Singing ‘Glee’s’ praises
By Casey Gillis on May. 17, 2009
I pretty much knew I’d love “Glee” after catching a single commercial for the new Fox series.
Maybe you know the one, in which various characters croon Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’?“
It gives me chills every time I see it, and I’m happy to report that the actual scene does appear in the show, which premieres at 9 p.m. Tuesday and then returns this fall.
As you may have already guessed, “Glee,“ which comes from “Nip/Tuck” creator Ryan Murphy, is about a high school glee club.
Back in the 1990s, McKinley High’s club was an award-winning show choir.
Today, however, it’s down to five misfit members: Kurt and the wheelchair-bound Artie, nerds often targeted by the school’s bullies; Mercedes, a big girl with a big voice; Tina, a capable singer struggling with a stutter; and Rachel, who is certainly the star of the group, and she knows it.
“Nowadays, being anonymous is worse than being poor,“ she says in one of the show’s many voiceovers, which frequently and cleverly shift among the different characters.
After the club’s director is ousted amid scandal, idealistic teacher Will Schuester offers to take it over and try to restore its good name, despite the principal’s reservations: “You want to captain the Titanic?“
Things start looking up when Will discovers the singing talents of Finn, McKinley’s star quarterback, and uses some shady tactics to recruit him.
From there, the show treads familiar territory, but in a thoroughly entertaining way, as Finn struggles between doing what’s right for him and what’s considered cool.
There to give him trouble along the way are a meathead football coach, chauvinistic teammates and his cheerleader girlfriend — a devout Christian and leader of the school’s chastity club, but also the same meanie who calls Rachel “RuPaul.“
Will also has his share of detractors at school and at home.
When he approaches the school’s tough-talking cheerleading coach for help, she declines by explaining the high school caste system: jocks and cheerleaders reside in the swanky penthouse, while the glee club kids are sub-basement dwellers — lines that are not to be crossed.
Then there’s his wretched wife, who complains about her practically nonexistent work schedule (four hours a day, three days a week) and pushes Will to give up teaching, his passion, for a career as an accountant.
Will’s lone supporter is fellow teacher Emma, a clean freak who nurses quite the crush on Mr. Schuester; you’ll totally want these two together by the episode’s end.
Fox is billing “Glee” as a musical comedy/drama, but it’s not the kind of musical where people spontaneously break into song for no apparent reason. Here, the characters sing where it’s expected and acceptable: in the shower or on a stage.
And the songs they’re singing make the show that much more fun to watch. In addition to “Don’t Stop Believin,’“ we’re treated to renditions of Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab,“ REO Speedwagon’s “Can’t Fight This Feeling,“ and John Denver’s “Leavin’ on a Jet Plane.“
The show is great: funny, entertaining and equal parts sweet and snark.
This is one club that’s so worth joining.
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