In the second week of the Oxygen channel’s The Glee Project, the 11 remaining contestants explore their “Theatricality.” First, they auditioned singing “Bad Romance” in front of Glee guest star (and MAJOR Broadway diva), Idina Menzel who chose the colorful and flamboyant Alex as the winner of the challenge.
The kids go on to practice choreography, record vocals and film a music video, with the cameras capturing all of the drama and struggles. Of course, in every reality show there has to be a villain, and here it seems to be the super-confident and passive aggressive Lyndsey. She’s the type of chick who is “only trying to help” while giving out advice that cuts her fellow contestants down to size. The producers are going to have fun with that.
The group as a whole is getting the drill down, except for tiny, waifish Ellis, whose negative nelly attitude is rubbing people the wrong way. The video they shoot is a dream sequence set to Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and the contestants who really pop out are Cameron (I think he’s got a good shot of winning even though the “geek” thing, I suspect, is a total act), Alex (The winner of the Idina challenge, and openly gay), and the bitchy Lyndsey. Yeah…she’s a “bitch” but she’ll go far–her confidence is not entirely misplaced.
After the group is put though the paces, the Bottom 3 is chosen and consists of the nondescript Mckynleigh and the two cute and tiny contestants, Matheus and Ellis. All 3 will have to sing for Glee honcho, Ryan Murphy, who will choose the person who goes home.
I have to say, I thought I figured out who would get the boot. I figured, like last week, the most boring of the 3 would be sent on their way. But no. Ellis, in the bottom for the second time, is not called back. They seemed to like her well enough. But I think two things were happening here. She and Matheus were battling out for the same archetype–cute, youngish and tiny–and Matheus won the battle. His rendition of The All-American Reject’s “Gives You Hell” had a ton of personality. Ellis did a competent jazz-inspired version of “Mack The Knife” but she wasn’t as energetic or confident. Mckynleigh snoozed her way through Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart” but last week’s eliminee was a person of color–Ryan might have had the diversity of the group in mind when he decided to keep her.
The Glee Project is entertaining, and as I said last week, I really like the fact that the competition doesn’t require them to complete unrealistic and contrived tasks. I still have to use a cheat sheet to keep the cast names straight–which could be a bad sign. Are these kids memorable enough? As a whole, they have not completely captured my imagination. Last week’s ratings were dismal. I’m not so sure they are going to improve.
Videos:
The kids sing “Bad Romance” for Idina Menzel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5uXOvxbVgs
The cast shoots the “Theatricality” video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RALPZnAGJEg
The finished “Theatricality” video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpioSY5fY9A
The Bottom 3 are Reveled–assigned songs to perform for Ryan Murphy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2UEX9VH5nU
The Bottom 3 sing for Ryan Murphy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X12GMV7uUKo
A contestant is eliminated
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKm00akWHMI
