Is anyone else obsessed with Glee? Okay, so you might not be a self-proclaimed Gleek like me, but you’ve at least heard of it, right? The voice-over announcer said it best during the beginning of the last episode “unless you’ve been living under a rock or just got out of prison” here’s what you’ve missed… It’s hard to walk two feet in any direction without running into this phenomenon. It’s on the cover of Rolling Stone, you can download the cast's covers of hit songs on iTunes (my personal fave: Don't Stop Believing) and, yeah, they were even on The Big O's show. And on September 7, 2010, Glee will be a book. Yep, Glee: The Beginning, An Original Novel by The Creators of Glee, is on its way. And yeah, I’m going to read it.
I guess for me it’s the premise of the show that attracts me to it (and my penchant for all things musical—we’ll talk about my love for Barry Manilow and show tunes another time). Glee’s message is that you should see your so-called imperfections and quirks as your perfections. (Thank you, Glee, for showing me that I should embrace my, er, more controlling side and my pointy nose!) And I suppose I've always had a soft spot for the underdog, which is exactly what I love about the heroines in my favorite books. It's their flaws that draw me to them. That make me root for them. That make me fall in love with them. From the "not stick thin" Jemima J (Jemima J: A Novel About Ugly Ducklings and Swans by Jane Green) to the chain-smoking, granny panty-wearing Bridget Jones, (Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding) I want them to persevere. Because they aren't perfect. Because they make mistakes. Because they're human. And because they're relatable. (C'mon, who hasn't worn spanks on a first date or, um, had too many cocktails and said or done something they, um, regretted?)
And the characters in Glee are also gloriously flawed. From the hunky, and probably much too young for me, Finn to Sue Silvester, the ultimate tracksuit-wearing villian (who, BTW, did an amazing rendition of Vogue at the end of last week’s episode); I love ‘em all. Even the beyotchy soon to be ex-wife of Mr. Scheuster. It’s just all so delicious. And I’m sure the book will be too!
PS: If you haven't seen Glee, add it to your DVR line up, stat! And buy these CDs: Glee: The Music, Vol 1. & Glee: The Music, Vol. 2 You won't be disappointed!
Do you watch Glee? And/or Who are your favorite flawed heroines?
Lisa Steinke, along with her best friend Liz Fenton, co-authored the chick lit novel I’ll Have Who She’s Having and co-created the popular Chick Lit blog, Chick Lit is Not Dead.
Hi, Lisa!
Well, ah...I did watch an episode last week...first time. I can't say that I got all caught up in it, and the characters didn't 'enthrall' me. I honestly didn't make it to the end of the show, before I turn the channel.
I was trying to figure out why. That's me, always trying to figure out why....anyway, I think part of it was the dialogue, or the scattered storylines....I don't know exactly...it just seemed too forced, or predictable most of the time, and I wondered how this could go on, week after week....
....and the villain, as you called her, is really a villain! I'm not used to these musical productions as having someone, an adult mainly, as so downright evil! Blackmail....the heaviness, just seemed so contradictory. I can see a kid being the bad guy, but not one of the adult players.... I guess I've watched too many Disney movies, where even if the villain is a villain, they're not a harsh villain, and sometimes their character is even funny...and gets it in the end....I just saw this character in Glee as dark.
.. I grew up on musicals, from day one, that's what I loved..Anything with music in it. I loved the underdog, the plain Jane, the person who struggled, but you knew had talent, but was never seen, for one reason or another, until the end of the movie. It held you, and you waited, and waited, until the climax gave you what you wanted, even if there were characters who thwarted the progression. Yes, I wanted..No, I had to be that girl! There was a fantasy there, that was wonderful.
I have watch the High School Musicals, which my daughter has....for the kids, and I do love the production numbers, or when they would burst into song. Glee does have some very good music in it, and the duet the one girl sang with that guy at the piano, was excellent...it kept me spellbound....and some of the other spontaneous music was good, too....but, anyway, I just couldn't get into the story or the characters of Glee. I know it's the big rage right now, and you aren't the only one who loves it. 
Maybe it's because I didn't see the series from the first show, I don't know.....
I can be analytical, and a harsh critic sometimes, so don't mind me.
Kathy
LisaSteinke
on
Kathy- Hi! Boo on not making it through! But you're right, the music is great. I loved the Lionel Richie number at the piano too! No worries. To each his own re: TV. It's so subjective. But I do urge you to give it another chance. You never know. Sue might grow on ya! 
rendition by the girl... I'll give it another try...my week's assignment! Come Hello or High water! Ha!
she's too salty! I prefer 'lite' salt. Okay, Lisa..... It's Glee Time, and the show must go on!
I watched it all! All the way through....start to finish.....Seriously Seeking Susan!
The straight face hair jokes are funny...but for how long, without getting old? The one-liners were excellent. Wow....Last night was quite a production! Madonna all over the place, even into the bedroom. (good storyline).
A half-hour into it, I was ready to leave it, but I promised (myself) that I would watch it, from start to finish, but it was starting to make me feel antsy...enough song and dance, already!. I'm just not a fan of these types of vocals....too much yelling, as Simon would say. Sorry, even though it has a good premise, I can only handle just so much High School Hijinks. A half hour would have been plenty. And the characters, for the most part, I'm just not into them. I almost switched it off, for NOVA.
The last line...I seriously think my cat is reading my diary! And the plot thickens! And thickens, and thickens........boo-hoo?
LisaSteinke
on
Kathy--Are you going to stick with GLEE? And yes, you did liken it to a jawbreaker! Nice old school candy reference BTW
No, I hadn't heard of Glee or Gleeks. I read your article though, and was quickly able to deduce that it must be a tv show...and will be a book. I'm not really sure what this show is about. The comments helped there and I'm guessing Glee has something to do with music...
Back to my rock now.
)
Maria
If you read this post, Lisa, I just wanted to tell you that I thought last nights performances on Glee were amazingly beautiful. The show was toned down a notch in its hyper-ness, but was toned up a notch in its sensitive portrayals of all of these characters. I loved it, and I love Kristin Chenoweth...these two songs have always been my all time favorites!And the way they were choreographed....what can I say, but, Bravo to the cast!
I think I'm a Gleek, now!
KC sings "Alone" on "Glee," plus songs from "Pushing Daisies"
All "Glee" all the time
| 'A House Is Not A Home,' 'One Less Bell To Answer' Turn 'Glee ... - 1 hour ago ... Kristin Chenoweth, a mash-up between Burt Bacharach and [sung by] Barbra Streisand [of the 1971 Bacharach/ Hal David medley, 'One Less Bell to Answer'/ ... |
