TikTokers Are Rediscovering That 'Glee' Was... a Show

When it aired on Fox in the late 2000s, the sing-songy brainchild of American Horror Story director Ryan Murphy was one of the first primetime shows to tackle growing intergenerational ideological divides on key issues like gender, sexuality and race. While the show was praised for giving voices and storylines to actors and characters that represented marginalized groups of people, TikTokers revisiting the show are discovering more than a few problematic touch points. While the show was meant to be a farcical and satirical look at the common American high school experience, TikTokers are taking note of creepy Mr. Schue dialogue, borderline to flat-out offensive sub-plots and a smattering of nonsensical musical covers.

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@kelseymakes

my room mates and i have a social distancing game where we watch glee and drink every time it’s deeply offensive ##foryoupage ##fyp

♬ original sound - kelseymakes

The clips are being found far and wide, with one user even noting that their favorite quarantine activity thus far has been playing a drinking game with roommates for every time something "deeply offensive" is said by a character throughout the six-season series.

It's not all outrage, though, since most users are familiar with Ryan Murphy's no-holds-barred approach to making dramatic and controversial television. At the end of the day, it was a scripted comedy from an era that was just discovering the idea of an intersectional writer's room. More than anything, the clips are eliciting gasps and conjuring up memories that you forgot you even had. There's truly something for everyone. Even Nicki Minaj's dedicated TikTok faction of Barbz are rewatching clips of Jane Lynch performing a unique cover of "Super Bass."

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Some users are going so far as to ask the bold question, "Would a show like Glee even get made in 2020?" Those remembering the series as a pinnacle of inclusion and lighthearted TV might say yes, but after rewatching some of the recent TikTok clips... you be the judge.

@kireiparks

Stan Sue Sylvester ##Glee ##nickiminaj ##barbz4bernie ##barbz ##superbass ##suesylvester ##fyp ##zyxcba ##barbz4life

♬ original sound - kireiparks

@peepeepoopooum

what was the director of glee even thinking. 😳 ##glee ##artie

♬ original sound - peepeepoopooum

@earthly.cosplay

Since everyone’s posting their favorite glee thoughts and scenes here’s mine ##glee ##gleescene ##foryoupage ##kurthummel ##Davekarofsky ##fyp ##cantforget

♬ original sound - earthly.cosplay

@klo_bamba

ABSOLUTELY CREEPED##glee ##fyp

♬ original sound - klo_bamba

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