I have never understood why musicals are so divisive.  Approximately fifty percent of the population hates musicals.  At least, that’s what I’m guessing with no evidence whatsoever.  It makes no sense for so many people to be anti-musicals.  A lot of people like movies, and a lot of people like music.  Both put together should have a sizable built-in audience, but its only been recently that musicals have been successful anywhere outside Broadway. Me, though, I have enjoyed musicals for a while now, but especially recently thanks to some of the smarter musical comedies that have been released.  Those that are successful, because they don’t take themselves too seriously.

This is precisely why Glee is successful.  It doesn’t take itself seriously as a musical or as another television show about pretty adults pretending to be teenagers.  The plot is actually pretty similar to the dreadful High School Musical (or so I hear).  A group of misfits who just want to sing make singing seem so fun that eventually non-misfits want to join in too.  But while a regular musical might put more emphasis on making the musical numbers seem as artificially spectacular as possible, Glee takes popular songs and shows the characters enjoying performing these songs.  I mean we can all relate to singing Journey in a moment of happiness right?  Anyone?

Besides the musical numbers the show also has a great sense of humor going for it.  I especially enjoy a running gag of having people getting Slushies dumped on them.  All the actors do a really great job.  The actresses are really hot.  And I enjoy the feeling that anything can happen at random.  Also a plus is the inclusion of one of the funniest women in the world, Jane Lynch.

What I don’t like about the show is most of the plotting of the show.  While I enjoy not knowing what to expect, I don’t enjoy being entirely confused by the rapid pace of the show.  I feel like the show doesn’t really want to be on for more than one season so they’re throwing everything at the screen now.  Also, one of the plots involves a woman faking a pregnancy which is getting to the point that stretches credulity.  My main complaint is the use of Jane Lynch.  Most critics love her in this show.  I don’t believe she is being used well.  Her character is the villain on the show and while she has fun with it, I don’t find her all that funny.  I think its because she works better when she has another gifted comedian to match wits with, and this show doesn’t have that.

Other than those minor flaws, though, Glee is a great show about the joy of music, and I am having fun right along with it. 4/5