# Glee 1/31: Michael **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 1, 2012, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374 "2012-02-01T01:36:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374/21 "2012-02-02T10:44:34Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > Also, “Black or White” has nothing to do with this situation! We’ve seen no evidence that Sebastian is _racist_. He’s a violent sociopath, but he’s a member of a racially diverse show choir and has done nothing onscreen to indicate that he holds racist views. Sorry for replying to myself twice here, but I remembered Sebastian did make some pretty offensive remarks about Santana and her family. This was so overshadowed by his later attempt to blind a rival that it slipped my mind. Still, racism isn’t this guy’s _primary_ problem. I’ve been wondering if maybe this episode was hastily rewritten to provide an explanation for Blaine being absent next week (Darren Criss was performing on Broadway when they shot the next episode), because the ending would have been a lot more appropriate if copying another choir’s ideas and insulting people had actually been the worst things Sebastian had done. But so much time was devoted to Blaine’s injury and the covert taping scheme that I feel like the attack must have been present in the script from fairly early on. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374/22 "2012-02-02T15:20:19Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > (clipping here and there) > > 1. How is it that the students in that school district feel that they can assault people with impunity? > > 2. How did the 2Cellos guys happen to be in Ohio > > 3. Was it ever established whether Annie was, in fact, OK? 1. There’s no reasonable explanation, but there was one given - the principal explained that slushies aren’t on the school boards official list of weapons. The real answer is of course that the writers love throwing slushies. Or did you mean the Warblers? 1. They weren’t playing themselves. 2. Question like this, “who’s so vain?”, and “well who _did_ start the fire then?” are important and really deserve their own thread. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Jocko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncle_jocko/32/2932_2.png) [@Uncle\_Jocko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Jocko)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374/23 "2012-02-02T16:45:35Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > They should just let the Irish kid heal him with a song since that wouldn’t be any less believable than most of their plots. They really haven’t given that Glee Project winner much to do lately, have they? They should make him an actual, magical leprechaun, just so he’ll have some purpose on the show. I really did enjoy Santana’s suggestions for tramp-stamping Sebastian: “Tips Appreciated” or “Congratulations, You’re My 1000th Customer.” Burn! ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374/24 "2012-02-02T17:39:57Z")
Instead of Black or White, why not Man in the Mirror? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374/25 "2012-02-02T18:08:00Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > 1. There’s no reasonable explanation, but there was one given - the principal explained that slushies aren’t on the school boards official list of weapons. Oh, fuck that god damned jellyfish of a principal! Assault is assault. You know how I want the season to end? President Obama sends the National Guard into Ohio to enforce the Supreme Court ruling against funding public schools with local property taxes, and makes whatever-the-fuck-that-school-is spread their wealth around to the less-affluent schools in the state. ---
**Author:** ![smaje1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@smaje1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smaje1)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374/26 "2012-02-02T22:16:45Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > They really haven’t given that Glee Project winner much to do lately, have they? They should make him an actual, magical leprechaun, just so he’ll have some purpose on the show. Is that why that guy is on the show – he won a contest? I actually like him a lot, but they never do anything with him. And did I miss his formal introduction? IIRC\< he just sorta showed up in an episode one day with no explanation. This was a horrid episode. I will NEVER get used to Artie standing up and dancing – I was aghast when he did it the first time for “Safety Dance.” I had totally thought the actor was really in a wheelchair. The only part I did like was when they did the Black or White morphing thing. I love that in the actual video for the song, and I loved that they did it for the Glee singers. Also, I had no idea Michael Jackson had so many terrible songs. ---
**Author:** ![smaje1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@smaje1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smaje1)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374/27 "2012-02-02T23:14:21Z")
I totally forgot the part that actually made me yell FLUFF YOU at the tv – the part in Black or White where Kurt says the line about “dirt kicked in my EYE” and he all pointed at his EYE. For a split second, I wondered if the whole Blaine eye-injury subplot was developed based solely on the line from the song. I wouldn’t put it past the Glee writers. _shakes head_ ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374/28 "2012-02-02T23:19:27Z")
I seriously disliked this episode. This is the first one I thought was awful, for all the reasons already mentioned. I was so pleased with the last episode, the one featuring Becky’s narration, that this one seemed even worse by comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374/29 "2012-02-03T01:23:57Z")
> [@smaje1](#): > > Is that why that guy is on the show – he won a contest? There was a reality show on cable over the summer, and the winners were awarded a certain number of appearances on _Glee_. The boy playing Rory was one of the two first prize winners. The girl who had a solo at the NYADA get together and at Sectionals was a runner-up. There’s another winner who should be showing up soon, since there are only about nine episodes left this season and the winners were promised eight. > [@](#): > > I actually like him a lot, but they never do anything with him. And did I miss his formal introduction? IIRC\< he just sorta showed up in an episode one day with no explanation. In his first episode, “Pot of Gold”, they said he was an exchange student who’s staying with Brittany’s family. He’s done very little since then, but they explained his presence about as well as they explain anything on the show. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374/30 "2012-02-03T02:00:36Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > Also, “What would Michael Jackson do?” is one of the worst inspirational phrases ever. I can’t believe no one suggested “Have excessive plastic surgery” or “Retreat into a childlike fantasy world.” They missed a golden opportunity to have Puck dangle Beth over a balcony. > [@Bone](#): > > Instead of Black or White, why not Man in the Mirror? IIRC, they’ve already done that song before. No Sue = bad ep, the trend continues. I liked that weird thing with Artie and Mike, but I had no fucking clue what MJ song that was (and I don’t really care to find out). About half the songs they picked I didn’t recognize for that matter. I didn’t really care for the Santana/evil Warbler rendition of Smooth Criminal, and that’s probably my favorite MJ song. Santana’s got a decent voice, but she just wasn’t right for that song, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374/31 "2012-02-03T02:17:44Z")
[QUOTE=Lamia] In his first episode, “Pot of Gold”, they said he was an exchange student who’s staying with Brittany’s family. He’s done very little since then, but they explained his presence about as well as they explain anything on the show. [/QUOTE] The only think since then is when he also recited the second chapter of Luke which convinced the Glee club to stop being vapid and go taunt poor people with “Do they know it’s Christmas?”. The “pacifism” message really pissed me off- one of those “it’s just a show/sit back and just relax” moments I know but I’m just trying to cipher the logic of it. I understand why vigilantism is bad, but Sebastian tried to- possibly did- blind somebody and they have hard evidence, it’s not vigilantism to stop him. It is vigiliantism to gang up and beat him until somebody stops moving, but in this case- I wouldn’t approve perhaps but I wouldn’t call the Secret Witness line either. You don’t turn the other cheek on this one. Exactly what message are they trying to impart with “we’ll outsing you instead?”, plust Santana would _never_ go for that, she’d just gank him while people cheered. Great sentence from [AVClub’s recap](http://www.avclub.com/articles/michael,68495/) about the characterization on _Glee_: > [@](#): > > People are always who they are, until they’re not, and then it’s just them being who they always are. ## And Blaine needs to break up with Kurt. If the clinginess didn’t do it, singing me a song about a motherfookin’ rat when I don’t know if I’m going to keep the sight in one of my eyes would. On another topic: [Sneak-peek](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcCtyMSuyHk&feature=player_embedded)vid of Ricky Martin’s upcoming appearance. I hope that the really bad audio synching is just on that video. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374/32 "2012-02-03T03:08:34Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > The only think since then is when he also recited the second chapter of Luke which convinced the Glee club to stop being vapid and go taunt poor people with “Do they know it’s Christmas?”. I remember that more as the episode where we learned that Jews are greedy and covet jewelry…until they learn about Jesus. They’ve really had some offensive moments this season. > [@](#): > > The “pacifism” message really pissed me off- one of those “it’s just a show/sit back and just relax” moments I know but I’m just trying to cipher the logic of it. I understand why vigilantism is bad, but Sebastian tried to- possibly did- blind somebody and they have hard evidence, it’s not vigilantism to stop him. It is vigiliantism to gang up and beat him until somebody stops moving, but in this case- I wouldn’t approve perhaps but I wouldn’t call the Secret Witness line either. You don’t turn the other cheek on this one. Exactly what message are they trying to impart with “we’ll outsing you instead?”, plust Santana would _never_ go for that, she’d just gank him while people cheered. I don’t think it even makes sense within the context of the show, as _Glee_ has dealt with bullying again and again and never suggested that it’s wrong to ask the authorities to protect the victims and punish the guilty. It has depicted the authorities as being frequently unwilling or unable to do anything – which may, sadly, be the single most realistic thing on the show – but it never suggested that Kurt was wrong to think that Karofsky should be punished for bullying him. He did eventually forgive Karofsky, but (unlike Sebastian) Karofsky both stopped the bullying and apologized for his past behavior. > [@](#): > > And Blaine needs to break up with Kurt. If the clinginess didn’t do it, singing me a song about a motherfookin’ rat when I don’t know if I’m going to keep the sight in one of my eyes would. I was actually kind of rooting for _Kurt_ to initiate a breakup. Sebastian has been openly trying to get in Blaine’s pants since the moment they met, and even though he has never displayed any remotely likable qualities (I’m not even impressed with his singing) Blaine has apparently continued to be pals-y with him behind Kurt’s back. While he has the right to associate with whoever he likes, Kurt also has the right to say “You have to choose between me, your boyfriend, and Sebastian, your new buddy the sleazy, spoiled, lying creep who’s been scheming to steal our routine _and_ blind me.” I’d be okay with a Kurt/Blaine love triangle plot (not thrilled since _Glee_ has gone to the love triangle well all too often, but okay with it) if the third party had been at all appealing or even interesting, but Sebastian is just horrible and boring. And it’s not like there aren’t other obvious ways to generate conflict for this couple; Kurt is planning to go to NYC in the fall while Blaine is stuck in Lima until at least graduation. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374/33 "2012-02-03T16:38:38Z")
> [@smaje1](#): > > And did I miss his formal introduction? IIRC\< he just sorta showed up in an episode one day with no explanation. By any chance, do you use TiVo? Apparently TiVo didn’t record his introductory episode (for reasons I never looked into). A bunch of us were in the same boat as you. ---
**Author:** ![smaje1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@smaje1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smaje1)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374/34 "2012-02-03T17:42:16Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > By any chance, do you use TiVo? Apparently TiVo didn’t record his introductory episode (for reasons I never looked into). A bunch of us were in the same boat as you. I do use TiVo! And I don’t recall any “Pot of Gold” episode. Is it worth me finding it and watching? ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374/35 "2012-02-03T20:36:23Z")
I loved it. > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > 1. How did the 2Cellos guys happen to be in Ohio, playing at an undistinguished high school? I don’t know, but I absolutely loved that composition. The broken strings were a nice touch. > [@](#): > > Was it ever established whether Annie was, in fact, OK? I think Annie’s dead. She was struck down, it was her doom. I’ve always taken the main chorus to be the narrator’s denial. I’m not a big MJ fan or anything, but he’s a legend. I find it totally believable that those kids would embrace such a set list. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374/36 "2012-02-03T21:35:27Z")
> [@smaje1](#): > > I do use TiVo! And I don’t recall any “Pot of Gold” episode. Is it worth me finding it and watching? I don’t know; I’ve never seen it. ---
**Author:** ![Gabing\_Gaboing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b38774/32.png) [@Gabing\_Gaboing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gabing_Gaboing)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374/37 "2012-02-04T04:27:55Z")
I wish the would have somehow indicated the rock salt added to the slushie beforehand. When Blaine got slushied and he hit the floor groaning and screaming all I thought was _sheez what a wuss_. The New Directions kids have each been slushied multiple times and on Blaine’s first one he acts like the slushie was made of acid. I was glad there was an explanation given eventually. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374/38 "2012-02-04T08:40:11Z")
Of course, even without the underboob recording, wouldn’t the fact that Blaine had a slushy thrown in his eye by Sebastian in front of a dozen or two witnesses and immediately afterwards was found to have cornea damage in and of itself get Sebastian held liable for assault? ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374/39 "2012-02-04T09:30:22Z")
Didn’t like it. They already did almost all the Michael songs people wanted to hear prior to this episode, and the only thing that stood out was Smooth Criminal. The plot was-to put it delicately-not strong enough to make up for the lack of excellent music. Once I saw the direction the episode was heading in, I starting sorting through the mail, paying bills, and making phone calls. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374/40 "2012-02-04T15:21:00Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Of course, even without the underboob recording, wouldn’t the fact that Blaine had a slushy thrown in his eye by Sebastian in front of a dozen or two witnesses and immediately afterwards was found to have cornea damage in and of itself get Sebastian held liable for assault? This bothered me as well. Even had the slushy not been doctored, Sebastian deliberately threw it at another person resulting in serious physical injury. IANAL, but that sounds like, at best, criminal recklessness. It’s also rather odd that the decision about what to do about Sebastian fell to Blaine’s choirmates. It’s not clear that Blaine even agreed to this. He also presumably has some sort of legal guardian, and even if not I wouldn’t expect Burt to shrug this sort of thing off – especially not since the slushy had been intended for Kurt. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glee-1-31-michael/611374.md?page=3)