Hollywood musicals have now moved to the small screen with Glee, Fox's musical comedy-drama television series, which debuted last year in the US to positive reviews from critics and viewers alike. The show has built a massive fanbase in a single season, won the 2010 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series -- Musical or Comedy, was nominated for a whopping 19 Emmy awards and has been picked up for a second season, which starts in the US next month.

 

Glee is set in an imaginary high school in the US state of Ohio, and follows the ups and downs of the school's Glee club, a kind of musical group called 'New Directions'.

 

Every episode features song and dance performances, usually covers of popular songs. Most of the performances are done on-stage but some are more 'spontaneous', like in Indian films.  

 

With witty writing, fine acting and amazing dancing and singing from a Broadway-heavy cast, Glee has quickly become quite popular. The show airs Friday and Saturday at 10 pm on Star World. 

 

To help you catch up, let's review its main characters.

William Schuester, played by Broadway actor Matthew Morrison, is a Spanish teacher at McKinley High School and the director of New Directions. He takes over as director of the club with the hopes of returning it to its former greatness. 

 

Will is married to his wife of five years and high school sweetheart, Terri Schuester, played by Jessalyn Gilsig. She's pregnant, and worried about Will's increasing commitment to New Directions, and implores him to find a second job to help secure their financial future.

 

Will plans to become an accountant and to walk away from teaching, but ultimately decides against it. 

Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) is the head coach of the cheerleading squad, called the Cheerios, at McKinley High, and Will's antagonist. She's the Glee club's number one detractor, and does everything in her power to destroy it. She's proud, intelligent and tough as nails -- a formidable opponent, indeed! 

 

Emma Pillsbury, played by Jayma Mays, is the school's guidance counselor. She suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder, and takes extreme measures to avoid germs. Her fashion sense is quirky, to say the least. And she also has a huge crush on Will.

Rachel Berry, played by 23-year-old Broadway artist Lea Michele, is one the Glee club's most prominent members, but a bit of a social outside.

 

She often butts heads with her fellow team members, and can be too proud as a mask for her insecurities. The first season shows Rachel trying to mature and become better at working as part of a whole. Michele has received praise for her work as Berry.  

 

Rachel is attracted to fellow club member Finn Hudson (CoryMonteith). But he's one of the 'cool kids', the star quarterback of McKinley's football team, and the only jock in the Glee Club.  

 

Finn is dating cheerleader Quinn Fabray, played by Dianna Agron, a decidedly mean girl who torments Rachel. She's also president of school's celibacy club, which turns out to be a bit of a laugh. 

Kurt Hummel, played by Chris Colfer, is a talented singer for the Glee club. He also struggles with his homosexuality, and is bullied by others for being effeminate. He worries about how his father will handle the news if he decides to 'come out'.  

 

Like Rachel, he has a crush on football quarterback and Glee club member Finn.  

 

Mercedes Jones, played by Amber Riley, is an African-American singer with a powerful voice and a colourful sense of style. She's a confidante of Kurt.  

 

Artie Abrams (Kevin McHale) is perhaps the Glee club's most amazing member: he's a paraplegic bound to a wheel chair, owing to a car crash, but refuses to let it slow him down. He's a talented guitarist and a lovable nerd. 

Tina Cohen-Chang (Jenna Ushkowitz) is a member of the Glee club, known for her distinctive goth fashion sense. She claims to have a speech impediment, but later explains to Artie that she fakes the impediment as a way to keep people away. However, she feels that the club will be a good vehicle to help her open up.  

 

Noah "Puck" Puckerman (Mark Salling) is a football player and Finn's best friend, but has a bit of a nasty distortion and is prone to bullying others. He wears a mohawk and always acts tough, but does have a talent for singing.  

 

McKinley's principal, Mr Figgins, is played by Pakistani actor Iqbal Theba. Although the role was initially designed for a Caucasian, Iqbal's audition was so convincing that he won the role. Mr Figgins is a tough taskmaster, but also open-minded and fair.