By Maureen Fox

Daily Titan Staff Writer

Of all the new shows gaining momentum this fall, “Glee” on FOX is the most talked about. But not all of the talk is good.

Many critics and viewers simply don’t know what to make of it.

They complain the show is too crude, too sappy, too ridiculous and too unoriginal.

Mostly they scoff at how unrealistic it is and how the show makes use of stereotypical high school characters.

Some even criticize that the music is too unrealistic, as the cast benefit from high-end music production techniques that real-life glee clubs never have.

But there’s the key phrase: “real life.” Since when do television shows have to be grounded in reality? And since when did “Glee” ever claim to be a reality-based story?

Like the mash-ups of songs emphasized in the show, “Glee” is a mash-up of genres, as it incorporates elements of soap operas, dark comedy, satire, musical theater and more to create a innovative and entertaining show.

Yes, “Glee” does use stereotypical characters, but this is a ridiculous thing to criticize.

If it weren’t for movies and television creating and capitalizing on high school stereotypes (such as the nerd, the dumb jock, the closeted gay kid, the mean cheerleader, etc.), most movies and television shows wouldn’t exist.

There are thousands of beloved films and shows that depend on those elements.

Just look at the ’80s teen film era, which produced the likes of “The Breakfast Club” and “Pretty in Pink.”

And you can’t deny that the extremely successful “High School Musical” franchise uses formulaic high school characters as well.

And yes, “Glee” also borrows and reflects a lot of elements from other movies and television programs.

You can see aspects of “10 Things I Hate About You,” “High School Musical” and “Bring It On” in the show.

Even “American Idol’s” influence can be found, as the members of “Glee” are constantly competing with one another for top solos and for the ultimate first-place award at sectional and national competitions. And the list goes on.

It seems that critics are annoyed that they have failed to classify the show as any one story type despite its similarities to so many others. You can compare “Glee” to a number of other television shows and movies, but it still stands out as unique.

Why does “Glee” need to fit into one specified or even several specified genres?

Most television shows and films created today use the same plots and themes but repackaged in different ways; after all, there are only so many story lines in existence.

What great shows do is give old stories a new twist. And “Glee” has twisted so many plot lines and character stereotypes at once that the end result is a bizarre and interesting show.

You can find aspects of satirical comedy, like the ramblings of cheerleader coach Sue Sylvester; dark comedy, including the ironic plot twist of the president of the celibacy club getting pregnant; and situational and embarrassing comedy made famous by “The Office,” such as singer Josh Groban’s guest appearance.

Then in complete contrast, you get touching moments of affection and friendship. Just when you think you have “Glee” figured out, the writers throw something new in your face.

Despite all of the complaints, people are still watching “Glee” and buying its songs through iTunes.

Critics can whine and moan about this show all they want, but the fans prove critics don’t have a lot of influence.

Audiences will watch this show because they think it’s good, whether or not it uses stereotypical characters or is based on reality. And it’s their criticism that ultimately matters.