ShareThisA smiling Ryan Murphy has a spring in his step these days -- and folks who work with him are wondering what that's all about.
"People are saying, 'We don't recognize you. You seem a lot more smiley. What's happening?' " he deadpans.
After years of writing and directing the dark world of FX's "Nip/Tuck," Murphy is in touch with his inner glee. He's the mastermind behind "Glee," a new high-school musical comedy premiering at 9 p.m. EDT Tuesday on Fox.
"Glee" focuses on a high-school glee club's attempts to shine in competition. It's an upbeat story of an idealistic high-school teacher, Will (Matthew Morrison), who thinks he can inspire his ragtag team of singers into champions. But he faces obstacles -- disbelieving administrators, students who need a good jolt and a jock who's afraid to sing out.
Each episode has five musical numbers and there's dancing, too. For Murphy, it's been an uplifting experience.
Murphy dismisses comparisons to "High School Musical." "Glee" is a little bit more cheeky than that -- in one scene, the high-school choir performs Amy Winehouse's "Rehab"; the musical aspects are more organic.
"This isn't a show where people break out in song," he says. "They sing for their audience. The characters sing in their cars. They don't just break out in song. I want it to seem like they really sing and not be in some sort of hyper-reality."
Murphy grew up in Indianapolis and was "a bit of a geek" who performed in musicals and was an honor-roll type.
"It was odd. When I was in high school, I kind of became popular," though he wasn't a stellar athlete, Murphy says. Through performing in high-school shows, other students thought he was cool.
Now, in "Glee," he is remembering all that. "I'm pulling everything from (my own) high-school (days)," he says. "Many things in this show are from those days.
"I can totally direct (the actors) in certain scenes because it happened to me. I sing, but I'm not that good. Somehow, I feel like I am getting a second chance at performing by doing this show."
Is 2009 the year that the usually somber Murphy gets a chance to lighten up?
"No," he says. "I'll still be working on 'Nip/Tuck.' After that, give me a while.
"I'll come around."
Other highlights for the week of May 17-23 (all times EDT; listings subject to change; check local listings):
SUNDAY
-- "Survivor: Tocantins" (8 p.m., CBS). The tribe mates come together to pick a winner and bring it all home.
TUESDAY
-- "Dancing with the Stars" (9 p.m., ABC). The mirror-ball trophy is handed out.
WEDNESDAY
-- "American Idol" (8 p.m., Fox). This season's winner is announced. And tomorrow? That winner probably will be forgotten.
THURSDAY
-- "So You Think You Can Dance" (8 p.m., Fox). A new season begins with the drama of auditions.
SATURDAY
-- "Lake Placid 2" (9 p.m., Sci-Fi Channel). Cloris Leachman and a giant maneating crocodile. This one has it all.
(E-mail Terry Morrow of The Knoxville News-Sentinel in Tennessee at morrow2(at)knews.com.)
TV HILIGHTS
