Jane Lynch Is A Natural As SNL Host

This week’s SNL featured Jane Lynch as the host, and she has to be one of the most natural hosts I’ve ever seen. She knows just how to perform in character roles without going overboard. Her understated wit and expert timing is what I admire most about her acting. She’s definitely up there with the likes of Justin Timberlake, in my opinion.

Lynch currently plays conniving cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester on the hit musical series Glee, but explained in her monologue that she’s unhappy with the fact that she doesn’t get to sing every week. So she goes on to perform a theme song that she drunkenly wrote for the show, which turns out to be all about her fabulous role: “'Glee' is a show about Sue Sylvester/ Sue Sylvester is the star of 'Glee.'/ Yes, there are few other characters/ But Sue is the one you want to see.” And, surprisingly, she can actually belt!

Some of the funnier skits included a commercial for the “‘Damn It, My Mom Is On Facebook’ Filter,” the Christine O'Donnell “I’m Not A Witch” ad, and the Suze Orman Show.

I’m not really on board with newcomer Jay Pharoah’s impressions. Last week he did a decent impression of Will Smith, and this week he did Denzel Washington. He’s definitely got some nuances down, but it would be more effective if he toned it down just a bit.

I don’t know if the skits were better or if Lynch nailed it, but this is the only episode of the season so far that I’ve actually found funny. Amy Poehler and Bryan Cranston’s episodes were mildly entertaining at best. In general, the writing could stand to be stronger this season.

Season Two of Glee is Less Than Gleeful...

When I first started watching Glee, I wasn't entirely impressed. I found it exaggeratedly campy, predictable, and that it felt the need to over-process the voices of a largely talented cast. As a singer myself, it irked me to hear the likes of Broadway star Lea Michele's voice Auto-Tuned within and inch of its life when the girl can obviously belt up storm without the help of corrective software. It took a while, but the show grew on me as I found myself overlooking the show's overall goofiness in my excitement to find out what song the club would perform next.

However, as the novelty fades entering into season two, so does my patience. Last night's episode in particular made me realize just how irksome some developments in Glee's formula have become.

Firstly, Lea Michele is gradually becoming unbearable. While I realize her character Rachel Berry is supposed to be a diva on the show, I question if perhaps she's taking the role a bit too seriously. Her rendition of Britney Spears' "One More Time" was in a considerably higher key than the iconic original with which my generation has grown up, and it was clearly yet another attempt to showcase Lea's vocal range. We get it. She can sing high. But I bet you she could sing the song in the lower key just as well, if not better. Then the entire song wouldn't have to be altered, as so many of her solos have. Maybe it wouldn't be as irritating if the girl didn't have so many songs in the first place. I was so excited to see Heather Morris highlighted for once, and though I'd love to see an episode that features Harry Shum Jr. in the near future, I doubt Lea Michele's contract would allow an episode to pass in which she didn't have at least two songs to herself.

Secondly, did anyone else notice how raunchy this episode was? Granted, the show's theme was Britney Spears, but was it really necessary to have the kid with the Jew-fro having an orgasm in the middle of a school assembly? I personally don't have a problem with bawdiness, but I was under the impression that Glee was a family program.

Lastly, bring back Sue Sylvester! Jane Lynch succeeds in portraying the Cheerio coach as a multidimensional character, her hilariously gruff exterior hiding inner emotional complexities. Aside from brilliant deadpan delivery of Brittany, Sue is the only character to make me laugh out loud, and so far this season has seen far too little of her.

While I will continue to tune in and endure the sight of Lea Michele lipsyncing as she grimaces in what appears to be an attempt to move bowel, I don't have especially high expectations for this frothy musical folly of a show.