Glee

Channel: Ten
Day & time*: Thursday, 7.30 p.m.
(*as at October 2009)

 

Gleek chic

Damn those Americans and their television. Just when you think they must be running out of ideas for new shows, along comes something like Glee, just to prove they’re still among the world’s best when it comes to producing great TV.

For the all-important 15 – 35 demographic, this show ticks virtually all the boxes. It features music, bright young things, comedy, dancing and engaging characters. As the title suggests, it’s set in the rather insular world of a high school glee club. This (so far as I can tell) peculiarly American institution is like an amatuer musical theatre troupe, but operating as part of the school curriculum.

The thing about glee clubs though is that they have a bit of a stigma as being rather naff, if not outright nerdy; certainly something the ‘cool’ kids wouldn’t be doing. The show taps into that, producing a kind of ‘us versus them’ mentality that provides much of its dramatic impetus.

Glee centres on the efforts of Will (Matthew Morrison) to revive the flagging fortunes of the glee club at the fictional McKinley High School. The idealistic Will was once a star of the very same club when he was at school, but its status has long since fallen. The kids in the club now are looked down on by the more popular kids (its members labelled “Gleeks”), particularly the jocks and the “Cheerios” – the cheerleaders. Will’s situation isn’t helped by the fact that his principal is indifferent and the other teachers (including the rather nasty and quite odd Sue (Jane Lynch) who oversees the cheerleading program) are actively hostile to the idea. Faced with a hodge-podge of variable talent in the club, Will scores something of a coup when by hook and by crook, he entices football jock Finn (Corey Monteith) to join; providing him with a passable male lead to pair up with his bright but diva-like leading lady, Rachel (Lea Michele).

While this might all sound a bit High School Musical, series creator Ryan Murphy manages to give the show an edge. The fact that Murphy was behind Nip/Tuck may give you some idea that he’s not one to sugar-coat things overly. Glee’s edge is certainly more muted than Nip/Tuck’s was (allowing it to be shown in the teen-friendly 7.30 pm timeslot) but it’s definitely there. The fact that one of the glee club kids is in a wheelchair is an indication of what to expect.

The major characters – with the exception of the straight-down-the-line Will – are all larger than life. They’re the kind of people we’ve all come across at some time; just amplified a bit. This melds seamlessly into the nerds v jocks milieu that’s powered dozens of movies (many of them directed by John Hughes) that, when teamed with some pumping song-and-dance routines, makes a highly entertaining and very enjoyable combination.

Just a word on the music – apparently the cast members do all their own singing in the show. That’s not exactly surprising given that at least three of them (Morrison, Michele and Jenna Ushkowitz, who plays gleek Tina) have Broadway experience. The show’s popularity in the US has already seen a soundtrack album released and that will no doubt follow here shortly.

Glee is another quality offering from the land of the free. It’s hard to argue with a show that has the kind of verve that this one does. While I willingly admit that I have two left feet and a signing voice that would strip paint, I’m very happy to have my hour of Glee every week.

Phil James