OK, I give ... 'Glee' is actually pretty good

I never thought I'd say (or write) this, but I am officially a fan of the TV show "Glee."

When the Fox show debuted last fall, my friend, Shaundi, told me I had to watch it. All I knew about it was that it had something to do with singing and high school, so even though it had been strongly recommended, it was bumped to the bottom of my shows-to-watch list.

But I happened to pick up the first season on DVD last weekend, and even though I expected to hate it, I was entranced and watched episode after episode without stopping.

The show follows a Midwestern high school teacher as he tries to revitalize the school's glee club. What makes the show so watchable is how likable the characters are. And watching the glee clubbers try to win competitions considering it seems like everyone's against them.

I didn't know any of the actors in the show beforehand, except for Jane Lynch. I knew Lynch from her role in the recently (and unfortunately) canceled "Party Down" show on Starz, but her role in "Glee" as the critical and competitive cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester trying to take down the glee club is dryly hilarious. The glee club teacher, Will Schuester, is adorable, as is OCD guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury, who has a crush on him. The show focuses on two members of the glee club, Rachel, an overachieving, diehard singer and wannabe star, and Finn, a football player who gets tricked into joining the club, but about a dozen other characters come into play throughout the first season.

I was certain the singing in the show would be what made me hate the show. But the singers have talent and the songs they sing are ridiculously catchy.

Episodes featuring renditions of Beyonce's "Single Ladies," Journey's "Don't Stop Believin," and Kanye West's "Golddigger" are laugh out loud. Certainly, some of the numbers are a bit much, but surprisingly, almost all of the songs feel like they are just thrown into the episode. They actually add to the show.

What's great about the show is that it throws in a lot of different elements -- romance, humor, drama, music -- but doesn't overdo any of those elements. The crushes between characters are sweet, but not too much. The humor comes from the dry critical Sue, overachiever Rachel, and the fast-paced skits. And even though it's set in a high school, the dramatic moments aren't milked or too immature.

The episodes are a quick watch at 45 minutes a pop, and I'd highly recommend it if you need an indoor summer activity. Seasons Two and Three of the show already have been ordered, so it's OK to get attached to the characters. Each episode is more entertaining than the last, so if you like the first, you'll probably find the show good for a fun watch!