This Tuesday after the Kris vs. Glambert final duel on American Idol, FOX aired a special preview of its new Fall series Glee. The new show is the brain child of Ryan Murphy, the creator of Nip/Tuck and the short lived CW series Popular.
Murphy brings his quirkiness to this new project about a Spanish teacher (and former Glee club member), Mr. Schuester, who offers to take over the Glee club and restore it back to the glory days. Mr. Schuester looks and behaves like the adult version of Matt Saracen (of Friday Night Lights). He gracefully walks the fine line between awkward and endearing.
The Glee club consists of several misfits who will no doubt continue to entertain as this show moves ahead into it's first episodes. Meet the club:
1) Rachel - a dramatic, self obsessed, Broadway star wannabe. She has two fathers (a hilarious story about who is the biological father - perhaps both?) and she always put a gold star next to her name or signature. For star power, of course.
2) Finn - a star on the football team, who also loves to sing, thanks to his mother's one time, mullet sporting, landscaper boyfriend who rocks out to Journey tunes.
3) Mercedes - a self proclaimed Beyonce who refuses to play second fiddle to Rachel. She sings Aretha Franklin's "Respect" for her audition if that is any indication.
4) Arty - bullied because he is in a wheelchair, Arty actually has sick guitar skills.
5) Tina - half emo, half grunge. Not enough screen time to truly develop a story.
6) Kurt - barely on screen, but wants to the club to sing well together and bond.
I must admit, for the first 50 minutes of the show, although there were some funny moments, I wasn't terribly impressed. Richard Lawson, of Gawker.com agreed in his review of the show as well.
But then it happened.
Under Finn's leadership and enthusiasm, the Glee club covers Journey's "Don't Stop Believin".
Just when you thought you could not possibly love that song anymore than you do at last call on a Thursday night, Glee will amplify your devotion by epic proportions. In fact, it is currently the number three download on the iTunes Top 100.
You cannot watch or listen to the Glee club's rendition without grinning ear to ear and belting out every word along with their performance.
Those glorious three minutes and fifty seconds won me over, and has me anxiously awaiting the September premiere of the show! If each episode includes one awesome cover, I'll be tuned in live every week just waiting for the reveal (and for a DVR addict, that's saying a lot).
Until then, don't stop believin.
