Michael Jackson inspires latest Glee

 The latest installment of FOX's Glee is titled "Michael." To serve that title, the episode's various plots are threaded with songs from the late King of Pop. And what plots they are!

Blaine (Darren Criss) is injured when Sebastian (Grant Gustin) tampers with a slushie thrown in his face. Everyone is upset, especially Santana (Naya Rivera), who wants revenge. Kurt (Chris Colfer) is accepted into NYADA, while Rachel (Lea Michele) assumes she's been cut when she doesn't get a letter. Which leads to her accepting Finn's (Cory Monteith) marriage proposal, only to later regret it when she does get her notification.

Where to begin? Oh so much to discuss! How about letting the music be the guide? Unlike in other tribute-heavy episodes, "Michael" feels like the story drives the songs, rather than great music forcing plot to bend around it. It's a marked improvement over earlier efforts, and will make the episode a fan favorite for a long time to come. "Michael" isn't perfect, of course, but some fantastic numbers from the Michael Jackson song book, featuring both popular choices and some less so, really build a solid episode.

"Michael" opens with an awesome, Blaine-fronted "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'." The choreography is fantastic, including some heavy leaning, and the entire cast gets involved. It's good to see Blaine featured again. He hasn't exactly disappeared into McKinley's larger group, but many miss his frequent Warbler solos. Thus, any chance to let Blaine take center stage is more than welcome, especially when done as well as in this instance.

Soon after, "Bad" is just as good, highlighting a showdown between the New Directions and the Warblers. Much of it echoes the original music video, and it culminates in the fateful moment where the slushie is thrown. Finally, there's a villain to really hate! Sure, the mean jocks have been tossing slushies at the glee clubbers forever, but only someone truly evil would add rock salt to the mix. Blaine's injury is regrettable, but will provide a good excuse when Criss disappears for a couple of episodes to sing on Broadway.

The other full group number is "Black and White," which is when Santana, Kurt, and the others expose Sebastian as a slimy devil to the rest of the Warblers. As the Dalton Academy students, one by one, begin taking to the stage to join the main cast in another great song, Sebastian sits there and stews, before storming out after being totally exposed. Will the Warblers kick him out? Will they forgive him? Or will they just decide they need him to compete? And why is Glee considering making Sebastian a main character next year? Sure, he's intriguingly bad, but that doesn't mean he needs to stick around for multiple seasons.

Blaine may have his eye (heheh) opened about Sebastian now, but there will be lasting effects to their battle. The rock salt is meant for Kurt, not Blaine, of course, as Sebastian expresses a desire to steal Blaine away from his boy. But Sebastian also shows no regret for his actions, considering Blaine acceptable collateral. So how deep do those feelings really run? And how Sebastian expects to still woo Blaine after this is a mystery.
An even bigger mystery is why Blaine's closest friends, Rachel, Finn, and Kurt, choose to cheer him up with "Ben." By far the worst song in the episode, the characters have much better taste in music than that. A huge disappointment.

In a charged moment, Artie (Kevin McHale) jumps out of his wheelchair for the fantasy sequence "Scream," a duet with Mike Chang (Harry Shum Jr.). While Artie is not the best character, for sure, and has been getting more focus than he deserves, it's also always nice to see the annual moment when he stands on his own two feet. "Scream" continues that proud tradition. Leave it to Glee to inspire with something so sympathetic and cool, despite the character not living up to those adjectives. Plus, Mike Chang always makes everything better.

That's not all, though. Another musical highlight of "Michael" is "Smooth Criminal," which is a confrontation between Santana and Sebastian, backed up by some wicked cello playing. Sebastian claims he is better, but fans will probably agree with Santana's opposite assertion. In truth, the whole thing is fantastic. From Santana bragging about her cleverness in taping an audio recorder to her "underboob," to her circling threateningly around the bad guy, it all works. "Michael" needs a Santana moment, and this is it.

"Human Nature" is almost as good, with Sam (Chord Overstreet) romancing Mercedes (Amber Riley) the way she should be romanced. Though, Mercedes being unable to walk away from the song does bring to mind Community's fantastic Glee parody from this past December. Run, Mercedes! But not really. She and Sam should totally be together. Even if Glee has been completely unfair to the actor cast as her boyfriend; one wonders how he might have developed in the second half of this season if Sam hadn't returned...

Quinn's (Dianna Agron) "Never Say Goodbye" is a small step down from those other numbers, but does deliver a powerful message. Alone of the glee club members, Quinn wants to leave this town, and everyone in it, in the dust. Others may seek bright futures outside of Ohio, but Quinn just wants escape. Which she will get to do because, somehow, she kept straight A's during her pregnancy, which earns her a spot at Yale. Stretching reality pretty thin, to be sure, but also giving her a windup for her final arc. One cannot help but root for her to get away, no matter how much fans love McKinley. It's the right thing for her.

Finally, there is the Rachel/Finn love story. Rachel is driven into Finn's arms when he serenades her with "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," an acceptable, if far from awe-inspiring, number. But what really drives her is the fear that she will be left with nothing after high school. Assuming she isn't going to get a NYADA acceptance letter because hers didn't come as quick as Kurt's, Rachel is striking out for something stable to hold on to. Not unlike Finn is as he is proposes. It's an understandable emotion, but her reaction when Kurt points out to her that Rachel rushes to share her good news with her bestie instead of her fiance cements it. Rachel is too young and not ready to marry Finn.

How can she get out of the engagement without screwing up everything between the pair Glee is building? There is a very delicate balance that must be achieved in the final ten episodes. Rachel does not necessarily have to end up with Finn. But their feelings must be acknowledged as genuine, and she must truly regret breaking his heart, as she has to soon do. They cannot go through with a wedding anytime soon. What a twist! And so well handled thus far. There is optimism that the writers will pull this off.

One last, small complaint about "Michael." Why does Burt (Mike O'Malley), when celebrating Kurt's acceptance, blurt out a request to tell Blaine the good news? It's great that Burt likes Blaine and is supportive of the relationship, but really? Dumb line, especially from such a terrific character, otherwise.

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

We Are the World: 2010 Olympics open tonight, with Stephen Colbert

    Many people await the Olympics with great anticipation, and this year is no exception.  Every four years athletes gather to compete in the Winter Games (and in between, Summer Games), and the 2010 event has arrived.  The nearly two week contest will start with an opening ceremony, airing tonight at 7:30pm on NBC (in Lexington, WLEX, airing on channel 8 (antenna), 382 (satellite), and 906 (high def cable).  Details about the opening are kept mostly under wraps, but considering the awesome spectacle China hosted two years ago for the summer games, surely it will attempt to top that.


     One thing that will be part of the opening ceremony will be the premiere of the new version of "We Are the World".  Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie, who organized the original, along with the late Michael Jackson, have done it again with a whole new batch of celebrities.  Janet Jackson, Michael's sister, took Michael's part, and the celebrities participating in the remake include Barbra Streisand, Randy Jackson, Kanye West, Usher, Jason Mraz, Tony Bennett, Jeff Bridges, Katherine McPhee, Celine Dion, Vince Vaughn, and many, many more worth mentioning, but I won't for the sake of brevity.  The song will benefit the earthquake victims in Haiti.

     Many events will be feature the next two weeks including figure skating, cross country skiing, luge, bobsledding, hockey, curling, and speed skating.  The last has gotten much attention recently, as they lost their lead sponsor, and Stephen Colbert and his Colbert Nation stepped in to save them.  The host will be joining the team, and filming episodes the air beginning February 22nd.  He also graced the Olympic Preview edition of Sports Illustrated recently.

     This year's event takes place in Vancouver, British Columbia.  Portions of many events will air on NBC and their various affiliated channels, so check your listings for times.  Many events air in the middle of the night.  Other footage will be posted on their web site.

Michael Jackson this is it number one

     The Michael Jackson film, This Is It, was number one at the box office this week, and not because it was a well made movie.  It is apparent that had Michael Jackson not passed away so suddenly, this film would never had been.  The picture quality, though great in some parts, was lacking in others.  The King of Pop's singing voice was often weak, though he commented that he was saving his voice, and the times he did allow himself to sing out, he sounded as amazing as ever.  In fact, the man himself appeared fit, ready to perform at any time.  His dancing was impecable, and he showed no hint of fatigue or weakness.  Clearly, he was healthy before his death.  In fact, during a couple of the Jackson 5 song numbers he looked giddy, truly happy.  It was touching.

     While as a film, This Is It had plenty of flaws, it will not dampen fans' enjoyment, nor should it.  The intention seems to be to give people one last chance to see MJ, and to imagine what his sold out concerts this past summer in London would have been like.  At that, it succeeds wonderfully.  Not as put together as a traditional behind the scenes movie, it does convey an emotion and mood of that specific time.  Seeing MJ himself, and the wonderful musicians and dancers that backed him up, they were really cooking up something that would have made headlines anyway, though not in the same way they ultimately did.

     A cynical person may think that this film was made merely to recupe some of the enormous expense that went into a production that never got off the ground, and I'm sure that was a consideration.  However, it is obvious as you watch that Kenny Ortega  (director of the stage production and this movie) truly cared about the man, and he himself put this together for reasons other than economical.  It is a living piece of history, and one any viewer will remember for decades to come.  It is Michael as he has never been seen, and never will be again.

     Bottom line, if you go into this expecting a film, don't bother.  If you go into this expecting Michael, fond memories, and touching moments, you won't be disappointed.