Tuesday 10 August 2010

G is for...Glee

Don't Stop Believin'Image via Wikipedia
"And why the cringefest that is 'Don't Stop Believin' does get it"
Glee is an international phenomenon...the guilty pleasure that nobody feels guilty about. Every episode leaves you smiling, laughing, crying, dancing and singing all at the same time.
The characters may be a little 'lets cover all the bases' with...pretty blond cheerleaders, fashionable gay kid, sassy black girl, dumb jocks, kid in a wheelchair, Asian goth girl...etc. But most of them are likeable; ex. Artie and Mercedes, or at least grow on you...I'm looking at you Quinn. Quinn's growth from a spoiled, selfish, superficial 'Cheerio' to a pregnant teenager who's been kicked out of her house to a caring adult and real friend is one of the more believable story lines.
It's the stories and characters combined with the songs that fit within and enhance each episode that make Glee an inspiring and fun show.
Oh and Sue Slyvester...possibly one of the greatest characters on television ever...besides DCI Gene Hunt. Sue is mean, competitive, ambitious, over-bearing, politically incorrect, size-ist and a little racist but for some crazy reason we all love her. She lies, cheats, steals and blackmails anybody in her way and we can't wait to see what she does next.

This is one of my favorite scenes from Glee. Artie can dance!
'Don't Stop Believin' on Five wants us to watch because we like Glee...It's screaming 'LOOK! WE HAVE SHOW CHOIRS TOOO! ALL SINGING! ALL DANCING!' But what it doesn't get, is that it's not just the songs and dancing that we watch Glee for, it's all the other stuff too. One of the show choirs could do a routine like Artie's but it wouldn't be the same without the back story.
Also, there's no Sue Slyvester trying to stop them from getting to sectionals.
And that's how Alison sees it.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Monday 2 August 2010

F is for...The Facts of Life


'The Facts of Life' was a spin-off of 'Diff'rent Strokes'. Mrs. Garrett, who was the housekeeper for Mr. Drummond in 'Diff'rent Strokes' is now the housemother at an all girl boarding school, Eastland School. It ran for almost 10 years, from 1979 til 1988.
I loved 'The Facts of Life'! It was so cheesy and 80's! It was the master of the 'very special' episodes...dieting, homosexuality, shop lifting, suicide, censorship, date rape, racism, alcoholism, drug addiction, breast cancer, abortion, etc.
After the first season, which included a very young Molly Ringwald, the show cast of characters was cut back to the four girls we know and love...Tootie, Jo, Blair and Natalie.
Tootie was my favorite...I think it was the roller skates.
I loved all the 'crazy shenanigans' the girls got into. I wanted Mrs. Garrett to be my chaperone/advice giver/surrogate auntie. I wanted to live above a shop...which I have done and it's not that exciting.
'The Facts of Life' also introduced me and the rest of the world to George Clooney! Though most of the rest of the world didn't jump on that band wagon until 'Sisters'. Check out that sweater! Amaze at the mullet. Le swoon...
'The Facts of Life' ended when the viewing audience tired of their safe, sexless shenanigans...come on, they were in their 20's and still sharing a room!


Enhanced by Zemanta