The 'Glee' Premiere or 'Ode to Mike Chang's Abs'

Previously, before the season started, I wrote a post about why 'Glee' frustrates me for CDInsight.com, mostly because I needed a topic for my first pop culture criticism column (wow, alliteration) and second, it was something I always expressed to the people around me but somehow, it never came out as succinct or articulate as it does in writing.

Then, upon the first viewing of the 'Glee' season premiere, 'Audition,' I was once again underwhelmed, disappointed by the regression of the characters. Will Schuster was still gullible, overtly self-rightous and manipulative; Rachel Berry was still selfish and this time, cruel to the point of endangering new girl nauseatingly-named Sunshine (Charice); Finn Hudson was still obsessed with popularity and being cool, and Sue still full of side-aching one-liners.

Wait, cancel that last one, Sue Sylvester can do no wrong in my eyes.

Maybe because she's the only character who doesn't have a false sense of rightousness. But it still looks like last season's worth of character development was thrown in the garbage in favor of creating more drama. Not to mention cheap laughs, such as a racist segment where Rachel treats Sunshine like a ignorant foreigner, an over-enunciated exchange that was more offensive than funny.

Then again, why do I continue criticizing a show whose main popularity are song covers and Jane Lynch? Especially when I, like most of its target audience, am also prone to squealing during key scenes.

Maybe it's time to shut down the brain and just enjoy the cheese and incoherent narrative...

At least then, I could enjoy a pleasant discovery from 'Audition': Mike Chang's (Harry Shum Jr) abs.

Look at them!

I will forgive the show, in all of its inconsistencies and auto-tuning, mainly because of that fine gift. That was a very pleasant surprise and an indication that not all Asian guys are nerds (aka Hiro in 'Heroes') and asexual (Hikaru Sulu in 'Star Trek'). But that's another blog post. Until then, here's another photo of the abs that have been long in coming. Here's hoping Mike Chang gets more lines this season (he got three in 'Coming Home'!)

Who knew this was underneath those 'Glee' club costumes?

And to end, a memorable song.

Here is the 'Glee' cast doing 'Empire State of Mind.' Sure, the rapping is still cumbersome and awkward at parts (oh, Cory Monteith...). Yet listen to the opening, the chorus and the bridge. It proves that 'Glee' shines when it does what it does best, mainly putting a show choir twist to standard songs. More ensembles and less Lea Michelle solo please (unless it's bombastic show tune in the style of Barbara).