KRIS RUSHO:

In this era of American Idol, America's Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance?, So You Think You Can Sing? and any other actor/model struggling to make it into the recording studio after the after-after party....comes a comedy about those who are aspiring to that.

Comedy being the operative word, but under utilized. It isn't comedy, it's malice. And...it is enjoyably so.

Glee, by first definition, is open delight or pleasure; exultant joy. The second is an unaccompanied part song for three or more voices, popular in the 18th century. If either of these fill you with hope for Fox's new comedy about a high school singing club, then get your Carol Channing autographed photo and Barbara Streisand album ready for Tuesday night.

In Glee, Matthew Morrison ( who was wonderful in the Broadway play "10 Million Miles") plays a Spanish teacher looking to recapture the glory of his school's glee club that is in danger of being eliminated. It isn't a far stretch of the imagination. Sports and outside activities often take over more musical and artistic ventures in life and the effort it takes to balance being a jock, as well as an "A" student and musical master isn't easy.

Maybe what bothered me was the stereo-typing of those who joined the club. The wunderkind Broadway baby, who YouTube's herself singing the greatest hits of Les Mis, much to her tormentors delight. But at one point, she is caked in the face with what I assume to be a strawberry slushie and STILL she carries on like Pagliaccio, undeterred and arrogant. An unlikeable girl with somewhat likable talent, a la any blonde haired pop star out there today.

The wheelchair bound tenor, the soprano diva, the well-coiffed-and-well- dressed-but-might-be-gay anti-hero, the alienated-I-don't-need-anyone alto, all of which cannot make a glee club successful apparently, so the recruitment effort that brings in the quintessential quarterback into the group. What is a horrible truth to face when you imagine the irony of the lead singer being in a wheelchair while singing "Don't Rock the Boat" from Guys and Dolls.

There's the wife that satisfies her lack of love for life with shopping sprees at Pottery Barn (one of the few funny moments Matthew and Jessalyn Gilsig have through the hour), but the best breath of fresh air goes to Jane Lynch, a tough walking, cheer pumping, caffeine addicted cheerleader coach named Sue who will not have her championship team weeded through for singing talent.

At one moment, Sue is telling her cheer squad "you think this is tough? I live with hepatitis, that's tough!" The next, she is explaining to Matthew's character, Will, who wants to talk to the girls about joining the glee club not to "tell them that they (students) are something they're not." She is a Godsend for comedic moments, but makes the most of the quiet.

The show often goes for the obvious, making fun of those with handicaps, toilet humor and a less than stellar social status, but it makes points in devious, yet important ways.

And what may be the best part of the show, and the main reason to watch, is the music mash-ups of some classic rock and pop songs. Why I'll be tuning back in next week is after hearing Amy Winehouse's "Rehab" rehashed and Journey's "Don't Stop Believing'" remixed, I was hooked, singing my way through the house and dancing on some pretty heavy melodies. They were tight and well done and I can't wait to see what songs are next.

Predictable? Yes, but that's what high school is. And I'm already going through my play lists with requests for each character to sing on their solo night. You know that's where this is going.

One highlight: Look for Matthew Morrison's solo on "I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane." I want it on Itunes now. On my Ipod yesterday. It is that good.

CRAIG THORNTON:

Glee, the new Fox program about a Spanish teacher Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) with musical talent taking over a decrepit and defunct Glee club at an Ohio High School has promise.  Some things work really well and others fall flat. It works well when it is sweet and unpretentiously original and falls flat when it is mean spirited and unrealistic and tries too hard.

For example, a choreographed gleeful rendition of “rehab” was hysterical and earnest and is worth watching the whole pilot for.  Also the motley crew of the glee club is also great.  Kids from all backgrounds with singing ability make-up the potpourri of musical dreamers.  A Football player, Finn (Cory Monteith) battles between the jock world and the loser world of the glee club.  This paradox makes him a great character, but the other glee club members lack depth and characterization.  I really wanted to learn more about their home lives, perhaps this will come in further episodes.

Which takes me to my next point; I found the home life of Will and his marriage problems very clichéd and uninteresting.  With the exception of a clever line about a glue gun, Will’s wife’s shallow personality and Pottery Barn shop-binging didn’t work for me and it’s difficult to see why these two people are together.

There are a few plot points that are incredulous:  A Spanish teacher who has a masters in education or Spanish is a viable candidate for a high paying accounting job that he supposedly wants to take for better benefits?  Isn’t that one of the perks about a public school teaching job, the benefits?  Also, it is too mean and unbelievable that the football team would play such a cruel prank on a disabled student.  Even if they were that mean, they wouldn’t be that stupid, as they would certainly be punished severely.  I also had a slight problem with an ethical and moral character using blackmail to get something they wanted.

But these things aside, the musical numbers are fun, and Glee is well cast.  The Glee club members have great singing voices and Jane Lynch as the cheerleading coach and Will’s nemesis is a hoot.  She has been around awhile and I hope this gig sticks.  It’s a great part for her.  Glee is worth another look, and here’s hoping they get some of the kinks out of it.

JEFF SHANNON:

In case you haven’t noticed from the non-stop promotion on FOX, they are previewing a new show after American Idol Tuesday night.  This is a show that is scheduled to start in the fall, but FOX is trying to hedge its bets by previewing the show nearly 4 months before its normal run.  The show is “Glee” and I had the pleasure to watch a copy the other night with my kids.

The premise is pretty simple, Will Schuster (Matthew Morrison) is a burned out high school teacher.  When he notices that the school he teaches for once had a successful Glee Club, he remembers his own happy times in Glee, and volunteers to restart it, calling it “New Directions”.  He gets the usual stereotypes to sign up, and we see the back story on a couple of them in flashback.  This first episode focuses on ambitious Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) and football star closeted-singer Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith).  Yes, it sounds like “High School Musical”, but there is no breaking into song in the gym.  Will himself faces problems with his overly controlling and ambitious wife (Jessalyn Gilsig) and fellow teacher and germaphobe Emma (Jayma Mays).  The characters seem like stereotypes at first, but begin to flesh out as the hour progresses.  Several other glee club members also are stereotyped, but I hope that they will become more three dimensional in future episodes.

My kids liked the show, and I was moderately surprised as well.  “Glee” was written and directed by Ryan Murphy, who is the force behind “Nip/Tuck”, another off-the-wall show that pushes the envelope.  While not as gleefully oddball, “Glee” definitely has its moments.  Just to see a choreographed dance number to the Amy Winehouse song “Rehab” is worth the price of admission. There were also some great one-liners, as well as one of the funniest ladies on TV today, Jane Lynch as the cheerleading coach, who I hope gets more screen time in future episodes.

The pilot was not without its flaws.  Sometimes, the writing tried too hard to be oddball.  And the ending (and accompanying musical number) seemed too much like a patented “Mickey-Rooney-let’s-put-on-a-show” climax that seemed out of place with the rest of the story.  But overall, we liked the show, and look forward to the series when it does its official premiere in the fall.