Glee Project Season 2: Who Do You Think Has What it Takes to Win?

from left to right (starting on the top): standing - Taryn, Charlie, Shanna, Maxfield, Lily Mae, Michael; sitting - Mario, Aylin, Blake, Ali, Dani, Abraham; on the floor - Tyler, Nellie. In red, eliminated; yellow, quit.

Charlie Lubeck, 22, from Chicago, Illinois is recently eliminated from Glee Project Season 2. It’s just too bad because he is one of my early favorites on the show. Sadly, he had been in the bottom three for four times already. That in itself is already a loud statement that he is probably not cut out for Glee. But I still think he didn’t deserve to be sent home considering all other factors like his screen charisma and performance power.

He’s still one of my personal favorites though. There is great potential in him as a singer, actor, and a total performer. But admittedly, he lacked discipline early on. His romance with fellow Glee Project Season 2 contender Aylin didn’t help either. It keeps him distracted and had stolen his focus to have all eyes set on the prize. The same applies to Aylin. So I won’t be surprised if she is the next one to leave. Not unless she gets back to her A-game now that her beau on the show had been sent home.

Eliminated Contenders

Other eliminated contestants are as follows:

Mario Bonds, 24, Lanham, Maryland

Tyler Ford, 21, Boca Raton, Florida

Dani Shay, 23, Orlando, Florida

Taryn Douglas, 22, Detroit, Michigan

Maxfield Camp, 23, Nashville, Tennessee

Contestants are shown in order of elimination with the last name as the first to be eliminated. Maxfield is a charming country boy who is lacking in terms of performance. Taryn actually left the competition by choice. Dani is a face you would be familiar with as the girl who looks like Justin Bieber with her videos all over YouTube. Tyler is the only transgender in the group. Mario has the most inspirational story from those who are already eliminated. Although he seems to be rather rude and arrogant during some of the episodes; his final words after being eliminated will inspire everyone with disabilities, particularly those who are blind. He says that he would like to be remembered as a talented individual who just happens to be blind and not a blind person whom they happen to cast on the Glee Project.

Who do you think will win?

Remaining contestants (alphabetical):

Abraham Lim, 24, Queens, New York/ San Diego, California
Ali Stroker, 24, New York, New York
Aylin Bayramoglu, 19, Chicago, Illinois
Blake Jenner, 19, Miami, Florida
Lily Mae Harrington, 18, Dennis, Massachusetts
Michael Weisman, 18, Chicago, Illinois
Shanna Henderson, 21, Auburn, Alabama
Nellie Veitenheimer, 19, Tacoma, Washington

As for those who still remain on the competition, who do you think will win Glee Project Season 2? During season 1, two winners emerged - Samuel Larsen and Damian McGinty, Jr. Both of them are now part of New Direction, Glee’s high school glee club. The runners up Lindsay Pearce and Alex Newell also participated in the show as guests for some of the episodes in Glee Season 3. The Glee Project Season 2 winners may land a slot in one of the new characters to be introduced for the upcoming Glee Season 4. There are even rumors that American Idol Season 11 runner up Jessica Sanchez may guest star for the show.

Going back to the remaining 8 contenders of the Glee Project Season 2 (there were originally 14 of them), the boys have an advantage because all of them look good on the screen (Blake, Michael, and Abraham). You have to consider the ladies’ performance though particularly when it comes to weekly tasks, like Shanna for example. But just like Mario, both Ali and Lily Mae are an inspiration for everyone too. This may be considered by the judges. 

Ali can be Artie Abrams’ (Kevin McHale) female counterpart, except that she’s really physically challenged. Lily Mae on the other hand boosts the confidence of other teens that are also full figured. Nellie doesn’t have a strong personality and her admittedly being introvert may pose a challenge for her as there are always group assignments and performances on the Glee Project. Lastly, Aylin’s flirtatious personality doesn’t help and may even prevent her from winning the show. 

If you've watched the episode where they had to kiss another contender in a spin the bottle game for a video performance shoot, she was all too thrilled to be kissing Blake and also kissed Charlie who was jealous afterwards. So I’d say it’s one of the boys (or if the same history happens, two of them) may be the next cast members of Glee. I’d go back to this post in the next few weeks and see what happens.

To conclude, ironic how Glee Project Season 2 winners are made to sing the chorus to “Keep Holding On” by Avril Lavigne before heading home after being eliminated. The irony may be present but there’s truth in those lines:

“There's nothing you could say

Nothing you could do

There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through.”

Despite being eliminated, all contestants of the Glee Project Season 2 have many reasons to keep holding on. They already have a good start being chosen for the show. It’s just a matter of holding on in the pursuit of their dreams.

Updates:

Episode 7: 7/18/2012

Nellie got eliminated during this week's "Theatricality" episode. The group portrayed popular personalities for their own video of "When I Grew Up" originally by Pussycat Dolls. The group played store clerks dreaming of becoming music stars. Nellie was lacking in her role as Britney Spears and her "I'm the Only One" by Melissa Etheridge rendition didn't help either. It was her third time at the bottom three. 

The other contestants played the following roles:

• Abraham as David Bowie. He took being called, "androgynous" too seriously at the studio recording. He sang "Stereo Hearts" by Gym Class Heroes featuring Adam Levine during the last chance performance. 
• Ali as Katy Perry. She hit the limelight this week. Winning all challenges.
• Aylin as Madonna. 
• Blake as Boy George.
• Lily Mae as Cindi Lauper. She sang "Someone Like You" by Adele at the bottom 3 performance. 
• Michael as Elvis Presley.
• Shanna as Lady Gaga. 

Episode 8: "Tenacity" 7/25/2012

Ali got the highlight again and was a living proof of what "tenacity" means during the homework/assignment "Survivor" by Destiny's Child and the music video shoot for "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor. 

Lily Mae barely survived with her 4th time performing as one of the bottom 3 this week. She's heads on against Aylin who commented that she sings loud while at the studio. Her performance "I'm the Greatest Star" from Funny Girl earned her a right to be back next week. Michael, who was assigned to sing "Brick"  by Ben Folds Five was weak and should have been eliminated. Instead, it was Abraham who went home even after an amazing version of "Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson. I believe that if he didn't head back to the stage complete with that "...I'm not freaking leaving..." attitude, he would have made it to next week's show. 

So for now, six contestants remain with only two boys : Blake, who is excelling and Michael, who needs to step up since he is pitted against Michael. The girls on the other hand include Lily Mae of course, Shanna, Aylin, and Ali. 

Episode 9: "Romanticality" 8/1/2012

Homework assignment:  "More than Words" by the Extreme 
Nunno Bettencourt from Extreme accompanied them for the song
Pairs: Blake and Ali, Michael and Shanna, Aylin and Lily Mae
Winner: Blake
Music video: "We Found Love" by Rihanna
Pairs: Blake and Ali, Michael and Lily Mae, Aylin and Shanna
Last chance performances:
Aylin – "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack
Blake – "Losing My Religion" by R.E.M.
Shanna – "Stronger" by Kelly Clarkson

Shanna and Blake are this season’s top male and female contenders but they are in the bottom three both for poor performances over the recording studio. Blake’s harmonies were lacking although he won the homework/assignment. He is the sweet heart of the show but the judges finally found his weakness. Michael got to beat him at least for this week although he deserves to be in the bottom three again for receiving repeated criticism for being stiff weekly. His partnership with Lily during the video shoot saved him. Aylin and Shanna were unnatural during the video and she with Lily went too far during the homework/assignment.

There were kisses alright even from the homework/assignment to the video shoot since it is about romanticality. Blake and Ali’s back to back teamup were very believable, natural, and not forced. The same applies to Michael and Lily Mae’s partnership. Aylin’s pairs first with Lily and then with Shanna didn’t work out well. Although it was Shanna’s first time to be in the bottom 3, she was eliminated. Her country girl personality despite her amazingly strong voice didn’t provide enough reason from a writer’s point of view to build a character for her in Glee. Aylin on the other hand, being a Turkish Moslem girl can become an inspiration to girls like her when cast on the show.

Hang on, two more episodes to go!



Episode 10: "Actability" 8/8/2012

I think this would have been one of the first few episodes and would have been added after Danceability (episode 2) or Theatricality (episode 7) because these are the essentials of being on Glee, aside from personality of course. On that note, it's the personality which made a difference on this week's Actability episode. By the way, it's the last eliminated leg of the season and next week is the finale. 

Six writers of Glee watched the last chance performance and they decided based on who they are inspired to write a character about. All 5 contenders performed (song list below). Between Blake and Michael, it's Blake who is chosen. At least Michael won the homework assignment this week. Anyway, he is still young (the youngest) and inexperienced (unlike Blake who at least had experience acting). 

As for the girls, all 3 of them would have been perfect for Glee with a character which can be developed based on their personality - Aylin being a Turkish Moslem; Ali being wheelchair bound; and Lily Mae being plump. Everyone was great during the music video about a mock movie trailer about friends entitled "Perfect." Blake and Michael both were amazing although the judges think it was still Blake who was better. Of the girls, it was Lily who was outstanding and she actually overshadowed Ali during the scene. Aylin was also overshadowed by Blake during their scene. Anyway, it's done. Lily Mae and Michael were eliminated while Blake, Aylin, and Ali are called back for the finale.

• Guest mentor is the lovely Dianna Agron who plays Quinn Fabray on Glee
• Homework assignment is "Addicted to Love" by Robert Palmer
• Music video is "Perfect" by Pink
• Last chance performances:
• Michael sang "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" popularized by Cyndi Lauper (slow version like Cory Monteith or Finn Hudson's version in Glee)
• Lily Mae – "Son of a Preacher Man" by Dusty Springfield - It was a phenomenal performance
• Ali – "Here's to Us" by Halestorm
• Blake – "I'm Still Standing" by Elton John
• Aylin – "Fighter" by Christina Aguilera