Rocky Horror Glee Show – was it all you expected?

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This whole story is a spoiler for last night’s episode of Glee
I had the pleasure of watching the Rocky Horror Glee Show, which aired last night, and it was one of the best episodes I’ve ever seen. They struck the perfect balance between a solid plot and some incredible musical numbers. I’ve only seen the Rocky Horror Picture show twice when I was young and don’t think I’m qualified to judge whether it was a suitable homage, but it seemed perfect to me. Some racy scenes were edited or cut for the sake of television, and all of that was framed as necessary in the context of a school production. We got to see Mr. Schue, Finn and Sam shirtless while Emma and Mr. Schue had some sexy moments together performing “Touch Me.” Here are what I thought were the highlights:

Sue’s evil plan to infiltrate the production
Sue had some of the best lines of the night as usual, including this gem during her “Sue’s Corner” bit on the local news. “Halloween… the day when parents encourage little boys to dress like little girls and little girls to dress like whores and go to go door to door browbeating hardworking Americans into giving them free food.” Sue was eventually recruited by producers, played by original RHPS castmembers Meat Loaf and Barry Bostwick, to try and subvert the show’s production and use it as talking point on debauchery in schools. She was ultimately unsuccessful.

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The boys get body conscious
Finn and Sam were daunted by the idea of having to strip down for their roles, and were surprisingly body conscious. In one scene the girls mocked Finn’s body, explaining that the boys did it to them regularly and that turnabout was fair play. Sam, who was initially set to play beefcake Rocky Horror, was meticulous and obsessive about his diet. Finn said that he never worried about what he ate until now while Artie hypothesized that women judge men’s bodies more due to the Internet. “Internet Porn altered the female brain making them more like men and thus more concerned with our bodies.”

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Mercedes as Frank-N-Furter
Mercedes ultimately took the role as transvestite Frank-N-Furter (played by Tim Curry in the film) after Kurt turned it down and Mike Chang had to drop out. Her performance of “Sweet Transvestite” was incredible. I would have liked to have seen more scenes with her, she was so good.

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Emma and Mr. Schue get sexy
Mr. Schue staged the whole production as a bid to get close to Emma, and it worked – temporarily. When they performed “Touch Me” we got to see Emma come out of her shell while Mr. Shue revealed his perfect abs. Emma’s boyfriend, dentist Dr. Carl, put the kibosh on that and made Will realize how petty he was being.

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John Stamos doing Hot Patootie
John Stamos is a solid guest character this season and I’d like to see him become a regular. He’s good for Emma and he’s good for the show. The man can sing, and he wears the hell out of a leather jacket. Glee should stick to characters that work instead of relying on stunt casting. You know that queen Goop is about to make her debut next week, and I’m not looking forward to that.

There were plenty of other great moments in this show, including Kurt as Riff Raff, Finn as Brad and all the women of Glee playing various incarnations of Magenta. Rachel was less insufferable as she supported Finn and didn’t hog the spotlight in this episode. I like where this show is going, and hope that they continue to put out such good entertainment. When Glee is good, it’s just fabulous.

If you’re in the US you can watch the entire Rocky Horror Glee Show episode on Hulu starting tomorrow. For now here’s their performance of Time Warp, again only if you’re in the US. Sorry about that!

Many photos via BuddyTV

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38 Responses to “Rocky Horror Glee Show – was it all you expected?”

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  1. Riley says:

    I thought last night’s show was GREAT. I loved it. I realized though, that while I have seen RHPS several times— I have been to several outside showings, showings in seedy theaters, on DVD with friends, I have never seen it since I quit smoking pot so I have never seen sober. I know nothing about the plot and am thinking I should probably see if I can get it on net flix.

  2. lilred says:

    Emma was hot…who knew?
    John Stamos was HOT HOT HOT as always.
    Will was sizzling hot.

    They did an amazing job with this. WELL DONE!

  3. MSat says:

    I wanted to like it. But I stopped watching the minute Mr. Shue and whats-her-face started singing “Touch-a Touch-a Touch me.” He creeps me out. I don’t like it when the adults sing and dance. It’s gross. And I didn’t like Mercedes as Frank N Furter. Hello?? Sweet TRANSVESTITE???

    Not impressed.

  4. artista says:

    Do any guys watch this show? I don’t get it.

  5. Samigirl says:

    Kurt was a *perfect* riff-raff. I <3’ed it. Except for how desperate Mr. Shue is getting. That is annoying.

  6. malachais says:

    It was okay. I enjoyed Kurt as Riff Raff, Quinn as Magenta, and Mercedes as Frank-n-ferter. Could have been better, but oh well.

  7. Dizzy says:

    I don’t get the hype, tried to watch this show but had to turn it off. (and honestly I love musicals)

  8. Hollz says:

    So glad we got to see Jayma/Emma sing again! And that Rachel had a minimal part, love her voice, but man, she’s getting annoying!

    And yes artista, guys do watch the show, I know many that are quite obsessed with it 🙂

  9. julie says:

    As someone who played janet in live productions of Rocky Horror (yes, im old) I thought they did a great job, except for Mercedes as Franknfurter, everyone else sounded just like the movie, but I thought John Stamos should have been Frank. Her voice did not match the character at all. If they were going to use a girl, she should have had a deeper voice. I loved the cameos by Barry Bostwick and MeatLoaf, that was a nice surprise. I dont usually watch this show, but it was fun to sing along with the songs, and overall I thought they did a great job.

  10. maria says:

    The teacher needs to realize he isn’t the star. Sue Sylvester is – give her more screen time. Mercedes was great. I wish the Rachel character would stop channeling Barbra – it even came through last night.

  11. Linda S says:

    I love this show and I loved it last night but they have to get back to a storyline and away from theme nights…it’s not all about singing and dancing, you used to get into the backstories of the kids…

  12. Lesley says:

    I really liked it.
    I hated the Britney episode and have had it up to here with Rachel’s tears. This episode was a welcome relief. And, it was nice to have an actual story line to follow!
    The character of Mr. Shue is getting really annoying. I sympathized with him more when he had that whole crazy Terry thing happening, but without her, he is just a dude with too much mascara on that is whinny and sad.

  13. Obvious says:

    LOVED it. It was a great homage to a brilliant cult classic. And the story line was one of the strongest yet. I really hope they keep up the momentum, however knowing what Ryan Murphy has done in the past-I don’t have much hope for this show beyond season 3.

  14. Iggles says:

    I saw part of it. I never saw the movie/play so it was too much of an insider thing. It’s funny and interesting only if you know the source material.

  15. Laurie says:

    Mr. Shue is becoming a real weinie this season. He is falling all over Emma like a 3rd grade fool.

  16. spooge says:

    I turned it off out of pure boredom.

  17. anon1 says:

    I agree with most. I am beyond sick of the Mr. Shue and Rachel characters.
    While I love RHPS, I feel like Glee is nearing the end of it’s shelf life. Too bad…

  18. Riley says:

    I wish that they could somehow work out having Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally on the show, maybe as husband and wife or codirectors of another Glee team. I love those two together and they would work really well in a guest spot on the show because the writers would not have to overcompensate for them. They can put in a few Will & Grace references but really make them different characters. I also think Kevin Bacon would be really good on the show to, maybe as Carl’s brother or something. A few years ago, I thought Kevin Bacon and John Stamos should star in a sitcom together, something kind of based on Kevin Bacon’s musical gig with his real life brother.

  19. Bee says:

    John Stamos was originally supposed to play the transvestite Frank-N-Furter, but Fox objected. So, Fox is not ok with letting a man dress up in sexy lingerei. But, they are fine with letting two of their female stars appear half naked in a men’s magazine. Interesting.

  20. Kim says:

    So disappointed. I love me some Glee but I just think maybe they were to young to do Rocky Horror? It just didnt pan out right except Mercedes part I liked. And why were they trying to make Finn seem like he is fat??? He is in pretty good shape so that was a very odd storyline. I dont like this desperate, whiny Mr. Shue they are portraying him as this season. Whats with that?

  21. MissyA says:

    Even though I was a major theatre geek in high school, I don’t watch the show. I thought I’d watch a few highlights because I love me some RHPS, but I wasn’t very impressed. I guess it’s the show embodying some Rocky Horror elements as opposed to an episode paying homage to Rocky Horror? I got lost in the backstory when I really just wanted to see the Time Warp.

    Emma isn’t a student, right?

  22. Obvious says:

    @Miss A, emma is the guidance counseler. I was thrilled it wasn’t an entire “themed” episode like some of their other homages too because they lose the show, but they moved forward with the plot which was refreshing for a homage episode.

    However Ryan Murphy can’t keep the ball rolling on his creations-and many are fantastic. I think he needs to lets the series go into the very capable hands of his writers. It may last longer that way.

  23. Lindsay says:

    “what are you going as for halloween?”
    ” A peanut allergy.”

    That was epic 😀 i loved it!!!

  24. leZombi says:

    I don’t normally watch Glee, but my roommate does and I got through a few numbers but I couldn’t watch the entire thing. As a Rocky Horror enthusiast I was really disappointed how things were changed to make it suitable for TV and I think they should have just left it alone to the cult following. I won’t be watching Glee again.

  25. Jeri says:

    Yeah!! Raves for Glee!! I’m amazed at the people willing to tear it apart when the show doesn’t please them.

    Without risks the show would be boring and it is definitely not boring. Some eps are just “hit out of the park” and others just solid entertainment.

  26. MissyA says:

    @ Obvious – Thanks for the info! I was a little squeeked out by the thought of a teacher pining after a student.

    I think LeZombi best captured my sentiment. As a RHPS enthusiast (and a Glee novice), I felt like they could have done a few subtle nods towards the genre for the diehards, but trying to shoehorn the plotline in with a RHPS theme just takes something away from the cult classic.

    But like I said, I just came for the TimeWarp. I did like the kiddo who played RiffRaff. And both(?) Columbias were cute and true to form. Hated the way the Magentas(?!) were portrayed. Magenta is alien and weird, but she isn’t overtly sexual, an oversight that became really annoying once you factor in that the “Magentas” are supposed to be teenagers in high school glee club.

    Are both characters playing Magenta supposed to be kind of slutty in the “Glee” world? Or is that just the direction they (the powers that be) wanted to take Magenta in this episode? Irritating, regardless.

  27. Henriette says:

    I was bored out of my gourd! Couldn’t watch it.

  28. darlene says:

    I’m SO tired of Shue being a douche over Emma. GET OVER IT.

    Kurt was amazing as Riff Raff, and while I enjoyed Mercedes performance, I DO NOT like it that they had a girl playing Franknfurter. It made no sense that she would sing “transvestite”…and apparently “transvestite” is ok but “transsexual” isn’t??

    Quinn was the worst. Magenta. ever.

    Where was Scue hiding that body? Oh my. But why rehearse a song that for HIS role that is essentially a solo for Janet? Sigh.

    It was disappointing.

  29. Allison says:

    I can’t tell you how much I LOVED it! It might just have been my favorite Glee episode yet (and there have been so many amazing ones)!!!

    The whole thing had the perfect plots, was HILARIOUS, and the emma and will scene was PERFECT! Emma really did come out of her shell and that song has been stuck in my head all day!

  30. Marianne says:

    Actually Mercedes was the worst of the night. I cringe thinking about it.

    Everything else was good.

  31. Emily says:

    @Lindsay, that line cracked me up too. Brittany gets all the best one-liners.

    I thought it was okay. I liked seeing Emma get sexy, but Mr Shue’s really annoying me lately, nearly as much as Rachael. I also thought they could’ve focused on the story a bit more in that episode.

  32. BeckEye says:

    @darlene: “Quinn was the worst. Magenta. ever.”

    MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY.

    I like Quinn and she has a decent voice, but she ruined “Time Warp.” The cutesy baby-doll Madonna wannabe voice does NOT belong in that song. Santana was already in her Magenta garb, so why didn’t they have her sing? Her voice would have fit so much better.

    Also, I love the show and can usually overlook some bizarre plot holes, but I just can’t believe that Mr. Schue is such a lovestruck dolt that he prizes getting Emma over the welfare of these kids that we all know he cares about. His reasoning that he should play Rocky because the role was too risque for a high schooler to play made no sense if you remember that Rachel would have been the one touch-a touching him in the actual show (had it happened), not to mention how creepy it would be for the entire student body to watch one of their teachers gyrating onstage in nothing but gold hot pants. Did he catch the crazies from his ex-wife or what?

    But I heard the best news ever recently: Jonathan Groff will return in the back nine. Heavens part. Angels sing.

  33. Dizzybenny says:

    4.artista:
    October 27th, 2010 at 9:32 am Do any guys watch this show? I don’t get it.

    I’ve only learned of the show this year.I’ve seen clips on entertainment shows and no thanks!!

  34. Diva says:

    OMG, Santana doing Magenta’s solo was torture! Not at ALL how that character should have been played. As an RHPS lover, who watches the movie at least once a month, I was in pain most of the show… and I love Glee.

    Having Mercedes as Frank made NO sense! I would have LOVED Sue to have to take that role for some reason! That would have been EPIC… and it still would have been a chick, to satisfy the idiot censors.

    The new blonde kid? PERFECT high school Rocky, though! lol Looked just like him! And Finn was Brad, completely. And, Britany, I think it was, as Columbia was really good.

    Other than that… nope, nope, nope!

  35. Leah! says:

    I want more Sue!!

  36. Amy says:

    I loved Kurt as Riff Raff – but on the whole I was dissapointed with the episode.

    I just posted to my blog (http://onenorthernvoice.blogspot.com/) my thoughts on how Mr. Schue’s character has become almost unrecognizable from last season to this. I think that’s what’s bugging me about this season and taking away from my enjoyment of the show.

  37. meghan says:

    I love this show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just thought the part when Finn came out in his underwear was awesome!!!!!!!!!! He looked SO hot!!!!!!!!!!!! I love Finn

  38. emily says:

    Did anynoe else think finn looked smokin’ hot in his underwear!?????????????? He looked his hottest yet. But the rest of the show was pretty dissapointing.:( And I usually LOVE glee. But not that episode.