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Glee, Vol. One: Road to Sectionals
‘Glee: The road to the sectionals’ Best high school show in years I wrote in my entry on DVD sets that are cool enough for school that the decade-old dramedy “Freaks and Geeks” was the last good high school show. “Glee,” the fist several episodes of which are being released on DVD next Tuesday, has filled that gap. I remember being very anxious to see the pilot when Fox aired it last May and then waiting all summer for new episodes. “Glee” is the story of a group of students at McKinley High in Ohio who were either outcasts before joining The New Directions, which is the school’s glee club, or became one on selecting that extra-curricular activity. Perhaps the nicest thing about “Glee” is that its performances of a wide-range of musical styles that often make viewers feel good. Watching a group of broadly smiling pajama-clad “teens” exuberantly bounce on beds ala Esther Williams while singing Van Halen’s “Jump” brightened my mood considerably after dealing with one in a long series of frustrating events. Because “Glee” airs on Fox, rather than the Disney Channel, it is not surprising that a teen pregnancy and a seriously evil cheerleading coach are at the center of the show. Further, even nice-guy teacher and glee coach Will Schuester planted drugs in the locker of the club’s star so that Schuester could blackmail him into joining the group. Although the few critics of “Glee” focus on the cast members being stereotypes, this provides good platforms for their performances and allows the audience to relate to them. For example, the good-hearted but dumb-as-dirt jock Finn believes the claim that his ejaculating in a hot tub that he was sharing with cheerleader and fellow glee club member Quinn impregnated her. Finn deals with his frustration regarding his inability to care for the expected bundle du joy by singing “I’ll Stand By You” by The Pretenders to the unborn baby in an exceptional episode in which Schuester assigns the club members to select a ballad to sing. This episode also uses ballads for humor in a storyline involving the adorable Schuester dealing with a crush by a student. He chooses a medley of “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” by The Police and “Young Girl” by Gary Puckett & The Union Gap to sing to the student to communicate that a romantic relationship would be inappropriate. Matthew Morrison as Schuester does a great job with this and all of his musical performances. Another stereotype is Curt, the openly and gay student who struts down the school’s halls in his fashionable duds. His chance to shine involves competing with Rachel, the Jewish overly peppy over-achiever, for the right to sing “Defying Gravity” from the musical “Wicked.” The issue is that a woman traditionally sings the song. The fact that these kids and their classmates are stereotypes make them real. None of them are especially nice, and they are all aware of their social status even if they choose to defy being ostracized, having slushies thrown in their face, and having their photos in the yearbook defaced. Along similar lines, the woes of the students continue well beyond the end of each episode. Curt will continue getting tossed in the dumpster and subjected to other abuse because of his sexual orientation, Finn’s teammates on the football team will continue punishing him for belonging to the glee club, and the wheelchair-bound Artie will continue having difficulty navigating the cafeteria and other areas of the school. The plentiful extras in the DVD set are just as exceptional as the show itself. My hands-down favorite is a hilarious new-student orientation film by Principal Figgins. The many gems include Figgins stating that his secretary must be depressed because she is a woman and owns a cat and Figgins telling students that they do not need the Internet because the school has a set of Encyclopedia Britannica. Another good feature consists of an interview with show creator Ryan Murphy, who also created the FX show “Nip/Tuck.” Murphy does a good job explaining the spirit of the show, and we also get to see the energetic stars having fun on the set. The extras also include a series of short films in which the stars share a handful of things that we did not know about them. You will have to watch these presentations to find out which stars loves them llamas and which one owned a 1972 Dodge Colt. Anyone who shares my love of “Glee” or wants to share thoughts about this show is invited to e-mail me at tvdvdguy@gmail.com. TV on DVD Reviews:  |
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Patrick Duffy of Dallas Interview Review by John Stahl
John Stahl is a freelance legal writer who is also a fan of classic and cult television programs. He can be reached at tvdvdguy@gmail.com.
Glee, Vol. One: Road to Sectionals
Product Details First Play: Defying Gravity Season 1, Fame, Flicka 2, Free Style Pilot - Director's Cut Disc 2: 177 Minutes The Rhodes not Taken Disc 3: 134 Minutes Wheels Disc 4: 116 Minutes First Play: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, My One and Only Mattress Special Features:
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Carol Burnett Show on DVD
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