"The Substitute" | |
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Glee episode | |
Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 7 |
Directed by | Ryan Murphy |
Written by | Ian Brennan |
Featured music | "Conjunction Junction" "Forget You" "Make 'Em Laugh" "Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag" "Singin' in the Rain" / "Umbrella" |
Production code | 2ARC07 |
Original air date | November 16, 2010 |
Guest appearance(s) | |
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"The Substitute" is the seventh episode of the second season of the American television series Glee, and the twenty-ninth episode overall. It was written by Ian Brennan, directed by Ryan Murphy, and premiered on Fox on November 16, 2010. The episode guest stars Gwyneth Paltrow as Holly Holliday, a substitute teacher who takes the place of glee club director Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) while he is ill. Cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) becomes principal of William McKinley High School, and glee club members Mercedes Jones (Amber Riley) and Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer) experience tension in their friendship.
The episode features cover versions of six songs, which received mixed reviews from critics. While the Glee cover of Cee Lo Green's "Forget You" and mash-up of "Singin' in the Rain" with Rihanna's "Umbrella" attracted critical praise and charted both on the Billboard Hot 100 and internationally, the episode's dance-based performances were criticized for their choreography and strict adherence to the original versions. The episode was watched by 11.70 million US viewers, and was the top scripted show among adults aged 18–49 for the week of broadcast.