TV Talk: 'Glee' invites Gwenyth Paltrow to stand under its umbrella-ella-ella

Last week's guest-free "Glee" episode "Never Been Kissed" was a breath of fresh air. Though it introduced a new character, Blaine--the openly gay lead singer of the rival glee club the Dalton Academy Warblers--it didn't use a flashy new gimmick or guest star to boost ratings or water cooler chat.

In fact, the show returned to last season's enjoyably memorable boys vs. girls mash-up competition (from the episode "Vitamin D") to simply get back to what the characters do best: sing. However, at the heart of the episode were two storylines of bullying and mistreatment.

Kurt was getting beat up by a big, rough jock with seemingly no support from any of his peers or teachers. Meanwhile, the glee club students were inappropriately thinking of football Couch Bieste to help them "cool off" during heated make-out sessions.

The show featured several touching and relevant scenes without coming off as "preachy" or forced. The characters' issues, emotions and connections felt real. The question is whether the appearance of guest star Gwenyth Paltrow will help or hurt the solid focus "Glee" has recently been achieving in its second season.

Next Tuesday, Nov. 16, Paltrow will play Holly Holliday, a substitute teacher who fills in for a sick Will Shuester. Paltrow, who recently debuted her singing chops at the Country Music Awards, will sing an altered version of Cee-Lo's "F--- You" (now titled "Forget You") with the New Directions kids. Her character Holly will also perform a mashup of Rhianna's summer anthem "Umbrella" and the classic "Singing In The Rain" with Schuester (Matthew Morrison).

To listen to the mashup at JustJared.com, click here.

To view a clip of Paltrow and the "Glee" cast singing "Forget You," click play below.



Sources:
EW: 'Glee': Gwenyth Paltrow sings Cee-Lo's "Forget You"
EW: 'Glee': Gwenyth Paltrow's "Umbrella"-"Singing In The Rain" mashup released