glee

Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan. It aired on Fox from 2009 to 2015, spanning six seasons and 121 episodes.

Set at William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio, the series centers on the school's glee club, New Directions, as its members pursue competition glory while confronting personal and social issues. The show follows Will Schuester, a high school teacher who revives the glee club, and features a rotating roster of students including Rachel Berry, Finn Hudson, Kurt Hummel, Mercedes Jones, Santana Lopez, and others.

Musical performances—mostly cover versions of contemporary pop hits, along with show tunes and occasional originals—are integrated into the plot and often drive character development.

Reception and impact: Glee attracted a broad audience and generated multiple soundtrack albums and concert tours. It was praised for its vocal performances, humor, and willingness to address social issues such as LGBTQ+ acceptance, teen pregnancy, disability, and bullying, though critics noted tonal inconsistencies and some uneven writing.

Awards and legacy: The series earned numerous Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe nominations; Jane Lynch won the 2010 Emmy for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Glee is widely regarded for popularizing TV musicals in the 2010s and influencing subsequent musical-themed television and the online sharing of performances.

End of run: The show concluded in 2015 with a finale that wrapped long-running storylines.