Triple Threat 'Glee'
They’ve got it all, dance routines that make Olivia Newton -John and John Travolta look like amateurs, voices that would rival any chart topper and acting abilities that would make any storyline seem believable.
This “triple threat” musical comedy is of course “Glee”. For those of you who have failed to be captured by the storyline, it follows the progress of Drama teacher Mr Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) as he attempts to keep his beloved “Glee” club open, encouraging the breakdown of social barriers and questioning stereo typical labels that are apparent in all high schools.
However, things aren’t going to be easy for Schuester and the “Glee” club members, they face prejudice from other members of the school, parents and even teachers. In particular cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) is Will's biggest rival, it is her main aim to make the life of the “Glee” club members as miserable as possible. This is definitely amusing to watch as you see the two conflicting styles of teaching, and the arguments that take place between the two of them is something that you would expect to see taking place in the staffroom!
However, “Glee” also covers controversial issues such as sexuality. It addresses issues that young people face from teenage pregnancies to body image issues. Yet unlike some dramas that focus purely on the downside of teenage life, “Glee” manages to deliver a message in a positive way by teaming up the message with a song.
For example when Mercedes Jones (Amber Riley) struggles with her weight issue the song choice that the “Glee” cast members decide to perform is Christina Aguilera’s 'Beautiful', which reinforces the message of being comfortable in your own body image. I think this is definitely something that young people (especially girls) suffer from, so to have a popular television programme address this problem, but in a way that is not like a lecture is definitely a positive thing.
The characters in “Glee” are also typical of what you would find in a school environment which makes it more believable to watch and to follow. I also think that principal of “Glee” club which is to bring everybody together regardless of their social status in the school is also a positive thing to encourage. The way the actors have made their characters so believable has helped the audience watch them and want to see their development, you start to feel an empathy towards certain ones.
For me though, what makes “Glee” such a positive television programme is definitely the singing and the dancing. It helps break down the drama and lightens the atmosphere. It also helps to reinforce and promote certain messages in a teenage friendly way.
In my opinion “Glee” can be watched by family members or teenagers as it's extremely diverse and loads of fun! So if you haven’t already, get your “Glee” catch ups at the ready and be prepared for some all singing, all dancing entertainment!
