Rating: ★★★★★

Airdate: Sunday, June 26, 2011, 9/8c on Oxygen

The kids listening to Dot-Marie Jones' (Coach Bieste on Glee) advice

I’m still not sure I look forward to The Glee Project every week, but I can say I am invested in the “characters.” This week’s episode moved me deeply, twice, something I think is particularly appropriate in an episode entitled “Vulnerability.”

As each week progresses, these kids are getting better and better at their craft, making it harder and harder to pick who should go home. I’m definitely forming attachments to some of them, and it’s interesting to see judges and coaches Robert Ulrich, Nikki Anders, Erik White, and Zach Woodlee doing the same.

Coach Bieste (Dot-Marie Jones) is the guest judge!

This week’s guest coach is Dot-Marie Jones (Coach Bieste on Glee). It’s fun to watch Ulrich “coaching” the kids for their performance for her. Jones picks Matheus as the winner of the challenge – his second win – but I feel Damian, Marissa, and Mckynleigh did at least as well. Lindsay stands out for not taking criticism well here at all. I find both Emily and Lindsay increasingly annoying. Both are talented but so full of themselves it is grating.

This week’s video is “Mad World” by Tears for Fears. White’s session with the kids to discover their “vulnerable” word (which they’ll wear on a placard for the video) is full of startling revelations. These kids have obviously formed a close bond to feel comfortable enough to bare their innermost insecurities. The most moving revelation is Emily’s confession she feels “used” because she was sexually abused by music producers in her quest to be discovered. I don’t know how you felt watching that, but I shed a tear…or two. After such a terrible experience, it’s amazing she found the strength to move forward with her dream of becoming a singer! I found myself looking at her very differently.

I find myself a little disturbed the show is bringing out all these deep-seated insecurities and emotions in these kids. Damian jokes his session with Anders is “like therapy” as she asks him about his word. But therapy isn’t a joke and it seems odd these kids are getting coached in singing, dancing, and acting – and the business a bit – but aren’t, so far as we see, receiving any psychological counselling for how to handle what they are going through.

The kids are very excited!

As usual, I find myself having a hard time picking my bottom three based on the video. This week, I made a list, singling out Hannah, Damian, Lindsay, and Cameron, with a note for Emily and Samuel. That’s the best I could do at narrowing the field! Samuel and Hannah just don’t impress me. Lindsay has an attitude problem, which as we know, is instrumental in determining the first two not called back.

Damian’s breakdown while trying to prepare for his solo for Ryan Murphy is the most moving scene for me to date in the series. His connection to the music is so real and heartfelt, it is impossible not to feel it with him. It translates beautifully into his performance of Elvis Presley’s “Are You Lonesome Tonight” and rightly earns him a call back.

Like me, Murphy strongly dislikes Cameron’s performance of Elton John’s “Your Song.” I agree with Murphy’s critique that it is more a performance  than really feeling the music. Were you as shocked as I was at Murphy’s comment that he has no idea how he could write for Cameron? I mean, Cameron has seemed like such a perfect fit for the show right from the beginning! What is most surprising is how quickly and vehemently Ulrich, and particularly Woodlee, come to Cameron’s defense. Something they haven’t done for anyone else. In fact, they get Cameron a second chance at the song. Other than a change in clothes to emphasize his gawkiness, I don’t notice any huge difference in his delivery of the song… but obviously, Murphy does.

Emily’s performance is very strong, but a little over the top as usual. Murphy tells her as much as they love doing Bruno Mars on Glee, “Grenade” is one he was never able to figure out how to do on the show until he heard her do it. And yet, she is the one who doesn’t get called back. The one thing Emily doesn’t excel at this week is shooting the video. Again, it’s easy to forget how much editing “reality” television goes through. We see Emily do take after take for her brief appearance in the video. Not many shows can afford someone who requires that many takes. This is one of the aspects of this competition that really does intrigue me. They really are trying to hire the best person for the part – and that includes someone who is professional and easy to work with.

Waiting to hear the bottom three

The numbers are getting smaller, but the decisions aren’t getting any easier. I didn’t want any of the bottom three to go home, but I think they make the right choice. I’m not convinced Cameron or Damian will necessarily make it all the way to the finale though – only time will tell.

What do you think? Did the right person go home this week?

Tune in Sunday, July 10, 2011 at 9/8c on Oxygen for the next new episode of The Glee Project. Re-watch the first three episodes next Sunday on Oxygen.

All photos ©2011 Oxygen. All Rights Reserved.

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