The TV world is starting to shape up into two camps: Those who get Glee and those who need to.
It's easy to understand why some insist on resisting the quirky charm of Fox's new series about a dysfunctional high-school glee club. Some people can't stand musical numbers, no matter how slyly they are woven into dramatic action, and the story of high-school misfits trying to make good can feel old as outtakes from Justin Timberlake's Mouseketeer auditions.
But, as the series returns to new episodes at 9 p.m. today after a baseball-inspired hiatus, and the new Glee sound track gets my tween kids humming "Don't Stop Believin'," it's time to challenge the naysayers. Because this show keeps raising the bar for what's possible on a series that mashes up musical numbers, absurdist comedy and straight-up sentimental drama into one outrageous stew.
The latest, best example is this week's episode, "Wheels," centered on plucky paraplegic guitarist and singer Artie (Kevin McHale).
Convinced that riding together in a bus to sectionals is the only way to bond the team and unable to secure the cash for a special bus that Artie can board, teacher Mr. Shuester (Matthew Morrison) comes up with fundraising ideas that lead to a musical number in wheelchairs .
If you still can't get someone in your life to get on the Glee bandwagon, try these arguments:
□ Don't judge the music until you've seen the numbers. Artie's version of Billy Idol's "Dancing with Myself" sounds a little geeky on the sound track until you see McHale croon the tune Wednesday while whipping around on his chair within a darkened theater .
□ Sue Sylvester rules the world. Showbiz veteran Jane Lynch (Best in Show, The 40-Year-Old Virgin) brings a careermaking turn as the deliciously ruthless cheerleading coach dedicated to tearing down the glee club. Lynch can chew scenery with the best of them, but she can also handle dramatic scenes.
□ The dramatic moments work, too. Watching out-and-proud club member Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer) struggle with how his sexual orientation affect his macho, yet loving dad (Mike O'Malley) feels like watching a page from creator Ryan Murphy's own history.
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