Just curious...



Have you by any chance become strangely intrigued as I have with the new series Glee, which premieres tomorrow night on Fox?

At first I thought the whole thing looked a little too High School Musical 90210 for my taste (he said while watching American Idol). And then I wondered if I was just secretly suppressing all the joy and pain of my own high school drama experiences.

But then I saw clips that seemed to capture the whole rivalry thing with the jocks and cheerleaders, and I'm thinking maybe it's like Bring it On in a bad/silly fun kind of way. And then I see Jane Lynch and a few scenes with charismatic actors and potentially compelling plotlines I'm thinking damn, this thing might actually be good. And silly fun. And nostalgic. So now I'm like totally watching it tomorrow night.

Is there anybody else I can compare notes with on Wednesday morning?

This is not a paid advertisement, I swear.

10 comments:

shobiz said...

I admit, it has piqued my interest, mainly due to a positive review in Entertainment Weekly, in which the reviewer said basically what you said -- that the premise sounded likely to be cheesy HSM-grade stuff, but that the show's quirks and seeming commitment to authenticity drew him in. I may have to check it out.

MightyToyCannon said...

I missed the ads for "Glee" because I've been out of touch with this season's round of "American Idol." I lost interest in "Dancing with the Stars" early on and then, through a process of psychological transference, developed a case of ennui for all reality television.

Based on your recommendation, and the involvement of the versatile Jane Lynch (there was a time when she was in every other TV commercial) I may take a peek at Glee.

cynseattle said...

The creator of "Glee" is also the guy who created "nip/tuck," and he was interviewed on Fresh Air last night. So I blame Terri Gross, but now I'm totally intrigued by "Glee." Damn.

Jessica said...

Loved it!!! Laughed way more than I expected to...and I love "Bring it On," but here combined with "The Office" and the Chris Guest genre for added hilarity made me happy.

culturejock said...

Thank you all for your comments. After reading the EW reviews that shobiz sent, I became enthusiastic and worried at once. "Joyful" and "exuberant" were some of the words they used to describe the series; words that are not usually part of my entertainment aesthetic except perhaps at Christmastime. But in the end I did find GLEE to be a perfectly entertaining hour of television and a welcome reprieve from both reality TV, which is become tiresome, and dramatic television, which has become anything but dramatic.

While on the EW site also learned that my favorite sitcom, "Samantha Who," was canceled by CBS. That leaves "New Christine" and "Gary Unmarried" as the only lighthearted entertainments I can stomach anymore. Thank god for the live and performing arts, eh? Let's all go see "Fabuloso" again.

cynseattle said...

Oh Culture Jock, really? you can't find room in your light heart (or pie heart) for "30 Rock" or "The Office?"

I, too, enjoy "The New Adventures of Old Christine." Just enough absurdity...

MightyToyCannon said...

I enjoyed "Glee" as well, though not as much as I thought I might. As a high school angst/comedy, I didn't think it reached "Freaks and Geeks" level--though that may be because I could relate more to the "Freaks" part of that show.

I'm sorry to hear that "Samantha Who?" is being cancelled. It hasn't been on my regular schedule lately, but I think Christina Applegate is one of the finest comic actresses working in television -- dare I say that she might be this generation's Lucille Ball?

Really, Culture Jock, if you don't have room for "The Office" and "30 Rock," then I'm not sure we can be collaborators!

culturejock said...

I am glad you both asked. While I love Tina Fey and Steve Carrell, I find both "30 Rock" and "The Office" to be one-trick ponies. I'll giggle at every episode, but rarely have a reaction greater than that. Enjoyable television to be sure, but I guess I go for more absurdity in my TV sitcoms. (And theater comedies too.) I know, this doesn't explain my fondness for "Gary Unmarried." I'm going to chalk that one up to great chemistry.

I agree that Christina Applegate is totally brilliant, and I think the Lucille Ball comparison is completely appropriate.

cynseattle said...

Lest we lose our culture cred with so much TV talk, I'll make this my last comment on this thread...

Um, not enough absurdity in 30 Rock??

I want to live wherever you are, absurdity-wise, if you've found more...

oh, wait, you have a teenager in your house. 'Nuff said :-)

Stephen said...

http://nopoboho.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-tv.html

I loved this show & I dig Nip/Tuck.