Glee, Season 1, Episode 4: "Preggers"
Episode Run-Down:
Tonight's episode of "Glee" was fabulous, fabulous, fabulous with a few touches of sadness. The central storyline of this episode revolved around Kurt, a closeted gay teenager who loves Broadway musicals and designer clothes.
The show opens with Kurt, along with two back-up dancers, reenacting Beyonce's "Single Ladies" music video. Kurt is officially my new favorite of the show just because of this number. Did I mention he's also videotaping himself? (Probably for his MySpace page.) His father catches him, and when pressed for an explanation, Kurt lies and says he is on the football team. His back-up dancers back him up and insist that all guys wear unitards while working out.
Meanwhile, Will is helping Terri practice breathing for her Lamaze class, and when Will leaves the room, Terri tells her sister that she is not really pregnant. Her sister advises her to keep on lying and not to worry because, "We're going to have to get you a baby."
The next day, everyone in the high school break room is talking about Sue's new segment on the local evening news, "Sue's Corner." Sue gives advice on everything from parenting to being a successful human being, offering such gems as, "Caning works!
To those who say otherwise, I say yes, we cane!"
Will gives Maria's solo in "Tonight" from "West Side Story" to Tina, and Rachel throws a fit and storms out of rehearsal
again. Artie quips, "You know, every time she storms out of rehearsal, it loses more power."
Out on the football field, Kurt convinces Finn to get him a try-out for the football team. Kurt brings his boom box along and plays Beyonce's "Single Ladies," and the football team laughs until Kurt kicks a perfect field goal.
Sue is visited by the owner of the local news station, and he has bad news. Her program is built on the fact that she is a winner, but if the Cheerios don't win nationals, she isn't a winner anymore. She has to win nationals in order to keep her segment on the evening news.
Out in the hallway, Quinn is giving Finn the silent treatment, and when he confronts Quinn about it, she breaks down crying and tells him that she's pregnant. Finn is confused because Quinn is the president of the high school's celibacy club and they have never had sex, but she tells him that she got pregnant when he accidentally came the night they spent in the hot tub together. Quinn is upset and knows that her life is ruined, but she insists that she is keeping the baby.
Sue visits Sandy at home, and we get to see Sandy's doll collection. (Creepy!) Sue offers Sandy a new job in charge of all the high school arts programs, including the glee club. Sandy doesn't believe that Figgins would ever rehire him, but the answer lies in a brief flashback showing Sue blackmailing Principal Figgins with an old flight safety video starring Figgins in thigh-high socks.
Now that Sandy is in charge of all the fine arts programs, he sets about producing a Broadway revue designed specifically to tempt Rachel Berry away from glee club. Rachel auditions for the revue with a powerhouse performance of Celine Dion's "Taking Chances" which I expect will get a lot of downloads from iTunes.
Finn, panicked at the prospect of being a father, decides that he has to get a scholarship whatever way he can, whether through singing or football. He asks Will to teach the football team how to dance in order to improve their game and recruit more guys for glee club. Effeminate Kurt leads the awkward football players in dance lessons.
Out in the hall, Puck asks Finn why he's acting so weird, and Finn spills the secret that Quinn is pregnant. Puck then corners Quinn and reveals that Quinn got drunk and slept with Puck. Finn is not the father; Puck is. Quinn doesn't care because she thinks that Finn will be a better father than Puck could ever be.
Quinn runs out to her car crying, and she's surprised to find Terri waiting for her in the front seat of her car. Terri hands Quinn some prenatal vitamins and makes her a proposition. Quinn is pregnant but doesn't want her baby. Terri is not pregnant and needs a baby. I have no idea how Terri thinks this will work, but she is obviously a woman with a plan.
At the big game, Will ends up sitting next to Emma, once again bringing up the unavoidable sexual tension between them. The biggest problem of the night, though, is that the football team decides that they don't want to do their dance strategy in the game because they are too embarrassed. Predictably, they almost lose until Finn pulls them in for a huddle and tells them that they have nothing to lose at that point. They may as well go for it. Beyonce's "Single Ladies" starts playing through the speakers, and the whole team cuts a rug. Suddenly, they break out of their dance and score a touchdown. The team is one point away from winning, and Kurt scores the winning field goal. Will and Emma hug, and then they pull away awkwardly. Will and Emma are the new Jim and Pam, no question.
Later that night, Kurt works up the courage to finally come out to his dad, and his dad's reaction is surprisingly good.
"Yeah," Kurt's dad admits, "I've known since you were three. All you wanted for your birthday was a sensible pair of heels."
In the midst of so much silliness, this scene was especially touching. One of the reasons why I have loved "Glee" so far is because it seems like a straight-forward comedy, but then the writers hit me with these moments that just break my heart and remind me what life was like in high school.
Wrapping up the episode, Finn finds Quinn and gives her his old baby blanket for their baby. Puck comes up to Quinn and almost tells Finn the truth but decides against it.
In the final shocker of the episode, Rachel quits glee club and throws her energies into Sandy's Broadway revue.
Final Thoughts:
So far, "Glee" has been consistently good, and I am so glad that they gave Kurt the main storyline this episode. Next week, Kristen Chenoweth will be guest-starring, and I cannot wait to see what they will do with this lovely Emmy-winning actress.
