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I think the last time I wrote about a TV show was back on Valentine’s Day, when I raved about United States of Tara and the joys of PVRing (for the record: can’t wait until the start of season two, and love that Toni Colette won an Emmy for it).  I don;t know if I’m subconsciously making this a holiday tradition, but here it is, Thanksgiving weekend, and I’m wrapped up in another new show, one I’m sure some of you out there will a) either be in love with, too, or b) absolutely hate.

Glee (on Fox, Global in Canada) is, like, High School Musical (yuck) meets Freaks & Geeks (hmm) crossed with  Degrassi Junior High (right on!); in other words, totally rad, like.  When I first heard the premise, and the advance praise of the TV critics, I didn’t buy in.  Watching singing and dancing acne factories for an hour at a time is not how I’d like to spend my evenings, but the other day when my good friend Melissa told me how much she was loving it, I new I had to look into it.  Melissa and I have a similar sense of humour, and can crack each other up with minimal effort; if she’s says I’d like Glee I can’t argue with her.

And sure enough, by episode 4 (“Preggers” for those keeping track by name) I was caught hook, line and singer.  What cinched it for me was the scene between Kurt (Chris Colfer) and his dad, after the football game when Kurt reveals to his dad that he’s gay.  It was was sentimental, and sappy, but it hit me right in the soft spot.  There’s a tenderness to the characters that makes some of the comedy bite a littler bit harder, and makes you laugh a little bit harder.  Maybe it’s because I’m a teacher, and I know what Mr. Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison)  is going through, and what it’s like to find a group of kids that inspire you as much as you inspire them.  Maybe it’s because I wish I would have had a teacher like Mr. Schu’ when I was 16 and struggling to find my voice.

The strange thing is, I could take or leave the music part of the show; whether they sing or not is irrelevant to me, I’d still find these characters interesting enough to devote myself to them for an hour a week (or more).  Can they sustain my interest beyond a single season?  That remains to be seen, but I’m more than willing to give this band of misfit teens the benefit of the doubt and stick with them for the foreseeable future.

MP3: The Cast of Glee “Gold Digger”

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