Writing on a VTX

The Emmy Awards has placed Glee in the comedy category. They have also placed Mad Men in the drama category. Would they mind sharing what they are smoking with the rest of us?

Alas, poor tribbles. I knew them well.

Glee does use comedy. So does Star Trek. Does that mean Star Trek is a comedy?

It is not unusual for drama to use comedy, or at least as comedic relief. This is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene, or witty dialog in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension. Often comedic relief delivers important content to move the plot along. Often Tonto, the Lone Ranger’s sidekick, is there to tell us things the Lone Ranger cannot say. Since tonto is the Spanish word for silly, this character’s purpose in the series is very clear.

This practice goes back a long way. An example is what could be the earliest of “Knock, Knock” jokes. The grave digger in William Shakespeare”s Macbeth is a perfect example of comedic relief.

Glee is about teenage angst. The show uses the medium and music familiar to high school students.

So, how is Glee a comedy?

Oh, wait. There is that Madonna episode of Glee. No one could be serious about the pedestal that Madonna was placed on in that episode. I take it all back. Glee must be a comedy.

So, remember to Free your Glee.

Free your Glee: Theme for the 2010 Puyallup Fair

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