"Glee" premiered last Thursday with a rollicking episode full of classic Beatles tunes.
Although the cast of "Glee" was changed forever after the death of "Glee" star Cory Monteith this summer, the show returned with smiles rather than tears. While there will be a Monteith/Finn tribute episode later on, the show opened on a supremely ebullient note.
The season opens with Rachel (Lea Michele) in her callback audition for a part in the revival of "Funny Girl" on Broadway. Yet, she only gets a few Barbra Streisand-esque lines out before the director cuts her off. She later hears him saying that she's talented but is too much of a Broadway neophyte to take on such a role. A dejected Rachel then sings "Yesterday," which also foreshadows the Finn heartbreak that is still to come.
Santana (Naya Rivera) is able to get Rachel a job singing at a diner. While working, Rachel sees the "Funny Girl" director and lead actor come in for lunch, which prompts her to sing a rendition of "A Hard Days Night" to show them what she's got.
Back in Lima, the New Directions are given their two-week Beatles assignment. Artie (Kevin McHale) and Kitty (Becca Tobin) sing a duet of "Drive My Car," and begin some serious flirting. A new catty cheerleader is also introduced, played by Erinn Westbrook, who successfully shames Kitty over her new crush. After a later duet of "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away," Kitty realizes her mistake and decides to announce that she fancies Artie to the whole glee club.
As for Kurt (Chris Colfer) and Blaine (Darren Criss), Blaine is about to propose when Kurt stops him and breaks into a performance of "Got to Get You Into My Life," complete with the high school marching band. Blaine then decides to revamp his proposal plans for Kurt, telling the gang he wants it to be a "cultural statement," which is a not-so-subtle way for the creators to make a timely sociopolitical statement.
Blaine then finally proposes in a big way. Blaine takes Kurt through Dalton as a bevy of choirs sing "All You Need Is Love," with Blaine ending the song on the steps where he and Kurt first met. Blaine makes a tear-worthy proposal speech, and the two seem as happy as any engaged couple can be.
In less joyful McKinley news, Sue (Jane Lynch) becomes principal after planting incriminating evidence on Figgins.
The next episode of "Glee" will feature the cast members singing six latter-day Beatles songs, such as "Hey Jude" and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."
The episode two synopsis reads: "Beatlemania continues at McKinley with the 'Tina in the Sky with Diamonds' episode airing Thursday, October 3 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). It's time for the students to vote for prom queen and king, but when Tina receives a nomination, she takes on a fierce attitude that alienates her biggest supporters. Meanwhile, Rachel adjusts to a new attitude of her own as she and Santana work at a Broadway diner to make ends meet."
Next week, Demi Lovato will also be introduced as Dani, a fellow waitress who works at the diner with Rachel.
Entertainment Weekly also released the Glee cast's album recreations of seminal Beatles' albums "Abbey Road" and "Let It Be," with Glee cast members in place of The Beatles. Blake, Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz), Sam (Chord Overstreet) and Jake (Jacob Artist) also appear in the place of The Beatles on the album "Meet The Beatles."
Check out Kurt and Blaine's performance last week of "Got To Get You Into My Life."