Did you watch the pilot episode of Glee last night? If not, you really missed something special.
So many TV shows are steeped in all the bad stuff going on in the world. You know what I’m talking about — murder, crime, people in peril, etc. — and that’s just the nightly news!
But in all seriousness, some of these long-running cop/hospital/lawyer/[fill in the blank] shows are awesome TV, but sometimes you just need to lighten up. That’s where Glee comes in.
It’s a show from Ryan Murphy (Nip/Tuck helmer) about a teacher, played by Matthew Morrison, who decides to resurrect the glee club at the high school where he teaches. He believes in it so much, he even shells out $60 a month to keep it running. Why? Because he remembers the joy he felt when HE was in a high school glee club, and he wants to give these kids something to be joyful about, too.
But the bonus is that we, the viewers, also get to feel that joy. It’s happy TV, and can’t we all use some of that? I’ve just seen the one pilot episode that aired last night, and I’m already hooked. It has lots of fun characters, great music, and yes, some all-out musical numbers that include singing and dancing. The music is stuff you’d hear on the radio — “Rehab,” “Don’t Stop Believin’,” and “You’re the One That I Want,” to name a few.
Glee also has a kitschy soundtrack that’s straight out of a 1960s Mike Nichols movie (think The Graduate).
The good news is that Glee has been picked up for 13 episodes. The bad news? It won’t air until this fall. Ah well, it’ll give us something to look forward to over the summer.
Music from tonight’s episode of Glee is already available on iTunes.
Clacked by Jane Boursaw 
on May 20, 2009 @ 04:54 EST5EDT
I think I liked it. But I’m not sure if I liked it because it felt like other stuff I liked – 10 years ago – “Election” and “American Pie.” The jock kid who joins Glee Club seems a whole lot like Chris Klein in both of those movies – and the way they do the little voice overs seems straight out of “Election.” Then in “American Pie” Chris Klein’s character joined choir even though it meant missing lacrosse or football or something like that. And the pushy, good-singing girl is a little Tracey Flick. My friends and I going to give this a shot because it is fun and the music was enjoyable but I am a little pissed that it’s “borrowing” from some of my faves and trying to play it as “unique.”
Thanks Jane! I was sitting on hot coals here waiting for something showing up about “Glee”.
Damn it. Damn it. How did they pull this off? I HATE MUSICALS! I hate them. I can’t stand them.
But this? I mean I watched “Not another Teen Movie” last night and loved the dance numbers there because it was a silly movie and then today I wake up and watch “Glee” and god damn it it’s a sarcastic mix of “Party Down” and “Highschool Musical” and damn it I love it to no end. I got goosebumps all the time and I hate myself for it. How great is this show? I mean if they can keep all this up – there was not a single scene that was wrong. It’s right up my alley of sarcastic, ironic in-your-face humor. It’s totally over the top and still not totally over the top. The character’s aren’t fully developed yet and I didn’t manage to find any flaws in how they are portrayed. Damn it this feels like “Friday Night Lights” with songs. All actors fit their roles perfectly (and the only guy I hated on this was the axed former Glee-teacher – I knew the actor and he felt off but still managed to fill the role nicely).
God I can’t wait for this to show up regularly. More songs! Give me more songs!
Man I’m pathetic for liking this. This is “High School Musical” for grownups. They knew it. They aimed for that. And they managed to hook me. Damn it.
:-D
I thought it was cute too.
Sebastian (I mean this in the best possible way): Is there any way you could stop the GD’s? I would like to read your posts, but every time I see a GD it’s like getting slapped.
This is a two edged sword. I guess you won’t believe me but I just the other day deleted one GD from one of my posts because – well I thought it could offend someone.
Then again, since I don’t really care about deities, I am not really using it int he sense you take it, but rather as an expression of awe.
I didn’t even think that I had one in there. So let’s make a deal – you can always call me out on it, I’ll try not using it, and when you still come across it in my comments then, while I understand that you flinch, you try and remind yourself that I’m not using it “in vain” or whatever, since I’m not wired that way. I’m simply influenced by US TV in an enormous way and my “vast” knowledge of the US English language stems from there, with all of its nuances. It’s all the FCC’s fault ;-) No honestly, I’m not doing that on purpose and am really trying to leave it out out of respect for something I don’t understand. I mean at least I can try to be tolerant.
I really do appreciate the effort! Thanks.
I really enjoyed the show. My only problem is that it doesn’t fit any other show on network TV, and that will lead it to fail. I hope I’m wrong.
I absolutely adored it. So did other family members I talked to. We were all so crushed to hear it doesn’t actually start until this fall!
I was so impressed last night. I’m really looking forward to this show, and the different kinds of things it will be able to do. While it does barrow heavily (as mentioned American Pie, and probably HSM, but I’m not as familiar with it), it still manages to be the most unique thing on television since Pushing Daisies.
It was a bit of a Heroes reunion last night, with the lovely Jayma Mays, Jessalyn Gilsig, and Stephen Tobolowsky.
*POST AUTHOR*
Well, I think everyone in the blogosphere could take a hint from bsgfan2003 and Sebastian. One commenter doesn’t like something the other said, the second commenter agrees to try and change things, the first commenter appreciates the effort… you guys are awesome!
And Sebastian, I think it’s just hilarious that you’re hating that you love Glee so much. You can do this!
I almost think this is a show that will appeal to just about everyone. Even my 14-year-old son, who announced before Glee was on that he’d never watch it, was drawn away from the other TV and Spike’s Deadliest Warrior, and found himself watching Glee with his sister and me.
I won’t tell any of his friends, though. Because they’re probably watching it, too.
I like musicals, so obviously i loved these new show, very entertaining!!! :)
Love it! I hope it can keep the wit, humor and good music choices and stay far far away from being a stereotypical HS show. At the end, I wanted their version of Don’t Stop Believing. Glad to hear I can get it at iTunes. I may break my rule of not buying from there.
Looks like you can get the full episode download for free on Amazon video.
I passed, I think it’s just Fox trying to get a piece of the musical action that Disney has. I never have liked anything musical, I actually mute Family Guy when they sing. Plus I’m tired of watching Fox on Tuesday nights now; I’m burned out on singing and anything Idol.
Total, crazy love for this show. Watched it and the Idol finale last night and had myself a geek-fest musical fantasy night. Planning a karaoke party… hope my glee wears off before I actually send invites….
I would so go to that party! I was suspicious, but Glee rocks my world. What torture to have to wait months for a new episode! As soon as it ended, I thought, “I can’t wait for the next……oh yeah. Crap.”
This show sucked me right in and I loved it! I can’t WAIT to see the rest in the fall.
I REALLY enjoyed it. Kinda disappointed that it won’t be on again until the fall.
iTunes also has the Pilot (and some preview thing)available for Free.
WOW. Easily one of the worst shows I’ve ever seen. Just awful.
Re-Watch “The Winner” :-P
I figured I’d just watch some Friday Night Lights instead. By comparison, Glee should be awesome! :)
Boooo!!! Hiss!!!!
You should be punished for having such opinions. I suggest re watching NCIS: Legend Parts 1 and 2 as atonement :)
I’d take that with pleasure over Glee. With pleasure.
Aryeh seems to dislike anything happy, uplifting or lovely.
Like “Gilmore Girls”… *sigh*
You know I don’t have a problem that he’s DEAD INSIDE, still fun arguing with him about TV ;-)
You know, just because there was smiling and singing, doesn’t make this “happy, uplifting or lovely”.
For it to be happy, it’s have to be good. Not the acting nor the writing was. The be uplifting, the singing would have to be good. Another miss. And lovely? I don’t know, what does it need to be lovely? Give me some suggestions, and maybe I’ll give you that.
I’m just looking to be entertained, and Glee didn’t do it for me. I got more joy out of the episode of Criminal Minds that I watched before it, and that show’s dark as hell.
See your comment would’ve been fine if you’d left out the first sentence.
The show is exactly that because of the smiling and singing. Sorry Aryeh. What you should’ve said is: just because THEY are smiling and singing doesn’t mean it makes ME smile. Or sing.
Because for many of the other commentators here, it worked, and we liked it.
On the other hand my last comment on you liking something was just made up of a couple “Really?!?”s and that wasn’t that elaborate either :-D
Still, me expressing feelings of joy and you not being moved by the show at all is kind of a penalty kick for me coz I can say you are simply dead inside ;-)
Ok I’ll stop being a pain in the ass now :-)
Except, by that logic, you’d argue that American Idol is happy, uplifting and lovely. You sure you want to go there?
Really?
Ok, in all seriousness. I have to disagree with you on a couple of points. The singing IS good. I don’t know how we can’t see eye to eye on that one. Lea Michele is outstanding. The harmonies on Don’t Stop were outstanding. The bits of music used as transition piece were inspired.
And I thought the writing was decent. Not, you know, brilliant, but good. I like the quirkyness of the show, especially Jayma Mays’ character.
In fact, the only thing that didn’t work for me was Gilsig’s kooky wife. Just move on, and free up Schuester.
Yeah, and I’ll never get why you don’t like FNL.
Really?
This doesn’t necessarily mean anything to you, but my wife, who’s much more open-minded than I am (she likes Mad Men, Heroes, Privileged, Gilmore Girls, The Closer, ER), HATED it sooner than I did. And she was shocked, because she likes gooey stuff. I don’t know what to tell you.
Friday Night Lights just wasn’t for me, not in a major way, but it’s a stick to poke Sebastian with, which is definitely a noble pursuit. :) Yeah!
I (again) have to underline what Ivey said. All the points he made (to me) are spot-on, except maybe the kooky wife because I think she’s supposed to be that way. I think in not working she works Ivey for us to want him to break up with her ;-)
And Aryeh I am SHOCKED. In a previous draft I was about to ask you to ask your wife about Glee and find out that you are sooo dead inside and you telling me that SHE didn’t like it… well I guess there must be something to it. Maybe I’m just into different kinds of cheese ;-)
And you can make fun about FNL all you want I don’t mind. I got two more seasons. Ha! :-)