Glee embodies the spirit of America. Yes, you heard that right. It represents all that is good and true about this big ol’ colorful country of ours. Here are five reasons why:


1) It’s unabashedly optimistic. On Glee, all problems – or at least most of them – can be solved with song. Frustrated about not fitting in? Sing about it. Dreading telling your parents that you’re 17 and knocked up? Sing about it. Why shouldn’t music solve the world’s problems? The notion reminds me of Johnny Depp’s quote that America is like a dumb puppy… but in a good way!


2) It’s bitchy on the outside, but kind and gentle on the inside. Glee’s full of snark – think “Heathers” Lite – with some of the best one-liners I’ve heard on network television. (“You think this is hard? Try being waterboarded, THAT’S hard!”) Everyone on the show has flaws, but in each episode, we see at least one character redeemed. To wit: Gleeks everywhere were moved to tears in the “Wheels” episode, when we saw the cruel Coach Sylvester taking time out from harassing Mr. Shue to spend time caring for her sister with Downs Syndrome.) 


3) It promotes family values (both authentic and disingenuous). One of the show’s most entertaining characters, Kurt, is gay. In a refreshing twist, early in the season he dispatches the dreaded coming-out-of-the-closet conversation with his gruff, widowed, auto mechanic father – and the dad is actually okay with it (in his meat-and-potatoes way, of course, which makes it all the more believable). And in subsequent episodes he goes to bat for his son in ways that you just wouldn’t expect. On the flip side, you also have Quinn, one of the leaders of the Abstinence Club who gets pregnant after a drunken fling with the class gigolo. (I am tempted to add that her parents are big fans of Glenn Beck, but that would probably have nothing to do with it.)


4) It doesn’t care what anyone else thinks. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the musical selections are a big part of the show’s success, and Glee makes no apologies for any of them. As Slate’s Troy Patterson writes, “How can you fail to love a show featuring songs from great American writing teams including Bernstein-Sondheim, Kander-Ebb, Lerner-Loewe, Holland-Dozier-Holland, the dudes behind “The Thong Song,” and Steve Perry and his fellow power-balladeers in Journey?” Also, it’s a show about SHOW CHOIR, for pete’s sake – and still, we watch!


5) It’s one big melting pot. You can tell the producers have taken great pains to make this a truly diverse show, and it’s worked (the Multicultural Motion Picture Association recently gave Glee an award) for promoting diversity. But, lest things get too “We Are the World,” the writers put it all in perspective via Coach Sylvester, who refers to a group of the kids as “Santana, wheels, gay kid, Asian, other Asian, Aretha, Shaft.”

It sounds strange to say that a television show can make you laugh out loud, sing at the top of your lungs (irony-free), and feel a little bit closer to your fellow human beings just by watching it. But that’s what Glee does and, living in a world filled with reasons not to do any of those things, that’s refreshing. It’s the spirit of Glee that makes it magical – a spirit that (at risk of sounding like a junior high civics essay) embodies America at its finest.

So as I count my blessings today, I’ll include Glee somewhere near the top of my list. Although it may be only a show, it reminds me of why I’m proud to be an American.

This post first appeared on SodaHead.

Perhaps nothing sums up why the show makes us squeal with delight more than this glowing review by Slate’s Troy Patterson.  He writes:

At its best, Glee is not just entertaining but elating, dramatizing Breakfast Club-quality teen angst with the aid of tight production numbers covering new and classic popular songs. How can you fail to love a show featuring songs from great American writing teams including Bernstein-Sondheim, Kander-Ebb, Lerner-Loewe, Holland-Dozier-Holland, the dudes behind “The Thong Song,” and Steve Perry and his fellow power-balladeers in Journey? The cast covered “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” for the charismatic finale of the series pilot, a scene that will convert any reasonable person to the show’s effusive charm.”

So tell me, when it comes to the show, what are you most thankful – er, Glee-ful – about this year?  Take the time to answer my poll, below. NOTE: Write-in’s are welcome, and encouraged.  In fact, I’ll feature the best answers in an upcoming post.

So start counting those blessings!

What about Glee Are You Most Thankful For?

(polls)