Five Ways Glee Can Keep from Jumping the Shark This TV Season

It's safe to say that Glee was a pleasant surprise for Fox last season, after all the show about a motley crew of high school kids coming together to form a choir at fictional Mckinley High garnered the network good ratings, 19 Emmy Award nominations, and high praise from critics. But many shows get off to such a rousing start only to falter in its sophomore season. This could easily become the fate of Glee, which depends on costly and elaborate choreographies and which has a history of relying heavily on guest stars. So how does Glee keep itself from "jumping the shark" during its second season? Here then are five ways this talented show can keep itself fresh during the 2010-11 television season.

Make Sue Sylvester the acting school Principal or Vice Principal

Jane Lynch, as success driven cheer coach Sue Sylvester, is definitely one big reason for fans to tune to Glee each week. Lynch did such a great job with the role last season that she took home a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress. So, how do you make Sue Sylvester a continual thorn in the side of Will Schuester (Mathew Morrison) again this season? Easy, you make Sue the acting Principal or the Vice Principal of the school. In other words, you grow her thirst for power and control of Mckinley High. Sue needs the challenge and the show could use the twists and turns that would emanate from this plot line. Of course Sue would still have to coach her beloved Cherrios on the side.

Give Will Schuester a sabbatical to go try his luck on Broadway

Yes, it's always hard to mess with the chemistry of a good show, but sometimes edgy and unpredictable plot lines are a good thing. Will Schuester needs a few weeks away from the glee club to go chase his almost forgotten dreams. This plot would not only serve as a vehicle for dual story lines for a few weeks, but the club would be allowed to go in a different direction for a while. As the old saying goes, "no pain, no gain," so what better way to get growth out of the group than to change up their director? Besides, this can open the way for a high profile guest star for a few weeks.

Develop the Freshman Class

As good as the cast is, most of these "kids" are in the 20-24 age group, with Corey Monteith (Finn Hudson) topping out at 28, time to start developing the incoming freshman class. With the show being on Fox, this could provide a perfect placement for new talent coming out of either American Idol or So You Think You Can Dance. It may also be a perfect vehicle for attracting talented kids coming out of the Disney Channel, like Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato or the Jonas brothers.

New basketball coach equals new love Interest for Emma Pillsbury

Since Will and Emma finally kissed this past season, re-building the sexual tension is a must for this on screen romance-to-be to remain an ongoing plot line. Poor Emma had to endure an engagement to football coach Ken Tanaka the first season. Why not reverse that in season two, and give her a hot basketball coach to swoon over? Who knows, with a little competition, Will Schuester might come running back and finally commit to a real relationship with Emma.

Add a foreign exchange student to the Glee Club

From football players, to cheerleaders, to gay students, to the handicap, the Glee Club seems to have tapped into every strata of the high school life. So what's left for a second season? How about the Foreign Exchange student? Can't visualize its vast ramification? Try to picturing a Ballywood style number, or one heavy with Latin dance etc. The possibilities are endless as the Club tries to integrate a foreign student into the fold.

Sources:

"2010 Primetime Emmy Awards Nominations". Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. http://www.emmys.tv/awards, (July 8, 2010)

McNamara, Mary, "'Glee' on Fox," (May 19, 2009) http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/19/entertainment/et-glee19