'Glee' takes Penn by storm

Move over Gossip Girl, there’s a new fad on campus.

Glee, FOX’s Wednesday night sensation, has taken Penn by storm. The high-school comedic drama focuses on a Spanish teacher’s attempt to revive a once-successful glee club while his students struggle with serious issues. Meanwhile, the show combines musical performance with adolescent comedy.

On Wednesday nights, students flock to friends’ houses and apartments to watch the Broadway-like high-school drama. Glee has caught on with both men and women and has swept across campus as the show to see this fall.

However, according to College sophomore Alex Ryles, the show “would fall flat” without Jane Lynch, who is best known for her roles in The-40-Year-Old Virgin and Role Models. On Glee, Lynch plays her usual sassy and dry-humored role as the high-school cheerleading coach, who is a fountain of inappropriate outbursts and witty satire.

But Glee has been received particularly well by Penn’s very own Glee Club. According to College and Wharton senior and Penn Glee Club Vice President Fan Zhou, half of Penn Glee Club follows the FOX show.

“I follow it,” Zhou said. “I think it’s fantastic and hilarious. If you have ever been to one of our spring shows, I think it does capture what a glee club can do.”

College junior and Penn Glee Historian Dave Frankenfield agreed with Zhou’s assessment of the show.

“In our shows we do things like that,” said Frankenfield. “We dress up and sing and dance to a specific number. Another thing that reflects on the show is that they do songs from every kind of genre and that is part of the glee idea.”

However, both Frankenfield and Zhou emphasized that while the show may portray the musical numbers and innerworkings of a glee club, it does not accurately represent the traditional glee club member.

“It is a very edgy way to portray what a glee club is,” said Zhou. “We are a diverse group of guys, but none of us are baby-daddies or having sex with other people’s moms. None of us are doing that.”

Still, Frankenfield noted that the show has helped Glee Club recruitment efforts.

The hit show may even influence future recruiting campaigns — the group has explored creating Glee-themed posters and slogans to take advantage of the trend.

Although Glee has become “all high-school drama,” according to Frankenfield, it continues to take over TVs and computers across campus. And people cannot stop singing its praise.

“I want to start watching it,” said College sophomore Sonya Sackner-Bernstein, who has been interested by the show’s hype. “I heard it’s really funny.”

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.