Show review: "Glee"--Little cause to be gleeful

Ryan Murphy, that most eccentric of television auteurs, currently has three shows on the air ("American Horror Story" recently ended its run, but has been renewed for a third season).  All three shows ("Glee," "The New Normal," and "AHS") have brilliant moments that transcend any show on the air, but also have episodes which rank as the worst television has to offer.  "Glee" airs tonight and the following is an analysis of a show in desperate need of creative C.P.R.

What's Bad--"Glee" is having its worst season ever with the wobbly transition from last year's graduation of many of its characters.  Kurt and Rachel are in New York, Puck is in L.A., Santana, Mercedes and Quinn are somewhere, and Finn is teaching the "Glee" class with no credentials whatsoever.  Aside from Finn, all of these characters regularly stalk the halls of McKinley High.

This conceit is forgiven, however, because every new character introduced this year is annoying and one dimensional.  Marley has an eating disorder. Jake is in love with her (he has no other distinguishing attribute other than this and being Puck's brother).  Ryder looks good without his shirt.  Kitty is vitriol in a cheer leading outfit.

"Glee" is capable of good casting.  Darren Criss was a stellar addition with his "Teenage Dream" entrance.  And the core ensemble including Emmy-winners Jane Lynch and Chris Colfer are talented.  But the casting director must have been blind and deaf with this new lot.

It may not be the new cast's fault.  The writing on "Glee" has always been a problem, with characters changing personalities from week to week, but this year the writing is absolutely laughable. 

Just a few examples:  Tina is in love with gay Blaine, a storyline that would feel right at home in the 1980's.  Marley and Jake are quite possibly the most boring T.V. couple ever, but the show insists on shoving them down our throats like Marley shoved her fingers down her throat in multiple episodes this season.  New York has not tempered Rachel's diva behavior, which is fine, but now she's saddled with a dull dreamboat who is written as a cypher whose only purpose is to smile, nod and take off his shirt every episode.

These are just a sampling of the weekly tomatoes being thrown at the audience every week.  And shame on them for the song theft, although stealing a cover of "Baby Got Back" is not highway robbery.

What's Good--The music.  A "Glee" cover is almost always enjoyable and a great "Glee" cover goes to my I-Pod immediately.  Criss's cover of "It's Time" by Imagine Dragons is quite possibly the best cover in the history of covers.

The show does boast eye candy of every sort. Chord Overstreet and, especially Criss, ooze that "it" factor, even when their characters do not. See below: Chord top, Darren bottom.

Finally, the production value of the musical numbers remain top notch.  The "Divas" cover tonight, for instance, is fantastic.  See below.

Advice to Ryan Murphy:  scrap the new cast members and focus on the old.  This will at least make fans of the show happy again, even if they have to contend with the typical third-grade writing that "Glee" has been mostly saddled with from the beginning.

Finally, why do I watch if I am so annoyed with it on a weekly basis?  It's because "Glee" has the parts, but the show is not currently the sum of them.  It's broken, but can be fixed and every week I hope for an episode as profound as when Kurt and Blaine finally got together.  This is proof that the show can achieve perfection.  I'll leave you with that perfection and the hope that "Glee" will achieve it again.