‘Glee’: The Gwyneth Paltrow can sing promo blitz continues

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Sneak peeks at Gwyneth Paltrow’s guest spot on “Glee” next week are all over the Internet today. Paltrow plays Holly, a substitute teacher who takes over when Mr. Schuester gets sick. She quickly wins over the Glee Club, and Fox seems determined to win over viewers with this guest spot, as well. On Wednesday, Paltrow performed the title track from her upcoming movie “Country Strong” at the Country Music Awards, but next Tuesday, she’ll go more pop with a clean-cut cover of Cee-Lo Green’s “... You.” Check out a preview of the song, redubbed “Forget You,” below.

The robot? Really, Gwyneth? And after “The Rocky Horror Glee Show,” I think we learned sanitized just don’t work for this show. And Rachel already doesn’t seem to like her, but at least her skirt is super cute.

Paltrow also tackles a mashup of “Singin’ in the Rain” and Rihanna’s “Umbrella” with Matthew Morrison. Listen to the track here (sorry, no embed) or watch a video preview below. The vocals aren’t as strong –- she sounded much better doing no-frills country on the CMAs –- but Paltrow and Morrison do make a cute-looking couple, and if there’s one thing Mr. Schuester badly needs -- aside from boundaries, of course -- it’s a new love interest. And the staging of the number with the rain-soaked floors and umbrellas looks great. (Maybe the yellow umbrella-toting Paltrow is really “How I Met Your Mother’s” titular mother?)

“She was so natural, and she worked so hard at it,” says Heather Morris in the video. “She’s a dream come true and more. Paltrow returns the compliment. “Heather’s my little buddy,” she says. “She’s just such a great girl.” Who else wishes now that the show had cast Paltrow as Brittany’s mother?

So in sum, you look cute, Gwyneth. We’re just not sure you can sing yet. Readers, what do you think of Paltrow’s singing ability? Are you excited for her guest spot?

— Vlada Gelman (follow my TV musings on Twitter at @stayingin)

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Photo: Will (Matthew Morrison) and Holly (Gwyneth Paltrow) sing together. Credit: Adam Rose / FOX.