‘Glee’ Plans Justin Bieber-Licious Boy Band

COMMENTS (20)

• When Glee first came on, it had a fresh feel about it. Now, I find it it be largely incoherent. Most episodes are a “theme” used to string together a series of music video sequences designed to exploit the hot thing at the moment.

  I understand it is a musical, but the writers and producers have largely abandoned any story and what little story that does exist gets twisted to fit the theme. Jane Lynch who is great in anything she does and Lea Michele are the real stand outs in this series that at least from a story standpoint has run off the rails.

  So there is no surprise to me that they would build a story line designed to exploit the Justin Bieber fad.

  Comment by DougS — Sunday January 9, 2011 @ 10:22pm PST  Reply to this post

  • I agree. When I first started watching Glee last season, I fell in love with the humor, the soap opera-like story lines AND the music-dance sequences. Now, it’s just a bunch of songs strung together by a weak plot (if there is a plot at all).

    I blame some of it on the poor pacing of last season (so much happened in the first half of season one and after the mid-season break, it felt like they were starting a second season), which is part of a greater problem–poor story development. Also, having the same three people (the creators) writing all the episodes can be problematic if they lose sight of their vision and there aren’t other people in the writer’s room to help them get back on track. (And the problem is only exacerbated by the show’s ratings performance. Perhaps it will take a large dip in the ratings for the creators–or the network–to realize that they need to bring in fresh blood.)

    Comment by jinlee — Monday January 10, 2011 @ 6:09am PST  Reply to this post

  • Have to agree with you… the pilot episode had so much premise, but it’s ruined by this idiotic writing. The musical theme of the episode always gets in the way of all on-going storylines and it’s hard to identify with or feel for any of the characters when they’re changing their mind more often than the lunatic residents from Melrose Place. And the mixture of comedic elements and dramatic moments like Kurt getting kissed by the bully isn’t helping either.

    Comment by John — Monday January 10, 2011 @ 7:54am PST  Reply to this post

• Basically they’re milking the show’s success while they can. Surely viewers will not stick around when this form of bs goes on. What happened to Quin’s baby anyway? Did she sell it or sth?
  Shame on FOX & Ryan Murphy!

  Comment by Sam — Monday January 10, 2011 @ 12:35am PST  Reply to this post

  • I am a viewer and I will stick around. Not every show has to be The Sopranos and LOST. Sure, the plot is simple, but the show is fun to watch. Speaking of watching … she gave the baby up for adoption. That was in the plot.

    Comment by brian — Monday January 10, 2011 @ 7:10am PST  Reply to this post

  • Didn’t Idina Menzel’s character adopt the baby?

    Comment by missy — Monday January 10, 2011 @ 5:53pm PST  Reply to this post

• If Joss Whedon were showrunner, Glee would be a much better show. He wouldn’t let the storyline fall off the rails like it has. Joss Whedon is one of the greatest writers in tv history. Ryan Murphy is not one of the greatest writers in tv history.

  Comment by Jack — Monday January 10, 2011 @ 1:48am PST  Reply to this post

• he doesn’t even have any good music. very sad

  Comment by joe — Monday January 10, 2011 @ 3:37am PST  Reply to this post

• Not surprised. Their really cashing in on the pop stars with this show. Whatever their doing is working though.

  Comment by OST — Monday January 10, 2011 @ 5:00am PST  Reply to this post

• These comments are insane. Are you really criticizing a pop culture show for featuring music from a pop star? Come on.

  “If Joss Whedon were showrunner, Glee would be a much better show. He wouldn’t let the storyline fall off the rails like it has. Joss Whedon is one of the greatest writers in tv history. Ryan Murphy is not one of the greatest writers in tv history.” ——Really now? Maybe if Joss Whedon was president, the sky would rain lollipops and there would be peace in the Middle East. Need I remind you that Whedon’s last show was a total failure(for the record I am a whedon fan but the man isn’t god).

  Comment by jeff — Monday January 10, 2011 @ 6:27am PST  Reply to this post

• I thought Murphy announced they were NOT doing a Bieber episode.

  Comment by Maat — Monday January 10, 2011 @ 7:38am PST  Reply to this post

• Even though Murphy has denied that there’s a Bieber episode, Glee, as Nip-Tuck did under his supervision, has fallen off the tracks. Murphy is great coming up with a show, not so much in keeping it from jumping one shark after another within a year or two. He has so many irons in the fire that nothing gets 100% of his attention.

  Comment by Oh Boy — Monday January 10, 2011 @ 7:41am PST  Reply to this post

• It seems like you’re trying to throw Glee under the bus with this article. Ryan Murphy said that this won’t be happening, and I don’t think there were any hidden messages in what he said. He outwardly denied it and said that tribute episodes will only be reserved for the artists and acts that deserve them. They’ve done two of them so far, Madonna, and Britney Spears, and whatever you may think of those people and their music, you can’t deny that they deserve them. Otherwise, the show continues to hit hard with pressing issues for younger audiences while continuing to do the songs they’ve become known for. I keep hearing people say that they’ve “jumped the shark” and it makes no sense. They’re just as fresh as they were last year.

  Comment by George — Monday January 10, 2011 @ 8:32am PST  Reply to this post

• best show on TV right now and the only show that comes close to being appointment television.

  Comment by Jen — Monday January 10, 2011 @ 9:04am PST  Reply to this post

• Was Glee ever not commercial? The show’s always been about spectacle and recycling just enough plot to string together a series of songs. This news neither shocks nor annoys me.

  Comment by c4x — Monday January 10, 2011 @ 10:27am PST  Reply to this post

• I’ve been a Glee fan from the pilot, but have to agree with the sentiments here. It feels like the story is getting pushed aside by the musical “theme” weeks. A Bieber episode may be the biggest shark of all.

  Comment by Sherry — Monday January 10, 2011 @ 11:22am PST  Reply to this post

• they have to cut the amount of songs. there are too many to even tell a coherent story anymore. but the songs sell on itunes so that’s all the matters to them.

  Comment by jason — Monday January 10, 2011 @ 12:10pm PST  Reply to this post

• This makes NO sense. If GLEE were going to have a character form a boyband, then they would be better served to highlight the music of actual BOYBANDS. Really. Imagine a show with I Want It That Way, Bye Bye Bye, The Right Stuff, Show Me The Meaning of Being Lonely, Its Gotta Be Me, etc. I know I’d love it. Bieber’s music hasn’t stood the test of time, but everyone and their brother, and their pet parrots sing I Want It That Way, Larger Than That. So if they want to do a boyband show…..Everybody. Rock Your Body. Everybody…..Backstreet’s Back….ALRIGHT!!!!!!!!!!

  Comment by Maris — Monday January 10, 2011 @ 12:26pm PST  Reply to this post

• All together now, “Glee has jumped the shark.”

  Comment by Mumffy — Monday January 10, 2011 @ 5:24pm PST  Reply to this post

• Ryan…yes I can shill this show for any amount of coin Murphy has one goal and one goal only now for GLEE…a tv long show promo to sell ” I Tunes” store versions of better, original songs by better singers. What the hell. At least he’s got an Emmy to justify why he does movies with Julia Roberts.

  Comment by MARK GEORGEFF — Tuesday January 11, 2011 @ 6:49pm PST  Reply to this post