I caught up with the first episode of the new season last night and was cautiously impressed. Yes, I still have some major issues with Katharine McPhee (I just don't think she can act very well, at least definitely not as well as Megan Hilty, although she does sing well) and with some of the plotting (Why do Tom & his boyfriend have to break up just because Sam is going on the road? What happened to that highly-hinted-at pregnancy of Julia's? Where exactly is Julia's son Leo living now?) But I enjoyed Jeremy Jordan as the moody songwriter/bartender, Angelica Huston is still great, the Broadway cameos (Harvey Fierstein, Annaleigh Ashford, Michael Riedel) were fun, and most of the music was enjoyable.

I'm not exactly sure why Jennifer Hudson is there, but perhaps all will be explained.

Oh, and I am happy that Elliot is apparently gone, although someone on another board suggested that he was seen briefly in profile in one scene? I missed that!