Glee not as naff as you'd think

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Teen comedy drama Glee is more than a knockoff of High School Musical, and is even a little bit heartwarming, reviewer Nick Ward finds.

"Glee club" has always seemed like a naff name, even by the standards of Americans with perfect teeth and pill-induced perkiness.

The equivalent here would be a high school choir, but one that does modern songs in a full-on performance with dancing – being in one is kind of like doing Stage Challenge with singing, every week. They're a big, competitive thing in the States, and it seems inevitable that they would become the setting for a teen comedy-drama. But Glee (Fridays on TV3) is not just a drawn-out knockoff of High School Musical with a dash of To Sir With Love. It's much better than that.

It's the old whip-the-misfits-into-shape story once again, and it's about following your passion in life. Idealistic young Will Schuester is teaching at his alma mater, where he was part of the glee club that won the national championship back in the 90s. When the school's music teacher is sacked, Will takes over the depleted club, intending to lead it to glory once again.

Will is married to his high school sweetheart, who has turned into the wife from hell, and he's wondering what to do with his life and if he should chuck in his job, but he can see so much potential in these kids ... you know how it goes. Mercedes is the big black girl with the big voice who refuses to sing backup ("I'm Beyonce! I ain't no Kelly Rowland!"), Kurt the gay kid has a remarkable soprano, Tina the Asian goth chose I Kissed A Girl for her audition and there's a kid in a wheelchair who plays wicked electric guitar.

The leading boy and girl, and inevitable couple in the making, are Rachel and Finn. Rachel is a drama queen, singlemindedly ambitious and deeply unpopular (her MySpace schedule means she's too busy for dating anyway), for whom "being anonymous is worse than being poor". She fully expects to hook up with Finn, who's also the the football team quarterback (of course). Will roped him into the club by planting dope on him but, you know, he secretly enjoys singing.

Will and the kids do a bit of narration and the music covers everything from Grease and Les Mis to REO Speedwagon and Amy Winehouse. But that's where any effort at quirkiness ends. Apart from a dirt-phobic guidance counsellor who has a crush on Will, the characters are the usual high school stereotypes, and there are some blah moments when sentimentality takes over, and the songs sometimes sound like the autotuned Disney devilspawn of HSM. But Glee is witty, fun and even a little bit heartwarming. Look forward to the all-Madonna song episode.

More from the Kid With A New Toy Department ... my latest happy nostalgic discovery on Freeview: A Dog's Show (weeknights at 11pm on TVNZ6). It's hard to imagine that this used to be compulsory viewing every Sunday before the 6 o'clock news. But then New Zealand grew up and someone decided dog trials made lousy TV and should be replaced by the least boring Leishman brother presiding over pampered urban pooches doing obstacle courses.

A Dog's Show hasn't aged all that well, but it's a great demonstration of the extraordinary connection that can be achieved between people and dogs – and John Gordon's commentary is part of Kiwi TV folklore. Admit it – the theme music is bouncing around your brain right now.

COMING UP: The guys will enjoy the fishing, while the ladies will enjoy the presenter. Check out Extreme Fishing With Robson Green (Saturdays on TV One)