Well, at least they stopped singing.

[The Curmudgeon]

Don't know if you caught the anger and upset this recent episode of a hit TV show caused, but some called it exploitative, "too soon" and just downright wrong. That show would be "Glee", not normally known for it's shocking moments. But among the usual singing, dancing and one-line zingers was that now prerequisite of school life.. a good old fashioned school shooting.

Some called it insensitive (the "Sandy Hook" town say they should have been given a personal warning that they were going to put this in the show), some called it grasping for media attention.

Judge for yourself, those who don't watch the show. The whole episode starts like most Glee eps do. Teen romance, singing, dancing.. the standard. And then...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w3zbdJXAhM

(Apologies for the annoying subtitles. The clip itself is a bit long, but you get the idea).

So what do you think? Handled with care? Crass and desperate for attention?

Should a musical entertainment show cover something like this? Glee's had real life problems before (eating disorders, disease, teen pregnancy, spousal abuse) so why shouldn't they tackle something like this? It's not like it never fucking happens.

Or should such grim and depressing events be saved for shows of more weight?

[trashcanman]

I don't watch Glee, so I can't really comment on whether this sort of thing fits with the show,ut Buffy did a school shooting episode (although it wasn't really a hot-button issue at the time) and it was fine. I'm sure Glee did it for the ratings, but they really should have had the killer shooting everyone while performing "Pumped-Up Kicks" or something to at lest fit into the musical motif. And why the fuck would they notify a town about it? If you're that sensitive about shootings happening in schools or whatever, crawl under your bed and never come out because shit happens, people are going to talk about it, and there isn't any law that says they have to ask for your permission.

[Ben]

Christ, Americans are sensitive these days. While Glee is about the last show I'd pick to tackle something like the portrayal of a school shooting, it's well within the writers' rights as, you know, fucking artists. And Sandy Hook complaining? That's like asking people not to talk about their grandparents because some of us don't have any. It sucks, but the rest of the nation can hardly be required to treat you with sensitivity for the next fifteen years.