The First of What Will Surely Be Many "Glee" Posts

Last May, the Fox network aired the pilot episode of a groundbreaking new show, Glee. Critics and audiences alike loved it (unlike the last attempt by a major studio to resuscitate the musical/TV show, Viva Laughlin. Way to go CBS). I caught the last half of it while on vacation in San Francisco, but only recently was I able to watch the episode in its entirety.

Created by the minds behind Nip/Tuck, Glee is a breath of fresh air to an otherwise boring network. For one thing, I was engaged throughout the entire hour. I couldn't wait to hear what song would be sung next. Huge songs like Amy Winehouse's "Rehab", "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey, and "Respect" by Aretha Franklin are re imagined in such drastic but incredible renditions that I never ceased to be astonished. This show has the potential to be a phenomenon, and fans are already catching on. After just ONE episode, Glee launched it's very own tour this summer, featuring all the major cast members. The term "Gleek" has already been coined to describe the obsession with the show. New clips from upcoming episodes have been viewed millions of times by eager (rightfully so) fans.

Glee isn't entertaining only because of the songs, however. A large part of the show's success lies in the genius casting of the show. Choosing relatively unknown actors to helm the show was indeed a risk, but it truly pays off; theater nerds will recognize the supremely talented (though, apparently, VERY snippy) Lea Michele as the "leader" of the Glee Club, Rachel Berry. Equally talented is Matthew Morrison (previously in the great A Light in the Piazza) as Mr. Schuester, the leader of the club. Bringing her trademark with to the show is the great Jane Lynch who never ceases to be hilarious (even in Julie and Julia, Lynch pulls the rug right under the otherwise very-sturdy Meryl Streep). However, it is the real newcomers who pack the biggest punch: never before have I heard pipes the likes of the phenomenal Amber Riley, who plays the diva-esque Mercedes Jones. Bringing the sass in their first rehearsal, Riley crackles with the fire of a seasoned actress when she declares "Oh, HELL to the no! Look, I'm not down with this background singin' nonsense. I'm Beyoncé, I ain't no Kelly Rowland."

Keep in mind, this is all based on Episode #1. However, all evidence points to the show's first (of many, I hope) season following suit: iTunes has quietly been releasing full-length songs from the show (Michele's full audition, "On My Own", Riley's mind-bending vocals on "Bust the Windows" by Jazmine Sullivan, and the whole casts' bring-the-house-down "Gold Digger" by Kanye West). Please, Glee, please, stay the way you are, at least for this season. If you do, you're bound to blow the socks off of America's people who don't yet know the theater lovers that they really are.

Check Out: Amber Riley's amazing takeoff on R&B superstar Jazmine Sullivan's "Bust Your Windows" HERE.

Begin at the Beginning

Well I'm honestly not sure who's going to be reading this, but I've been extremely bored the last couple of days so I decided to start up a blog. I used to have one that I used while taking summer classes at Columbia in 2008 but I never updated on a regular basis.\

My name is Brennan and I currently reside in a small suburb of New York City, the very city in which I attended high school.

I'm now headed off to Boston for school with a planned major in Journalism.

I love movies. I try to see a new movie, whether in theaters or not, one to two times a week. I prefer smaller, indie movies (for instance, I just saw 500 Days of Summer which I loved. Another one of my favorites is Eulogy, also starring the illustriously beautiful and talented Zooey Deschanel. Sensing a theme?).

I'm also a huge music fan. I have a pretty extensive collection that I constantly add to. I like almost every kind of music (except really country and metal. Sorry if I'm alienating anyone this early on but I just can't find a reason to care about them!). I'm a huge Alt. Rock fan, and I also like indie music of all kind, hip hop, and oldies. Living in New York allowed me access to the best concert venues in the country, and this summer I saw shows by MGMT, Jarvis Cocker, The B-52s, and The Dead Weather to name a few. I'm always open to new suggestions.

I also watch far too much TV. My favorite shows (at the moment) are Lost, 30 Rock, Arrested Development, The West Wing, The Office, and True Blood. I love discovering old shows and introducing them to people in my generation (as I've done with shows like Freaks and Geeks). I think Mad Men is overhyped.

I'm also a huge book reader. Amazon's Kindle is God's gift to mankind. Who else could've come up with the ingenious idea of a handheld computer that stores hundreds of books yet weighs less than 1/4 of any of the Harry Potter books? Lately I've been on a fiction kick, but I also love reading non-fiction (David Sedaris is an inspiration, loved all of Sarah Vowell's books, and both of Chelsea Handler's cracked me up). The last book I read was the recent release "Everything Matters!" by Ron Currie Jr. Highly reccomend it!

The one thing tearing me up about transplanting my life to Boston is the thought of being ripped away from New York's theater scene. I've seen a lot of shows over the years, my most recent having been the fun, pithy "9 to 5" with the phenomenally talented Alison Janney.

Overall, I hope this blog to be a means for me to share advice about the entertainment world with others (whoever may read this!). I'm hoping to do a daily review (Movie, Music, Books, TV, and Theater). I generally tune in to see new shows (and at least the first episode of returning shows), I see movies frequently, listen to TONS of music, and read a lot, so hopefully I have enough in my arsenal to keep me going for a while. In addition, I'll post info on celebrities, entertainment world gossip, and stuff about myself.

Hope everyone enjoys!
-Brennan