Glee Returns Tonight

After a long silence brought on by that accursed World Series, “Glee” is back, sounding better than ever.

In “Wheels,” scripted by series creator Ryan Murphy, couples are tested, secrets are revealed and, oh, yeah, there are some rousing musical numbers, if you like that sort of thing, and you will.

Ex-Cheerio Quinn (Dianna Agron, almost unrecognizable in civilian clothes) snipes at Finn (Cory Monteith) to get a job to pay her pre-natal bills.


“Somewhere in that pea brain of yours is a man. Access him and tell him to prove to me that I chose the right guy to have a baby with.”

Of course, lunkhead Finn doesn’t grasp the truth in that statement. The real baby daddy, his so-called best friend Puck (Mark Salling), lurks around every locker.

Sue (Jane Lynch) is forced to hold open auditions to replace Quinn. Suffering through a parade of incompetents, she tells Will (Matthew Morrison), “I’m about to projectile express myself all over your Hush Puppies.”

When she drafts seemingly the most unprepared, vulnerable student, Will fears for her next evil stunt.

Fox has been teasing Sue’s big secret for weeks. A 3-year-old watching network TV for the first time could figure it out, but damn if Lynch doesn’t sell the reveal. It may just lighten the darkest heart.

Oh, someone else is holding a secret, too, one that tears apart another Glee couple just as they’re about to lift off.

Elsewhere, Will comes up with a creative solution for the club’s lack of respect for wheelchair-bound Artie (Kevin McHale).

Kurt (Chris Colfer) challenges Rachel (Lea Michele) to a diva sing-off. Rachel is unhappy at Will’s efforts to mediate.

“Maybe one of these days you’ll find a way to create teaching moments without ruining my life,” she says.

In one of the best relationships on the show, Kurt and his gruff father prove how much they are willing to sacrifice for each other.


Other positive points to note: Not a single appearance by the annoying Emma (Jayma Mays) or Terri (Jessalyn Gilsig). No one is threatening to shut the club down, this week, anyway. Murphy seems to be fine-tuning the show’s tone (not the show tunes, which need no help) and easing up on the hostility directed at the main players.

Still, does Rachel really need to be hit in the face with some sort of glop every single episode? There’s no shock value to that joke any longer.

As underdog Artie, McHale finally gets the spotlight and runs away with it. With a large, controlled voice that belies his youth, he might just be “Glee’s” secret weapon. Then again, everyone in this packed episode is just getting better. “Glee” knows how to leave viewers happy.

Tonight at 9 on WFXT (Ch. 25).

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