'Greek' gets its 'Glee' on!

"Greek" is one of those terribly underrated shows.  It's clever, fun, and just plain entertaining.

This week was the season finale, and it was no exception.  It meshes perfectly with pop-culture right now--GLEE!  Intentional or not, this week's "Greek" is right in-line with America's love for all things singing and dancing.

The sororities compete in a sing/dance-off.  With their sorority sitting at 4th-ish, Cassie and Ashleigh know the competition is huge for them.  Ashleigh especially makes it a priority.

Beth, who is easily the dumbest person on the show, actually has something to contribute--she's a dance major!  Yay!  

Just when everything is looking so good for ZBZ, a few forks in the road pop up:

• Cassie is offered an officer position with the overarching sorority council, which means she is not allowed to compete
• Beth is deemed unable to compete because she had left the sorority and never officially re-pledged. 

So Beth is out and so is her choreography, and Cassie is not allowed to help.

Putting the house above her, Cassie declines the position and gets cracking.  One of the pledges steps forward and choreographs the number because she has experience from high school.

ZBZ's "Good Girls Go Bad," was so much better than Gamma Psi's number--no competition.  While the girls may not be up to "Glee" quality, they give their heart and sure do bust a move.  

Somehow it's not enough.  Gamma Psi comes out on top.  Suspecting cheating, our ZBZ's venture over to their rivals house to investigate.  They find evidence that they believe validates their claim, but... set the Gamma Psi house on fire.  

Will the ZBZ's confess?  Was it Rebecca's candle that set the place ablaze or something else?

In other news, Cappie and Cassie let the cat out of the bag--his brothers know and now so does Evan.  I am so glad they did not drag out the secret relationship storyline, even though it provided a few gems: "Yesterday, Ash wanted to know why I have this smile, and I couldn't think of an excuse, so I told her I was thinking of the rise and fall of Mischa Barton." 

As usual, "Greek" left me wanting more!

Puck > Finn

Tonight’s “Glee” easily makes my list of the young series’ greatest episodes giving Puck and Emma voices.

Finally Puck, Mark Salling, is given a moment to shine and the chance to develop his character. His tribute to a “Jewish icon,” Neil Diamond, is sweet and well sung. Tonight he proves that not only is he better looking than Finn, he’s also more talented. With his guitar in hand he melts hearts: “hands touching hands, reaching out, touching me, touching you. Sweet Caroline… bahm, bahm, bahm.”

Puck’s relationship with Rachel, though short-lived, is also lots of fun. If only the show had drawn their romance out longer. After all, as Puck aptly points-out, they are two good-looking Jews--it’s only natural.

“Mash-up,” tonight’s episode, gives another treat in addition to Puck. Emma’s rendition of “I Could have Danced All Night” is lovely. It is a true surprise as well, since germaphobe guidance counselor Emma has not previously broken out in song. She is simply delightful dancing around the wedding dress shop with Will. If only Will was her fiancée...

Throughout the night, Will proves that he sure can “Bust a Move.”

To explain the frolic through the dress shop, Will gives Emma and Ken dance lessons as his wedding gift. He also agrees to mash-up both of their very different first dance song choices.

Ken wants “The Thong Song,” Emma wants “I Could have Danced All Night.”

Will finds that the two songs just wont “mash-up”—much like the couple.

In other news, Finn and Quinn find themselves out of the cool crowd and covered in slushies. Taking Emma’s advice on being popular, they come to school behind some “mysterious” sunglasses, which unsurprisingly does not help.

Ken also finally gets fed up with the flirtation between Emma and Will. He tells the football players that they much choose between glee and football.

Puck and the other two players choose glee club. Finn takes the easy, slushie-free road and sticks with football. Before the night is over, he does realize that glee and football are a great “mash-up” and tells Ken that to be a great leader he needs to be in glee club and football.

The episode ends perfectly with the glee kids back together and Will receiving his first slushie facial.

It’s a “Glee” showdown: Boys v. Girls, Terri v. Emma, Sue v. Will

“Vitamin D,” this week’s “Glee,” is really all about vitamin c—competition.

Feeling threatened by neat freak guidance counselor Emma, Terri becomes the school’s nurse in an effort to end Emma’s friendship and budding flirtation with Mr. Schuester. Terri, Jessalyn Gilsig, understands her marriage is dangling precariously and decides to take matters into her own hands.

She calls upon Coach Tanaka, Emma’s “boyfriend”--if only in title. Terri talks him into popping the big question. When Ken tells her that he would be crushed if the answer was no, the new “nurse” is even kind enough to provide courage in the form of over-the-counter uppers.

Now, where did Terri Schuster, a linens store employee, get the idea to become the school nurse? And who painted Emma as nothing but a home wrecking vixen out to steal Will? Sue Sylvester, of course!

See, Sue is filling a bit threatened herself. While writing in her journal, the audience is invited into her evil, yet hilarious mind. She worries the glee club will be the demise of her prized cheer squad, the Cheerios.

If that happens the squad will lose their endorsements, and “without those endorsements, I won’t be able to buy my hovercraft,” she writes.

With this realization, Sue decides she will destroy the man, Will, in order to obliterate the club.

Meanwhile, the glee club has become complacent with their sectionals competition coming from a deaf school and a correctional school. The kids think they’ve got it in the bag and don’t need to try.

Will devises a “glee-off” to get the kids excited again and ready to fight for their place in regionals. It’s boys v. girls. Each team must “mashup” two songs to perform for a “celebrity judge,” Emma.

Finn basically sleeps through the boy’s first rehearsal. Puck sends him to the nurse’s office to take a nap.

Showing how little Terri knows about nursing and good health, she prescribes Finn decongestants, “vitamin D,” to keep him peppy and running. She figures it’s ok because, after all, they are over-the-counter.

Thanks to “vitamin D,” the boys deliver a high-energy mashup of Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life” and Usher’s “Confessions, Pt. 2.”

After the boy’s performance, the girl’s wonder how the boys were able to do it and wish they had worked harder on their mashup. Kurt, professing his true allegiance to the girls, let’s them in on the “vitamin D” secret.

Fuming, Rachel and the other girls visit Nurse Terri to get some “vitamin D” of their own.

Their mashup of Beyonce’s “Halo” and Katrina and the Waves’ “Walking on Sunshine” is sheer bubble-gum delight.

No winner is picked, though. Feeling guilty, both Rachel and Finn admit their team’s unfair use of “vitamin D” and decide they must be disqualified. Their confession leads to Terri’s firing and inevitable hell for Will. Principal Figgins declares Mr. Schuester unfit to lead “New Directions” on his own. Sue is his new co-director.

While the true showdown between Sue and Will is still to come, Sylvester seems to be weakening “the man.” When Emma tells him that she has accepted Tanaka’s marriage proposal, he looks genuinely heartbroken. He’s shaken, but will soldier on for the sake of glee.

When it comes down to it, “Vitamin D” was a bit of a mess, but an incredibly entertaining mess. Even when the show is not at its best, it still pleases.

In the words of Rachel, “If there are two things America needs right now, it’s sunshine and optimism. Also angles.”

That’s what "Glee" offers every Wednesday at 9 p.m.

So until next week, America, here's a dose of ummm... angels to keep to you going.

GLEE: "The Rhodes Not Taken"

Last night’s “Glee,” arguably its strongest episode to date, boasts Kristin Chenoweth, Queen and finally, musical- theater pieces.

Chenoweth, fresh off her Emmy win, is a real treat as April Rhodes, the boozy high- school dropout and former glee club member who never made it on “the Broadway.”

“The Rhodes Not Taken,” episode five, opens with the glee club somewhat in shambles without the talented and slightly abrasive Rachel, Lea Michele.

This is where April comes in. She joins the glee club as Mr. Schuester’s recruit to be “New Directions’” female star, although she is met with resistance from the club’s members.

The kids do not like the idea of an older person joining, but Chenoweth proves, as she pointed out to the club: “Talent doesn’t age, sweetheart.”

Her sing off against Rachel of “Maybe this Time” from the Broadway classic “Cabaret” is one of “Glee’s” finest moments. It pits seasoned stage performer Chenoweth (“Wicked," “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown," “The Apple Tree”) against one of Broadway’s most promising young talents, Michele (“Spring Awakening”). While Michele holds her own, the veteran Chenoweth proves more engaging. To watch click here.

In her efforts to win over the glee club members, April resorts to providing alcohol, giving shoplifting lessons and implied orgies in the locker room all to Hall & Oates’ “You Make My Dreams Come True.”

In addition to Chenoweth, the episode gives Finn, the football star turned stage star, some edge. He leads Rachel on in an attempt to get her to return to “New Directions.” This endeavor ends with him receiving a deserved slap once Rachel is told that Finn has knocked-up cheerleader Quinn.

Still sans Rachel, the group is forced to go on with a noticeably intoxicated April appropriately and perfectly performing “Last Name,” a song about drinking just a bit too much. Watch here.

Despite receiving a standing ovation, both April and Mr. Schuester come to the realization that “New Directions” is supposed to be about the kids. When April is around, she steals the spotlight.

April’s story wraps up a bit too neatly and quickly, but it presents the perfect opportunity for Rachel’s inevitable return after she finds landing the lead in the school’s production of “Cabaret” to be a disaster.

Back where she belongs, Rachel, with Finn, leads the group in an infectious rendition of Queen’s “Somebody to Love.” This is the first number to recapture the energy and excitement of the pilot’s “Don’t Stop Believing.” Click here to watch "Somebody to Love".

With more performances like this, the better than ever “New Directions” might actually stand a chance at regionals.

“Glee” airs Wednesdays on Fox at 9 p.m.