I’m a Gleek. So Sue Me.
I have to say, this past season of tv provides me absolutely nothing to complain about. I have been satisfied weekly by my continual favorites: 30 Rock, Top Chef, Bones, Dexter. I’ve also added to the mix Community, Parks and Rec, and ABC’s Modern Family which are all freshman nods in my book (technically Parks and Rec debuted last season but it was finding itself and I let it have it’s time to develop). But nothing–NOTHING–has given me the joy of my one and only Glee.
The cast of Glee in all of its glory.
Oh Fox, you’ve made me a believer. I was nervous when I first heard about this show. Marketed as a musical television show and premiering directly after the American Idol finale in the spring, I thought for sure this was a loser, entering the annals of such epic failures as Cop Rock and Viva Laughlin. If history has proven only one thing it’s that television and musicals are not happy bedfellows. And then there was Glee.
Set at fictional William McKinley High (in Lima, Ohio, no less), you’d think it’d be the story of all Glee clubs in high school (although we called ‘em show choirs): a bunch of nerds not good enough for sports make asses of themselves on stage in mediocre-to-embarrassing musical numbers choreographed by adults whose greatest moments were understudied the leads in Cats in college. But that’s where you’re wrong. Oh, it’s got the nerds…but it manages to address the jock-vs.-music nerd epic battle and “solve” it. It’s got teen pregnancy, crooked teachers, a failing marriage, a wishy-washy principal, a crazy cheerleading coach, and Emma Pillsbury (possibly one of my favorite characters on the small screen). And that’s in the first two shows.
Drama aside, what it also offers in an incredibly talented and able cast (Matthew Morrison (Tony nominated) and Lea Michele (Grammy winner) are both major up-and-comers on Broadway) singing some of the greatest mixes of pop and Broadway standards. And these little ditties fit seamlessly into the story, given the backdrop of the glee club (which solves the problem that happens for a lot of people when “musical” enters the description of anything: random breaking into song.) There’s no random breaking into song!
Is it the perfect tv show? No. I’ve got my issues. The storylines have been hit or miss this season, as have the choices of featured music. But the cast is so good, the writing so sharp, and Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester (the Cheerios head coach) so deliciously evil that this equation is primed for greatness to ensue.
Of course, they wrapped their first season this week. And I’m sorry but any show that leaves me with “Don’t Rain on My Parade” (Funny Girl) and “My Life Would Suck Without You” (Kelly Clarkson) in the same show, both executed beautifully (in their own ways)…well, I’m gonna give you a big ‘ol hug.
This show is just pure fun. And I want more. But I’ll have to wait until April 13. That gives all non-watchers plenty of time to get on the horse and catch up. You won’t be sorry.