'Glee' recap: Unicorns and rainbows

Tuesday night's episode of "Glee" –- the second installment in the "back to basics" Season 3 -– gave us only three musical numbers (two solos and one duet, all show tunes, two of them from "West Side Story"); a lot of plot set-up for the season (along with some difficult-to-digest character choices); and a delicious dose of Brittany-isms (and some choice lines from other characters too).

Brittany-isms were the best part:

The episode kicked off with a Brittany insta-classic, in which she told Kurt she wanted to be his campaign manager (he's running for class president) because she considers him to be the biggest "unicorn" at McKinley: “When a pony does a good deed, he gets a horn and he becomes a unicorn and poops out cotton candy until he forgets he's magical and then his horn falls off. And black unicorns, they become zebras … a unicorn is someone who knows they're magical and isn't afraid to show it.”

She thinks she can help him win office because "I've slept with a lot of people and I'm really popular so I think I can get you mega-votes."

She herself isn't going to run because she doesn't think she's smart enough. (Cut to that great exchange we saw previewed last week, in which a teacher asks for the capital of Ohio and Brittany offers: "O!")

Brittany's My Little Pony-esque campaign concept –- unicorns, rainbows, pale pink and glitter -– includes a swag bag, she calls "Kurt Hummel's Bulging Pink Fun Sack."

Kurt's afraid that the whole thing is too gay, but Brittany moves ahead with it anyway, prompting outrage from Kurt -– he thought they'd agreed to tone it down! -- and the following line from Santana: "This is toned down. In the original, the unicorn was riding you."

Eventually -- after Santana calls her "brilliant" and a "genius" -- Brittany decides she is smart enough to run for class president herself (after all, the last few presidents have been male, and look where that got us): "I'm also a unicorn, maybe a bi-corn. Either way, I'm starting to believe in my own magic."

If all "Glee" ever gave us was Heather Morris spouting Brittanyisms in her muttery monotone (talk about magic!), I'd be satisfied.

Which is good because, to be perfectly honest, I felt vaguely underwhelmed by this episode; it lacked emotional resonance. (Have my "Glee" expectations grown too high?)

Zooey Deschanel's 'New Girl' draws big ratings

It was the revenge of the nerds for Fox Tuesday night, as Zooey Deschanel's new sitcom, "New Girl," topped the ratings. But the "Glee" phenomenon is showing signs of fading.

"New Girl," which has bespectacled alt-goddess Deschanel playing a geeky young woman who moves in with three men after she catches her live-in boyfriend cheating, opened to a relatively modest 10.1 million total viewers, according to early data from Nielsen.

But it was among young adults that "New Girl" really shone. The comedy was, impressively, the top-rated program of the night among adults ages 18 to 49, the demographic most sought by advertisers. "New Girl" notced a 4.7 rating/12 share, waltzing past its rivals in the 9 p.m. half-hour.

The bad news for Fox is that "Glee's" passionate fan base seemed to be missing in action. The high school musical drew just 8.9 million viewers and lost nearly a third of its 18-49 audience compared with last year's Season 2 rollout. Most embarrassingly, "Glee" was handily beat in 18-49 by the season premiere of "NCIS" (3.8 rating versus 4.2) -- a crime program not known for its tremendous youth appeal.

At 10 p.m., CBS looked solid with the premiere of "Unforgettable," its new crime show inspired by news stories about people who can remember every moment from their lives. The drama dominated the hour with an average of 14 million total viewers.

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-- Scott Collins (twitter.com/scottcollinsLAT)

Photo: Zooey Deschanel, right, and Hannah Simone in "New Girl." Credit: Isabella Vosmikova / Fox

'Glee' recap: Back to school (and basics) in the Season 3 premiere

After a long, lazy summer away, the kids of McKinley High grabbed their backpacks and sheet music and returned Tuesday night for the Season 3 premiere of "Glee."

"Welcome back, Titans!"

And welcome back, Gleeks. I think it might just be a great year. After a celeb-packed Season 2 that sometimes went off in too many new directions, "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy has promised us a season that will return to the basics -- including a renewed focus on the core characters.

The initial episode appeared to deliver on that promise, shedding or shunting aside some spare characters it had collected of late (So long, Sam! See ya later, Lauren!); checking in at leisure with those who have been with us all along as they embark on what is, for some of them, their final year at McKinley; and hinting at some of the story lines in store for us this season:

Emmys 2011: Darren Criss on 'Glee' cast controversy

 

When reports surfaced a few months ago about a possible cast shake-up on Fox's hit series "Glee," Darren Criss said he wasn't too worried -- despite being a relative newcomer to the show, he said Sunday on his way up the red carpet to attend the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards.

"Well, I always feel like the newbie, but everyone gets so hung up on people leaving and it's a really negative way to look at it," he said. "I think it's a wonderful departure point. No one's getting kicked off. They're not even leaving -- by the way. But even if they were, it's kind of like a fun character journey."

Still, we asked, how does the cast handle it when they have to show up on set amid said media reports? "We just shrug it off. Thank God it's a show about so many of us," he said.

"Glee" has 12 Emmy nominations.

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-- Amy Kaufman

Photo: Darren Criss arrives to the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards; Credit: Danny Moloshok/Reuters

Emmys 2011: Lea Michele has moment in the sun

With stars assembling on the red carpet for the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards, "Glee's" Lea Michele was spotted trying to stay cool. But the actress, who had been waiting several minutes for a live interview to begin, was getting noticeably irked. "Um, is this gonna start soon? Cause I'm getting really hot. Really hot. I'm getting sunburned," she said, searching for her publicist.

"Glee" has 12 nominations; Michele was nominated for lead actress in a comedy last year but is not nominated Sunday.

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-- Amy Kaufman

Photo: Lea Michele arrives at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards  Credit: Matt Sayles / AP

Emmy Awards: Let's imagine the possibilities

 
The hours are winding down until the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards telecast. As we gear up for a night of glitz, glamour and long-winded speeches, let's imagine what we're in for, shall we?

— Last month, Cloris Leachman got tanned and absurd with the gals of "Jersey Shore" at MTV's Video Music Awards. (Wasn't that strange?) Well, Emmy host Jane Lynch is not to be outdone. In fact, she appears to be very committed to the role, judging from the photo, above right, that "Jersey" queen Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi  posted on Twitter. We don't know what they have in store, but with a poof like that, it can't be good for us. Let's just hope Lynch doesn't pull a move like Mike "the Situation" Sorrentino and bash her head into one of those stage dividers. But if she does, at least they're not concrete, right?

— "Two and a Half Men" star Charlie Sheen Ashton Kutcher is among those slated to present during Sunday's telecast — so are costar Jon Cryer and creator Chuck Lorre. Could it turn into a sequel of the Charlie Sheen roast?

— When Jane Lynch appeared at the Television Critics Assn., she pledged that snarky Sue Sylvester, the character she plays on "Glee," would not hijack the whole show. We know Sue would never keep such a promise ... but can Jane be trusted?

— Given the response to the "Born to Run" opening number in 2010's telecast, hosted by Jimmy Fallon, it would be in Lynch's best interest to consider a follow-up to the hilarity, right?  Maybe ditch Kate Gosselin for Nancy Grace? And definitely add more shimmies from Jon Hamm and Betty White. But we'll switch the channel if the song chosen is Rebe    cca Black's "Friday." 

The Emmy telecast will air live at 8 p.m. Eastern, 5 p.m. Pacific on Fox.

— Yvonne Villarreal

twitter.com/villarrealy

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Left photo: Jane Lynch at the rolling out of the Emmy red carpet Wednesday. Credit: Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times

Right photo: Deena Cortese, left, with Lynch, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi and Sammi Giancola. Source: Polizzi's Twitter page

New and returning shows for the 2011 season

Here's a roundup of some of the highlights of the new and returning series in the 2011 fall TV season.

“Survivor: South Pacific” 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, CBS: (season premiere) The contestants begin competing for a million-dollar prize. (N)

“H8R” 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, KTLA: (series premiere) TV personality Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi tries to win over a person who dislikes her; Jake Pavelka (“Bachelor”) faces his biggest hater. (N)

“America's Next Top Model” 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, KTLA: (season premiere) Fan-favorite contestants from past cycles return to compete; the women reenact memorable moments during the first photo shoot; guest judge Nicki Minaj. (N)

“Operation Repo” 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, Tru: (season premiere) Vehicle repossession pros deal with confrontations in California's San Fernando Valley. (N)

“Up All Night” 10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, NBC: (series premiere) Reagan Brinkley tries to adjust to her new life as she returns from maternity leave to her job as a talk show executive producer to support her stay-at-home husband and their baby. (N)

“Hulk Hogan's Micro Championship Wrestling” 10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, Tru: (series premiere) Hulk Hogan provides little wrestlers with advice, guidance and training; inside all of the insane action, conflict and drama that it takes to create a pro wrestling league from scratch. (N)

“Free Agents” 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, NBC: (series premiere) Two co-workers, both still reeling from their last relationships, try to sort out their relationship after a moment of weakness finds them in bed together. (N)

“The Vampire Diaries” 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, KTLA: (season premiere) In "The Birthday," Caroline plans a party for Elena's 18th birthday; Damon and Elena search for Stefan; Klaus and Stefan track a werewolf; Jeremy struggles with visions of ghosts. (N)

“The Secret Circle” 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, KTLA: (series premiere) After her mother dies in a mysterious accident, Cassie Blake moves to a small town to live with her grandmother. After a series of strange and dangerous events, Cassie's new friends reveal a secret. (N)

“Angels Among Us” 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, CMT: (series premiere) Commemorating the 10-year anniversary of 9/11. (N)

“It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia” 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, FX: (season premiere) In "Frank's Pretty Woman," the gang attempts an image makeover to uncover the heart of gold that exists deep inside Frank's prostitute fiancee. (N)

“Archer” 10:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, FX: (season premiere) In "Heart of Archness, Part I," Archer is finally tracked down in the South Pacific by handsome adventurer Rip Riley. (Part 1 of 3) (N)

“Ben 10: Ultimate Alien” 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, Toon Disney: (season premiere) In "The Purge," Old George reignites a war against all aliens on Earth. (N)

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, Toon Disney: (season premiere) In "Water War: Gungan Attack," inhabitants of Mon Calamari are on the brink of civil war; the Jedi realize they need help from a powerful and amphibious ally to drive out Separatist invaders. (N)

“Need to Know” 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, KOCE: (season premiere) Reports on the economy, environment and energy, health, national security and culture. (N)

“20/20” 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, ABC: (season premiere) Investigative reporting. (N)

“Celebrity Nightmares Decoded” 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, Biography: (series premiere) Dustin "Screech” Diamond dreams of a faceless butcher; Danielle Staub wakes up hanging out of her bed after a nightmare; Nicole Eggert is tormented by snakes in her nightmares; Too Short dreams of meeting a ferocious dog. (N)

“How I Met Your Mother” 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19, CBS: (season premiere) In "The Best Man," Barney and Ted reminisce about Punchy's wedding; Robin considers confessing her feelings. (N) 

“The Sing-Off” 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19, NBC: (season premiere) Eight of the 16 competing groups unite to perform together. (N) 

'Glee's' Cory Monteith says working with Ryan Murphy is 'awesome'

What does Cory Monteith make of reports that he's been battling Ryan Murphy behind the scenes of Fox's "Glee"?

"This is gossip," Monteith said Monday night to reporters at a Fox party. "I think people try to make a big deal of things. I think people make something out of nothing."

According to the N.Y. Post, since the show went back in production last month, Monteith and Murphy, the show's creator, have been clashing over the casts' work schedule and royalties from their tours and albums. The good-natured Monteith, who plays nice guy (and heartthrob quarterback) Finn on the popular Fox show, would seem an unlikely ringleader for the cast.

At Monday's party, Monteith downplayed any kerfuffle, instead maintaining that working for Murphy is "awesome. It's always been awesome.... I feel fortunate."

Cast mate Chris Colfer, who also attended the bash, later insisted to ShowTracker that there's no trouble on set.

"It's not true. You know, when Season 1 came about, we were very fortunate the way the press took us in. Season 2 rolled around and it's the exact opposite. There's not a riff between anyone."

Ah, so much drama for this "Glee" club that hopes that the new season starts out on the right note. But will it end that way?

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--Yvonne Villarreal

twitter.com/villarrealy

Photo: Actor Cory Monteith arrives at the Teen Choice Awards in Los Angeles in August. Credit: Danny Moloshok/Reuters 

TCA 2011: The promises of Ryan Murphy on 'American Horror Story'

 

Ryan Murphy has a reputation of  giving mixed signals about just who will be returning to his series (see: “Glee”). So when Murphy, who appeared Saturday to promote his new FX series “American Horror Story” at the Television Critics Assn. media tour,  was asked whether it was still the plan to rotate the characters of his new show after 13 episodes (which was part of the early report about the series), he chose his words a little more carefully.

“It’s not necessarily true that this cast is doing it for one year,” he said. “We’re keeping it open.”

One thing that is necessarily true: The producers do know what the the last episode of the psychological thriller will be about. “It’s very unexpected and exciting for me,” he said.

“American Horror Story,” from Murphy and Brad Falchuk, who in addition to having created "Glee" were the masterminds behind "Nip/Tuck," centers on a married couple, played by Connie Britton (“Friday Night Lights”) and Dylan McDermott (“The Practice”). The spouses, in an effort to cope with infideility and a miscarriage, move their family cross-country to rebuild their relationship. But they find their new home brings with it other problems, eerie ones:  like Constance,  a disturbing nosey neighbor  played by Jessica Lange, who waltzes in the home without warning,  a maid who takes on different incarnations, and a frightening creature in the basement.

They’re the kind of occurrences that might cause a family to vacate immediately, but they don’t.  And the horror genre trope of why they stay will get an answered in the first couple of episodes.

“That was the most important thing that we worked on,” Murphy said. “We will explain why they are still there.”

TCA 2011: Could 'The Glee Project' be a farm team for 'Glee'?

“The Glee Project” looked like a strange beast when it was first announced: a reality competition show on cable network Oxygen, created to supply the Fox hit “Glee” with a new character for next season. But the series –- which featured a dozen quirky young people mentored by “Glee’s” own casting director, vocal coach and choreographer and judged by “Glee” creator Ryan Murphy -- slowly found its own audience this summer. Some fans like it more than "Glee" itself.

And now that Murphy has fostered confusion about which “Glee” stars will be returning to the show, there may be some reason to wonder if “The Glee Project” -- with its deep well of talented, likable performers -- could turn into a kind of farm team for the slushie squad.

The winner of “The Glee Project” will get a sizable story arc on the upcoming season of “Glee” (at least seven episodes, which, as casting director and “Glee Project" mentor Robert J. Ulrich points out, is more than some of the regulars get). But they won't eliminate the prospect that some of the reality show’s “losers” could sneak on to “Glee” too.

“Anything is possible in the world of Glee,” Ulrich says with a laugh. “I have a script waiting for me at the office for the first episode of 'Glee',” but he says he doesn’t yet know how even the winner will be woven into the Season 3 storyline.  

As choreographer/mentor Zach Woodlee points out, “Everyone was fit for the show … we had to look at this as a trial and a bootcamp to get people ready,” and base eliminations on how much progress each made weekly.

And rather than just a matter of talent, there was also the matter of who Murphy felt he could use as the basis of a fresh character that would extend the show’s mission of diversity and inclusiveness. Ulrich said, “They’re having to make themselves truthful enough that they can be written for,” which made for a very unusual situation. 

Oxygen has not officially picked up the show for a second season, but executive producer Michael Davies was optimistic, “based on the ratings growth we’ve seen, more than 100% increase since we began.” He referred to the series as a kind of canary in the coal mine of the TV world, noting that it has a lot of young viewers who don’t watch in traditional ways: “Many many of the views are off Oxygen, they’re on other devices.” They also have a sizable online and Twitter presence: "You read the twitter exchanges between these kids and their fans … We’re in a new television world with younger viewers.”

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Photo: The cast of "The Glee Project." Credit: Oxygen

 

Comic-Con 2011: 'Glee' graduates not necessarily leaving show

You think you know all about "Glee," but you have no idea. And neither do the show's producers -- well, they do, but they like confusing us.

At the "Glee" panel held Sunday in Hall H at Comic-Con International, some things got murkier when co-creator and executive producer Brad Falchuk's attempted to clear things up. Remember all those reports in which Ryan Murphy was quoted as saying stars Chris Colfer, Lea Michele and Cory Monteith would be graduating this season and not returning for the show's fourth? And remember Chris Colfer commenting on it as well? Well, Falchuck is saying the exodus isn't so.

"Just because they're graduating, doesn't mean they are leaving the show," he said. "It is not our intention to let them go ... they are not done with the show."

Later, Falchuk said the executive producers had explored the option of a spin-off with with Kurt (Colfer) and Rachel (Michele) but are "leaning against doing it."

Hmmmm ...

Other dispatches from the panel:

Ryan Murphy's 'American Horror Story' gets series order from FX

FX announced Monday that it had picked up Ryan Murphy's "American Horror Story" for a a 13-episode order. Perhaps Chris Colfer, Lea Michele and Cory Monteith could have an afterlife on the new drama?

Co-created by former “Nip/Tuck” executive producers and current “Glee” overlords Murphy and Brad Falchuk, the series begins production in Los Angeles this month and will premiere on FX in October.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Ryan and Brad back to their original home,” John Landgraf, the network’s president and general ganager, said in a statement. “They have shown an uncanny ability to bring original series to the air unlike any that have come before, and to reconcile ‘wildly entertaining’ with the ‘creatively ambitious.’ "

The series, about a family that moves across the country to deal with past issues, features a cast that includes Dylan McDermott (“The Practice”), Connie Britton (“Friday Night Lights”) and Jessica Lange. The show follows a husband and wife (McDermott and Britton) trying to rebuild their family after a few setbacks -- a miscarriage and an affair -- and a change of scenery. Only problem: Their new house is haunted.

“Brad and I are excited to be back at FX where we enjoyed such a terrific relationship working with John Landgraf and his team through 100 episodes of 'Nip/Tuck',” Murphy said in a statement. “Our cast is extraordinary and we can’t wait to get started on production.”

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-- Yvonne Villarreal
Twitter.com/villarrealy

Photo: Ryan Murphy returns to FX with "American Horror Story." The series begins production in Los Angeles this month and will premiere in October. Credit: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images