I saw the first episode of "Glee"

[eumelia]

And am puzzled.

Perhaps because I am not American, this seems like a replication of every single high school drama ever?
Barring Degrassi which was Canadian and Buffy which mocked high school more than anything.

I mean the songs were good, very talented peeps.

But really? The clump of over done stereotypes is America's top show. I'm not judging anyone who watches it, god knows the stuff I like is considered trash, but really?

Where is the New-ness?
Where am I seeing something that is a little different?

I'll probably view the series, because I can see other members of my family are utterly smitten, but really?
One's inner conflict is by being both a jock and a glee club singer?

Also, why is every female character obsessing over something and it's made to seem dysfunctional? Why is the football coach not taking "No" for an answer when the teacher with OCD rejects him? Why is Jane Lynch constantly type cast as the mannish coach?!

Why is everyone so mean to Artie!? The kid in the wheelchair, the only thing he is, is the geeky kid in the wheelchair.

Again, perhaps because the notion of cliques and this type of stratification of social circles isn't something I've actually experienced and it all seems to be this imaginary and fantastical Jungian thing... it all seems a bit much.

Help me here US friends, is high school really like that? Or is this also Buffy-esque and the monsters are instead simply exaggerated stereotypical roles?

As an aside, my mom told me not to read too much into it. At which point I laughed me EVIL LAUGH! Mwahahahaha.