The Return of THE MUPPETS

Article originally published as THE MUPPETS Review on Seat42F.

THE MUPPETS are back! The franchise that has spawned more than half a dozen feature films and a number of television specials and TV shows in the past are once again on the small screen on a weekly basis. From Bill Prady (The Big Bang Theory) and Bob Kushell (Anger Management) comes a contemporary look at everyone’s favorite felt characters.

The premise for the new show is simple enough. Miss Piggy (herself; just kidding, though the show would like you to think so) has become the first female late night host on Up Late With Miss Piggy. Kermit, now her ex-boyfriend, is the producer, Fozzie serves as the sidekick, and The Electric Mayhem provide the house band. The rest of the Muppets work on the show, including Kermit’s new girlfriend, Denise (who is also a pig, by the way). So the group has a natural reason to come together, and the late night show is a good way to bring on lots of celebrity guest stars easily.

The format is a bit different from past efforts in that it’s basically The Office. It’s a documentary-style piece, and the politics behind-the-scenes call to mind a certain paper company, though with the Muppets’ trademark humor. Basically, it is made to feel like many other sitcoms currently on the air, which is where its ‘modern’ sensibility claim comes in.

Earlier this summer, I had the opportunity to preview the ten minute presentation that sold this show to ABC. In that version, the Muppets come back together to remake The Muppet Show, and Miss Piggy, who was starring in films, has to be coaxed to join in. I am disappointed at the changes made in the official first episode because it makes the story more pedestrian to remove the crazy antics of The Muppet Show from the set up. However, it does make more sense for Piggy to have success and it’s nice she isn’t coming back to work over a man. The new pilot emphasizes her independent spirit, a key component of the character that can’t be overlooked in this age. Plus, a lot of the good jokes from that presentation are retained.

Overall, I like, don’t love, THE MUPPETS (though I loved the ten minute video). So far, that is. The first episode focuses on Piggy’s feud with Elizabeth Banks (herself) and Fozzie trying to impress his girlfriend’s (Riki Linhome) father (Jere Burns), while the second sees Kermit trying to help Piggy find love with Josh Groban (himself). The second is superior because of funnier bits, but both point to where the show might go.

Both of these stories are relatively tame and typical of modern sitcoms, and can be found on any other show. That’s OK; The Muppets have never been entirely original in their plots. However, what makes them so special is the personalities of the individual characters, and when the story mostly focuses on Kermit and Piggy trying to work together after a break up, it drags things down. If future installments instead commit to playing up the zany aspects of all of the other characters, which the second episode does better, it will improve and get back to what fans of the franchise want.

We also want Kermit and Piggy together, of course. It’s fine to keep them apart from a time to force drama and forward momentum, but this can’t be a series-long arc. They both clearly still care deeply for one another, and Kermit replacing Piggy with a skinner pig (never mind that she’s nicer) won’t sit well with many. Hopefully, this story gets gone through quickly and THE MUPPETS gets back to the essential heart of The Muppets.

THE MUPPETS premieres Tuesday, September 22^nd at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Glee finishes the "Journey to Regionals"

     This summer, I'll be going back to review the season one episodes of FOX's Glee. These are fresh reviews, not reposts, and I hope you will enjoy reliving the first season with me.

     It's with both relief and sadness that the summer of season one Glee reviews reaches its end. The finale of the FOX hit, "Journey to Regionals," sometimes wrongly listed as "Journey," is just about a perfect episode, and thus provides some closure for the first year of one of television's most original series. In the finale, the New Directions compete in Regionals, and lose. Romance is explored, and a baby finds a loving home. Sue (Jane Lynch) even grows a heart. In the tradition of Glee, it's all about feeling good.

     As the episode begins, the New Directions are devastated to learn that Sue has been named to the all-celebrity judging panel for the Midwestern Regional Show Choir competition. Feeling like this means an automatic loss for them, and s Figgins (Iqbal Theba) has vowed to disband the club if they come in last, the whole group spirals into depression. It's up to Will (Matthew Morrison) to raise their spirits, reminding them that it's all about the fun of the journey, not the results. Finn (Cory Monteith) separately convinces Rachel (Lea Michele) that they must step up and lead in this dark hour, which brings them back together as a couple. So the New Directions do not lack direction.

     Because of the journey theme, Will decides that they will perform only Journey songs for Regionals. This ties into the episode title nicely, and this whole season has been about the "Journey to Regionals" for the kids, anyway. They absolutely slay "Faithfully," a mash-up of "Anyway You Want It / Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'," and, of course, a new version of "Don't Stop Believin'," which features more soloists. It's a triumphant performance set, made all the better because the kids finally look and feel like a real show choir group. Their costumes may be cheesy, but they capture the spirit. The audience, made up of Glee fans, roar their approval.

     OK, so maybe a show choir audience wouldn't rise to their feet, or cheer Puck (Mark Salling) just for opening his mouth. So it is kind of obvious that these are fans of the series, and not just extras lined up to fill seats. But that also makes their enthusiasm real, and the young actors feed off of it, delivering a fantastic performance. The authenticity comes through on screen, leading to a more powerful set. So it's a good decision, even if threatens continuity. The only question left is, how do they possibly come in third place?

     That can be explained by the judging panel, and we're not talking about Sue here. Olivia Newton John and Josh Groban return to play terrible versions of themselves, the former even claiming to be offended that only one group honors her in song. Rod Remington (Bill A. Jones) is back, too, strangely, since that makes two people from McKinley's area in a regional celebrity judging panel. All three call into question Sue's status as a celebrity. Never mind that Rod is a local newscaster, and Sue is a nationally known coach, so she is arguably more famous. They also trash the New Directions, Newton John wondering if they come from a "poor school." And they lump Sue in with the kids as people that try hard, but just don't have the talent to make it.

     Sue is personally offended, but she also feels bad as an educator. No matter what one says about Sue, and there is plenty to bust her on, at the end of the day, she cares about kids. She is generally portrayed as tough because she thinks that is what will help them succeed. As much as she hates Will, even Sue knows how hard the New Directions work. Faced with equally heartless judges, she rebels, and votes for the New Directions for first place. Though her one vote is not enough to keep them from finishing last.

     It's a devastating blow to the New Directions' egos, after what they consider their best performance to date. They are sent home where the group will be disbanded. Will packs up his room, and the kids sing a tearful "To Sir, With Love" goodbye to thank him for how he has touched all of their lives. Even Matt (Dijon Talton) gets to speak up with a rare line. Finn says Will is a father figure.

     Sue witnesses all of this, and knows that she cannot possibly allow the club to go under now. As tough as she is, she knows this is just too much for the kids to take. So she blackmails Figgins to reinstate them for another year, telling Will she is worried about losing a nemesis. It's a thin excuse, and Will sees her for what she is being - a nice person - and calls her on it. Sue denies it, and status quo is reinstated. To celebrate, Will sings "Over the Rainbow" to his ecstatic group.

     Perhaps somewhat surprising is Emma's (Jayma Mays) reaction at the threat of no more New Directions. She screams at Figgins in his office, something that seems out of character for her, but under the circumstances, works. Will knows it must be about more than the students, and confesses his love to Emma, despite her having an, as yet unseen, new dentist boyfriend. He even kisses her, something the actress Mays didn't know was going to happen, and so her shocked reaction is genuine. This leaves a hanging thread all summer, as the audience wonders if Emma will dump her new guy for Will. Spoiler: she won't.

     Interestingly, one of only three groups (see my previous complaints about the competition system in earlier reviews), Aural Intensity, is not shown singing. We hear them only briefly, and see them just at the awards. Characters also talk about how much better the New Directions already are than Aural Intensity. This is a little strange, because Aural Intensity is seen as a serious competitor in season two, one that is a real threat to the New Directions winning. Perhaps it would have been better to not re-use this group name next year.

     Vocal Adrenaline is shown performing. This allows one last showcase of Jesse's (Jonathan Groff) talents in a large, sweeping version of "Bohemian Rhapsody." It's fantastic, even though, as Rachel correctly asserts, he doesn't show much heart. Even better, the number is intermixed with scenes of Quinn (Dianna Agron) giving birth, and some of the lyrics even make sense with the cut scenes they are paired with. This deepening has the affect of making the whole number mean much more.

     Quinn's life comes together just in time for the baby. Mercedes (Amber Riley) and Puck, as well as the rest of the glee club, stand by her side for the event. Quinn's mother (Charlotte Ross) even shows up to right her wrong, saying she kicked Quinn's dad out, and wants Quinn and the baby to come home with her. Given those circumstances, one might think Quinn would choose to keep the baby, providing an all around happy ending. Instead, in a very sad moment, Quinn decides that it will be better if she doesn't keep the infant, which Puck goes ahead and names Beth. It's a mature decision for a high schooler to make.

     Rachel gets one more scene with her mother, Shelby (Idina Menzel), congratulating her on her group's performance, but asserting, apparently wrongly, that the New Directions are better. Perhaps she just means that the New Directions are on an upswing, while Vocal Adrenaline is coming down. But either way, Rachel asks Shelby to switch to McKinley and co-coach the glee club. She declines, dashing Rachel's last hope that they will form a mother-daughter relationship.

     This is a little odd, because Shelby cites that she will be leaving glee club coaching to raise a family. She knows she's missing something important from her life, and seeks to correct that imbalance. That's all well and good, and it's great that Shelby takes baby Beth. But shouldn't she also include the family she already has? It's a slap in Rachel's face for Shelby to say that she wants a family, but not offer her biological daughter a place in the structure. Hopefully that will be corrected with Shelby's upcoming season three arc.

     And so, there you have it. Lots of emotion, lots of wonderful singing, and a nice wrap up to a number of large arcs. There are still things to look forward to in season two, such as seeing Rachel and Finn together, and how Quinn will reinvent herself. But it's a neat ending, properly finishing off the first chapter of a bold television experiment.

     Make sure you tune tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET for the season three premiere of Glee on FOX.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Glee reviews.

 

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Article first published as TV Review: Glee - "Journey to Regionals" on Blogcritics.

Glee introduces the "Acafellas"

      This summer, I'll be going back to review the season one episodes of FOX's Glee. These are fresh reviews, not reposts, and I hope you will enjoy reliving the first season with me.

     FOX's Glee's third episode is "Acafellas." In it, Rachel (Lea Michele) insults Will's (Matthew Morrison) choreography skills, so he turns his attentions to forming a boy band called Acafellas. The New Directions set out to hire a new dance teacher, except Finn (Cory Monteith), who understands that Will just has bruised feelings, and they should fix things with him. Mercedes (Amber Riley) is depressed about being single, and is encouraged to seek out Kurt (Chris Colfer) as a potential boyfriend. Needless to say, this does not end well. At the same time, Sue (Jane Lynch) has her Cheerio spies pulling the strings to divide the glee club, and their actions are related to the unfortunate events above.


     The main theme of this episode is confidence. Those that have it will achieve their dreams and be happy. Those that do not will fail. Many of the characters face various dilemmas of confidence.

     Quinn (Dianna Agron) perhaps figures it out best, telling Sue that the cheerleading coach teaches her a valuable lesson. If one is confident, they do not need to bring other people down. Does this mean Sue is deeply not at peace with herself? There's not much to indicate that that's true, however Quinn has an excellent point. It's why the Cheerios will soon stop trying to destroy the New Directions. It may also be why Sue will not be happy anytime soon. Luckily, things in the late season two episode "Funeral" hint at another path for Sue to find fulfillment.

     Finn is confident that the New Directions can succeed, while Rachel is not. This leads Rachel, and the others, to seek out legendary choreographer Dakota Stanley (Whit Hertford). But despite all the effort it takes to land Dakota, Rachel eventually realizes Finn is right, after all, and Dakota just wants to change the club. He is an angry, little man, not at all happy. Whereas the New Directions are better off without him trying to change them. Thankfully, Rachel comes to her senses, and fires Dakota, finally listening to Finn.

     Kurt is facing a serious lack of confidence, in that he can't bring himself to come out of the closet. The fact that he has no trouble airing his flamboyant tastes and wearing "fashionable" clothes, but can't bring himself to tell people that he's gay, should help the straight viewers understand just how big a deal it is to admit one is homosexual. Or so I imagine, finding myself in the straight viewer category. This is a boy who shows tremendous courage every day in being himself, but has one big "secret" he cannot find the strength to admit. There's hope, as he does come out to one person, Mercedes, in an incredibly sweet scene. The first of many for breakout star Colfer.

     Mercedes is still struggling with being confident in herself two years later. She is just finding her first boyfriend as season two ends. This is sad, because she is extremely talented, compassionate, and has a lot of offer. She proves her brass with the only solo performance in the episode, "Bust Your Windows," a fantastic demonstration of her sassy attitude. She is confident in her voice, but not with her body. Sadly, this is not an unusual problem. Having confidence in something about yourself does not automatically cover everything

     "Acafellas" is brimming with wonderful guest stars. Among the top talent are Victor Garber (Eli Stone, Alias) and Debra Monk (Damages, Grey's Anatomy) as Will's parents. Both of these two are fabulous singers, yet neither get the chance to croon on Glee. They just show up as supportive parents. While they are great in those roles, it's a little sad they never showcase their singing abilities. Will's father's decision to return to night school to become a lawyer is a decent explanation for why they have never returned, since that would keep him very busy. Yet they are now overdue for a comeback, with a song this time.

     Also appearing is Josh Groban as himself, which he later does again in this first season of Glee. The conceit to get him there in "Acafellas," with him showing up to watch the Acafellas because Sandy (Stephen Tobolowsky) invites him, but he really comes to deliver a restraining order, is thin, at best. Surely, restraining orders are not usually delivered personally. And on that errand, the victim doesn't stick around to watch a musical group perform for the PTA. It's gratuitous. But one hilarious line he utters, "Josh Groban loves a blousy alcoholic," makes it worth it, even though it adds nothing to the plot.

     Musically, this episode doesn't give anything to the New Directions, which is pretty unusual. Mercedes gets the aforementioned number, which strangely enough, she does with Cheerio backing, even though her fellow glee club members are nearby. Granted, the entire thing is in her head, but still... Why would she choose the popular kids that don't like her rather than her supportive friends?

     Vocal Adrenaline also returns with "Mercy," apparently a piece just meant to show that Dakota is a ruthless dictator with his choreography. It looks impressive, but without any characters to care about in the group, that's all it is.

     The rest of the numbers are performed by Acafellas, which originally consists of Will, Ken (Patrick Gallagher), Howard (Kent Avenido), and Henri (Tony Award Winning Broadway star John Lloyd Young). Strangely, and regrettably, Henri is only in this one episode, and does not get to be featured heavily singing. Another missed opportunity, like Garber and Monk. This first group sings "This Is How We Do It" and "Poison," as well as "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" with Sandy.

     Then Howard and Henri quit, and Finn and Puck (Mark Salling) join, as does Sandy, and the group does "I Wanna Sex You Up." All the Acafellas songs sound great, but they are only there to let Will taste a bit of his dream, not for any larger plot point. As such, the music in this episode, while well done, is less moving than in most episodes. After all, none of these pieces even make the Volume One soundtrack, save Mercedes's number.

     In what has become a regular part of these season one reviews, random continuity notes:

     Brittany (Heather Morris) is sometimes shown hanging out with Quinn and Santana (Naya Rivera), but mostly is left out, and it even missing from at least one New Directions group scene. Funnily enough, Morris is paired with Rivera in the opening credits. At least Brittany is featured dancing in "Bust Your Windows."

     Windshields do not bust in the manner in which Kurt's does. They are comprised of two sheets of glass with an adhesive bit in the middle. It takes a lot to put a hole in it, and it would develop long cracks, too. It appears to be tempered glass, which is generally used in the side windows. I actually found usefull, applicable knowledge from my sixteen months of handling auto insurance glass claims!

     Also, how does Kurt's father afford that vehicle? He is a mechanic, and is never shown as rich. It seems extravagant for effect, not realism.

     A school car wash made $8,000? Seriously? Has any school car wash ever made that much? That's a heck of a lot of clean cars. They should just do another one in season two when they need to raise money to get to New York City.

     Emma (Jayma Mays) slams John Stamos (Full House, ER) by saying "It takes more certainity than talent to be a star; look at John Stamos." A joke? Stamos will later play Emma's husband Carl in season two. Surely the people behind the series don't think badly of him, or he would never have been cast.

     This is the first episode Will is seen longing for a performing career. He gives it up because he finds teaching is his true calling. Watching this episode, his decision in the season two finale, "New York," should be predictable.

     Dakota Stanley calls Finn "Frankenteen." This will not be the last time Finn is called that. Actor Cory Monteith must enjoy it, because it's his twitter name.

     Puck says he has a thing for moms. While his attraction is about maturity, it could possibly have something to do with having kids, or Puck wanting to have kids. Perhaps this is foreshadowing, as once Quinn reveals she is pregnant with his baby, he tries to get with her.


     I welcome all of your musings and insights in the comments section below. Join me next week as I review the fourth episode of Glee season one, and also the fifth, if I have time.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

     To purchase Glee DVDs, streaming episodes, music, and more, please click here.

Article first published as TV Review: Glee - "Acafellas" on Blogcritics.