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'Glee' Rant: Sue Sylvester's Music Video Career Should End Now
by Joel Keller, posted May 5th 2010 6:03PM
Now that we're four episodes into 'Glee's' return to the airwaves, it seems that its most ardent fans are satisfied with the turn the show's taken since it went on its winter hiatus. More music, more Rachel romance drama, less fake pregnancies, and most of all, more of Sue Sylvester.I'm all for seeing more of Jane Lynch on the show because ... well, because she's Jane Lynch, that's why. I just don't want to see her singing and dancing every other week.
That hasn't been the case during the last three episodes, though; in two of those episodes, the producers have given large chunks of screen time to full-length, high-concept music video remakes starring Lynch. Two weeks ago, Sue subbed for the Material Girl in 'Vogue,' and yesterday she had a duet with Olivia Newton-John on a redo of ONJ's hit 'Physical.'
That should be plenty for one season, don't you think?
Three reasons why this trend needs to be put to a stop:
1. The videos came too close together. After all the hype and hoopla surrounding Sue as Madonna in 'Vogue' -- FOX was so damned excited about the video that they jumped the gun and showed it a week early, during the 'Glee' spring premiere -- what was the purpose of coming right back two episodes later with another full-length video remake? Couldn't the producers have thought of a better way to utilize ONJ? Or have they decided that one silly, out-of-context musical number after another is what the Gleeks want to see?
I would have had ONJ visit Sue at McKinley High and either teach the Gleeksters the moves from 'You're The One That I Want' from 'Grease' -- over Sue's objections -- or maybe help Sue with the Cheerios in some capacity. Doing yet another video felt repetitive.
2. Videos aren't the best use of Lynch's talents. I'm not saying that Jane Lynch can't sing and dance. I'm just saying that Lynch has done so well on the show because both her dramatic and her comedic acting have made Sue into a multifaceted character, despite moments where it seemed like she was drifting into Snidely Whiplash territory.
Think about some of the quiet moments Sue had with her sister Jean in this very same episode. Here, we saw a vulnerable Sue who wasn't too proud to seek advice from her sister. This is after it was established earlier in the season that Sue treated her sister, who has Down syndrome, with as much or more respect than almost anyone in her life.
Lynch has been able to pull off this deepening of her character and has made it look easy. And, while I don't doubt that she can sing and dance, I'd rather see more character exploration from Sue and Jane than overproduced singing that sounds like it comes from a computer.
3. The show needs to get back to storytelling. It seems like the last three episodes have been a diversion from what the storyline of this second half was supposed to be, namely regionals and the introduction of the dreaded Vocal Adrenaline. We really haven't seen much of them, or Idina Menzel as their feisty coach, so far, have we? It feels like the story part of the show is moving very slowly, and I'm starting to wonder if it's because ten percent or more of the episodes so far have been given over to music videos and other flights of fancy.
I'm curious to hear what the Gleeks -- and non-Gleeks -- out there think. Are Ryan Murphy and company going overboard with the music videos?
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