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Glee Season 1 Episode 17

Bad Reputation

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AIRED: May 04, 2010

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9.0

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EPISODE REVIEWS
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Episode Summary

EDIT

Will goes on a witch hunt after a list surfaces with nasty things about the Glee club. In other news, a video pops up from Sue's past starring Olivia Newton-John.

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (8)

Better than Before

8.5

By thequietvoice, Dec 26, 2012

A fantastic episode that made up for the average quality of the past few. Humor was actually incorporated and there was a strong message worked in - that reputation is a fragile thing and can be good or bad. Ultimately, Sue won out, stating that what other people thought of her didn't matter. Emma also impressed me. Rachel's plot line with the three boys didn't sit well with me as I feel like her character is purposely being torn apart by the writers. Overall, looking forward to the next episode.

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One of my favorite episodes yet!

10

By alirk, Sep 21, 2011

I loved this episode. One of my very favorite so far. Favorite parts: Sue & Olvie Newton-John's "Physical video - hilarious! Both of Rachel's songs with the boys. I really did not know "Run Joey Run" before seeing this episode, but I thought itwas done well. I also like "Total Eclipse of the Heart." I didn't really understand why she was singing it, but I enjoyed it none the less. Also, I really enjoyed the library scene - pretty funny! I also liked when Emma told off Will, but at the same time it made me a little sad as I am a big Will & Emma fan. One negative thing to say about this episode: They didn't use Molly Shannon nearly enough. She is a comic genius & was terribly underused. Um...that's all I can think of for now :o)moreless
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No Joan Jett?

8.5

By RobGrizz, Sep 21, 2011

This was a great episode for a couple of characters. The basic plot had an embarrassing video of Sue Sylvester leak on the internet, and the through-line was finding the perpetrator(s). Now the story wasn't particularly suspenseful, and the suspect wasn't that big of a surprise, but this was another great showcase for Jane Lynch, and subsequently, Jayma Mays. Sue's world is sort of turned upside down because of this incident, and she's in unknown territory- getting laughed at. It was fun returning to her journal, where she would retreat from ridicule. But even better were her scenes with her sister, who we learned last year, is autistic. This stuff truly paints the character in a different light, and maybe, with the understanding of what its like to be made fun of, Sylvester might come off a little nicer? Who are we kidding? Nobody wants that! :) Then we wouldn't get awesome insults about Will's chin!

Speaking of Will, Sue informed Emma of his indiscretions behind her back, and encouraged her to to stick up for herself and let him know how she feels. I question that Emma would so quickly believe Sylvester without any proof, but it lead to some really good stuff for her character anyway. I enjoyed the tongue lashing she gave Will in front of the other teachers, and I'm glad she wasn't so quick to accept his apology at the end of the show. Though Sylvester's intentions may have been mean-spirited, she actually did Emma a favor, and she may be a stronger woman for it. Besides, now maybe we can see a Will + Molly Shannon romance? That'd be horrible! And awesome.

As for the kids, another item was circulating through the school: a "Glist"- I'm still a little unclear on what exactly this was (some sort of "hot" list on Glee club members, based on promiscuity? Or lack there of?) but it was a big enough deal that Rachel and the others wanted to improve their bad reputations. The reveal that Quinn was really behind the glist, observed that she wanted to lash out after having everything, from her body to her popularity, taken away from her. I'll go with it- even though she was never in the room, when the people who discovered Sue's video, came up with the idea to go viral.

The music:

"Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice. That's right. Vanilla Ice. On one hand, it was only a matter of time before Glee would go there. On the other hand: seriously? Vanilla Ice? In a weird way, this song was perfect for the undeniably 'white' Will Schuester! He tried to convince the kids that this song gets a bad rap (the theme of the episode) but I don't know if he succeeded. Stuff like this is the reason people can't stand this show. But I confess. I gotta kick outta the performance.

Grade: B-

"U Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer.

Kurt, Mercedes, Artie, and Tina- who I like to refer to as 'Glee Core' with Brittany tried to stir up trouble in the library. Glee Core really needed that badass rep. The bad news: This is not how you're gonna get it. This was worse than Vanilla Ice. And I like this song! The good news: Brittany can dance!

Grade: C

"Physical" by Olivia Newton John.

While Sue was the laughing stock of the world, Olivia Newton John got wind of the video and offered to re-cover her song, inspired by Sylvester. Her cameo was mostly just listing off her accolades like Grease and her awards, as if kids today don't know who she is (which they may not), and they did a music video with a bunch of sweaty meatheads in spandex working out. For the ladies. Not for me.

Grade: C- "Run Joey Run" by David Geddes.

Okay. Rachel's "bad reputation" video project was truly inspired. It is just like her to think of interchanging the male lead with her 3 guys! The cheesy overacting, the amature-ish FX that were added, the Steven Tobolowsky- This was HILARIOUS! The song itself, I really enjoyed too.

Grade: A

"Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler.

St. James broke up with Rachel over the Run Joey Run debacle, and made a weird reference about ballet class. Which of course, was a set up for this last number, lol. The song was great, but I didn't care for the ballet that accompanied it (Jesse even seemed to be struggling with his lifts)

Grade: A-moreless
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Finally, a good Glee episode...

9.0

By sequoa84, Sep 21, 2011

This is exactly the same chord that was struck when Murphy & Co. started the show. Nice playful humor strategically placed between some amazing musical numbers.

Just look at the storyline - you've got Sue Sylvester at her scheming best, devising a diabolic plan to make Will the laughing stock of the school. What we saw of Rachel this time around represented her true character - one who is too ambitious and would go to any lengths to get popular. Heck, even Puck got a fair amount of screen time and he sure had some funny lines.

But the best part that made my day was the performance given by the misfits - Kurt, Merc, Artie, asian chick, and Brittany. The library routine was hilarious and Kurt's Perez Hilton principle was so true. I am also seeing an increasing number of some really corny one-liners. Some really cool ones were Artie saying - You had me at sextape! And I am actually in the process of becoming a huge Brittany fan. Seriously some of her lines were hilarious. I was on the floor when Artie says I am getting cold feet and she replies - can you even feel your legs. And the one in the last -'I don't know how to switch on a computer'. Seriously, Glee is back...moreless
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My God, what is happening to my favourite show? D:>

6.5

By fooboo24, May 13, 2011

This show used to actually have an interesting plot and the songs were properly placed, not just randomly. This episode was by far the worst-- the only thing that kept me was the music. There was absolutely no show, just music number after useless musical number, with about 2 seconds of plot development going on in between each. And then it would go to commercial for five minutes, and ultimately, I just ended up wasting an hour of life. And that's pretty harsh considering I absolutely love and adore this show so much! I could have just gone online and looked up and listened to the songs, and that would have been satisfactory. I truly do hope that this show doesn't continue in this direction, or it will begin to go down hill before it ever needs to. The humor was still pretty good, but the bloody musical numbers were one after another, and they are completely random, which I do not enjoy. In the older episodes, the songs were sung accordingly and for a reason, now they are just spat out at every second they can, and I'm not enjoying it at all. I will forgive this all though, considering the first bunch of episodes had months worth of work put into them, while these episodes had 4 months, at the most. I know most likely that I'm going to get a bunch of bitter responses to this, but whatever. I stand by my opinion that I could have could have completely done without this episode. :( Please, please, fix yourself, Glee, I love you, and I don't want to see you change ever! Stay good, sil vous plait!moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Matthew Morrison	Will Schuester
Dianna Agron	Quinn Fabray
Chris Colfer	Kurt Hummel
Jessalyn Gilsig	Terri Schuester
Jane Lynch	Sue Sylvester
Jayma Mays	Emma Pillsbury

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Robin Trocki	Jean Sylvester	Guest Star
Mary Jo Catlett	Mrs. Carlisle	Guest Star
Jean Sincere	Ancient Librarian	Guest Star
Naya Rivera	Santana Lopez	Recurring Role
Heather Morris	Brittany	Recurring Role
Dijon Talton	Matt Rutherford	Recurring Role

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Episode Photos

Members of New Directions perform in the...

© 2010 Fox Broadcasting Company
Members of New Directions perform in the...

© 2010 Fox Broadcasting Company
Members of New Directions perform in the...

© 2010 Fox Broadcasting Company
Members of New Directions perform in the...

© 2010 Fox Broadcasting Company

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (2)
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- Music featured in this episode:
  • "Physical" by Olivia Newton John
  • "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice
  • "Run Joey run" by David Gedde
  • "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler
  • "U Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer
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- On Jesse´s black t-shirt it says UTGÅNG and below EXIT. UTGÅNG means exit in Swedish.
  EDIT SHARE
QUOTES (7)
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- Artie: (noticing Brittany while discussing the Glist) Excuse me. What is she doing here?
  Brittany: I've been here since first period. I had a cold and I took all my antibiotics at the same time and now, I can't remember how to leave.
  EDIT SHARE
- Narrator: So here's what's happened on Glee: Jesse left Vocal Adrenaline so he could Rachel, so now he's part of the glee club. And they're the new power couple. Previous power couples: Rachel and Finn…also, Rachel and Puck. Will still has a crush on Emma, but he hasn't divorced Terri yet, and he made out with the coach of Vocal Adrenaline. And Sue? Still just kind of angry about everything. And that's what you missed on Glee.
  EDIT SHARE
- Will: I-- I messed up, Emma. I think, in all of this "discovering who I am business", I took a couple of wrong turns. And I get how those detours might have hurt you. But now I know that's not who I am or who I want to be.
  Emma: I know what's supposed to happen now. I'm supposed to smile and be impressed by how in touch you are with your feelings and moon over the fact that you care so much about me, but, um... I can't.
  Will: But, Emma, th-this is... this is killing me. I just... I want you to look at me the way you used to.
  Emma: I can't. But you know what, that's a good thing. Really, if this relationship is ever going to work between the two of us, we have to start seeing each other for who we really are.
  EDIT SHARE
- Artie: I'm kind of getting cold feet here.
  Brittany: Can you even feel your feet?
  EDIT SHARE
- Will: Emma, can I talk to you in private?
  Emma: No, you can't. Will, we're going to talk about this here and now, because I have absolutely nothing to hide. Actually, did you know I was seeing a therapist? Do you know that? Did you know I've been trying to work through my OCD so I could be with you? Will, do you think that's fun for me? It's not fun, it's absolutely humiliating. And come to find out you've been fooling around with some woman named Shelby, and you slept with April Rhodes.
  Will: How did you find out about that?
  Emma: You're not denying it. Wow, okay. See, I thought we were trying to work through this. I thought when you said you were trying to figure out things on your own, I really thought you meant that. I'm not going to stand for this anymore. I'm not. I'm putting my foot down, and I'm finally sticking up for myself. You're a slut, Will. You're a slut. You're a slut, you're a slut, you're a slut. Everybody should know that. And you should know that I'm through with you.
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- Will: (about the Glist) Puck, seriously, did you do it?
  Puck: I said no! I'm a delinquent, sure. I like setting stuff on fire and beating up people I don't know. I own that. But I'm not a liar.
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- Sue: That glee club stole my private property and posted it online. And as soon as I figure out the difference between slander and libel, I'm filing a lawsuit.
  Will: Sue, don't you think you might be overstating this a little?
  Sue: Will, I may buy a small diaper for your chin, because it looks like a baby's ass.
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NOTES (3)
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- International Episode Titles:
  Czech Republic: Špatná pověst (Bad Reputation)
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- Although credited, Jessalyn Gilsig (Terri Schuester) does not appear in this episode.
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- Original International Air Dates:
  Canada: May 4, 2010 on Global
  Republic of Ireland: May 5, 2010 on TV3
  United Kingdom: May 10, 2010 on E4/E4 HD
  Australia: May 20, 2010 on Channel Ten
  Sweden: May 23, 2010 on TV4
  Latin America: August 5, 2010 on FOX
  Slovakia: April 17, 2011 on JOJ
  Germany: May 2, 2011 on Super RTL
  Bulgaria: June 25, 2011 on bTV Comedy
  Czech Republic: July 9, 2011 on Prima LOVE
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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