Top 10 Most Unhinged Glee Moments
#10: “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)”
“Previously Unaired Christmas”
Have you ever spent the holidays sucking helium out of balloons? We haven’t, but Rachel, Santana, and Kurt have! After Santana comes to visit her former showchoir chums in New York, the trio get a gig at the mall working for Santa. Naturally, things go awry, but they’re eventually rescued by “Sexy Claus.” The three let this strange man, Cody, come to their place, which is where things really get weird. He convinces them to inhale some helium and prance around singing as though they’re famed chipmunks Alvin, Theodore, and Simon. Cody’s a complete and utter creep, and honestly, this is one horrifying crossover we did not need. There weren’t any more Christmas-themed episodes after this, and it’s not hard to see why.
#9: Sue Performs “Super Bass”
“Feud”
When most of us have a disagreement that needs to be settled, we talk it out. That’s not how things work in the world of “Glee!” When Sue tries to force Blaine to rejoin the Cheerios, they decide to have a Mariah Carey vs. Nicki Minaj diva-off. The former dons Minaj’s signature wig, a pink ensemble, and attempts to channel the rapper’s prima donna energy. She even gets an assist from a group of cheerleaders. In one sense, we understand — but we also really don’t. This isn’t the first time actress Jane Lynch sang on the show, but it’s the most mind-boggling. The strangest moment may be when Sue rides in on a bike before pink feathers fall down from the ceiling.
#8: Quinn Tricks Finn Into Believing He’s the Father of Her Baby
“Preggers”
In the fourth episode of the series, Quinn tells him that she’s pregnant. While this isn’t too unusual of a plotline, the details are completely wild. She convinces Finn that he made her a mom-to-be while they were in a jacuzzi. What doesn’t add up is the fact that they had their swimsuits on, and they never actually got intimate. He’s rightfully perplexed at first, but somehow buys the nonsensical explanation she provides. Of course, she’s lying to cover up the fact that the real baby daddy is Finn’s best friend Puck. Maybe the showrunners wanted to a PSA on the importance of sexual education by showing what happens when schools fail to prepare their students? Or maybe they just hate hot tubs.
#7: Will Suspending Marley
“A Katy or a Gaga”
It’s safe to say that Mr. Schue wasn’t the best teacher. Marley, the purest soul to ever join the New Directions, learned that the hard way. She feels that she’s a Katy Perry, as opposed to a Lady Gaga. We’ll forget the fact that there should probably be more than two options. The thing is, Mr. Schue wants everyone to perform as the artist they don’t relate to. As a result, Marley is pressured to wear a bikini. But she sticks by her principles and decides not to don the two-piece, instead showing up to rehearsal dressed as Katy Perry. Rather than applaud her for standing up for herself, Mr. Schue punishes her with a Glee club suspension. What kind of sexist lesson is that?!
#6: Emma, Finn, & Rachel’s Madonna Fantasy
“The Power of Madonna”
Subtlety was never “Glee’s” strongest suit. In this too-on–the-nose number, Emma, Finn, and Rachel, who are all inexperienced in the intimacy department, prepare to do the deed with their significant others. They express their feelings through “Like a Virgin”, and we watch as things get steamy. The scene is definitely cringeworthy, but what makes it extra uncomfortable is that there are high school students in the number! All of the women in the scene also wear purple slips for some reason. In the end, only Finn actually goes through with it. We get the desire to incorporate this classic Madonna song into an episode built around her work. But there had to be a better, less weirdly voyeuristic way to do it.
#5: “Let’s Have a Kiki/Turkey Lurkey Time”
“Thanksgiving”
Should you tell your boss to come over for Thanksgiving dinner? Well, Kurt does, but the woman in question, Isabelle, has an entourage that gets there before her. Pretty soon, she bursts through the front door too. She kicks off the fabulous “Let’s Have a Kiki,” and everyone joins in. At this point it looks like maybe there’s potential for something decent. But then, Rachel interrupts with “Turkey Lurkey Time.” To call this mash-up outlandish and confusing would be an understatement. Sarah Jessica Parker and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” queen Shangela have a lot of fun, but they shine in spite of the song choice, not because of it. Hey, this is “Glee,” which means we can’t just have a normal dinner!
#4: "Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me"
“The Rocky Horror Glee Show”
Remember when we said that Mr. Schue wasn’t a great teacher? Here’s another reason why. After finding out that his ex-girlfriend Emma likes “Rocky Horror”, he decides that the Glee club should put on a production of it. In one of the most jarring scenes in an episode filled with them, Emma sings the salacious song "Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me" during a private rehearsal. She doesn’t just serenade Will - she full-on seduces him. And it’s uncomfortable! Ripping open your co-worker’s shirt, even if they are your ex and even if you’re “acting,” is never appropriate at work, especially if you’re a school employee. You never know when students could be watching — the proof is that two of them are here!
#3: Terri Medicates the Students
“Vitamin D”
Terri, Mr. Schue’s first wife, was the dictionary definition of the word “unhinged.” When she suspects that Mr. Schue is cheating on her, she gets a job at his school as the nurse – even though she’s completely unqualified. She then starts providing pseudoephedrine to the members of the New Directions, who take the pills prior to performing. Thankfully, none of the students are hurt. But what kind of completely irresponsible move is that? She is also pretending to be pregnant at this point, so maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that she’s making poor choices. While we’re at it though, we’d also like to have a word with Principal Figgins about his hiring practices. Sure, the boys vs girls medleys were entertaining, but at what cost?!
#2: “Blurred Lines”
“The End of Twerk”
As shocking as Sue could be, sometimes she was the only voice of reason. Here, she decides that twerking should be prohibited at McKinley High. Rather than take the L and change his assignment for the week, Mr. Schue leads the entire Glee club in twerking to “Blurred Lines” all around the school. Has he no shame whatsoever? Does he not understand what the song is about, or realize that he’s, you know, supposed to be a TEACHER? This isn’t the first time Mr. Schue has performed a questionable song - remember when he rapped “The Thong Song” to Emma? His inability to understand what’s appropriate is really one of the most confounding parts of the show.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Mercedes’ Tater Tots Mission, “The Substitute”
She Deserved Better Than to Have an Entire Storyline About Tots
Quinn Giving Birth Set Against “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Journey”
Who Edited This Together & Why?!
Finn’s Jesus Grilled Cheese, “Grilled Cheesus”
He Affectionately Calls the Sandwich “Cheesus”
The Dinosaur Prom, “Prom-asaurus”
There Were Even Cheerleaders Wearing T-Rex Heads!
#1: “The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)”
“Puppet Master”
Ah, the episode where Blaine has a hallucination of his pals as puppets because of a gas leak. That actually happens - as do multiple other hallucinations, including Sue and Will performing “Cheek to Cheek”. However, the most absurd moment of all was the last number – and no, they’re not delirious here. To make amends, Blaine makes puppets of the gang for them. They don’t find this creepy, and instead all perform “What Does the Fox Say?” There are simply no words to describe the rendition, but it kind of feels like we’re having a fever dream. Even with how wild the rest of the episode is, this takes the cake.