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What Every Parent Should Know About The TV Show Glee
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An innocuous little show popped up on America’s tv screens late last year. Its name is “Glee” and it’s full of vibrant teens dealing with the gentle challenges of high school life. These are fresh-faced kids, hard working and motivated, who can break into song at the drop of a sweaty football. But is there more to this sugary pop of a series? Should parents be concerned about any subtext of adult themes and situations? What makes this show so popular?
An in-depth analysis of Glee will certainly raise the eyebrows of parents across America. It contains a surprising number of mature scenarios– from pre-marital sex to drug use, from adultery to abortion, from premature ejaculation to explicit homosexual experimentation. Glee goes out of its way to appear wholesome at first glance. The first 15 minutes of every episode is quite polite and that’s part of its success. It is colorful and cheerful with a scent of innocence. The message it seems to send is that teens should stay in school and aim for college. Yet beyond that (once the adults in the room tune out), it descends into a much darker place.
The Parents Television Council warns that Glee contains, “gratuitous sex, explicit dialogue, violent content, and obscene language. It is completely unsuitable for children.” This is reason enough parents should be tuning their teens out of Glee. But I would go even further– the ethical and social risks that Glee poses are so severe that it is unworthy of a home on a national network and should be removed from broadcast. I sincerely believe that no person or organization should continue to finance this show.
SEXUALITY, SPORTS AND SHOWTUNES
To understand the dangerous implications of this poorly conceived series, let me start with the characters. They are just not believable. All the women students look to be in their late 20s or early 30s in real life. The teachers aren’t the suffering and hardened types you’ll find in real American public schools. This rosy little place of Glee is devoid of gun violence, sexting, drug dealing, suicide and larger questions of faith.
Instead of a real world high school, we have a fantasyland of happy, shirtless teens hanging out in the showers or dancing on million dollar stages. Why must the producers of this show have so many shots of the football team in the locker room? They’re constantly dropping their shorts and jumping into a steamy shower, showing off tight biceps or lathering themselves all over with a fresh bar of soap. Is this some crafty attempt to appeal to the homosexual segment of the show’s audience? Is it really appropriate for today’s male teens to let this sort of softcore utopia influence them?
Additionally, the show has far too many musical numbers. From R&B hits to showtunes to classic rock & roll, the boys and girls of Glee really can put on a performance. But it’s not convincing on that million-dollar stage. They come across as trying too hard with their exaggerated facial expressions and hip posturings, the soaring voices ranges. They’ve clearly been coached. The singing is just too finely polished. The dance numbers are too excruciatingly choreographed. No high school kids can put on these sorts of shows at the spur of a moment. These things require years of gut-wrenching training.
Ultimately, these ad hoc songfests give children a very false impression about talent and success. They are led to believe if they just spin around and shout, they’re creating world-class music. They are led to believe we live in a world where anybody and everybody can succeed as long as they have heart. But this is far from true. Some people are born with the vocal chords for music, others have the bodies for football and others have the brains for math. That is reality. But this show is a drug of false expectations that will inevitably harm our children. It convinces impressionable teens to avoid serious career training in favor of having “fun” in the “arts.” Also, the music numbers just drag down the plot of the show.
On a related note, Glee’s actors constantly make the argument that excelling at athletics does not contribute anything to the college application process. They posit the theory that a singing club will make you more likely to get into Ohio State or Princeton. This is false and it’s reckless for the creators of this show to promote such disinformation. Athletics have been a proven stepping-stone for academic and business success for over a century. The number of athletes who have gone on to full scholarships at the very best universities in this country are legion and legendary. Nothing even close could be said of a minor high school singing club. If children take this belief to heart, it could wind up seriously hurting their chances of college survival as well as their health (sports are essential for keeping fit, strong and attractive!).
Another major fault with the show is its fawning celebration of teenage homosexuality and consumer indulgence. Again the show makes the case that accepting the gay lifestyle and making yourself as outrageous as possible will help you achieve something despite whatever social limitations you may have. Disregarding any sense of fair play, the show does not offer any alternative to the gay lifestyle argument. There are no teens cured of their relentless and wild male sex desires, there are no moral figures on hand to give a comforting hand, there are no popular boys who say, “I don’t want to hurt my family anymore and I love Jesus, so I am going to stop doing gay things with guys in the bathroom.”
THE GOLDEN GIRLS CONNECTION
Recently, I wrote about studies that revealed the dangerous influence that the 1980s tv show “The Golden Girls” had on American men now in their 30s, 40s and 50s (see “The Golden Girls: How One TV Show Turned A Generation Of American Boys Into Homosexuals”). The link between watching the Girls and increased risks of homosexual behavior was made abundantly meaningful. In a nutshell, the Golden Girls turned a generation away from procreation. It made our American boys into the most raunchy, campy, carnal people on the planet. If, as a society, we could have returned to the 80s with what we know now and stop that show, American culture might be drastically different today.
As I write about Glee now in 2010, I can’t help but think that America is on the threshold of another dramatic cultural shift. If we let this show continue, our children will find a way to watch it. It is a drug that is that addictive. If our children continue to watch, they will undoubtedly be influenced by its radical same-sex messages. A generation from now, when these children become adults, what kind of country will the United States be? How many middle-aged men will find themselves in a dead-end Glee-based lifestyle? Will they be ostentatious and sensitive, their dreams smashed up against a wall crying out to have that giant hole in their souls stuffed with some musky foreign thrill? Will they be violating what’s left of our traditional cultural landscape with unimaginable high-tech perversions, drenching, nay drowing the bright young men of tomorrow in their relentless sauces of net porn and showtunes, maximized liberties and stem-cell party drugs? Will male sports just become an excuse for gay locker room orgies? How long until these types also legislate to destroy the beauty of marriage, the safety of religion, the rights of the righteous? Look into the eyes of a young Kurt Hummel. Is that not the face our of future’s polymorphously perverse intellectual terrorist? Change the channel my friends. Change the channel and change the world!
PARENT’S GUIDE TO THE CAST OF GLEE
- Football Player Finn: An implausible character who goes both ways– glee club geek and handsome football star. He reminds one of the old lady Sophia on The Golden Girls– a bit of a cute, befuddled sidekick with some comic lines, but not a central character in the best scenes on the show. I truly feel for the actor who performs this poorly-written role, though I do enjoy his deft moves on the football field.
- Sue the Cheerleading Coach: Her acting comes across as pretentious and egomaniacal and possibly too masculine (is this intentional?). Tone it down a bit, that’s my advice. Bea Arthur of The Golden Girls has already done everything and anything you could possibly imagine doing in your career, Sue.
- Jewish Rachel: This girl is beautiful (and 30). I don’t understand why she’s playing like she’s ugly and unpopular! When gay people write tv dramas they often have no clue about what real women are like.
- Artie, Wheelchair: I don’t believe he sings. The lip-synching is frighteningly obvious and a sad footnote to this show. Couldn’t they have gotten an actual talented singer for this role? Plus, he needs a sidekick or a funny catchphrase.
- Mercedes Jones: Her sassy attitude does not set the right example for today’s young girls. She does sing well, and I appreciate that but I really don’t think this show is the right fit for her career. She really sticks out like a sore thumb. I could see her in a church choir, however. Or maybe play the wheelchair role?
- Quinn, Slutty Cheerleader: She is most definitely the “Blanche Devereaux” of Glee.
- Gay Kurt Hummel: I am afraid the makers of this show have dangerously indulged this young man’s fetish for expensive outfits. Children watching may be tempted to experiment with similar radical wardrobe choices. Why is everything he wears so bright and tight? Are we supposed to guess at the source of his income for such extravagance? Why did he quit football team? Will the writers of this show actually force him to do an on-air homosexual kiss or even worse? Sadly, with his clothing obsession and sassy attitude, Kurt Hummel may be destined to become this generation’s Betty White.
- Football Coach: Is it really necessary to have a man his age in such small shorts so often? Is this supposed to be funny?
- Will Schuster, Head of Glee Club: This effeminate charlatan is a surprising choice for the horndog adulterer. For many adults, he is not convincing in the least. Personally, I do not believe in having homosexual educators (or adult actors, for that matter) in such intimate, private contact with young people. Please, we do not need to see any more half-hearted and frankly laughable sex scenes involving this wet noodle.
- Victor Matlin: I really don’t know why he is on this show. He was in Titanic! I find the hugging with his son unseemly.
11:46 am
I’m taken aback by how misinformed this post is. I suggest actually watching a show before trying to convince other parents what they should know about it.
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9:48 pm
I want to chime in here. I’m a parent of two girls, 11 and 13 and I do not let them watch this program. When it first came out, I saw it and it was very sexual and more like something older teens and adults would watch. I think its hard when you’re a parent to draw the line. They all want to be like the older girls and this program tries to get girls like that. We are a Christian family and I do not think there is any respect for that in the show. There are a lot of scenes where they mock the Christians and Faith. Its a bit disappointing coming from Fox. And I have a personal problem with the boys on this program. There are definitely gay topics and if you worry about that you should not watch or have your kids watch. Its getting harder to find something decent in prime time now that sex is everyway. The game shows and dancing with the stars are worth watching.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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9:54 pm
I couldn’t agree more.
Thank you parent.
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1:12 am
Dancing WIth The Stars? Really?
Clearly you do not watch any of the latin weeks…
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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9:14 am
Quick: better hide under your pillow! You wouldn’t want your kids to see an experience too much in this world!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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15
3:04 am
your going to jail
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3:28 am
and if anyone sees the real adam nelson ( his link is afr ) tell him his favorite pagan warlock is back and looking for him
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4:11 am
I agree there going to jail but how retarded can the ones who wright these blogs cause they be fucking idiots If you guys are so fucking christany go burn the pagan
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2:46 am
…that doesn’t even make any sense! Why the bad photoshop? Why can’t you tell the difference between “your” and “you’re”? Why would they be going to jail?
WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE?
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8:22 am
You definetly have something against gay people! WHAT’S WRONG WITH BEING GAY!?! ‘Look into the eyes of a young Kurt Hummel. Is that not the face our of future’s polymorphously perverse intellectual terrorist?’ no, it just is not. I think you 1st should watch the show before saying this kind of things. And maybe they did not cast women who really are 16 because of the law! My girls are 12 and 13 and I want them to watch this show, so they can learn to respect one another, even if they are not like the most people. Because that’s what this show is about! It’s about outstanding people! For example in the last show one ‘popular’ cheerleader says that she like to be in glee-club, and that is because she learned to know those people and so the show learnes you not to judge on the outside. That’s something YOU don’t understand. And Artie is the best male singer and maybe the show has ‘far to many musical numbers’ because it IS a show about music. You have to many prejudices and nobody here should take an example from this blog. You’re not a good role-model for the next generation!
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7:06 pm
Madam,
The Bible is abundantly clear on what is wrong with being gay.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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2:14 am
Go read the bible, you fucking retard. Being gay isn’t a sin, giving in to your ‘sinful lusts’ is. Why the fuck would a god just create a sinner who can’t help but be a sinner because THAT IS WHO HE IS and has to lie to himself to not sin? Isnt that a sin?
also you’re all niggers.
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6:15 pm
harold camping… aren’t you the nutcase preacher that “predicted” the end of the world on May 21st 2011??
well here we are, june 27 2011. LOL NICE TRY DUMBASS. i wouldn’t EVER listen to anything you have to say because clearly you have NO IDEA! xo
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2:41 pm
Can you please tell me when Jesus is coming? You can’t be wrong FOUR times, can you???
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8:42 am
Do you have any clue what 11 and 13 year olds talk about at school? Do you remember being a kid at all?
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7:28 am
And do you Sean think it’s appropriate for a grown man such as yourself to be so infatuated with a tv show about little boys?
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2:07 am
Stephenson, that is a remarkable statement coming from someone who consistently writes about homosexuality and youth. Your descriptions of homoerotic moments on television is so detailed as to be positively enthusiastic. But generally, your intolerance of sections of the community is completely un-Christian.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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4:51 pm
I wasnt sure if this article was a spoof of something a retarded christian might say, until i read your comment. I am truly in awe of your ignorance. I hope your influence over young people ends with writing articles on this web site, otherwise may a non-existent god help us!!
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5:26 pm
I am truly heartbroken to see a topic like this, I am a 20yo PROUDLY gay male and I must say to you that after reading several of your post you seem to be consumed with a hatred for the gay community. Number one, as a CHRISTIAN myself it is sad to see people consumed with hate period whatever that hate is for. What is there of your life when it is consumed with hatred? Number two, Have you ever sat down with a regular gay male and spoken with him of the challenges he goes through daily or maybe the humiliation and abandonment issues he has for parents that disapprove of him (BECAUSE of post like this)? Better yet have you looked around at the people in our world, what good will hatred do when it consumes you, they kill or hurt people that are different, they emotionally batter us in places that ban other such violence, and they shun us in places that don’t allow “Verbal or Physical Harassment”. Now do you think we chose this lifestyle for its great appeal?? Lastly I would like to point out this exact same hate for homosexuals not in any group or persons, but in myself while i was in the closet. I have to ask if your are lashing out because inside you feel homosexual feelings and your parents, your family, your friends, your teachers, whomsoever scared or hurt you because of these feelings? I don’t want to know here but there are a number of anonymous hot lines that can help with the coming out process or just releasing these pent up emotions. The GLBT National Help Center 1-888-843-4564 or The Trevor Helpline: 1-800-850-8078 to name a few.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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7:38 am
talk about the pot calling the kettle black! YOU’RE the one obsessed with youth culture and gayety. Just come out already, you self hating gay.
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11:37 pm
HAHAHAHA did you actually just say that?…
Are you REALLY accusing him of that simply because he likes the show? Honestly? It’s people like you who give bad raps for Chirstians. Please either learn the word of God or stop calling yourself a Christian. Jesus would never support you in any way if you made that argument to him. Stop embarrassing yourself and giving blind parents a reason to stop their children from watching this great t.v show. I’m strong 17-year old Chirstian and I know alot more about whats too much for kids than you. Stop enclosing yourself in a bubble and realize the world around you has changed. It’s not what it used to be 150 yrs ago… or even 30 yrs ago. It’s not this show that has a bad impact on kids, it’s people like you who do that.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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7:27 pm
I respect your opinions. I will not be condescending or verbose.
As a concerned parent of two teenagers and school teacher, I read this article and was horrified to see all the nasty comments. I agree that the foul language and wild accusations are completely unnecessary. You certainly aren’t homosexual or a fool. You, Mr. Billings, said: “I have been incredibly decent and reserved thus far but you know I’m starting to get a little exhausted by you people,” and “I find it very interesting that you people harp on the one little typo of this article….” Very fair, reasonable things I would expect of an investigative journalist.
But sprinkled throughout your responses is an indication of extreme disrespect, particularly picking on those with poor writing skills:
I can’t believe that someone with the ridiculous name of “Jazmon”is telling me that my Christian faith is “like totally out of bounds”.
Thanks for sharing your third-grade education level with the internet. Hopefully you will learn basic grammar before your next post?
Irregardless isn’t a word? Oh, you must be plenty smart! Where did you learn this garbage? Did you even bother to consult a dictionary before you lied to the world?
You people are grotesque and frankly insane.
Thank you for showing us the maturity level of the average Glee fan.
Your maturity is a joke, as is your intelligence.
-Stephenson Billings
Yes, some of the posts you were responding to were nasty and lacking in substance. But your petty attacks on intelligence, grammar, maturity, names(!), etc., is just as bad because you attack them while denying their opinions! I encourage you to look past the hate, to the ideas hidden by that hatred. Then maybe you’ll be taken seriously.
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6:12 pm
WHAT!? LITTLE BOYS! They’re playing seventeen year olds!
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10:52 am
I’m a 13 year old glee fan. I have a couple things to say to you Stephenson. Maybe girls like Rachel (not the whole gay dads part) need some encouragement because we need to know we belong some where. Maybe it has ” far too many musical numbers and extremely choreographed dances” because its about SINGING and DANCING!!!!!! What would this show be like if it had normal teens acting and normal teen dancing? I don’t think it would be a good show! Did you think about that? Plus, like, whats wrong with gay people? They are gods kids any way! I happen to think “gay” Kurt is awesome! I hope you actually watch the show before reveiwing it.
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12:18 am
lighten up! for gods sake. you are a terrible mother.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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5:57 am
what a crock of crap.
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9:13 am
Funniest opinion piece I’ve read since Gordon Liddy’s “Book”.
JP
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5:59 am
I’d heard sex was everywhere, but I was not previously aware it was ‘everyway’; could you explain more? I’d be very interested to hear about having it everway.
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6:57 pm
Seriously?! I’m a 13 year old girl and Glee is my life. If your girls don’t learn about cursing, homosexuality, and sex, then I am 100% sure there learning it in school. Don’t you remember being our age at all?
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11:01 am
U go grl!!!
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11:29 pm
Vocal CORDS, you illiterate twit, not vocal CHORDS. No wonder you can’t tell someone lip-synching from someone with an excellent voice.
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1:02 pm
exactly. and author accuses artie of not singing… the actor was on broadway. of course they’re going to lipsync in the actual episodes.
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5:07 am
Next they’re going to say the Tele-Tubbies are gay!!!
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9:52 am
Aren’t they?
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9:54 am
oh and Bazinga
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1:13 am
I can’t believe I just read that entire article. The first thing I want to say is that the author is either very old or in some kind of fantasy land and never leaves their house or watches the news. You don’t want parents to let their kids watch this show because of a gay character, the fact that the football team showers after a game (its not like you see anything), a teen pregnancy and the decisions that come from that. Wow I just can’t believe what I read in that article. Maybe its cause I’m not religious (AKA BRAINWASHED) and just found this article from a random search but wow in today’s time/generation gay high school students and teen pregnancy is all to common. Seriously open your eyes and see the world for what it is.
To be completely honest I hope I have angered a few people with this comment, it means that you might just open your eyes and look outside your little closed-minded world.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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6:43 am
at first I liked this show the music was great but then the sexual theme became more and more prevalent, references to sex-ting charters actually talking about there sexually active lives as if it were a common occurrence in high schools as if all high school students were sexually active. Kids that age haven’t the maturity to be experimenting with sex and this show actively promotes sex….
I work in the hospitals and I see teenagers children 14 15 years old and pregnant unprepared and far to young to except the responsibility’s of parenthood. with so many parents absent from their children lives many children find shows like this one to be a source of guidance in there lives, how many children will end up as unwed mothers because of how this show has influenced there lives? and there decission making.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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12:46 am
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but sex is very much a reality for teenagers pretty much everywhere. It’s true that not all high-school students are sexually active, but I guarantee that every single one of them knows one who is. This is no different than it was when you were a teen, or your parents, or theirs.
The problem, however, is not that television shows which are designed to appeal to younger people who thrive on drama (much like soap operas are aimed at older people who never grew out of that phase)”actively promote sex.” In fact, I have yet to see a show that says, ‘hey kids, go out and have lots of sex because it’s the cool thing to do!”
No, it is parents who refuse to educate their children about sex at all that lead to the high pregnancy rates among teens, especially the 14 and 15 year-olds that you mentioned in your comment. Because let’s face it: abstinence only education only leads to early parenthood. This is just a fact. And the more you tell kids that they cannot do something, the more they are going to want to.
So instead of being appalled at the idea of your children actually being educated about the consequences of having sex, why not do your part to ensure that fewer young girls get pregnant or contract STDs by NOT trying to blind them to the real world.
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12:14 pm
I think there is no more sex mentioned than in an average high school. These issues come up, a lot. And the shows messages aren’t all bad: two female characters have said “no” and been respected by their partners. Finn had sex and regretted not waiting for the right person. Quinn is not at all a “slutty cheerleader,” in fact, she was president of the celibacy club and condemned mention of the word “contraception.” She made ONE bad decision and got pregnant. For those of you who really think that your children should not be having sex in high school (though it’s likely they’ve at least discussed it with friends, even if they aren’t doing it), she is a good example of the NEGATIVE consequences. On the other hand she demonstrates the problems with abstinence only sex education.
Yes, there are some characters who are promiscuous. But any public school has those people, it’s not like you can put blinders up and never expose kids to them.
No where does this show actively encourage sex, but it does represent the reality of high school sexuality.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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3:03 am
Lol me too I just found this on google
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3:46 pm
Best Satire Ever outside the Onion!
This is truly genius… how you can keep typing with a straight face is beyond me… not breaking character even once.
Just Brilliant… the whole site, funny as all get out, but this article puts it over the top.
And the fact that you are getting such impassioned responses… just amazing. That people would take you at your word shows that you have brilliantly portrayed the extremist Christian fundamentalist mind-set perfectly.
My hat’s off to you, sir. I especially like all the links… very clever.
And adding “The Golden Girls” to the mix? Genius.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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10:07 pm
I love how much is NOT factual in this article. I believe you (Stephenson Billings) see everything homosexual in “Glee” because you are in fact a homosexual yourself.
P.S. This was the most entertaining piece of shit I’ve read in awhile. Good Job!
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10:09 pm
ZING!
Hot debate. What do you think?
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7:12 pm
OK. Seems this guy’s getting a lot of hate and while I understand why, I do agree with some of his points. Let me first say though: I’m 13, unlike most of the people commenting, and I’d like to think I’m intelligent enough to decide what shows I watch, without my parents telling me what will ‘corrupt my innocent mind,’ though they do try. That being said, I’ve recently stopped watching Glee because I don’t agree with it’s morals. I’m a Christian, and for all the messages about no discriminating, it sure makes Christians look like hypocrites and liars. Many of my friends have strong views, whether its Christian, or Hindu, or atheism. Being Christian doesn’t mean you’re brainwashed, as someone here said, and I was horrified when I read that. It’s a choice that you make on your own free will and for me and my friends at least, we agree with its morals and it makes us happy to serve a God so kind and strong and giving. He’s poured out blessing after blessing for me and my family, but I say, I can only try to share what I have with you; if you choose to reject it, it’s your loss.
My friend was watching Glee the other day, saying, I hope Emma gets Mr. Schuester. If anyone doesn’t know, Mr. Schuester is married. That made me sad… Making affairs and adultery look glamorous is commonplace nowadays, and noone does it better than Glee. They turn Mrs. Schuester into the ditzy, clingy wife, making viewers WANT Emma to end up with him, and no doubt they will. If I were a little less convinced about my morals, I might just think having an affair is okay, it’s glamorous, it’s all about the romance and when it disappears you move on to the next person… when you’re in a relationship, keep looking over your shoulder for someone better…
As for gays and lesbians, I have nothing against them, if it’s true. I object when it’s about lust, just as I object when it’s lust with straight people. Can’t stand people who discriminate, but lately, isn’t that what Glee is doing- shifting the hate (and I hate hate as much as the next person) onto Christians? I happen to know that the director, or someone of that sort, is gay and for that reason, dislikes Christians. Now, broadcasting your stereotype of them worldwide, collecting the hate and making life difficult for them, because of your own vendetta? Now isn’t THAT a little hypocritical from someone making a show based around equality?
^ Wow. I just read all that and realised how serious I sounded. Sorry for that, just had to get my point across, even if it was a little blurry~ Just a little insight from a teenager. xx
Hot debate. What do you think?
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4:59 pm
Ok first i would like to say that i myself am 15 and i agree with what you have said about being self-dependant when it comes to what you watch because when i was 13 i felt that i was old enough to decide what i should, and should not be allowed to watch also. With that said i feel that i must oppose your veiws about this show, but before i do that i want you to think about something, do you watch The Secret Life of the American Teenager, or for that matter ANYTHING on either mtv or vh1? Be honest because i mean if you ar seriously going to sit there an try to comdenm Glee the you obviously have no clue what the world is really like!
In saying that Glee is a negative influence because of its supposed references to pre-marital sex, drug use, adultery, abortion, premature ejaculation, explicit homosexual experimentation. Considering the fact that The Secret Life of the American Teenager is about TEENAGE PREGNANCY i am honestly surprised that you and Mr. Stephenson Billings aren’t more interested in wasting your time putting down that show, and expressing thoughts, such as the ones already voiced above in this article, about how such shows should be canceled because, and i DIRECTLY QUOTE, ‘As I write about Glee now in 2010, I can’t help but think that America is on the threshold of another dramatic cultural shift. If we let this show continue, our children will find a way to watch it. It is a drug that is that addictive.’ There are very few thins that i can honestly agree with. Yes kids will find a way to watch it, but the thing is that the targeted audience of Glee are teenagers (ages 14-19) and adults of all ages. While Glee is not intended for the WHOLE family, The Secret Life. is a show for kids ages 10-18 and is shownn on ABC FAMILY!!!
In this show not only is there sex and pegnancy, but the producers overly encouraged the view of Ricky, the father of Amy’s child, as a guy who will openly sleep around with any girl who asks. As if that wasn’t enough Ricky’s father is a DRUG DEALER AND A REOCCURING CONVICT. Throughout the entire first season people constantly tell Amy that she shouldn’t have Ricky’s baby, and thatshe should get an abortion. I don’t know about you,but to me this show doesn’t seem to be morally right, and i say that as not only a proudly baptised and confirmd catholic girl,but also a girl in whom attened a private catholic grade school for 9 years, and currently attends a private catholic high school.
Katie, yes Mr. Schuester is married, yes he falls in love with Emma, but no the producers and of Glee are NOT trying to make affairs and adultery look glamorous. The producers of Glee do intentionally make Mrs. Schuester seem like, as YOU said, “the ditzy, clingy wife, making viewers WANT Emma to end up with him,” because this elementally characterization adds to the plot for that particular season. This is not only used in multiple movies and tv series, but it is also the MOST WIDELY USED way to distinguish characters in BOOKS too! For example, look at Mike Newton from the Twilight Saga, which i’m SURE you have read. Stephanie Meyers intentionally made him a very ordinary, unexciting, and kind of ditzy in order to intensify the attraction between Bella and Edward. The only reason the Mr. Schuester was still with his wife was because while he was considering getting a divorce, she told him that she was pregnant in order to try to bring her and her husband back together. Later we learn that she was never pregnant! Now when you say that you “might just think having an affair is okay, it’s glamorous, it’s all about the romance and when it disappears you move on to the next person… when you’re in a relationship, keep looking over your shoulder for someone better…” what you don’t realize is that Mr. Schuester tried to fight his attraction to Emma only because he felt that it was his OBLIGATION to his wife and supposed un born child. Knowing that he felt it was an obligation shows that he had no real interest in staying in that relationship and that he was only staying because he thought that there was a child, that he was going to be responsible for, on the way. Only when Mr. Schuester found out the truth did HE express how he felt, but unlike Mr. Schuester, Emma constantly shows that she likes Mr. Schuester.
I don’t see why you feel that Glee is discriminating against Christians, or as you said ‘shifting the hate onto Christians.’ Further more, what does it matter if the director, producer, screen writer, ect. is gay? Just because someone is gay, DOESN’T mean that tey dislike Christians. In today’s world there are gay Christians, just as there are gay Jews, Hidus, Muslims, ect., but as you can probably guess they are not widely broadcasted. So for the record it isn’t fair to assume that just because someone is gay they dislike christians. Now i know that there are those homosexual people who don’t exactly support the Christian Church, but when you sit back and look at the facts you will see that if nothing else the Christian Church, let alone the Christian community, discriminate agianst HOMOSEXUALS! Personally i am not offended by the idea of same-sex marriage, which i’m not trying to say that you are, but Christian Churches are the biggest opposing force against this issue.
If nothing else this show is one of the very few that is open to diversity and equallity. I personally see very few references to discrimination. I have to admit that there are some but they come in the form of stupid jokes for passer-bys in the hallway. But here’s the thing, NO MATTER WHAT SCHOOL YOU GO TO you will hear comments and jokes thatcan be taken as racist and discriminatory, wheather its a public school or a private school.
but hey i gues ignorance is bliss
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5:19 pm
Dear Upperclassman,
Thank you for the essay. Unfortunately I don’t have time to watch every tv show, particularly not those daytime kiddie shows. And I’m not some rich liberal who can afford your fancy cable box so no, I don’t have MTv. Are you asking me to review this show, The Secret Life of the Teenager? Because it sort of sounds like you are. Why would I want to watch that trash? Pregnant drug dealers sounds like the worst thing imaginable.
I have to admit I am a much older man and your pop culture references go right over my head. The “Twilight” series is something I have not come across. I am not ashamed to admit I spend my nights reading Christian blogs and my Bible. I don’t care for vampires.
In general, after reading your lengthy comment, I must confess I was a bit sad. You seem to be giving a lot of advice about pregnancy and marriage and boys. Aren’t you a little too young to know about these things? Maybe you shouldn’t be watching all this television unmonitored. I really think the best solution here is for you to forward this article to your Mom so she can read it and understand the dangerous programs that you’ve become insanely obsessed with. I just hope you’re not dating boys already. Maybe your Mom will give you chores to keep you busy and away from the tv room.
Let me just add that I was very impressed at how well your letter was written, the complexity of your sentence structure and your word choice. You clearly are very intelligent and I think when I was 15 I was still eating crayons and watching the Brady Bunch. So, you definitely have a grand base of intellect on which to build on in the future. And I think it’s great you want to express you ideas in well-formed paragraphs, essay-style and not just through emotion-icons and chat room texts. The only drawback, of course, is that you’re a democrat and that’s not really appropriate for someone your age.
Blessings on you!
Stephenson Billings
Hot debate. What do you think?
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116
6:19 pm
Stephenson, I’m a 15 year-old male, been in Catholic school for 10 years now, and am proud of my faith. You could say I’m a liberal republican, or vice-versa a conservative democrat. So my first question is how do you know she is a democrat? Because she has a cable box? Because she supports rights for Homosexuals? You know it is possible to be a Christian Republican who supports equality for homosexual couples.
Second, The Secret Life of the American Teenager airs at 8 PM on ABC Family. First of, that’s not daytime. Second, I’m so sorry to hear that you can’t watch the show because you do not own a cable box. But, you do have an internet connection and obviously you are tech-savvy. Luckily, you can watch full episodes for free on abcfamily.com. Feel free to check them out sometime. Oh wait…the time issue. My advice would be to take a little time by stop gay-bashing for awhile to watch this show and compare it to Glee. It might turn out you find nothing wrong with it. But that’s your descion to make. I don’t think there are any homosexual themes in the show so you should be fine. It’s just drugs and sex, you should be ok with that.
Third, You think she’s obsessed with these programs? Oh the irony…
Lastly, I would like to thank you for responding to these messages with your input. I may not agree with it, but that’s my opinion. However, I would like you to open your mind to diversity. Jesus taught us to welcome all as our own. The Bible does speak out against homosexuality, but do you honestly think Jesus would appreciate your intolerance? But hey, maybe I am wrong about all this. We all have different interpretations of the Bible, and this is mine. “Do unto others as you would have them to to you.” Luke 6:31…Try that sometime.
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6:39 pm
“Aren’t you a little too young to know about these things?”
Excuse me??? Upperclassman is 15 years old! I certainly hope that she knows about pregnancy, marriage, and boys by now! Judging by her age, she’s obviously begun menstruating. How can you be so asinine as to imply that a pubescent girl shouldn’t know what pregnancy is??? Kids as young as 4 know what pregnancy is, idiot! Kids usually learn about marriage at around that time, as well. And most likely they’ve discovered what a boy is by that age is as well, unless their parents have been keeping them locked in the basement or in a nunnery for their entire life!
“I think when I was 15 I was still eating crayons and watching the Brady Bunch.”
Hate to break it to you, but kids these days grow out of the “total dumbass” stage much earlier than they did back in the Bronze Age. Nowadays if a child older than age 6 is eating crayons there’s something wrong. Now please go crawl back under your rock and make some cave drawings for us.
“The only drawback, of course, is that you’re a democrat and that’s not really appropriate for someone your age.”
And what exactly makes being a republican so much more appropriate for a 15 year old, you fat fuck?
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8:47 pm
Allright now, I’m confused. Who is this “she” you’re referring to? I said cable box because “Upperclassman” was talking about MTv, that’s a cable show! And Teenager Family or whatever that show is called, I just assumed it was an after school special… I don’t even know if they still air those things. Anyway, why would I want to watch a sex and drugs show? What kind of lunatic are you? It’s not nice to befuddle your elders like this.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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8:53 pm
Claire, you’re a bit overcharged if you really think it’s appopriate for 15 year olds to know all about marriage. I don’t know what they do in Liberal communities, but from where I’m from it’s a bit obscene for kids to know all about breast feeding and all that.
As for child development, I disagree. it seems like today kids are kids for much longer than when I was a youngster. Kids I knew helped out on their family farms as soon as they could walk practically. You’d be surprised how little these kids were when they learned to ride a horse. On the other hand, today children sleep in their parent’s attics and get money until they’re about 30 years old. Look at this so-called “hipster” style of 20 year olds today. It’s prolonger adolescence. Kids just having fun and doing nothing serious with their lives, avoiding marriage to have all sorts of sex all over the place and the drugs, etc. while their hardworking parents keep sending those checks to Austin Texas. It’s a crying shame what these children get away with. I’m sure your MTv shows that lifestyle every week.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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77
1:20 pm
Well, from what I’ve heard about this website, it’s either the biggest Christian extremist website ever, or a great satire that rivals “The Onion”. Although I am a Christian myself, I find this article hilarious IF you are writing this as a satire. If you’re completely serious, I hope you escape your bubble of ignorance sometime and see the world for what it really is…And for others reading this “article”, please understand not all Christians are like this. Most of us our pretty chill, and don’t go gay bashing on Saturday nights.
So Stephenson, I’m guessing you won’t respond to this now that I think it’s a satire…but feel free to do so.
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7:18 am
Stephenson,
You seem to be giving a lot of advice about pregnancy and marriage and boys. Aren’t you a little too old to know about these things? Maybe you shouldn’t be watching all this television unmonitored. I really think the best solution here is for you to forward this article to your Mom so she can read it and understand the dangerous programs that you’ve become insanely obsessed with. I just hope you’re not dating boys already. Maybe your Mom will give you chores to keep you busy and away from the tv room.
Let me just add that I was very impressed at how well your letter was written, the complexity of your sentence structure and your word choice. You clearly are very intelligent and I think when I was 15 I was still eating crayons and watching the Brady Bunch. So, you definitely have a grand base of intellect “ON WHICH TO BUILD ON” in the future. And I think it’s great you want to express you ideas in well-formed paragraphs, essay-style and not just through emotion-icons and chat room texts. The only drawback, of course, is that you’re a democrat and that’s not really appropriate for someone your age.
Blessings on you!
Sara Barker
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11:20 pm
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100001366922231&ref=ts
I did a little investigating before i wrote a reply.
I think someone made a fake facebook page for you, it says:
“Television- Jersey Shore, Jesus of Nazareth, Pastor Greg, The Worship Network, Rush Limbaugh, Fox News, Strangers With Candy”
but you said you don’t have cable and that you “don’t have MTV”, so you obviously have never watched Jersey Shore(a show on MTV)
OR…you lie
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2:27 am
I’m just wondering why this show has to reflect Christian values? I’m not a Christian and don’t want to watch Christian TV. I’m not American either (what was that about ‘musky foreign thrills?’) and here in the UK Glee is screened at 9pm, which defines it as a programme for adults. My young children don’t get to watch it, but when they are in their teens I’d be happy for them to see it. It deals responsibly with moral issues and promotes support and acceptance of your peers.
Speaking of ‘acceptance’, I also think you have some issues with repressed homosexuality. Why else would you include those lingering descriptions of male actors soaping themselves up (I can remember ONE very short scene of Finn singing in the shower) and wearing tight clothes? I’m a woman in my thirties and I’ve never noticed any of that! If you could just let go of your extreme religious views and seek psychiatric help you have a chance of coming to terms with who you are. There’s nothing to be ashamed of in being gay. One of the many good things about Glee is that it strives to show this.
I really did wonder if this was a spoof at first (The Golden Girls corrupting youth? Pfft!). I feel sad for you and the other people who think this way. What closed little lives you lead in the service of a non-existent god. You can’t even enjoy a piece of entertainment for what it is (‘The songs slow up the plot’? Hilarious!).
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6:18 pm
pERSONALLY STEPHENSON, i THINK THAT ANY BODY WHO CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WROTE IS MATURE ENOUGH TO KNOW ABOUT THIS STUFF.
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4:11 pm
Sex ed is pretty much standard issue in schools nowadays and that starts at sixth grade. Anybody over 11 is old enough to know about this stuff.
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11:57 pm
Why must you talk down to people? “Hoping” they haven’t started dating boys yet? Have you ever thought that maybe she dates girls? Also, “rich liberal” is a very defining word. I know I’m liberal, but I’m definitely not on the rich scale. Yet, why is it that I have cable? Maybe you should keep your opinions to yourself because you’re basing them on the words people say and not who they actually are. Just like how you base your opinions on a show that shows the reality of high school. Quite frankly, maybe you should visit a high school from a diverse area. Then maybe you could understand where the new generation, my generation, is coming from.
You also mentioned earlier that you’ve not seen every episode. I think that you have no entitlement to judge a show.
And I’d like to ask one question before I finish. Why is being gay wrong? Enlighten me so maybe then I can believe in a religion that is so hateful towards various good people. People that deserve more than what they are given.
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12:25 pm
I’m sorry I didn’t read the other replies to your post so I’m sorry if I double cover something.
First of all, Mr. Schuster is no longer married, he was separated and now is divorced. When the show first started, it broke my heart that he was because he and Emma seemed so perfect for each other but I didn’t want him to be the guy who would leave his wife for another woman (and didn’t think he was that kind of guy or that Emma would want him to be). But he left his wife because she betrayed him, with foresight and intention. This does make me a little uncomfortable, I’ll admit that. But I also think that it makes someone wanting Mr. Schuster and Emma to end up together a little more acceptable.
Secondly, I very much respect your decision to stop watching the show because of your morals. I do agree that it portrays Christians poorly, as do nearly all TV shows. And I’m not happy about this. I tend to watch shows even when I’m not happy with the way they portray Christians and applaud you for having stronger conviction than I do.
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10:43 pm
I have been a “Gleek” for about two months now, and I cannot believe you are saying such outrageous things about it. Of course parents shouldn’t let kids under 14 or 15 watch shows that involve adult content such as sex, etc., but that includes almost every show out there, including some cartoons!
Anyway, many of the things you say are offensive, wrong, and misinformed.
The show is a musical comedy. It’s not supposed to reflect real life, and anyone who thinks this show is meant to do that is totally missing the point.
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11:44 am
Hey there,
Let me start with this: Mr. Billings, you have a truly annoying tactic of ignoring the main points in peoples posts and either correcting their grammar or citing the bible. I’m not perfect. This isn’t a false reality. I will make some grammatical mistakes, and for that I apologize.
Secondly, i am not a fan of Glee. I think it’s a pretty bad show. I think that the musical numbers carry Glee. Most of the actors have outstanding voices, and the arrangements of the songs always bring a new dimension to my earlier opinion of the original (be it Queen or John Lennon). However, the story does feel very contrived. The acting is sub-par at best. I loved Lea Michele in Spring Awakening, but I think she falls short onscreen. The writing and script are downright abysmal, and I just don’t like the actor who plays Finn. I’m not sure why; he just kind of annoys me. Those are my personal reasons for not liking or watching this show.
However, to say that it should be taken off of the air is bordering on insanity.
24 is a show on Fox. You may have heard of it. The main character is absolutely brutal and, in the earlier seasons, tortures without remorse.
Family Guy is another Fox show. I, personally, think that Family Guy is hilarious. It satires suburban life in a way that other comparable shows like The Simpsons and South Park fail to do. However, it is way more inappropriate than the tame, music loving Glee.
Furthermore, as someone who has had the arts play a very important role in their lives, I am extremely disappointed in your tone when mentioning the arts. Theater, or theatre (I grew up in the United States and learned the ‘er’ version), demands well-formed individuals. Athletics does not. Theater is meant to put a mirror up to the world and show the world what it really is. Athletics, although I love watching sports, is meaningless entertainment. I’m okay with that. I watched the vast majority of the World Cup. I watch baseball, basketball, and hockey. I played frisbee in high school. They’re fun things, but they mean nothing.
By now you’ve probably stopped reading my post because you’ve found the grammatical flaw that you will comment on and there’s no need to read anything else. I’ve tried not to repeat what others have said, but I didn’t read the entire comment thread so I’m sorry for my repetitions.
One of my last points is this. Glee is a television program. Television is a business. The writers of Glee write a show that they think will captivate audiences. They wanted people to be waiting minutes before each new show aired on their couches with drink and food ready. They wanted people to have parties and play the Glee soundtrack, to have discussions about whether or not a character made the right choice.
The writers succeeded.
I had more to say, but I’ve forgotten it.
I found the homosexual jargon to be outrageous. I am not a homosexual. I ask anyone who reads this and is a homosexual to forgive me when I say that the idea of engaging in homosexual acts repulses me. However, I don’t care about other people doing it. I don’t like mayonnaise. From the taste to the consistency it repulses me. But, Mr. Billings I will not be upset if you put mayo on your sandwich. I don’t want it on mine, but we all eat different sandwiches, don’t we?
This will probably ruin all of the points I made earlier so please try and separate the angry rant from the hopefully cohesive points. Fuck you. You are a homophobic piece of trash who prances around spreading lies. If “god” really does exist he does a shit job of creating a world in which there are so many terrible types of people. He’s also an asshole. I will now pretend for a bit that “god” exists. I have hemophilia. If you don’t know what that is, there’s this handy website called Google. Severe hemophilia, type A with inhibitors. That wasn’t a sentence, sorry. That’s about as bad as it gets in hemophilia. My brother has the exact same thing. Three years ago he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Since then my two sisters have also been diagnosed with the same. My parents have to wake up every night at 3 AM to test my sisters blood sugar levels and make sure that they haven’t skyrocketed. My parents’ group of friends is falling apart due to divorces and deaths. And you want them to worry about this shit.
I just saw a link to another of your articles at the bottom of my screen and I’d like you to know that before stumbling upon this article I masturbated. Whoopdee doo. It was great. You know what’s even better? Sex. God, I love sex. I’m not married, but I have sex with my girlfriend all the time. Oh and drugs! They’re so much fun.
I’m ranting; I know.
I’d just like you to know that your bullshit Christian extremism had made me want to take a pipe wrench and bash you in the face with it. I know not all Christians are like this so I would really like for those out there not to take this the wrong way. This isn’t a Christian hate post. This is a Stephenson Billings is a fucking twat post.
Merry Chanukah
In case I wasn’t clear:
“That’s it sir
You’re leaving
The crackle of pigskin
The dust and the screaming
The yuppies networking
The panic, the vomit
The panic, the vomit
God loves his children, God loves his children, yeah!”
-Thom Yorke
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11:50 am
Thank you for the heartfelt comment, my friend! I do indeed keep tabs on those other shows.
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4:03 pm
Oh I’m sure you will, seeing as how you’re a fan of Jersey Shore.
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1:04 pm
I am truly terrified for this country. I believe there are groups of people that need to open their eyes to what is going on around them.
Stephenson Billings, wake up and smell the coffee.
1)Homosexuality is real and needs to be talked about. Instead of blasting this show and shielding your kids from the realities of the real world, why not watch this show with your children? That way you can bring up your hateful views on it.
2)Athletics are important. But what about those kids who sit on the bench? In band, music, and theatre NO ONE sits the bench. Everyone gets a chance to shine.
3)Of course Glee has excellent choreographed impromptu dance numbers. IT’s A TV SHOW! You want to teach your kids reality? Put on Cops…oh wait you want to make them believe prostitutes and drug addicts don’t exist.
4)The actress who plays Rachel is 24..clearly you don’t know what real women look like.
I will continue to pray for you and your children because your disgusting overprotective, hateful views are bound to suppress your children from becoming hard working, successful, logical adults.
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9:40 pm
I also am appalled at how untrue this post is. The show does have homosexual characters, so what? It does have obviously rehearsed and polished musical numbers, so what?
The show is an episodic musical in the grand tradition of musicals; i.e. Sound of Music, South Pacific, Wizard of Oz, etc.
It has great messages about teamwork and overcoming clique mindsets, something that is far too prevalent in today’s high schools.
Far too often Christians are willing to say “It’s got homosexuals in it, therefore it MUST be immoral.”
This is so wrong!
The person who wrote this article has obviously seen a fourth of one episode. I can’t remember but ONE instance of seeing the locker room showers and I’ve seen each episode at least twice!
Please be better informed next time you review something.
And by the way, the Golden Girls making men gay…really?
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8:11 pm
No offense, sir, but you’re synopsis of the show is quite often wrong and lacks any credibility whatsoever. First of all, there was only one shower scene. ONE. With one guy, singing to himself. He wasn’t lathering himself with other guys.
Second of all, I really have never noticed many shirtless guys running around.
Third, your comment on athletes getting full scholarships to universities: Are you aware of the statistics showing some of those athletes to be undeserving of full scholarships? Even if they actually got good grades in high school, the chances that they actually show up for a college class is very unlikely. The chances that they will end up raping someone, or cheating on an exam however, are extremely high.
Fourth, Victor Matlin? Try Victor Garber. He shows up in maybe two episodes tops, and he is hugging his son because they have a healthy relationship. Yes, he was in Titanic, but he’s also a very accomplished stage, tv, and movie star. He is living testament that kids like the characters on Glee CAN do what they dream of doing.
Perhaps you should try educating yourself on something before you totally misinform people on what its really about. I always thought writers and journalists were supposed to be credible, although it doesn’t seem that way in this instance…
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10:40 pm
this post is a joke. its the most biased piece of bullshit i’ve read in a while. stop being so narrow minded and actually watch the tv show. there’s a lot worse out there.
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3:34 pm
Thank you so much! I didn’t know Lea Michele was 30. I thought she just turned 25 this past weekend…? Etc, etc…
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5:04 pm
Icould not agree with what you said more. Try actually WATCHING the show before you go and start critisizing(sp?) it. You have no right to judge what the writer Ryan Murphy, and all the other people on the show do. It seems to me that someone should get their priorities straightened out, and learn how not to judge a book by it’s cover. So, I(and many other people) suggest you get your facts straight. Alright? Kaaaaay thaaaaaanks(: Have a nice(just kidding, don’t) day!
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3:39 pm
This author is a complete joke. The amount of items that are wrong with his assumptions is mind blowing.
First of all,(and I will try not to miss any but the lord knows I probably will) being gay IS NOT SOMETHING ONE CHOOSES! To say that one “choose” to be gay and needs to stop and think “oh wait i love Jesus…ill stop being gay” is insane. Besides, whats to say the guy even beliefs in Christ?
Secondly, Matthew Morris, the actor who plays Mr.Shue is not gay!!
Third, the actor who plays the Kurt Hummel IS gay and they did NOT force him to kiss, his tv boyfriend Blaine, he said they were both completely comfortable with it.
Also what the hell is your obsession with the Golden Girls? Oh wait were you one of the boys they “turned” gay, and now have to hide your homosexuality because “you love jesus?”
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12:02 pm
oh no a show does not follow your belif system? IT MUST BE EVIL!!!!!!
“Should parents be concerned about any subtext of adult themes and situations?”
well seeing as it’s a not a kids show…no?
at least no more worried than what effect it might have if they watch carebears for 20 hours…
“the ethical and social risks that Glee poses are so severe that it is unworthy of a home on a national network and should be removed from broadcast.”
let’s make a compromise. the bible get the smae treatment and we have a deal.
“All the women students look to be in their late 20s or early 30s in real life.”
oh no never heard that before have we?
“This rosy little place of Glee is devoid of gun violence, sexting, drug dealing, suicide and larger questions of faith.”+”This rosy little place of Glee is devoid of gun violence, sexting, drug dealing, suicide and larger questions of faith.” = WTF CAN YOU AT LEAST AGREE WITH YOUSELF?
also it’s a tv show…they aren’t exactly know for their realism
“Is this some crafty attempt to appeal to the homosexual segment of the show’s audience? Is it really appropriate for today’s male teens to let this sort of softcore utopia influence them?”
or maybe they were aiming at the female audience? but no you’re right it’s far more likely they want to apeal to gays than to girls right?
“Additionally, the show has far too many musical numbers”
and the bible has to much conflicting logic. whats your point? that you dislike the show = it’s evil?
“They come across as trying too hard with their exaggerated facial expressions and hip posturings, the soaring voices ranges. They’ve clearly been coached. The singing is just too finely polished. The dance numbers are too excruciatingly choreographed. No high school kids can put on these sorts of shows at the spur of a moment. These things require years of gut-wrenching training.”
want me to go on about a rant on realism in the bible? allright: jesus did about 1000 things that can’t be done by anyone.
but then again like this it’s not the real world and therefor it fucking doesn’t matter.
“Disregarding any sense of fair play, the show does not offer any alternative to the gay lifestyle argument. There are no teens cured of their relentless and wild male sex desires, there are no moral figures on hand to give a comforting hand, there are no popular boys who say, “I don’t want to hurt my family anymore and I love Jesus, so I am going to stop doing gay things with guys in the bathroom.””
and back to my opening statement so sorry taht some people in this world don’t agree with you. want a fucking cookie? maybe there isn’t those things in it because the creators don’t belive homosexuality is an illness? no actually i’d love for there to be such a charecter…cause i’d be able to see him get smashed in the face by the people on the show who are sane.
i’m sorry but the fair play you talk about just don’t work that way. i mean it’s not like the bible presents the idea of god not exsisting either? where’s the fair play in that?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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4:37 pm
Completely inaccurate, hateful, and full of assumptions that are extremely false.
I understand your beliefs cause you to dislike this show, but next time, make your argument more credible by staying away from exaggerations and try to get all of your facts correct.
There are so many things I would like to discuss, but let me say one thing.
Encouraging kids to “have fun in the arts” is not a bad thing. First of all, Glee does NOT tell kids to quit school, and quit their future for the arts. It is telling them to use the arts as a way to find happiness in HIGH SCHOOL. The characters on Glee are who they are because of people like you who condemn anyone who is different. High School is not one big, happy place. There are students who really struggle with being different and need to find what makes them happy. Glee is about “opening yourself up to joy” (a quote directly from the show). The kids in Glee club are HAPPY there, which makes high school a better place for them. I “had fun in the arts” when I was in high school. It taught me how to be a team player, to love myself, and created an incredible support system between my peers and me. At the same time, I graduated in the Top 10% of my class, got accepted into all 8 of the colleges I applied to, recieved academic scholarship, and am attending a top school on the east coast. Yes, “having fun in the arts” really made me a failure in my life..
Also, Glee is a TELEVISION show. Which means- IT IS GOING TO BE FAKE. You said it’s not believable, but the whole purpose of TV is to ENTERTAIN. It is also a MUSICAL show, which means they are going to break out into song. Breaking out into song is NEVER believable, but that’s okay, because it’s not supposed to be real. It is on a network specifically for tv shows like this. It’s not on a history channel, a documentary channel, or an education channel.
Hopefully you will learn to not displace your anger about parts of the show (i.e. homosexuality, teen pregnancy, etc.) on other aspects that are reasonable, because you just sound ridiculous and dramatic. You really do need to get your facts straight, because the majority of your post is made up (for example, in no part of the show do men do things in the bathroom). I got the impression that you actually believed the lies you wrote.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
161 
8
4:57 pm
When the rapture comes you Faggots`s
can dance dance and sing all you want
on your way to hell!
Hot debate. What do you think?
8 
262
6:22 pm
Cool story, bro.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
47 
18
8:26 pm
You are SO a true Christian. Loving the hate. Jesus would totally say something like that.
(note: heavy sarcasm)
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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6
8:46 pm
Personally, I really don’t think using slang derogatory language helps the Christian cause much. It’s immature and lowers yourself to the level of homosexual activists. Corinthians is a much more reliable reference for speaking out on this topic:
“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”–1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Hot debate. What do you think?
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99
8:55 pm
Slang derogatory language? It’s called sarcasm. And furthermore, I don’t appreciate the Bible bashing.
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9:03 pm
I was commenting specifically about “TrueChristian’s” use of the word “f*ggot”, not about you Kevin.
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3:09 am
First of all, pre-marital sex to drug use, from adultery to abortion, from premature ejaculation to explicit homosexual experimentation? Welcome to the everyday present, were you behind a rock for how long? Not even in Jesus time was everything as perfect as you dream.
Also,It’s funny that Corinthians 6:9-10 actually uses the word “Homosexual” when the first known appearance of the term homosexual in print is found in a 1869 German pamphlet “143 des Preussischen Strafgesetzbuchs und seine Aufrechterhaltung als 152 des Entwurfs eines Strafgesetzbuchs für den Norddeutschen Bund”.
As well, gay locker room orgies? Wild male sex desires? I don’t want to hurt my family anymore and I love Jesus, so I am going to stop doing gay things with guys in the bathroom? Are you for real? I mean, come on, if that’s someone’s fantasy it’s yours because non of that things have happened on the show, and I highly doubt it will ever happen. Is it may be that you’re actually a closeted religion-obsessed homosexual? Too much golden girls?
Besides, Kevin McHale (Artie, the guy in the wheelchair) do actually sings, he was part of a boyband, and I don’t get why you mock someone that is interpreting a minority that should be respected and admired for their determination and courage? A sidekick or catchphrase? Holy rusted metal batman! What about no?
About the Jewish thing, how much hate your little Christian heart can handle? the homophobia, sexism and misogyny were not enough so you added some religion intolerance?
And finally, God is about love and respect. I highly doubt that God hate gay or Jewish, or any other people. I really think and hope that God actually loves us for who we are with all or imperfections and is not a hate-trowing I’m-the-only-one-with-the-truth kind of guy that you are. God bless you my friend.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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6
6:37 am
The Bible wasn’t written in either German or English so your point is moot. 1869? Do you really think the gays didn’t exist before then? Stop posting your nonsense “factoids” you picked up in some second rate college liberal studies class.
Furthermore, I do not hate the Jews. In fact, I am the author of an article celebrating one Jewish man as an icon for today’s young Christians. See:
Jonathan Safran Foer: A Jewish Star Christians Really Can Follow!
http://christwire.org/2009/11/jonathan-safran-foer-a-jewish-star-christians-really-can-follow/
Hot debate. What do you think?
18 
49
12:53 am
Dear Xtians,
Please stop trying to ban and destroy all the things you don’t agree with.
You wouldn’t want me and all my fellow high-IQ atheists to ban and destroy YOU, would you?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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7
5:33 pm
Lea Michelle, the actor who plays Rachel, is 23.
I’m not even going to touch the rest of this.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
59 
3
6:54 pm
u say male prostitues will not be allowed to enter heaven…does that mean female prostitutes will be?
btw this article is totally offensive to not only the various sections of society that are completely blasted by u but also to the true christians who believe that when jesus said “love thy neighbour” (i.e. everybody) he actually meant it.
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2
3:21 am
You are the one on your way to hell with the hate that comes from you.
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1
8:18 am
We can? HOT DIGGETY!
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0
2:16 pm
Really? you stupid fuck
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6:13 pm
Um, Glee couldn’t even SAY the word ‘abortion’, let alone present it to the audience.
And everybody else has already said what I’m thinking, so yeah.
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8:25 pm
I don’t know exactly the episode you’re referring to, but clearly the show deals with issues such as having an unwanted child and teen pregnancy. When the blond girl student gets pregnant, the first thing she does is consult Planned Parenthood, which is an abortion clinic. It was all very obvious for anyone who has seen the show! And yes, this issue is constantly repeated and dealt with in other episodes. While they might not say “abortion” out loud, we all know it’s there.
Hot debate. What do you think?
13 
51
8:32 pm
If you think the show needs to be immediately shut down and no longer broadcast because it’s so immoral, what are you doing watching it?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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8:38 pm
I’m an Investigative Journalist and an adult. My career is reviewing and learning about tough subjects and then translating that into articles that shed light on uncomfortable corners of our culture for other adults to learn from. I hope that parents can learn from my work to help their children grow into decent, loving, moral people!
Hot debate. What do you think?
14 
44
6:04 pm
Dude, what kind of a fucking moron are you? Just because you were tied to a chair and forced to watch Jimmy Swaggart as a child and it turned you into a religious prick doesn’t mean that everyone else is so empty headed.
Do you even live in the world you’re commenting on? I don’t really think so. But since I don’t have the intellect of a soda bottle collector and investigative journalist (nosy body voyeur), that mey explain why your “logic” escapes me…
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12:35 am
Being an investigative journalist requires that you actually do some research and not make narrow minded false accusations about something you don’t understand. If you would have watched the entire first half of the season (which you haven’t, as stated in the comments), and come to these conclusions based on actual episodes, then your story would have had some credibility. Calling yourself an investigative journalist is a disgrace to the career field.
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6:22 pm
plannded parenthood is pretty much every teens first response when first getting pregnant. and quinn is also a conservative christian.
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8:59 pm
You couldnt be more wrong, once again. Quinn said she would not have an abortion. She made on mistake, but she still is a Christian and said that having an abortion is out of the question. Finn(her boyfriend), was the one who suggested it, and she said no because she does not belive in abortion.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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9:17 pm
What are you talking about? The girl (Quinn) never went to any clinic. The only time Planned Parenthood was ever mentioned was when one of the adult characters offered to take the girl and her boyfriend (or something along those lines).
That and Finn’s asking “Are you going to get a..” were the ONLY mentions on the entire show of abortion.
Maybe in your sick, twisted mind the possibility of an abortion is “always there”.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
40 
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5:45 pm
While the cheerleader’s first response was to turn to a clinic, please note she chooses NOT to abort, but to carry the child and give it up for adoption…a testament to the fact she is part of a Christian family…I find that to ultimately be a positive message.
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5:49 pm
To clarify, Quinn doesn’t even go to a clinic…she is asked if she was going to go and she says no…..
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4
3:39 am
“I don’t know exactly the episode you’re referring to, but clearly the show deals with issues such as having an unwanted child and teen pregnancy. When the blond girl student gets pregnant, the first thing she does is consult Planned Parenthood, which is an abortion clinic. It was all very obvious for anyone who has seen the show! And yes, this issue is constantly repeated and dealt with in other episodes. While they might not say “abortion” out loud, we all know it’s there.”
SHE NEVER went into an abortion clinic, when the main guy asked if she was going to get an abortion she CLEARLY said no. Dont base the whole arguement on a show that YOU CLEARLY have not watched, and understand nothing about. the show is realistic enough, clearly, you went into high school in the WRONG era of time. And by the way HOMOSEXUALITY isnt spreadable, like mayo on bread, people arent lead into the gay lifestyle. spekaing of gay lifestyles there is more than one type of gay life style, just like there are different types of life styles for different types of people. NOT all gay men are sexualized freaks who bang every man they see. some are just as reserved as a republican man, and others just seek a relationship.
Get your facts straight before blatantly attacking something.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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10:32 pm
Planned Parenthood is not an abortion clinic. Some Planned Parenthood facilities offer abortion services, but not all. Planned Parenthood is a health care provider that offers birth control, pre-natal care, testing for std’s, etc.on a sliding scale for women of all economic levels.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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7:28 am
Oh my! I cannot believe that you actually think Planned Parenthood is an abortion clinic! I have personally been there for many things, but an abortion has never been on the list. They supply birth control and lady checkups mostly. Their idea is their name PLANNED Parenthood. They know teenagers and young adults are going to do things in private and they want those people to be SMART about pregnancy.
As for the whole article, it is crap. Apparently someone who has a lot of time on their hands and a lot of hate in their heart wrote this. This person obviously is not as close to God as he should be. I may not be the most religious person, but I know my God is a loving and forgiving God. He loves all his children. (He made them, you know.)
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11:15 pm
I agree my God is also loving and forgiving. However, part of that is repentance and working to follow Him. No where in the Bible does it state just believing in Him is enough. So the fact that she didn’t abort because she is partially a christian is ridiculous. This isn’t something that you can partially do. That being said I have never seen the show and am against all of the bashing on this blog. Part of being a Christian is lifting others up and when necessary feeling them in on the truth. It is very clear none of the words on this site are meant to lift anyone up. No wonder there are so many atheists out there….
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1:36 am
Planned Parenthood is not an abortion clinic. As a Christian, I am appalled when I come across completely false, fear-mongering articles like this one. If you can not even take the time to check basic information (Lea Michele’s age, the various services offered by Planned Parenthood, whether or not the statistics behind your Golden Girls claim are sound…) then why should anyone take you seriously? If your goal was to caution Christians against a harmful social influence, perhaps you should have warned them about ignorant bloggers who wave their opinions about wildly as if they are fact.
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11:02 pm
I don’t remember Quinn going to Planned Parenthood, but it was certainly the right decision for a scared, pregnant teenager. As a former employee, I know that PP offers NOT ONLY abortion services, but prenatal health care, counseling, and adoption advice.
On another note, this is the most unintentionally hilarious article I’ve read in quite a while. Keep it up Billings – and all you right-wingers – who lighten my day with your misinformed polemics.
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12:45 pm
I do not remember Planned Parenthood being mentioned at all. Even if it were, it’s not “an abortion clinic,” though I suppose they do perform abortions there. They also give people who couldn’t otherwise afford them, resources to deal with parenthood. And the “blonde girl” won’t even allow the word “contraception” to be mentioned, she was certainly never even CONSIDERING an abortion (in fact not understanding contraception due to abstinence only education is probably her problem)
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7:35 am
Riiiiight. Because the correct decision on the blonde girl’s part would have been to have the baby, hastily marry the father to “make it right,” bring the child into a sham marriage between two people who can’t support it (financially, emotionally, or otherwise), and set both parents and child up for a lifetime of failure. But I guess that’s just how you red-state Evangelicals handle that sort of thing.
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9:28 pm
UMM HELLLLO!!!!! She said from the beginning she was GIVING IT UP FOR ADOPTION! geez you are ignorant.
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9:27 pm
I’m sorry; that’s not true. I just re-watched the episode today (it’s called “Preggers” and it’s in the beginning of season one). When Quinn tells Finn she’s pregnant, he asks her: “Are you going to get a…?” (not saying abortion) and she immediately says no. Later in the episode, Finn confides in his teacher, who asks if there’s anything he can do to help and suggests putting them in touch with Planned Parenthood. Finn says that’s not even up for discussion. Quinn never consults Planned Parenthood and never considers an abortion.
This whole article was annoying, but it’s truly your comments that make me incensed. Please, Mr. Billings, try to open your mind. I know that it can be hard, but I earnestly ask you to do so. Read some books, maybe in the fields of sociology or women’s studies. I know that to you these may seem like propaganda or some sort of falsehood, but I think that they would help you to understand people who are not like you. Opening your mind can be difficult as I have experienced in trying to break down my personal biases, including some racism, sexism, and homophobia (tough even as a lesbian woman), but having a more open mind and understanding more walks of life can be liberating and truly rewarding. I urge you to listen when others speak; if they are being rude, ask them to open their minds as well. Maybe with this attitude, we can turn some lives around. We can understand each other better as human beings. Please consider this.
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6:32 pm
Wow.
Never in my life have I’ve been insulted that much.
Let me give you a little insight. I have been involved in the arts all my life. I am currently in COLLEGE studying Musical and Technical Theater. I currently have a 3.5 GPA and I am quite satisfyed with the way I am living and what I am planning on doing for the rest of my life.
You did not even mention the point of the show. It’s a show about the underdogs, about those who were never really appreciated for their God-Given Talents in school. Thay are the people who were put down and not considered “normal”. The show sends the message of being proud of who you are no matter what imperfections one may have.
About the show in general. Have you heard them live? I have and they all sing just as well as it is percieved. Yes, at times the lip-synching is off, but that’s part of the show.
And ABORTION?! Where in the world did that come from? I don’t even think they mentioned that in the show at all! Know the facts first!
About the sports: You are acting EXACTLY like the people on the show, that sports regn over all and the rest can just forget it. My sport is MARCHING BAND and I am SOOO proud of that! At least in my sport it requires THINKING!
It was one of the most insulting and unresarched article I have read.
I agree with the majority. Watch the show before you comment.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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8:35 pm
Dear Tracy, I am sorry that you took my news article as a personal insult (what a strange thing to say!) but it was not directly at you. I think it’s fantastic that you’re in college! I am a huge supporter of advanced education for both sexes.
I have watched this show, almost most of the episodes in fact. That should be clear to anyone reading my article with all the facts and references. I stand by my depiction. This is an article meant for parent by the way. Adults need to have a broad, informed opinion on topics. This is not a fan site! This is a Christian website offering wisdom and perspective for adults, and in this case adults who have children who want to know what and why they’re doing things.
You claim this show is about underdogs, yet many of the main characters are football players or cheerleaders! How are they the “underdogs”? The show spends a lot of time focusing on them, trying to convince us they all want nothing more than to be part of some musical troupe. I think that’s just absurd. Also, many of the characters are adults, the teachers, so they can’t be underdogs.
As for the sports aspect, I am a former high school football athlete. It taught me many things and showed me the wonderful possibilities of the world. It also keep me healthy and fit, helped me socialize with other men and taught me to respect the authority of my elders. This is a lesson definitely missing from Glee.
Well, I am glad to have brought a new perspective to you!
Hot debate. What do you think?
22 
73
11:42 pm
First of all, I did not say anything about my gender. I said in what field I am studying which is in the arts. I simply stated what I am to show what I did and the potenial of what I can do when I “have fun with the arts”, and see where it has gotten me.
“You claim this show is about underdogs, yet many of the main characters are football players or cheerleaders! How are they the “underdogs”? The show spends a lot of time focusing on them, trying to convince us they all want nothing more than to be part of some musical troupe. I think that’s just absurd. Also, many of the characters are adults, the teachers, so they can’t be underdogs.”
Everyone in the show is an underdog in a way:
Finn- he might be a popular football player, but he has had this passion for music but was too afraid to show it until he got in. Also he is not the most intellegant person.
Rachel- She is ambitious and has amazing talent, but her personality is a flaw. She never said she was ugly. She actually says in a monologue that she thinks she is attractive, but she is busy trying to reach her dream. Yes, Kurt and Quinn comment on her clothing choice, but who doesn’t comment on everyone’s clothing? She is a great person with a good heart, but she relies too much on her talent to get what she wants. Also the actress that plays her, Lea Michele, is 23, not 30.
Kurt- he is described as the “fashionable soprano”. Well, you already know what his flaw is.
Mercedes, Tina, Artie- They all have their assets and their issues, like disability, social issues, and weight.
The three cheerios and the other two football players (Santana, Brittany, Quinn, Mike, Puck, and Matt) are underdogs too to even think and even join this club, knowing it could be social suicide.
How are the adults underdogs? Let’s see:
Emma (the guidance councelor)- She is a germaphobe and has issues being close to people (especially men). She is also shy and not many of her male co-workers see her as someone who is that datable.
Will- He might be a popular teacher, but stepping up to help this failing club is a great leap of faith and taking a risk. He is against many odds to do it and we see him overcome them by making them succeed.
So by being involved in the arts are you saying that I do not learn anything about respecting elders and being on a team?
I was involved in all branches of my performing arts department while in High School, I can tell you right now the lessons I have learned.
I have learned to be part of a team, that while it is nice at times to be a spotlight, in order to succeed you need to trust those on the journey with you and that all can succeed if you work together. You also learn disipline, espeically learning music, lines, and choreography. In that also RESPECTING YOUR ELDERS. They are there to help you succeed, and in order to help you in doing so, you you have to be respectful. Respect is the BIGGEST LESSON OF ALL. As my mother says “It takes all types of people to make this world go round.” And it’s true. If you walk into the chorus room, you might see just a group of singers. Little did you know that there were star athletes, drama geeks, valedictorian of the Senior class, and just regular average joes, people that might not just fit in. You learn to respect anyone and everyone, no matter who they are, where they are from, and what they believe in.
Also as a note, do you know the training it takes to be in marching band? A WHOLE TON and let me tell you it helps one to become fit and healthy. Also dancing is an AMZING form of exersize.
You also said you have seen SOME of the episodes. So you are saying that you have not seen all of them? Maybe you should bite your tongue and do so. In order to make a full analysis on a certin topic or materical, you need to fully research the topic.
Yes, I understand that this is a guide for parents, but not all parents will agree with you. It depends on the family and the maturity of the children in question, weither they think they can handle the show. I was watching R rated movies and shows like this since I was 7, and I am a straight-edged, responsible, RESPECTFUL, virgin. I have never smoked, I have never drank, and one of my biggest things that I value in life is respect.
Again, I apologize for my negative comments, but I believe this is insulting to anyone who is an underdog and who are involved in the arts.
~Tracy
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
73 
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12:21 am
I apologise for any typos I may have.
And I also meant “flaw” like it is typed
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11:34 am
First, I want to say that, Stephenson, although I disagree with many of the points you have made in this article, I appreciate that you are attempting to present other viewpoints to parents out there. I’m sure there are many people who agree with your sentiments and took your article to heart. However, there is one issue I specifically want to address here.
I agree with Tracy re: arts in education. Stephenson, in this article, you discuss how Glee makes “the argument that excelling at athletics does not contribute anything to the college application process;” that they “posit the theory that a singing club will make you more likely to get into Ohio State or Princeton.” You continue by adding “Athletics have been a proven stepping-stone for academic and business success for over a century. The number of athletes who have gone on to full scholarships at the very best universities in this country are legion and legendary. Nothing even close could be said of a minor high school singing club.”
While I’m not sure of the accuracy of the statements about Glee, and I do believe your statements about athletics are accurate here, I think it is sad and unfortunate that you are using this as an argument in this article. Our country has an obsession with sports, often at the expense of art, music, and drama classes and clubs in high schools. The obsession continues into adulthood when professional athletes are paid tens of millions of dollars each year to “entertain” the masses. Professional musicians, on the other hand (I’m not talking about pop musicians) often struggle through their lives. Ever heard the term “starving artist”? While I do agree that athletics are important in education, I don’t believe that they should be pursued at the expense of the arts.
I will only focus on music here because that is the area with which I am personally familiar. Young adults who pursue music in college are not provided the wonderful opportunities that many athletes are. Athletes are provided full scholarships, moneys for books and housing, and other benefits because schools want their sports teams to win. They will shell out money to acquire athletes who will make that happen. Musicians are forced to resort to student loans piling up into the hundreds of thousands to be able to attend some of the great music schools in this country.
I am a music therapist – I use music in a school system with children who have developmental delays. Every day I see the benefits of music for children. I see how music can help develop their social skills, can help limit inappropriate behaviors and allow them to be more focused and ready to learn in the classroom. I also see how helpful music can be in teaching reading-readiness, increasing attention span, and learning concepts by aiding with memorization (think about learning the ABCs without the song). Students who take part in music learning have been shown to have higher IQs, better math scores, and more ability to focus, multi-task, and work together in a team. I can’t say this emphatically enough – MUSIC IS VITAL TO THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN!!!!
Please do not use your public forum here to further the misconception in our society that sports are the only way for children to attain a successful future. Please consider researching the benefits of a singing club before making a statement like “Nothing even close could be said of a minor high school singing club.” If I were you, I would only stick to writing opinionated articles covering topics about which I felt I was an expert. Maybe if you want to present an article to make parents think twice about letting their children watch a certain television show, just point out some things you have noticed. Suggest parents notice these things as well. Let people form their own opinions instead of shoving yours down your readers’ throats. Please consider looking beyond your own personal experience when writing such a strongly opinionated article like this one.
Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts.
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2:41 pm
“I am a huge supporter of advanced education for both sexes.”
Wow. How very forward-thinking of you!
I was in the arts, not sports, in high school. I am a female. I am a lesbian. I graduated with honors and have a bachelors degree. I watched programming as a child that I’m sure you would think was Satan incarnate (i.e. Ren & Stimpy). And guess what? I’m happy, successful, and a Christian.
Are you ok? I fear the shock of such a possibility may have stopped your heart.
And for the record, your comment about how there’s “no alternative to the gay lifestyle presented,” there’s ONE gay student on the show, which means there are 10+ alternatives presented. Guess what? Gay people exist. It’s not a choice. It can’t be “cured.” We’re not going away, no matter how uncomfortable it makes you.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
77 
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10:58 pm
@ Alicia…im absolutely astounded that you call yourself a Christian. You CLEARLY
Hot debate. What do you think?
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51
11:35 pm
“helped me socialize with other men”
Yes Stephen, I’m sure this was probably your favorite part.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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11:37 pm
“helped me socialize with other men”
Yes Stephenson, I’m sure this was probably your favorite part.
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7:40 pm
WOW! Thanks so much for posting this, it has really made me want to watch Glee more than ever before!! I’ve never even thought about it, but you make it sound exciting and worth watching, so I’ll be telling everyone I know to watch Glee now because of this! Also, I feel that it’s time for me to propose to my wonderful girlfriend so we can be married. Like you said, marriage is beautiful and I’m ready to marry my girlfriend and have children!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
49 
5
8:39 pm
I understand sarcasm.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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27
9:56 pm
Uhh…Congrats! Though I never mentioned anything about sarcasm in my post. I just realized that I should express my love for my girlfriend by taking it to the next level
Hot debate. What do you think?
27 
5
7:51 pm
A show that emphasizes the importance of being comfortable with yourself (meaning both faults and strengths). Evil!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
35 
1
8:12 pm
Oh, and by “Victor Matlin” do you mean “Victor Garber?” If so, he’s an openly gay actor with a long and distinguished career in theatre who has played a spy, lawyers, Liberace, a “lady’s man” actor, a Puritan, an alien, and Jesus.
Praise or Condemn:
22 
4
8:41 pm
The correct spelling is “theater”.
Hot debate. What do you think?
16 
58
8:48 pm
In Britain and other places, the spelling is theatre. Not everyone lives in America.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
65 
14
10:38 pm
“Theatre” is, in fact, the correct spelling. Americans just happened to have butchered it a few centuries ago to make it different from the way the Brits spelled it. English came from England, the English spelling is therefore the correct spelling. American spellings are acceptable alternatives.
Hot debate. What do you think?
30 
9
9:33 am
“Theatre” is correct if you live in Great Britain or Australia. Same with “colour” instead of “color”. But it is actually incorrect to use it in the United States. It has gained currency as a common, almost slang term however but that does not make it right. In usage, “theatre” comes across as egotistical and superior with a tinge of insincerity. Many people in the acting business use it out of a desperate need to put other people down. Sadly, using the word “theatre” does not make you look or sound any smarter. It is just foolish. I suggest you educate yourself before you make your accusations. Please use “theater.”
Hot debate. What do you think?
15 
74
9:45 am
well you were the one to start with lashing out correcting the spelling. therefor you make the statement that his speeling is incorect.
the internet isn’t american it’s international and the english used internationaly is offcially bristish english. he’s still right.
Hot debate. What do you think?
24 
7
5:02 pm
In the world, being judgmental and self righteous also comes across as egotistical and superior with a tinge of insincerity. Many people who are insecure use these out of a desperate need to put other people down. Sadly, acting like you are the holiest person among the billions of people on earth does not make you sound any better. It is just foolish.
By the way, in case you haven’t noticed, not everyone lives in the U.S, kthx.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
35 
5
5:33 pm
Whilst my FAVOURITE show may not be Glee, I love its use of THEATRE, and how it CENTRES on many different lifestyles. My MUM also likes the show.
I think you should stop ANALYSING things too much. This article seems to suggest that you have some closet homophobic tendencies, and if you don’t want to embrace it, should probably seek some COUNSELLING to help with your bitterness and anger over not finding a nice man to cash your CHEQUES for you.
Also, like others have said, a large percentage of us do not live in the United States. Maybe if you had done some TRAVELLING outside of your country, you would have REALISED this, you ignorant bigot.
Oh, and btw, I’m British and my FAVOURITE COLOUR is blue. I’m also now going to go and unwrap my sandwich from the ALUMINIUM foil that it’s currently in.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
44 
6
8:10 pm
I live in the U.S. and I studied Theatre for 4 years. When referring to the Performing Arts it is called Theatre and when talking about Motion Pictures it is called Theater (Movie Theater).
Praise or Condemn:
19 
0
2:10 am
I have been analyzing the thought process of conservative republican christians for a while now and find them to be complete contradictions of everything they so-called believe in. As a liberal and a college student I try to view topics from every angle so I can make the most well-rounded decisions, best informed decisions possible. I went to a christian church for four years and decided religion was not my cup of tea, but I made that decision after giving it an honest effort.
Anyway, I thought one of the most important lesson the bible teaches is “Thou shalt not judge,” so who are you to judge this tv show, gays, people’s correct spellings, etc? Please enlighten me.
Call me crazy but although I choose to never have an abortion, have a relationship with someone of the same sex, have no religious belief, and am not a conservative does that mean I am doomed for all eternity?
Hey here’s an idea…have some respect for people who are different from you or go to hell or wherever it is you believe “sinners” end up after death.
Praise or Condemn:
8 
1
11:24 pm
I think he’s scared that only the GAYS that are somehow going to ruin the world call it “theatre” not “theater”. I, personally, think gay people are god’s answer to adoption! Too many children? Make more parents that can’t procreate together! Voila!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
57 
3
8:46 am
From what that person wrote, the best you could come up with was to correct their spelling? Surely you could have done better than that? Then you have the nerve to tell a person what spelling to use? Your in the USA so you use the spelling that you were taught, I am in Australia and therefore will use the English spelling that I and obviously others, were taught.
Praise or Condemn:
18 
5
6:40 pm
No. THEATRE and THEATER are both acceptable spellings…..
Praise or Condemn:
0 
0
2:57 pm
For the uninitiated: Glee is a satirical comedy about high school glee clubs as a competitive sport. Although I suppose those under 30 might tune in, the target audience is clearly much older. The stereotypes are all extreme – including the gay stereotyped characters. So extreme that they would be offensive in any other context. The “good kids” are stereotypically super-good; to the point that the main male character (super-good virgin Finn) gets tricked into accepting responsibility for an immaculate-conception pregnancy that supposedly happened because they were making out (but not having sex) in a hot tub. Yes, it is that silly and over-the-top. (His ‘best friend’ is the true father)
For those of you who don’t get it: Stephenson Billings is a Phil Hendry style performance artist. The Golden Girls is a dead giveaway. The supposition that any unmarried man ever watched Golden Girls is laughable – let alone the notion that it could turn you gay. Heck, very few people under the age of 40 watched that show, let alone teenagers.
Praise or Condemn:
7 
3
8:15 pm
This post is so misinformed it’s ridiculous. I’m ASHAMED that I practice the same religion as the author of this post. You’re making all Christians look like ridiculous judgmental bigots! Let me start by making a few points.
1) Glee is a television show. There are going to be adult themes such as teenage pregnancy and homosexuality because guess what? It happens in real life! You’re complaining about “adult themes and situations” and “a surprising number of mature scenarios” because guess what? It’s high school. The writers know that high school isn’t a fantasyland as you put it. Also, you’re contradicting yourself. First, you complain that there is a TV show with too many adult themes and situations. Then, you go onto say that it’s not realistic because there isn’t any “gun violence, sexting, drug dealing, suicide and larger questions of faith.” Although that in itself is a contradiction (because according to you, if the show DID have gun violence, etc., it would be too unholy for broadcast, so why are you complaining?), I must also say that you are wrong! Sexting and drug dealing have both occurred on the show. You wanna know why? It’s a show about a high school. It’s REAL.
2) “The ethical and social risks that Glee poses are so severe that it is unworthy of a home on a national network and should be removed from broadcast.” You think Glee poses SEVERE ethical and social RISKS? Glee is nowhere near “severe.” You want to see severe network broadcast? Try Harper’s Island last spring (and although that in itself was severe, it was a beautiful story, VERY worthy of broadcast).
3) “Instead of a real world high school, we have a fantasyland of happy, shirtless teens hanging out in the showers or dancing on million dollar stages. Why must the producers of this show have so many shots of the football team in the locker room? They’re constantly dropping their shorts and jumping into a steamy shower, showing off tight biceps or lathering themselves all over with a fresh bar of soap. Is this some crafty attempt to appeal to the homosexual segment of the show’s audience? Is it really appropriate for today’s male teens to let this sort of softcore utopia influence them?” First of all: The characters of Glee are nowhere near a fantasyland of happy. They’re going through real world issues such as pregnancy. But when they sing, they’re happy. Because they’re a part of something. It makes the problems go away for the time being. But no, it’s not a fantasyland of happy. Second of all, get your facts straight! The closest thing we’ve gotten to “football players in the locker rooms dropping their shorts” has been one character singing in a shower, washing himself with soap. And FYI? All we saw was his chest. Like that’s so explicit? Seriously. There’s been worse on network television. Stop being a pansy and get used to the fact that not everyone is a far-right-wing conservative. Also, didn’t it ever occur to you that maybe the writers were trying to appeal to the heterosexual female audience as well as the homosexual male audience? Stop being so closed-minded.
3) “From pre-marital sex to drug use, from adultery to abortion, from premature ejaculation to explicit homosexual experimentation.” Oh my goodness. While it’s a TV show, did you ever think that maybe the writers are trying to make it look somewhat real? If every single member of the Glee club is a wholesome left-wing Christian, how realistic is that? Pre-marital sex: One time, it wasn’t even shown. The closest you’ve gotten to that is making out. Deal with it, they’re high school students. Drug use: Not on screen. Adultery: For your information, adultery was never committed. The closest to that was a man kissing another woman AFTER he left his wife. Abortion: The writers couldn’t even say the WORD abortion, let alone make it a primary theme of the show. The closest you’ve gotten to that was “Are you gonna–?” and “No, I’m keeping it.” Premature ejaculation: They’re high school jocks, what else do you expect them to talk about at the Celibacy Club? Explicit homosexual experimentation: NOT EVEN CLOSE! Get your facts straight! Perhaps the closest we’ve gotten to that is a guy coming out to his dad. Get. Your. Facts. Straight.
4) “Additionally, the show has far too many musical numbers. They’ve clearly been coached.” That’s the whole point. It’s a television show about a Glee club, not a church. And yes, they have been coached. They even refer to the teacher in the show as a vocal coach. Get your facts together and think logically.
5)”But this show is a drug of false expectations that will inevitably harm our children. It convinces impressionable teens to avoid serious career training in favor of having “fun” in the “arts.” Also, the music numbers just drag down the plot of the show.” Will you seriously stop contradicting yourself? According to you, the plot of the show is too explicit, so stop complaining that it’s being supposedly “dragged down!” Also, watching a television show does not change a person. Glee does not make someone gay or artsy or musical or athletic. Having fun in the arts is also NOT a bad thing! If you’re good at it (or even if you like what you’re doing, which in high school, is fine), go ahead. If you like it, then go ahead. Seriously. Athletics aren’t everything. What is so wrong about the arts? You are SUCH a closed-minded hypocrite and bigot.
6) “Will male sports just become an excuse for gay locker room orgies? How long until these types also legislate to destroy the beauty of marriage, the safety of religion, the rights of the righteous? Look into the eyes of a young Kurt Hummel. Is that not the face our of future’s polymorphously perverse intellectual terrorist?” First of all, how does one gay character make an entire nation gay? Second of all: ALL American citizens have rights, not just the “righteous” and marriage still is beautiful if two people love each other. Love has no standards. Love is not about race or gender or religion or any social status. And you’re going to sit there and say that Chris Colfer is the face of “our future’s polymorphously perverse intellectual terrorist?” Are you an idiot? Why do you assume that homosexuals are perverts? Have you heard the way some straight men talk about women? And really? TERRORIST? Once again, I ask, are you an idiot?
7) “Disregarding any sense of fair play, the show does not offer any alternative to the gay lifestyle argument. There are no teens cured of their relentless and wild male sex desires, there are no moral figures on hand to give a comforting hand, there are no popular boys who say, “I don’t want to hurt my family anymore and I love Jesus, so I am going to stop doing gay things with guys in the bathroom.”” The writers of Glee understand that homosexuality is not a disease and make Kurt comfortable with himself which is a good thing to promote. Do you want teenagers struggling with sexuality to not be comfortable with themselves, confusing them even more?
9) Clearly you have not watched the show. Writing a review of a show you have not watched is offensive and your bigotry astounds me. I’m pretty sure God doesn’t appreciate your hate to ANYONE who is different. God would want you to be accepting, something you left-winged conservatives CLEARLY aren’t good at.
I’m so angry. And I want to write more. But honestly I’m going to stop, because just from your post I can tell you’re going to read this while saying “faggots can burn in hell.” How Christian does THAT sound?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
96 
3
8:30 pm
Sorry, made a few typos there. And another thing: Kevin McHale (the actor who plays Artie) is NOT lipsyncing. He is talented, and if you actually cared to research anything before blindly posting this article, you would know that he used to be in a boy band.
Praise or Condemn:
16 
2
8:59 pm
Hi Kevin:
1) It’s ludicrous to claim that simply because Glee is a tv show, it must contain adult themes. Would you say this about Bugs Bunny or the Benji? Of course not. Your argument is contrived. Frankly, there is far too much homosexuality on tv today. Kids watching will think it’s just fun and normal to jump in the sack with some other high school jock and rub around. No so fast! This is very damaging to children.
2) I have no seen the show you mentioned, but I happen to write about many aspects of American culture, including other tv shows. I suggest you do your research on my journalism before making outrageous demands.
3) Glee is not real world! You must be a bit insane if you honestly believe that! Plus I have seen several locker room scenes on that show and I was frankly appalled.
4) Your personal opinion!
5) As I have proven time and again, television has a dangerously outsized influence on young people today. Please get YOUR facts “straight”!
6) So you’re really a gay “marriage” proponent? That explains a lot.
Okay, that’s enough for now. I hope this helps you see some of the serious challenges of this show Kevin. Best of luck to you!
Stephenson Billings, Investigative Journalist
Hot debate. What do you think?
15 
71
9:05 pm
If anything your responses have proven to me how ridiculous and hateful some people are. I’m going to go watch some Glee on DVD now, and appreciate the talent of everyone involved. Have fun with the whole bigotry thing.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
43 
7
6:33 am
Kudos Kevin. What you said was spot on. Try finding a drama with a teen audience that doesn’t touch on the topics of sex, teen pregnancy, homosexuality etc.
Praise or Condemn:
23 
5
10:03 am
it’s happened…it’s finally happened. he’s lost every single of his mabels…for the 1000th time
seriously?
“4) Your personal opinion!”
really? he stated that it’s a musical and thats just an openion? allright in my openion the bible is cook book with 22 great valentines dinner recipies….
what the fuck are you smokeing? the show is a musical show and musical shows involve music numbers. that is not openion that is fact.
“3) Glee is not real world! You must be a bit insane if you honestly believe that! Plus I have seen several locker room scenes on that show and I was frankly appalled.”
that kind of delusions can be asign of mental isues. maybe you should go see a doctor and say you see gay scences in a tv show that does not contain them. or maybe you “acidently” hit the remote and found your gay porn channel?
about the realism of the show half the time you complain it’s unrealistic the other half you complain that kids should not be presented for that kind of stuff….since it’s far too realistic. will you fucking make up your mind?
you dodge the questions and arguments by saying you’re wrong i’m right LALALALALALA!!!!! it’s pathetic. GROW UP!!!!
also great investigive journalist you keep posting incorrect facts. REPEATEDLY!
Praise or Condemn:
20 
6
2:01 am
first I researched your “Journalism on Google and .. there is no “journalism of you Billings
secon The number 3 from Jazze I think its the second choice he found Gay Porn channel
anyway stop pretending to be a Journalist an editorialist Maybe but thats all
Praise or Condemn:
6 
8
12:59 pm
First of all, Bugs Bunny is full of adult themes and references. It’s very violent, characters are often stripped of their clothing, the animators hide naked/partially naked images of women in the reel and it’s all-around disturbing. In one particularly memorable scene Bugs actually dresses up like a woman and rubs Elmer’s face in his breasts, which I find humorous but for some reason that sort of thing bothers you. They are constantly referencing drugs and things like public execution and cannibalism. Just because it is animated does not mean it is appropriate.
I hated the show as a child but now that I am grown I have learned to appreciate it for its artistry and originality.
Second of all, Glee is not a kids show. Even if it was, it would only teach kids how to deal with adult situations in a responsible and level-headed manner. I had more “adult” experiences in middle school and high school than I’ve ever had after graduation.
Praise or Condemn:
20 
4
7:17 am
What do you have against gay marriage? Can you answer me without quoting the bible??
Praise or Condemn:
14 
3
9:07 am
i totally disagree that bugs bunny is an example of wholesome tv from times gone by. he was a cross dresser and attempted to seduce elmer fudd repeatedly. this is by no means tv suitable for teenagers or children.
Praise or Condemn:
12 
0
3:54 pm
Please, stop calling yourself an Investigative Journalist. You are anything but. If you had ever done anything involving investigative journalism, you would have noticed that it requires a bit of research, and getting your facts straight.
Also, with your tendency to moan about homosexuality being a bad influence on society, I’m beginning to believe you are a closeted individual yourself. Dwelling and complaining about today’s culture is not going to change it, although your focus on it belies a certain…preoccupation with the subject outside of your “educational” review of a television programme.
I love Glee. It is one of my favourite shows because it is so very different from most shows on air today. It gives a satirical, albeit fairly accurate, view of what is going on in high schools as of late. As a student going into their sophmore year in September, I know my school has similar demographics. We have the theatre students, the music students, the very much academically-focused students (our school is the local high school with the Gifted program, and the French Immersion program. I personally am in the former.), the athletic students, etcetera, etcetera. We have a GSA – a Gay-Straight alliance, as well as a group called Impact, a Christian club for those who wish to join. They are not our only clubs, but neither do they stand out especially. They simply are normal within the school, and function as such.
Considering you have been out of high school for at least twenty years, perhaps longer, I don’t think you have a right to say what is and is not a good influence on today’s teenagers. Things have changed dramatically since you were in your small-town, football-celebrating school, so I would advise against judging the television shows we are watching, considering Glee is more tame than some of the other shows currently airing. I sincerely wish you would watch MTV, or something of the like, considering it would change your opinion of Glee in an instant. You would be singing the praises of the succesful show, rather than spewing incorrect facts and obnoxious warnings. And no, I do not care that you don’t have cable. Do an internet search (or is Google evil, as well?).
I am atheist, but do not bash me because of that. I accept people with religious morals, and I have morals of my own. I have not been brainwashed by “bad influences”, nor have my parents done a horrible job in raising me. I have made an intellectual, informed choice on my own as to what I would like to believe, and I had issues with inconcsistencies within religion. That being said, I have nothing against religious people – as long as they aren’t intolerant like you. I understand defending your religion, but shoving it down others’ throats and acting superior is not the way to do that (also, do not respond to that sentence, because I know what you would say anyways. Don’t bother trying to convince me of your opinion on it.). My beliefs do not make me a bad person, nor do they mean I am trying to destroy others’ lives. I care for others, and I care that our society remains a moral, accepting one without bigotry and hate such as yours.
Praise or Condemn:
5 
0
2:31 am
A handful of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts are no longer aired on American television nor are they available for sale by Warner Bros. because of the racial stereotypes of black people, Jews, Native Americans, Asians such as Japanese (especially during WWII) and Chinese, and lastly Germans included in some of the cartoons. In 1999 all Speedy Gonzales cartoons were banned because of their alleged stereotyping of Mexicans, but because the level of stereotyping was minor compared to the World War II era cartoons as well as the protests of many Hispanics who said they were not offended and fondly remembered Speedy Gonzales cartoons from their youth, these shorts were made available for broadcast again in 2002.
Hmmmmmmmm… and you don’t think Bugs Bunny has adult themes? Racist for sure!
Praise or Condemn:
3 
0
1:40 am
You must not be a very good investigative journalist if you are so one-sided in your views.
Glee is one of my favourite shows for the reasons that you find it so abhorrent. It shocks the hell out of you ancient, outdated bigots who believe that YOU are more “righteous” than homosexuals or those who engage in sex at an age below 30. Have you tried sex or were you too busy with your “investigative journalism”? Why don’t you investigate why every comment you post is being rated down by hundreds of other posters? It’s because you are wrong; in so many ways. I know, everyone else here knows it, and everybody laughs at you.
I am a proponent of gay marriage as I am a gay man myself. I’m glad that I’m gay because I don’t even have to PRETEND to like people like you who are so caught up in your own Texan-values that you are unable to comprehend reality. You are so far past underappreciated on this forum that you’re lapping it for the second time.
One more thing. If you really think that the US is the CENTRE of the world and that the internet is an American technology that couldn’t possibly be used by Brits and Canadians (like me) who use British spelling, then you really are a sad excuse for a journalist. I’ll give you a lesson in etymology. That means, the origin of words in case you needed help on that one. You see, Monsieur Billings, you DON’T speak American like you seem to think. You speak ENGLISH. Ever notice that ENGLAND and ENGLISH seem quite similar? Well that’s because English is the language that spread to North America and other continents FROM England. So whatever spellings those from England use, they are accurate.
Good luck with your presidential nomination Ms. Palin…ahem…I mean, Monsieur Billings.
Praise or Condemn:
2 
1
8:53 pm
Why are you so against Kurt being gay? It’s not like it’s something that cn be changed. Being Christian is accepting people for who they are no matter what, That’s the most iportant lesson I have learned in church.
Also, your description of the characters could not be more completely stereotypical. I personally know many of these people who fit this description in my school.
Glee has taught me that it’s okay to be different. I am involved in the arts in my school and I know that I will always have that close group of friends to support me.
I hope you have a nice conversation with God when he asks you why you’re hateful.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
51 
3
9:12 pm
Parents Council has this review so I agree its something parents need to be cocerned about.
Parents should be aware that this is an edgy teen show filled with adult themes. Simulated sex scenes are usually left to the adults on the show, but sexual situations between the teens are dealt in frank and explicit ways. For instance, there is a running joke that the main jock love-interest, Finn, has a problem with premature ejaculation. In fact, he is lead to believe that he impregnated his girlfriend this way when they were making out in a hot tub. She happens to be the president of the celibacy club who, unbeknownst to Finn, has slept with his best friend. There are also occasional veiled references to. One boy has recently come out of the closet and there are many homophobic jokes made at his expense. Language is relatively tame. Words like “hell,” “crap” and “damn” are occasionally used. Violence is not a problem for the program.
Glee is not recommended for viewers under age 16.
Hot debate. What do you think?
25 
18
9:23 pm
This article is one of the most hater and homophofic things i have read in my whole life, you even tagged the characters: Jewish Rachel, Gay Kurt!!
why God, the Bible and Jesus are always excuses for hating people?? stop it!! I think the love of God is bigger than prejudices, and Glee is a great show.
Hot debate. What do you think?
29 
6
6:42 am
Why do you nutso people all think I hate the Jews? You have zero evidence of this. In fact, I am the author of an article celebrating them!
Jonathan Safran Foer: A Jewish Star Christians Really Can Follow!
http://christwire.org/2009/11/jonathan-safran-foer-a-jewish-star-christians-really-can-follow/
Praise or Condemn:
11 
18
7:59 pm
You don’t hate Jews, you just hate the Gays. Being Gay is not a choice or something that can be cured. You are born gay or you are born straight. As a gay man I find it completely idiotic that you think we can be cured or we choose to be gay. Because I would obviously choose to be a person who does not have the same rights as everyone else and is looked upon like he has a disease. This is who I am I can not control who I love or who I am attracted. I applaud Glee for showing young Gay teens it is okay to be who are and not hide. I wish I would of had that when I was growing up and maybe I would of been alot happier during my teen years. God would not want this kind of hate you are spewing spread!!!
Praise or Condemn:
15 
3
9:25 pm
Could we please retire calling black women ‘sassy’?
Homophobia aside, you really are just reaching for anything to bash Glee about. Kurt’s clothes? Really? They’re too colorful, eh?
The show preaches acceptance. That’s all. And if you honestly think that people are stupid enough to ‘go gay’ because of Kurt then, well, I guess you should get your rainbow suspenders ready.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
30 
1
9:32 pm
Do you really think God likes what you’re doing? Just because you call yourself a Christian doesn’t give you the right to be close-minded or ignorant, even if it is passionately so. You need to question yourself, sir. I don’t know why you’ve decided it’s good and necessary to be a straight, young, straight, white jock who can sing and dance impeccably. You’re spreading blasphemy, and as long as you decide to quote archaic bible verses and close yourself off to the modern world you will continue to mislead yourself and anyone who looks to you for guidance. Jesus never mentioned homosexuality, but he did mention love, you should look into it.
Praise or Condemn:
21 
7
10:21 pm
Listen, you may enjoy this show and think it’s a lot of fun but when you’re a parent a very different set of circumstances come into play. YOU are responsible for your child. YOU have a responsibility to protect them, to educate them, to led them to grow up with a moral foundation so they can become the very best people they can be. As an adult, you have to make tough choices. You cannot indulge in every fun thing that comes down the pipe. You might not like it, but it’s the truth. Parents have to be on the lookout for negative influences, like drugs and sex and if that’s is what’s being sold in a tv show, you have to shield your young children from that.
Can you honestly look me in the eye and say that Glee is appropriate for kids?
Hot debate. What do you think?
12 
24
10:06 am
well maybe thats why it’s not meant for small kids what so ever. if a 8 year old is watching this and being “damaged” from it then yes the parents fucked up.
but the show is meant for a much older audience anyway. can you say teenagers? shielding them from the world won’t help your kids. it’s actually proven to be the most harmful thing you can do since they’ll be unable to br a part of it.
Praise or Condemn:
11 
4
2:58 pm
Jazze, you’re right; we can’t skirt around issues or sugar-coat things. We need to teach our children about sex and all of those uncomfortable topics. Unfortunately, kids in high school do have sex. Kids in middle school do have sex. Ten years ago, 75% of girls under the age of 14 had lost their virginity. You may think it is an adult topic, but trust me, these kids already know about it. The longer we wait to include them in the conversation, the more likely they are to discover it the hard way. I can’t think of any parent who would want their child to have sex by accident for the first time because they didn’t understand what was happening in their own bodies, and they didn’t know where the “do not cross” lines were. I think most parents would rather teach their child about sex.
I’ll never forget a conversation with a coworker – we were talking about how old we were when certain life milestones occurred – first boyfriend, first kiss, “the talk”… And she looked at me and said “I never had the talk. I wish my mom had, though. If she had, I wouldn’t have had sex at 14. I had no idea what I was doing, or what was happening. She hid it from me my entire life, and then there it was! And I did it. And I regretted it. But I didn’t know that’s where it was going until it was too late. I had no idea. She shouldn’t have hid it from me.”
Censorship doesn’t work. It’s like Communism – it sounds really good on paper, but is just destructive in practice.
Praise or Condemn:
22 
5
6:21 pm
My ten-year-old sister watches Glee. I do too. She understands what is and isn’t right to do and she also knows that, despite the characters being teenagers, the actors are well above the legal age of adulthood and anything shown isn’t necessarily real.
So why is it that a ten-year-old can understand these things but you can’t? We were raised in a Republican household, I’m one myself, and yet we’re marginally more accepting than you are, sir.
So go fuck yourself.
Praise or Condemn:
0 
0
9:34 pm
First of all, abortion has never been mentioned on the show. Quinn, from the outset, has every entention of giving birth to her daughter.
As for homosexual experimentation… Kurt has never even been kissed. There is no rampant male sex desires involved. No locker room orgies are occuring. In fact, mose of the football team proves to be thoroughly homophobic since they start spreading rumors that Finn is gay after he joins Glee…
And basically you’re doing the same thing. Saying that watching Glee will make you gay… isn’t that going a little (a lot) too far?
As for the musical numbers, how can there be too many? The music is the whole point of the show. You confuse me.
As for a “false impression” about talent and success, you apparently have something against the arts. The arts are a great way for kids to express themselves, but just like in Glee, people feel restricted by cliques and stereotypes.
And the reason that athletics will not contribute to any scholarships for the kids of Mckinley High School is because their sports teams are pretty much awful… Just watch episode 4. Since you clearly haven’t seen all (if any) of the actual episodes.
As for your comments on characterization…
Sue Sylvestor is genius. DO NOT DEFY OR SHE’LL PUNCH YOU IN THE FACE.
Kevin Mchale (the actor who plays Artie) has an absolutely amazing voice. I don’t know what you’ve been listening to… And really? A sidekick or a funny phrase? That’s all it takes for good characterization in your eyes? Well, I suppose that’s not all. You also require that all male characters reflect the supreme ideals of masculinity. Because otherwise, watching it -gasp- turns you gay!!
And really… do you really think that Kurt’s fashion is that much of a threat to your perfect ideal of masculinity? You say it like buying clothes is some kind of awful drug…
Can you really blame Will for leaving his wife? She lied to him about being pregnant. For several months. So that automatically makes him an adulterer when he leaves her? Really?
Now I’m really, really hoping that this article is some kind of horrid joke, but that unfortunately doesn’t seem to be the case… I feel sorry for you and your judgmental and narrow-minded point of view.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
35 
2
9:54 pm
I just have a few objective points to correct in your research, since, as any sort of journalist, I think it’s safe to assume you’d want factual information.
Lea Michele is actually 23 years old, born August 29, 1986. Her character, Rachel Berry, is actually quite believable for some people. Many beautiful, talented girls are overlooked in High Schools and even become the subject of animosity from other girls. Girls in High School are very competitive amongst themselves and engage in these kinds of cutthroat activities frequently. Rachel is one of the unfortunate victims of this. She’s beautiful, but her personality frightens people away.
What we see on TV is all lip-synced over pre-recorded performances. This is because optimal sound quality is desired and some real-life settings as well as stage sets do not provide proper acoustics for a live vocal performance. As a result, singers pre-record the given songs and lip-sync them in front of the camera. The actor who plays Artie is no exception to this rule, but that’s most definitely his own voice in the cast recordings (you can reference his casting tape, available on Glee’s official website).
I would also like to make note that many of the characters are so extreme because the plot of this show occurs in a heightened reality, which also encompasses the complex choreography and difficult singing featured in this show. Most individuals use context to determine that all aspects of the program and its characters are very obviously exaggerated.
Many films on the same level of heightened reality portray young individuals who beat realistically impossible odds to succeed in athletics. Many of these films are specifically intended for much younger audiences. I’m curious as to whether or not you would direct a consistent criticism toward these productions as well.
On the issue of content, Glee has a “TVPG” rating by The TV Parental Guidelines’ standards. That means that it may contain content unsuitable for younger individuals, including the possibility of “some suggestive dialogue (D), infrequent coarse language (L), some sexual situations (S), or moderate violence (V)” (quoted directly from the website), implying that parents (with whom the responsibility for an adolescent actually lies), should be present for the viewing of this show with their child.
Also, I understand that your article is written from a very personal and religious perspective, but I’m a little curious as to why you made the point of emphasizing Rachel’s culture and ethnicity in the passage about the characters, but not for others like Mercedes. I understand that you were choosing identifying features, but why is it that her Jewish descent was your identifier for her when there are so many other prominent features of the character. Being that your article is very negative as a whole and that other identifying features you chose were negative, is it corect to venture that you have something against her Jewish descent?
And, also, in response to a comment left earlier, “theatre” was the correct spelling in that context. The word spelled “theater” refers to a building, while the spelling “theatre” refers to the dramatic art form.
I hope this has been informative.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
43 
3
10:09 pm
Thanks for arguing facts in a lose-lose situation. It’s one thing to debate the show’s message, but he didn’t even bother to check the lead’s age! Although, he did go out of the way to insult her.
Praise or Condemn:
18 
4
8:11 am
Dear Kite:
The age of that one actress is irregardless to my broader point that this show has a very negative influence on children. Frankly, she is made up to look like she’s 30 with her mature clothes and makeup. She does not look anything like a high school student! Her specific age is not at issue, it’s the age she appears to be on screen. And I still stand by my assertion that she looks 30. You people seem to be all obsessed about that, as if it disproves the logic of my entire article. It does not.
As for the other technical aspects of the show, I must say you know your lingo. Do you work in tv? For Glee perhaps? It wouldn’t surprise me. I suggest you come clean about your allegiance here, your bias is not actually appropriate We don’t need propaganda from Glee production insiders. i am perfectly willing to engage with you on an honest discussion of the show but I must say your ulterior motives concern me.
Moving on, the whole question of “heightened reality” and great sound quality is no excuse for a show to be so unrealistic if it is promoting a very liberal, pro-homosexual agenda. I could write a script with conservative and Christian values and have everyone be millionaires with 10 beautiful children and Jeb Bush as President. Would this not be criticized for it’s false reality? Of course it would. Would it inappropriate as a political promotion tool for a radical lifestyle choice? Most certainly. The same should be said of Glee. Y
ou people seem to be afraid because no one has dared come out of the closet to criticize your precious tv show. Well, that’s what I’m here to do. And the fact that you’re all so angry and motivated to protect the myth of this show just proves my point. You know somewhere in your hearts it’s fake and wrong and it’s like a drug or caffeine and you should know better than to indulge in it’s syrupy sweetness too much but you can’t help yourself. I am here to help!
In addition, “theatre” does not refer to “the dramatic art form” as you say. It’s simply not the correct American spelling. It’s an arty affectation, something show off way of saying you’re better or smarter than the rest of Americans. Well, you’re not. We’re all in the same boat here.
I pray this has been enlightening.
Hot debate. What do you think?
11 
31
10:15 am
“ou people seem to be afraid because no one has dared come out of the closet to criticize your precious tv show. Well, that’s what I’m here to do. And the fact that you’re all so angry and motivated to protect the myth of this show just proves my point. You know somewhere in your hearts it’s fake and wrong and it’s like a drug or caffeine and you should know better than to indulge in it’s syrupy sweetness too much but you can’t help yourself. I am here to help!”
so when i start saying the bible makes people retardet that’s what? fair critizing? no it’s fucking not.
also ofcourse you’re entiteled to your openion you can hate the show as much you like. that just doesn’t make it bad. the article is extreamly subjective and even includes you review of scenes you imagined(or dreamt?)
we are not here to protect the show. we are here to protect common sense.
Praise or Condemn:
6 
7
2:35 am
I was going to stay out of this until I saw the word “irregardless.” The word is REGARDLESS. There is no “ir” in the beginning of it. How dare you criticize other people’s CORRECT spelling of the word “theatre,” yet you fail so horribly at using the English language correctly? Have you ever taken an English course? I vaguely remember being taught how to spell “regardless” in the third grade. It may have been fourth.
I’m not even going to begin to comment on the rest of this jargon. I, very much like yourself, cannot truthfully say that I have seen enough “Glee” episodes to make a correct judgement.
Beyond the severe grammatical and typographical errors, I’m pretty sure 90% of your “article” is libelous. You are accusing innocent people of terrible things (corrupting young minds, et cetera) with absolutely no proof other than your own delusional thoughts. Surely they covered this in your journalism courses, if you’ve ever set foot in one.
Praise or Condemn:
18 
1
5:38 pm
1) Irregardless is improper. Do you have an editor? I suggest finding someone new.
2)Watching t.v. is not investigative journalism. Where are your interview with the cast and crew? How about the writers or network producers?
3) It’s clear from these posts than being a Christian means picking and choosing what you want to believe. Love thy neighbor, not if thy neighbor is gay, has premarital sex, or struggles with an real life issue. I’m sure Jesus would feel the same way about this show.
Praise or Condemn:
10 
4
7:47 am
Since you still seem to be stuck on the spelling issue:
1) “Irregardless” = not a word
2) “…criticized for it’s false reality?” = criticized for “it is” false reality
Praise or Condemn:
2 
0
8:33 pm
“Irregardless” is not a word. The word you were looking for is irrelevant.
“Theatre” is the correct spelling in the UK, Canada, Australia, and every other English-speaking nation other than the US. I’m Canadian, and that’s how we spell it here.
It’s rather insulting to have you correct the spelling of words that are spelled correctly and claim a deficiency in personality on the part of the writer of these replies.
I was under the impression an “investigative journalist” would be more professional and refrain from editorializing in his articles.
Also, you mention several studies that have revealed the profound influence of the Golden Girls and Glee on a growing adolescent homosexual community.
Would you be willing to post your sources? I’ve heard of no such connection or studies.
Praise or Condemn:
0 
0
10:04 pm
What Every Parent Should Know About the TV Show Glee .. what a joke! I thought a small action called “RESEARCH” is necessary to write an HONEST article.
*Victor Matlin.. I actually only need to touch upon this topic briefly to prove my point.. The actor’s name who plays Will Schuster’s father is Victor GARBER. He appears in one episode and plays a character who is INSPIRED by his son, a teacher, who touches the lives of his students.
*”Jewish Rachel”.. is NOT 30. Lea Michele is 23 and has had more success in her 23 years of life than the majority of the United States. Plus, she’s not playing like she’s ugly.. she’s playing a role that is true in many high schools across the country. And Ryan Murphy created a fantastic, honest female character in Rachel.
*”Artie, Wheelchair”.. yes, Jesus would be SUPER proud of you to denote a handicapped character simply by the fact that he uses a wheelchair. Kevin McHale is INSANELY talented and does in fact sing very well. He performed in a successful band, Not Like Them.
Just a few examples of the character corrections.
One of my favorite quotes of the article: “Additionally, the show has far too many musical numbers.” –You do realize this show is about a glee club, right? A glee club practices and performs musical numbers. Frequently.
“On a related note, Glee’s actors constantly make the argument that excelling at athletics does not contribute anything to the college application process. They posit the theory that a singing club will make you more likely to get into Ohio State or Princeton. This is false and it’s reckless for the creators of this show to promote such disinformation. Athletics have been a proven stepping-stone for academic and business success for over a century.” — The creators are informing the young audience that there are other ways to get scholarships than by sports alone. And honestly, a mediocre football player is a dime a dozen and will likely not receive a scholarship. There ARE other scholarship options aside from sports. Like, what do you know it, performing arts.
Another personal favorite: “…should be removed from broadcast.” –Obviously FOX and the Hollywood Foreign Press (who award the Golden Globes, just in case you aren’t sure of what that is.. taking into consideration your lack of research) don’t think so. Thankfully.
“They are led to believe we live in a world where anybody and everybody can succeed as long as they have heart. But this is far from true.” –I am SO glad I am not your child. I would hate to see how you encourage people.
On a side note.. The stage used is very realistic. I went to a public high school that had an incredible stage very similar to the one seen in Glee (complete with lights), 2 gyms, 2 pools, a music wing, a 4 story field house, brand new stadium, football/soccer field, track, baseball field and individual practice fields for each sport AND marching band.
As a *practicing* Catholic, Republican and religious Glee watcher, I was very disappointed in the partiality of this article. Jesus is a loving and forgiving God. And I’m sure he forgives all the close-minded people for their prejudices.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
39 
7
8:17 am
Katherine, I find the tone of your comment entirely unprofessional and crude. You and I may disagree on certain points about this show, but as I have stated before, I stand by my assertion that it is inappropriate for children of all ages. I am sorry this outrages you, but I suggest that maybe you take a deeper look at yourself and ask why you need and depend on a tv show so much. It may be that you’re seeking solace from reality. But this gets back to my larger point– a tv show shouldn’t become your reality. There is much more out there in the world than the characters on some made up tv drama. You have your whole life to live and being so attached and obsessed with each and every nuance of these fake people’s lives in truly unhealthy.
Hot debate. What do you think?
11 
31
10:12 am
You’re calling ME unprofessional because I corrected YOU, the author of this, on your “facts”?? The ONLY thing that you and I agree on is the fact that this show is not appropriate for children of ALL ages – hence why it’s on at 9pm and not 6. Obviously I wouldn’t sit down with a 7 year old and have them watch Glee with me. The show IS appropriate for children over 14 considering it is a show in a high school and that is the average age of freshmen in high school.
And please do not attempt to be a personal psychologist and tell me why I choose to watch Glee. Television is entertainment. I do not need OR depend on Glee. I am not attached to OR obsessed with the characters in the show. I felt the need to reply to this article because many of the “facts” you stated were FALSE. If you’re going to write an article based on your personal views, that’s fine. Knock yourself out. But do not publish your views and call them fact. There is nothing unhealthy about that.
Hot debate. What do you think?
31 
8
3:23 pm
I think “Victor Matlin” was the father’s name in the movie “Beetlejuice”. Clearly this is more evidence of demonic influences at work.
Praise or Condemn:
4 
1
10:46 pm
The majority of the individuals here have expressed my beliefs, but I would like to mention: this show airs at 9pm. If parents were really concerned about their children, they wouldn’t let them be up late enough to even watch the show.
Not to mention I can point out quite of few “facts” you stated tha are just wrong.
“Jewish Rachel” is not 30. She’s 23 as are the majority of the actors who play the students. They cannot cast real-life 14-18 year olds very easily because there are laws that prohibit underage individuals to work so many hours. The show it hard work, and involves a lot of hours. Everyone in the cast is over 18 for a reason.
Victor Matlin? Really??? Try Victor Garber.
There have been NO sex scenes whatsoever. Seriously, have you watched the show at all?
Also – the “coaching” and lip-synching? They’re all professionals. In fact, at least three of the actors have starred in very successful Broadway shows. Artie Lip-synching is FALSE. Everyone on the show sings. Thing are pre-recorded by the actors in a studio and yes, they lip-synch when they film that’s just they process of filming. It would happen no matter what show it is. If you don’ like their acting, that’s a personal opinion that shouldn’t affect what you think of the show’s moral values.
You say you’re an investigative journalist, but that would require thoroughly investigating you story before coming to conclusions.
Praise or Condemn:
12 
7
8:21 am
Lex, I have addressed many of your claims in my earlier statements. I really think you’re off base and a little too concerned for this fantasy show. As for actors under 18 being unable to work in tv, that is just a laughable and wrong point. Have you never watched anything else on tv? Full House, Cosby Show, The Brady Bunch? There were plenty of children acting each week on all of them. This brings me to another point–I really have to onder how old you are. Should a grown man really become so obsessed with a tv show about young and effeminate boys? I don’t think it’s appropriate.
Hot debate. What do you think?
14 
19
3:08 pm
Those shows are much older; current legislation protection child labor wasn’t as strictly enforced, if it even existed yet. Also, they’re situation comedies, not musicals. A musical takes much more time to rehearse, because there’s so much more to the performance. It’s singing and dancing in addition to the acting. A minor couldn’t possibly put in the necessary hours of rehearsal for a weekly show without breaking the laws.
Praise or Condemn:
18 
8
10:47 pm
I wasn’t going to dignify this with a response, however I just wanted to let you know how hilarious this is.
“Quinn, Slutty Cheerleader: She is most definitely the “Blanche Devereaux” of Glee” – the girl had sex ONE time, hardly makes her a “slut” or qualifies her as a Blanche Deveraux. Besides, the admittedly promiscuous character and cougar hunter Puck (the attractive, shirtless fellow at the top) didn’t even get a mention as being a slut, is that because he is a guy? Fair is fair.
There is ONE thing I do agree with you on…
“Football Coach: Is it really necessary to have a man his age in such small shorts so often?” Yeah, the shorts are slightly disturbing.
Anyway, thanks for the laughs.
Praise or Condemn:
15 
4
9:28 am
Hello Marie,
From what I understand, the female Quinn has sex with various men on the show including the lead football player in a hot tub and another man with a mohawk. Because of her sex partners, she is unsure who the father is when she gets pregnant (see the episode “Preggers”). Do you really find this to be an appropriate character for a show aimed at teens? She is supposed to be a role model, she’s a cheerleader and very popular, yet she has no compunction about getting pregnant. I honestly don’t think there’s anything you can admire in a character like that.
Marie, let me also take a little time to address your personal obsession with this tv show. It may seem like a great place to spend your emotional time, but what ultimately does it contribute to your life? Have you ever chosen spending time with “Glee” over spending time with your friends and family? This is a question often asked of alcoholics. I think a bit of soul searching may be in order here. I truly believe you are too immersed in a false belief system.
Best of luck my friend!
Stephenson
Praise or Condemn:
8 
16
10:02 am
Quinn had sex once with Puck (the man with the mohawk). She never had sex with Finn. They made out in the hot tub. Obviously you cannot get pregnant merely by making out, but that’s the funny part about Finn thinking the baby is his. Quinn is not supposed to be a role model in the early episodes of the show. She is the mean cheerleader that picks on people because they are different – much like you are doing with the characters in your article. Quinn becomes very admirable when she stands up to the true villain of the show, Sue Sylvestor, later on in the season AND flat out says in the episode “Preggers” that she is not having an abortion. She chose life. Once again, a few minutes of RESEARCH could have informed you of all of that.
Praise or Condemn:
17 
4
2:53 pm
“From what I understand” is your problem here. You’ve written an entire “investigative” article, and yet you are not well-informed. People are upset because you presented false information, and exaggerated the few nuggets of truth to serve your purpose. Perhaps if you were accurate in your summary of the program, people would be more accepting of your commentary.
Oh, and also if you didn’t come across like a hateful bigot.
Praise or Condemn:
15 
4
6:47 pm
“She is supposed to be a role model, she’s a cheerleader and very popular,”
Popular cheerleaders are not appropriate role models for young girls. In my entire high school career and my two years of college, I have never met a smart cheerleader. Long story short: cheerleaders are sluts. They slather on the makeup so that they practically look like Bozo the Clown, wear skimpy clothing, and can’t find India on a map. Role models for young and teenage girls should be pretty yet modest, smart yet sociable, generous, caring, and have big aspirations for the future.
“yet she has no compunction about getting pregnant.”
Remember dude, we’re talking about cheerleaders. I’ll bet that at least 98% of cheerleaders are sexually active, and probably over 50% of them don’t use protection. Because they’re airheads.
Praise or Condemn:
8 
5
8:53 pm
Claire, just because you were never popular or athletic enough to become a cheerleader is no reason to slander the entire population. Yes, they are beautiful and made up to be the virtual embodiment of young boys everywhere. Yes, they attract jealousy because of their social success. But they’re also human beings with heart and soul! Their dedication to sports, their celebration of athletics is noble and humble. I support cheerleading as a sport 200%. It is healthy and smart and a great chance for girls to perfect themselves. I know it seems like some ancient marriage preparation ritual so that these girls can pair off with the boys on the football team, but so what? Maybe they’re the right types of girls to marry great football stars. Please don’t let your intense personal bias cloud your better judgement. You should honestly know better.
Praise or Condemn:
5 
23
9:01 pm
“Claire, just because you were never popular or athletic enough to become a cheerleader is no reason to slander the entire population.”
But, Stevie, you seem to think that just because you’ve never come out of the closet is reason enough to slander the entire population of homosexuals…
Also, you really oughtta watch “But I’m a Cheerleader!” I think that movie would be right up your alley…
Praise or Condemn:
23 
1
12:47 am
“Claire, just because you were never popular or athletic enough to become a cheerleader is no reason to slander the entire population.”
In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a feminist. Your accusing me of simply being jealous of cheerleaders because I wanted to be one but wasn’t good enough is insulting to everything that I stand for. I never wanted to be a cheerleader because they are an insult to the female gender. Not only are they slutty, brainless girls, but they are essentially buying into the “gender role” that females should be on the sidelines cheering the males on. They spend more time applying their makeup, giving blowjobs, and practicing their valley girl accents than they do studying.
“Yes, they are beautiful and made up to be the virtual embodiment of young boys everywhere.”
Wait, cheerleaders are the embodiment of young boys?
“Yes, they attract jealousy because of their social success.”
I couldn’t give a damn about “social success”. Frankly, the last thing that I’ve ever wanted is to be popular. All I need in life is my family, my cats, and a couple of friends who I share common interests with.
“But they’re also human beings with heart and soul!”
No, they’re not. They’re vain, selfish people who think that the world revolves around them. They’re the type of girls who are last to arrive at the train station, yet have to be the first ones on the train so they can get a seat. They’re the types of girls who won’t give up their seat to an elderly or disabled person. They’re the types of girls who make comments behind other girls’ backs. They’re the types of girls who are repulsed by homeless people. They’re the types of girls who hear the word “Iraq”, and say “Iraq, what’s that?” They’re the types of girls who would rather watch “The Hills” than the news. They’re the types of girls who won’t vote because they don’t care. Long story short: I hate cheerleaders because they’re vain, slutty, and apathetic.
“Their dedication to sports, their celebration of athletics is noble and humble.”
Guess what? There are lots of things in this world that are more important than sports. On a list of the most important things in this world, I’d put sports at, say, #10,000. Besides, what exactly is noble or humble about a group of scantily clad girls gyrating their hips on the sidelines of a football field?
“It is healthy and smart and a great chance for girls to perfect themselves.”
Perfect themselves in what, the art of being groomed to be a teenage stay-at-home-mom with no college education and “Valleygirl” as a second language?
Praise or Condemn:
25 
2
1:40 pm
I must admit, while most cheerleaders I have met were exactly the kind of girls Claire has described, I have known two I would consider as role models. Both quit cheerleading to focus on their studies, and got scholarships based on their amazing academic performance. It miraculously improved once they gave up prancing around in those tiny skirts. Neither one, however, gave up their art classe