In 2009, the world was introduced to the phenomenon known as Glee. The FOX TV show became an instant cultural icon with its biting social commentary and snazzy musicals. No doubt the cast was talented and that the provoking theme of the show touched the hearts of many. It wasn’t just teenagers who reacted but adults as well. The songs struck a chord in people who remember just how much high school defined their lives. It still does. Life is like high school.
Glee was special. There was no doubt that Ryan Murphy struck gold with his characters and its mixture of pop tunes and black comedy. Unfortunately, the core of the show, its examination of the perils of adolescence in a small town in Ohio, fell flat fast. Glee was so hot it believed its infallibility more than the Pope in Rome does. Soon, the tales of teenage woe and bliss were gone and replaced by special guest stars who added nothing to the plot. Matthew Morrison got too concerned with his post-Glee career that its possibility looms greater every day. Fans hardly saw the teacher who seemed like the white version of Sidney Poitier’s character in To Sir With Love. Morrison’s Mr. Schuester in season 2 and beyond was basically a support role that occasionally had lines.
Whatever happened to Glee? A lot of things. Between going too far with the show tunes and dropping the writing quality the descent was imminent. It didn’t have to be this way. Glee could still be what it was but it has gone too long being some ear candy rendition of Fame. Rachel is now more mean girl than outcast with stars in her eyes. She began by being a girl who believed in her eventual stardom while dealing with bullies. Now she is the bully. Finn is irrelevant and Quinn is undecided who she wants to be with. Meanwhile, Kurt is the second coming of Jean-Paul Gauthier in Ohio and Tina and Mike are stereotyped as the Asian couple. As for the other characters, it’s as if they exist to fill out the choir and not much else. Glee had the potential to be another Sex and the City, a show that defined an era. Now it’s on the fast track to being one of the entertainment productions that people will be embarrassed to have been a fan of. At least Sex and the City chose to go off the air on top. Glee is going to be booted off.
Jane Lynch was and is still the best thing about Glee but she can’t carry it alone. The underdog drama of Glee has vanished and Sue Sylvester is archaic now. There is simply nothing appealing about Glee anymore. It should graduate everyone and be cancelled. What is the point of going on? There are no more lessons to learn from Glee. The show failed its fans by being more of a star vehicle for its cast than delivering what it was originally created to do: tell a story of why being true to yourself despite being unpopular is worth it. It was also a tale of lost dreams resurrected which drew in adults but with its main male star now off singing with teeny bopper boy bands its impossible to take him seriously. Matthew Morrison’s self-titled debut CD was an ear friendly listen but it failed to make a statement on him as an artist.
Glee is gone. Tragic. That is what you get when you play the popularity game at the expense of substance.