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Parents' Guide to

Glee

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Edgy-but-quirky comedy's music, message will win teens over.

TV Fox Comedy 2009
Glee Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 198 parent reviews

Jen5M
Jen5M Adult
November 26, 2019
age 16+

Fun show for the right maturity level

This is in no way appropriate for kids under 16 yo. Here is just a handful of topics: ejaculation, cheating, beating up marginalized students, teachers doing strip dancing with students, student who's goal is to have sex with every football player, Ke$ha routine to tick tock where the entire glee club is drunk after doing shots before going on, teachers say incredibly innapropriate and sexual things to the kids and about them. A teacher tells two girls who are part of a celibacy group that they are boring and prude. Yes, a teacher. In one episode where they perform Rocky Horror Picture Show two boys are told they have to be in their underwear and pressured into it for the show. Sue's character says horrible things about students and staff that are just shocking at times if viewed through the lens of a small kid. I could go on and on with how completely wrong it would be to let a child watch this show. Just because it has a gay teen, a bi teen, a pansexual teen, and POC does not mean the positive representation outweighs the bad. Honestly, I am truly horrified that there are parents that watch this show with their young children. For teens that are older it is a fun show with an amazing amount of talented singers and dancer. The storylines are raw and interesting. I still believe even for teens, parents should watch it so they can talk about any topics that come up that may need further clarification.
Tara100
Tara100 Parent of 18+-year-old
October 15, 2023
age 18+

Guest Stars

Jillian Murray Elizabeth Olin Aubrey O Day Katie Cazorla Cheryl Hines Vines Lucy Walsh Courtney Bingham Annet Mahendru Glee
See all 198 parent reviews

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 Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) and Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith), a well-rounded jock whose friends practically disown him for putting singing before sports. Other glee club members such as Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer), Mercedes Jones (Amber Riley), Artie Abrams (Kevin McHale), and Quinn Fabray (Dianna Agron) also add their talents to the group. Will is committed to the club, but his home life (early in the series), with an overbearing wife (Jessalyn Gilsig) and spats with cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch), isn't as fulfilling. As the series progresses, the glee club faces pregnancy, love, first-time sexual encounters, and even death -- and express much of their thoughts about all of it with song-and-dance numbers.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (198 ):
Kids say (729 ):

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 many flaws. Some critics have complained about Glee's uneven narrative and its overreliance on song-and-dance numbers at the expense of story development, but its hip sensibility has music-loving teens buzzing. The show's atypical blend of high school fare similar to that in Election, High School Musical, and Mean Girls is exciting, as are guest appearances by artists such as Ricky Martin, Gwenyth Paltrow, and Neil Patrick Harris.

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 such as Light in the Piazza, while Michele is known for her stellar work in Spring Awakening). Adding to the fun is the talented supporting cast that includes the always-reliable Jane Lynch (of Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, and Party Down fame), a comedian whose gift for deadpan one-liners practically guarantees she'll steal any scene she's in.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the realities of high school hierarchies and whether students of any age truly divide themselves into insular groups like they do on Glee. 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 world?

  • Do you know anyone who's had a problem with bullying (either face-to-face harassment 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? How do these students change during their years in school?

  • How do the characters on Glee demonstrate compassion and empathy? What about perseverance and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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