What do you get when you add biting humor, politically incorrect comments, and musical gems from every genre? The answer is Glee, the freshman comedy that could on Fox. For everyone living under a rock here, Glee is about cool kids and losers singing together in Glee club while dealing with the horrors of high school. The show seems like the usual teen "dramedy" on principle, but Glee gives you all the good "ha-ha" moments and then quickly follows with a satisfying "aww" points.
The greatest thing about Glee is that the show doesn't dumb down the serious topics for young adult audiences, but they also don't shy away potty humor either. From dealing with a teenage pregnancy triangle to the steps taken when coming out of the closet to your single dad after he finds you singing Single Ladies, Glee embodies everything that people love about television. This group of high school students lives in a glass case of emotions while dealing with acceptances, ambition, and looming adulthood to name some of the easier few.
Strong charismatic characters like Finn, the jock with the voice of an angel, and Rachel, a talent singer who is also a social pariah, draw in audiences, but the overall theme of hope keeps us coming back ever Wednesday at nine.
Last episode aptly titled "Wheels" centered on Artie, a paralyzed member of the Glee club, whose non-PC nickname is also Wheels.
He strives for acceptance and understanding while singing a beautiful acoustic version of the rock anthem "Dancing with Myself" by the one and only rebel Billy Idol.
His struggles inspire Mr. Shuster, the teacher in charge, to have the Glee club roll around in wheel chairs for three hours a day Also they will perform their next showcase while in the wheelchairs.
He wants the club to realize that Artie's physical handicaps are a daily reminder that he is different, but it's not by choice nor is it his fault. Glee club is supposed to be a safe place for him to come and not have to worry about being judged.
The culmination of this comes when the entire club performed Credence Clearwater Revival/Tina Turner's "Proud Mary" which sounded amazing while rolling around stage in a choreographed wheelchair number.
Though the episode centered on Artie's handicap, the main subplot brought in three of my favorite things: Kurt, Wicked, and a "diva-off." See, when this is all said together it seems ridiculous, but so does the idea of Hawaiian pizza.
Yet somehow pineapples taste delicious on pizza! Anyway the story is of Kurt, a flamboyant, yet still in the stages of coming out, gay teenager, competing with Rachel, "I'm too talented for my own good," for the lead in the amazing anthem, Defying Gravity.
This is a lot to take in, but this was a jam-packed episode. Kurt doesn't want to get passed over for lead just because it is a female's solo.
His garage-owning Alpha male single dad doesn't always understand his son, but if singing is what he wants to do, then no one is going to stop him.
His father fights for him.
As Kurt ecstatically comes home after finally hits the high F key that he strives for, his father informs him that he received an anonymous phone call saying "Your son's a fag."
Though his dad lovingly defends his son and says, "No one pushes the Hummel's around, especially cowards on the phone." Kurt throws the competition and fails to hit the note.
He does it for the sake of his father. He never wants to see his dad look at him through crushed eyes again, because he loves him too much. When you see his father start to tear up he holds it in and asks Kurt if he wants to help him fix up a car. Kurt responds with, ''Let me change into my coveralls. This sweater's an Alexander McQueen.'' Again the "ha-has" followed by a very satisfying "aww"!
Glee doesn't back down when faced with issues that might push some buttons, but rather embraces them. Heart, soul, and laughter exemplify everything that Glee stands for.
Glee is fittingly titled because even when it hits a serious note, the viewer is overcome with happiness when the credits roll. After watching you don't know whether or not you should break out into song or not.
But you certainly find yourself humming from the heart as you turn off the television.
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