial ^[4].

Kanye West is Heartless ^[5]… and immature and idiotic. At last night’s VMA’s, the outspoken rapper jumped on stage and interrupted Best Female Video winner, Taylor Swift ^[6] during her acceptance speech, ranting about Beyonce’s video (also nominated in the category). Congrats to Taylor Swift and big ups to Beyonce for inviting Taylor out on stage to re-accept her award when she won the Moon Man for Video of the Year.

What to Watch, Week of 9/14

More shows begin!

Monday

Gossip Girl — Does anyone remember what’s going on?

One Tree Hill — Not sure how this season is gonna turn out without beloved Lucas and Peyton. Chad Michael Murray and Hilarie Burton are not returning this season ^[7].

Thursday

The Office — Pam and Jim are preggers out of wedlock! I can’t imagine that will be for long. Enough of them though, I’ve missed Kevin.

Community — Joel McHale ^[8] on must-see-tv? Nuff said. You can watch a short preview on iTunes or read a review here ^[9].

VH1 Divas — Adele, Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson… should I go on?