Glee

The internet buzz about Glee has been hugely positive, and so I was eager to catch it when it hit the UK.

And this first episode did not really capture my interest. Actually, I spent most of the episode wondering whether it would have ever been pitched without the success of High School Musical (the only redeeming feature of which is that it has mde musical theatre accessible for younger people)

Glee appears to be HSM and a hell of a lot of American teen dramas, at least where the teenage characters are concerned. There's Rachel Barry (Lea Michele-Spring Awakening and Ragtime) a super-smart/super-self-obsessed leader of the Glee Club. But apparently we need to feel sorry for her because no one likes her-and after this episode it's quite clear why....

Then there's Finn Hudson (Corey Monteith), who plays American Football, but can also sing...but his fellow team members don't approve..remind you of anyone?

The rest of the Glee Club-Kurt Hummul (Chris Colfer), Artie Abrams (Kevin McHale), Mercedes Jones (Amber Riley-who has a stunning voice) & Tina Cohen-Chang (Jenna Ushkowitz-Spring Awakening) and the other characters-Finn's girlfriend (Dianna Agron) and football mate (Mark Salling) appear only briefly, and none seem to be particuarly interesting-no, a wheelchair is not a personality trait....

Then maybe I'm looking at it in the wrong way. Because the adult characters are already very well realised. Mr Schuchster (Matthew Morrison-Hairspray, The Light in the Piazza, South Pacific) the Spanish teacher who takes over Glee Club is married to the overworked Terri (Jessalyn Greig-Heroes). There is also a great cameo from Jane Lynch as the cheerleaders coach and Jayma Mays (Heroes, Ugly Betty) as an OCD career coach who obviously carries a torch for Mr Schuchster.

It has recieved numerous award nominations in the US and has attracted cameos from Kristin Chenoweth, Josh Groban, John Lloyd Young, Victor Garber, Debra Monk, Eve, Jonathan Groff and apparently Idina Menzel-so it must be doing something right. It is also nice to see Broadway people getting television breaks, especially in a show that includes show tunes as well as pop songs-this episode included 'Mr Cellophane', 'On My Own', 'I Kissed A Girl', 'Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat', 'You're the One That I Want' and 'Don't Stop Believing' to name a few.

Yet I'm not sure I can justify watching it just to catch the cameos and great adult performers...