Pilot

I finally watched the pilot episode of "Glee" after all these weeks and I must say, I can't wait for the rest of the season when new episodes come this fall! Michael Morrison arrives at the high school to replace Stephen Tobolowsky (who's the funniest player in this episode) as the new glee club teacher. Jessalyn Gilsig is his ambitious wife and Jayma Mays is a fellow faculty member who believes in Morrison's dream. Jane Lynch is the hard-as-nails (and pretty funny as well) cheerleading coach. And then there's the fine singing leads of Lea Michele as the snobbish-yet-appealing Rachel and Cory Monteith as the jock-who's-also-musically-inclined Finn. Great songs abound like "On My Own" from Les Miz, "You're the One That I Want" from Grease, and "Don't Stop Believin'" which Journey made popular. Sure the characters fit certain types but since this is a series pilot, there's always room for some possible future twist around the corner. And all of the characters, with the exception of the one played by Ms. Gilsig, are likable. So on that note, the "Glee" pilot automatically has made me a fan. Update-9/22/09: Just watched the extended director's cut which has an added complete number of an Amy Winehouse song from a potential rival choral group and a few added scenes like that of the high school coach harassing the Jayma Mays character. That's another character I don't like, even more than that wife I previously mentioned played by Ms. Gilsig. With the season already begun, I'm now gonna play catch up with this series...

This is a cleverly written and well-cast show that seems to exist in a kind of "private school"/money-is-no-object kind of universe. The High Schoolers and the Faculty / Administration live in Midwestern USA but have a kind of search for meaning that takes a long, long time to realize. The high school seems to be underpopulated with hall monitors and deans/assistant principals who will enforce rules and nab the offenders who are hazing other students mercilessly. The pilot gave a kind of funny behind-the-scenes look into how teachers in the late 2000s remain under-paid and co-opted as far as how they do work to make the teens people who are seeking to succeed in "the real world". I really enjoyed the off-beat choices as far as the Glee Club / Swing Choir rock and R/B covered music. Kudos to writers and director!

I. The safe guards can actually make things rougher have no idea how I never took the time to wadtch this. The Pilot sets a tempo about the caste system of High School. It is an age old system that parents,no matter the safeguards in place now. Plus there is a guilty pleasure in the music.

Now that Lea Michele is going to play Fanny Brice in Funny Girl on Broadway, my interest in Glee has piqued, after having watched it during it's original run on FOX. I remember the pilot premiered following the Super Bowl. This series needs a happy ending, since Finn, Puck and Santana are now no longer with us, due to unfortunate tragic circumstances.

Don't rain on her parade! Congratulations Lea Michelle!

I don't usually comment on individual episodes, but since Fox put this one out there so early, and the rest of the season won't even start until fall, it deserves its own comment.

I think the first episode, forming the glee club, was great! Some things seemed to happen a bit quickly, and that would be my only complaint. I was really expecting some waste-of-time watered-down dreck, but I was pleasantly surprised to watch this smart, tight episode.

I found the humour in the show to be just my kind, with several laugh-out-loud moments. I also liked that the show didn't just focus on the kids, and made the teachers an equal part of it. And lastly, I enjoyed the music numbers. I don't think I can sit through another Law & Order ("doink doink") show without ripping my hair out. But Glee is just the ticket for the times we're in.

I don't recall my high school having anything resembling a glee club (or a competitive cheerleading squad, for that matter). But I hope today's kids get the chance.