Educational TV
Three of the most hyped new network series–Glee, Community and The Vampire Diaries—are set in schoolyards. Where else can you find so much cheating, back-stabbing and lust? Here, a freshman’s guide
Glee
Global, Sept. 9
The school: McKinley High, where a choir of nerds and one jock attempt to win a national musical competition
Don’t mistake this for... High School Musical. The creators are also responsible for NipTuck and bring the same naughty knowingness to these halls
The Illicit Love: The choir’s married coach (Broadway actor Matthew Morrison) hankers for his assistant (Ugly Betty’s Jayma Mays)
Why we’ll set the PVR: Jane Lynch (Best in Show) as an absurdly funny cheerleading coach
Community
City, Sept. 17
The school: Community college is the shameful destination of a lawyer (The Soup’s Joel McHale) who loses his licence
Don’t mistake this for... Back to School. No appearances by Rodney Dangerfield
The Illicit Love: Chevy Chase plays a horndog geezer student. Sample come-on: “Why would I harass someone who turns me on?”
Why we’ll set the PVR: The producers worked on Arrested Development, the most-missed sitcom of all time. And Chase is funny again, believe it or not
The Vampire Diaries
CTV, Sept. 10
The school: Mystic Falls High, where every girl lusts after the brooding new stud, Stefan (Paul Wesley), a bloodsucker
Don’t mistake this for... Twilight. Yes, this show is also about a schoolgirl’s romance with a vamp, but it takes itself a lot less seriously
The Illicit Love: Lost’s Ian Somerhalder, as Stefan’s older brother. Leering and randy, he’s like an outcast from Bon Temps
Why we’ll set the PVR: We need a fang fix while True Blood’s on hiatus
Comments
Comment on this story
Neither the author nor Toronto Life necessarily agree with the comments posted here. Editors will not correct spelling or grammar. Toronto Life reserves the right to edit or delete comments entirely. Read our full policy
Some articles on this site require that you have a Torontolife.com account in order to comment, and this is one of them. If you do not have an account, you can register now.
