 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Glee
Common Sense Media says
Edgy-but-quirky comedy's music, message will win teens over.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this edgy teen comedy promotes a positive message of cooperation and acceptance amid a mine field littered with jokes about homophobia, bullying, substance abuse, teen sex, and other envelope-pushing topics. There isn't an outright issue with language, although characters use some terms (including "penis," "tranny," and "cripple") that parents probably wouldn't want kids repeating. There's also a bit of name-dropping when it comes to brands, and the cast performs songs by popular artists like Aretha Franklin, Britney Spears, and Amy Winehouse. One teen is gay, and one character has two gay dads who conceived her with a surrogate mother.
What's the story?
In GLEE, high school Spanish teacher Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) renews his own passion for music by starting up a glee club composed of talented misfits. His star pupils turn out to be a pitch-perfect but unpopular overachiever (Lea Michele) and a well-rounded jock (Cory Monteith) whose friends practically disown him for putting singing before sports. But Will's home life with an overbearing wife (Jessalyn Gilsig)? Well, that isn't quite as fulfilling, and eventually that relationship crumbles. As the series progresses, a popular teen deals with pregnancy, other teens consider having sex for the first time, and teens pursue love interests -- all mixed in with song-and-dance numbers.
Is it any good?
If you love singing, musical theater, or show choir, Glee is going to make you happy. For one thing, there's the presence of two big Broadway names (Morrison has starred in shows like Light in the Piazza, while Michele is known for her stellar work in Spring Awakening). But there's also a talented supporting cast that includes the always-reliable Jane Lynch (of Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, and Party Down fame), a comedienne whose gift for deadpan one-liners practically guarantees that she'll steal any scene she's in.
Glee's atypical blend of high school fare like Election, High School Musical, and Mean Girls is exciting -- and its hip sensibility has music-loving teens buzzing. While some critics have complained about its uneven narrative and its over-reliance on song-and-dance numbers at the expense of story development, we think the combination of offbeat characters, fantastic performances, and a willingness to take on controversial topics in a sensitive manner make this show a winner despite its flaws.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the realities of high school hierarchies and whether students of any age truly divide themselves into insular groups. Kids: Does your school have cliques, and do you ever have trouble making friends outside the lines? Parents: Do cliques still happen in adulthood, or is high school its own little world?
Do you know anyone who's had a problem with bullying (either face to face or cyberbullying)? Have you ever tried to stop someone from getting picked on?
How realistic is the show's portrayal of high school? Are the characters relatable?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
I hate how adults think all teenagers are stupid. Sure, there are some dumb teens, but most of us have a good head on our shoulders. Just because we see something on tv, doesn't mean we think we should do it. Anyways, If you have a teenager, I wouldn't try to control what they watch. You need to let them be make their own decision because at this point in time, it doesn't matter what you say. You have to trust you raised them with good morals and pray for the best.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
It has just become too raunchy. Too bad.
Was watching it last night (the "brittany spears" episode") with our 13-year-old girl, and turned it off after the glee club Brittany's laughing gas-induced dream seduction of her dentist. NEVER to watch it again. This was after we suffered through watching another glee club member tell the visiting dentist at school, "you are so hot, seriously, you could drill me any time." I was sick of it by then, and we just turned off the TV after the dream scene. It is just not worth it.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Amazing show with a great message
Great show by far. If you think this show is inappropriate, your kids talk swears and sex at school and if your trying to keep the content hidden from them , your not really doing anything because kids talk about sex all the time! It's better they hear it from u then the kids on the bus. Also , being immersed in diversity is better than hiding out all gay people. You will never know or understand anything about life by not being immersed in other cultures. Shame on you for not letting your kids watch this.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Where have our family values gone?
I think this is an evil show wrapped in a candy coating. It is suggestive, inappropriate, and appalling. I can't believe that our society is celebrating this type of adult behavior in a teen setting! It seems like nothing is off limits if it's sung to a show tune!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
I loved Glee up until this season. I found it is over the top and would not recommend it for any age, especially young teens. Yes, the music is great, and most parents will let their children watch it because of the music and its quirky humor. However, the main characters have been switching partners so often this season, they are not really good role models anymore. There is a lot of sexual experimentation going on this season, do our children really need to be subjected to this on TV, when it is so embedded in our culture. I am done with Glee, I can not condone watching it even for myself anymore. It's too bad it had to go down the path of other popular tv shows, I used to love it because it was so different.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Season 1 wasn't too bad, and my daughter was looking forward to Season 2. Watched the first episode, and I was disappointed with inappropriate sexual content. Episode 2 (Brittany Spears episode) was disgustingly sexual - my 14 yr old turned it off of her own accord and expressed her disappointment. It just makes me sick because I know young girls love to watch this show, and it would be a great platform for positive messages. Instead, we got over-sexualized fantasies (dancing, lyrics, lines spoken) more appropriate for 20-something men. Shame on them.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Come on! We already know this!
I'm 12 and almost everyone I know watches glee! It's not a great role model show, but face it, people my age already know most of this stuff.
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 12 years old
December 29, 2010
AGE
Some on, Some iffy, Some off
I'm only allowed to watch some episodes, because some are really inapropriate, but some episodes like the Christmas special, isn't all that bad. But there was one where it was REALLY inappropriate and it was new so my parents let me watch it, yeah, it was AwKwArD! But some of the people in the glee club can be good role models by sticking to what they love even when they get slushied! But just because I say that, doesn't mean that you should let any child in the age group of 0-9 watch this, and if you do, make sure to watch the episode first!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Disappointing focus on sex
Loved the first one, this 2nd episode is totally inappropriate for my 13-year-old son because of the sexual content. I am so disappointed.
Was this review useful?
|
|
| TV rating: | TV-PG |
| Network: | Fox |
| Cast: | Cory Monteith, Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison |
| Genre: | Comedy |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
