History Recap / GleeS1E1Pilot

In the teacher's lounge there is no coffee pot, made so by cost-saving extraordinaire, [[NotMyFault Principal Figgins]] (Iqbal Theba). Sue, however, brings in some fresh java that is in no way from [[BlandNameProduct Starbucks]] for four members of staff, the only ones she presumably likes. This introduces us to Coach Ken Tanaka (Patrick Gallagher), the racially diverse and emotionally awkward football coach, and [[NeatFreak Emma Pilsbury]] (Creator/JaymaMays), the school counsellor, who prefers pamphlets to confrontation and is crushing on Will whilst Ken crushes on her. Emma reveals via well-placed snark that the coffee was probably paid for out of the exhaustive Cheerios! nutritionist budget that Sue coerced Figgins into giving her (whether true or not that's a little rude), all the while cleaning individual grapes while wearing rubber gloves. Ken, clueless as to Emma's germaphobia, tries to hit on her unsuccessfully while Will [[ObliviousToLove succeeds unintentionally]], causing Ken to begin to view him as a spiteful love rival. They discuss how someone tattled to Figgins about Ryerson being inappropriate and so the glee club currently doesn't have a director, Will's face being the image bridge that takes us to him in Figgins' office.

Back in the lounge, Will gets an eyeful of Ken's crazy eyes, accusing him of stealing his quarterback and screwing up his life. Will reveals Ken hates football, so this is really about Emma, Ken correctly stating Will wants her for himself.

''You think this is hard, try being waterboarded, that's hard!''

Following the TitleCard, we cut to [[TheArtifact Spanish teacher]] [[TheEveryman Will Schuester]] (Matthew Morrison), former National Show Choir Champion, arriving in an [[TheAllegedCar alleged car]]. He then walks by [[CampGay Kurt Hummel]], resident {{fashionista}} and [[SituationalSociability secret]] DeadpanSnarker who has the ability to switch between falsetto and baritone almost instantaneously being surrounded by the [=McKinley=] football team -- Alpha Dogs of the school. Among them are [[AllAmericanBoy quarterback]] [[BigManOnCampus Finn Hudson]] (Creator/CoryMonteith) and his best friend [[JerkJock Puck]] (Mark Salling). Kurt manages to get Finn to let him remove his expensive jacket, tosses his bag over, and then gets acquainted with the contents of a dumpster.

In the teacher's lounge there is no coffee pot, made so by cost-saving extraordinaire, [[DoggedPrincipal Principal Figgins]] (Iqbal Theba). Sue, however, brings in some fresh java that is in no way from [[BlandNameProduct Starbucks]] for four members of staff, the only ones she presumably likes. This introduces us to Coach Ken Tanaka (Patrick Gallagher), the racially diverse and emotionally awkward football coach, and [[NeatFreak Emma Pilsbury]] (Creator/JaymaMays), the school counsellor, who prefers pamphlets to confrontation and is crushing on Will whilst Ken crushes on her. Emma reveals via well-placed snark that the coffee was probably paid for out of the exhaustive Cheerios! nutritionist budget that Sue coerced Figgins into giving her (whether true or not that's a little rude), all the while cleaning individual grapes while wearing rubber gloves. Ken, clueless as to Emma's germaphobia, tries to hit on her unsuccessfully while Will [[ObliviousToLove succeeds unintentionally]], causing Ken to begin to view him as a spiteful love rival. They discuss how someone tattled to Figgins about Ryerson being inappropriate and so the glee club currently doesn't have a director, Will's face being the image bridge that takes us to him in Figgins' office.

Will offers to take over. Figgins laughs, asks if he also wants to [[DoomedToFail captain the Titanic]], then looks at the money and says $60 a month from Will's own pocket is the bill to keep it running. Will has a ''slight'' BlueScreenOfDeath, as we cut to him in bed with his wife Terri (Creator/JessalynGilsig), who's [[{{Understatement}} a little bit crazy]]. They were high school sweethearts who unfortunately went sour after putting rings on it. Plus, as we'll see, Terri's insane. It is in bed that Will comes up with the name "New Directions", because even though it is a law of the universe that show choir names must be ridiculous, the previous name was a little too much.

She begins to monologue, and we see her in Figgins' office providing her [[BadBadActing best distraught acting performance]] as she outs Sandy's dirty little secret, her real motivations being spite at Sandy's obvious and disgusting reasons for favoring the rather weak-voiced Hank over her, blabbing and blabbering in LargeHam fashion. Then we get her backstory, she's not homophobic, in fact the daughter of interracial gay couple Hiram and [=LeRoy=] Berry who provided every advantage to their little performer. She then honed her talent by recording and uploading to Website/MySpace, despite her audience being mostly haters in the form of her classmates and led by the demeaning comments of the Cheerios. There's a short clip in Rachel's narration of the cheer squad watching her videos in the gym, laughing and commenting together. Quinn is at the helm with the laptop, flanked by her number two, [[SpicyLatina Santana Lopez]], the resident SnarkKnight.

We then cut from her audition to... yeah. "Sit Down, You're Rocking The Boat". Complete with jazz hands, white gloves, and choreography even a infant beauty pageant wouldn't touch. As you would expect, ego plus lameness equals a need for more members (plus they have to, as it takes twelve to enter Sectionals).

Cut to Will and Rachel on the bleachers. Rachel, tired of being laughed at, laments about how she can feel the clock ticking and how she doesn't wanna graduate without something to show for it. She tells Will about her ambitions, her drive to mean something, ending with a line that would define at least part of what the show was about.

''Being a part of something special makes you special''.

Will offers to find her a male lead to balance her, before being summoned to Figgins's office. Figgins decrees that if New Directions doesn't win Regionals (see, it's the clubs from the district that face off first, the winners there face the best in the region and a win there pits them against the best in the nation; a three-step process) then they're out.

We go to Terri's job at a linens store. After berating a coworker, Will comes in with a sandwich; having mayo on it displeases Terri, owning to her diabetes. As we've established, she's insane. After more demonstrations of this, the gist of it being Terri wanting Will to work as an accountant, we then see Sandy Ryerson, apparently now a dealer of medical marijuana, sell some to Will.

Cut to Sue's office, the SlasherSmile doing Will no favors. Cut then to Emma getting gum on her little shoe, followed by the big Shue cleaning it off while more UST flows. Intercut this with Will trying to recruit Cheerios and being shut down, Sue laying out the caste system WMHS uses (Jocks/Popular Kids = Penthouse, Nerds = Bottom Floor, Glee Club = Sub-Basement). Meanwhile, Emma suggests finding a leader, someone who kids will follow anywhere.

Will tries to get the football team to join, and it goes as well as you'd expect. However, Will overhears a certain member do his best Foreigner (and thus another ActorAllusion) and that springs forth an idea. After getting an eyeful (why yes, it's creepy, why do you ask?), Will calls Finn to his office and produces the pot he bought from Ryerson. Dick move, and it is only one of many Will will do.

[[{{HarsherInHindsight}} ''Do you wanna tell me how long you had a drug problem'']]?

After Finn protests, we see his backstory: His dad supposedly died in the Gulf War, mom Carole had to struggle, you get the point. Only cool thing was Carole's boyfriend, a landscaper who let Finn help. That was the first time Finn really heard music, and after the BF dumped her, Finn made a vow to make her proud.

Cut back to Finn now, being given the option of six weeks detention (with marks on his record), or...

Cut to him on stage with the rest of New Directions, singing some Grease with Rachel. Unfortunately, Rachel, so happy at having a stage partner, invokes the crazy eyes; we even get a POV shot of both of them and the poor boy looks terrified whist Rachel is clearly smitten with him.

Mercedes, invoking her CatchPhrase for the first time, steps up and decries her lack of spotlight. Kurt calms her down by saying it's one song. Cut to Will and Terri doing a puzzle. Will wants to take ND to Akron, specifically to Carmel High to visit their glee club. Terri, who we will point out once again is insane, spends her paychecks on frivolous purchases while blaming Will for not having money, pressuring him again to quit teaching. Insanity does lead to clarity on occasion, in this case Terri correctly calling Will out for wanting to relive his glory days, a problem that is implied to be the base for his more dubious decisions.

In the teacher's lounge, Ken is shredding while Emma is staring at Will putting up a chaperone sheet. Emma promptly signs it. On the field, Ken is ripping Finn a new one for wanting to go with ND. Puck asks what's up, so Finn, demonstrating a considerable lack of knowledge of anatomy, claims it's to help Carole recover from prostate surgery. Can you seen the discrepancy?

''You think this is hard, I'm living with Hepatitis. That's hard''.

* [[SassyBlackWoman Mercedes Jones]]: Soulful voice, with ambition to match. Driven, passionate, a church-going God-fearing child who plays the stereotypes more positively than most.

* [[PerkyGoth Tina Cohen-Chang]]: The wallflower. Seen in a Goth style of dress, though she herself is outgoing and happy. Girlfriend to...
* [[DontYouDarePityMe Artie Abrams]]: Having become paraplegic due to a car wreck at the age of eight, decided to try and be as nice as possible while still employing the sass at the drop of a hat.



Lima, Ohio. September 21, 2009. We open with a routine by William [=McKinley=] High School's cheerleading squad, the Cheerios. Explosive, high energy, and intricately choreographed, it's clear that this squad knows what their doing. Unfortunately, their coach believes otherwise...

Following the TitleCard, we cut to [[TheArtifact Spanish teacher]] [[TheEveryman Will Schuester]] (Matthew Morrison), former National Show Choir Champion, arriving in an [[TheAllegedCar alleged car]]. He then walks by [[CampGay Kurt Hummel]], resident {{fashionista}} and [[SituationalSociability secret]] DeadpanSnarker who has the ability to switch between falsetto and baritone almost instantaneously being surrounded by the [=McKinley=] football team -- Alpha Dogs of the school. Among them are [[BigManOnCampus Finn Hudson]] (Creator/CoryMonteith) and [[JerkJock Puck]] (Mark Salling). Kurt manages to get Finn to let him remove his expensive jacket, tosses his bag over, and then gets acquainted with the contents of a dumpster.

We then see one of the Cheerios! posing in the air. This is [[AlphaBitch Quinn Fabray]] (Creator/DiannaAgron), Head Cheerio and HBIC. This then cuts to the [=McKinley=] trophy case, as Will glimpses the trophy his glee club won in '93, alongside a portrait of its late director, Lillian Adler, implied to be TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth. As Will stares, it cuts to him in class, teaching. You may notice Finn in this class -- albeit not totally paying attention, as the shot now cuts to the school's choir room, home of the dilapidated glee club "Rhythm Explosion". Its director is [[CampGay Sandy Ryerson]], and he's at the piano, trying to teach Hank Saunders, the current leading man, "Where is Love" from the musical ''Theatre/{{Oliver}}''. As they harmonize, Sandy's hand begins to go where it shouldn't, and it is revealed that somebody saw this, giving it a DeathGlare. This is [[ItsAllAboutMe Rachel Berry]], a fellow glee member.

Moar cuts, this time to the teacher's lounge. There is no coffee pot, as decreed by the cheapass tightwad extraordinaire, Principal Principal Figgins (yes, that is his name). Sue however, uses her connections (and they are many) to procure java that is in no way from [[BlandNameProduct Starbucks]]. Another main player then appears:

* [[NeatFreak Emma Pilsbury]]: School psychologist, who prefers pamphlets to actual psychoanalyzing. Clearly the object of Will's affections, and the source of two seasons worth of WillTheyOrWontThey. Unfortunately, since it would be too easy for them to just get together, plus as Emma has OCD and copulation wouldn't exactly be her thing, she's also the target of affections by DisposableLoveInterest and football coach Ken Tanaka, who's characterization amounts to DoggedNiceGuy with BerserkButton.

We see Emma more snarky here as it's revealed that the budget for the coffee was given to Sue to hire the Cheerios a nutritionist, all while Emma cleans individual grapes while wearing rubber gloves. Don't laugh, that does happen. Ken, clueless as to Emma's germaphobia, tries to hit on her unsuccessfully while Will succeeds. As the show progresses though, Will's ideas of flirting leave a lot to be desired.

Anyway, plot. Apparently, someone *cough*Rachel*cough* tattled to Figgins about Ryerson getting handsy, so the glee club currently doesn't have a director and even a blind man can see what's coming.

Cut to Figgins' office and WHAT A SHOCK, Will offers to take over. Figgins of course looks at the money and says $60/month is the bill to keep it running. Will has a ''slight'' BlueScreenOfDeath, as we cut to him in bed with his albatross around his neck, wife Terri, who defines the term insane. They were high school sweethearts who unfortunately went sour after putting rings on it. Plus, as we'll see, Terri's insane.

It is in bed that Will comes up with the name "New Directions". In bed. While presumably naked. You may snicker at your convenience.

Cut to Ms. Jones being the first to sign up, followed by her audition song, a little Music/ArethaFranklin accompanied by Glee's real life musical director, the forever omnipresent and infinitely talented Brad Ellis. We then see Kurt's audition, followed by Tina's; we'd have to wait until the GrandFinale to see Artie's.

Finally, we come to Rachel's audition, alongside her putting a trademark gold star next to her name. Unfortunately, as she turns, she is met with another Glee trademark, the lethal combination of corn syrup, food coloring and crushed ice. Yes, this is the infamous Slushy Facial, a signature form of torture and intimidation for McKinley. Let the records show Puck threw the first (and in a case of Bookends, will also throw the last).

Cut to her in the outfit we saw earlier, blabbing in LargeHam fashion to Figgins about Ryerson. Then we get the backstory; she's the daughter of Hiram and Le Roy Berry, she honed her talent by recording and uploading to MySpace (yes, this was still a thing in 2009), unfortunately her audience is not exactly thrilled, as the comments (mostly by Cheerios) reveal. Oh, and if you're wondering where the surrogate is in all of this, don't worry, all will be revealed by the end of the season.

As we see the Cheerios send their thoughts, Dear Lucille being particularly cruel in her obvious repression, we should also introduce the second member of Glee's FanficFuel:
* [[SpicyLatina Santana Lopez]]: The resident SnarkKnight, known for her cutdowns and HairTriggerTemper. Quick with a putdown, as well as not afraid to throwdown. Also known as one who ReallyGetsAround, though as we find out, it's only because she's petrified of her feelings towards a certain blonde whom we meet next episode.

[[caption-width-right:350:''[[Music/{{Journey}} Don't Stop Believin']]'']]

* [[ItsAllAboutMe Rachel Berry]]: The talent, the ingenue, the diva, the star, and she knows it. Never heard a Music/BarbraStreisand song she didn't obsess over. Sadly has the uncanny ability to make any conversation swing back to her, often even when she doesn't realize it.

Following the TitleCard, we cut to [[TheArtifact Spanish teacher]] [[TheEveryman Will Schuester]] (Matthew Morrison), former National Show Choir Champion, arriving in an [[TheAllegedCar alleged car]]. He then walks by [[CampGay Kurt Hummel]], resident {{fashionista}} and [[SituationalSociability secret]] DeadpanSnarker who has the ability to switch between falsetto and baritone almost instantaneously being surrounded by the [=McKinley=] football team -- Alpha Dogs of the school. Among them are [[BigManOnCampus Finn Hudson]] and [[JerkJock Puck]].

Will, demonstrating for the first time that some of his positive traits may in fact be an InformedAbility, simply asks Kurt if he's making new friends before Kurt, after handing his bag over to Finn, is intimately acquainted with the contents of a dumpster.

We then see a Cheerio posing while in the air. But no, this isn't any ordinary Cheerio, oh no, for this is one third of the show's FanficFuel and in some Gleeks eyes, the ''real'' love of Rachel's life...

* [[AlphaBitch Quinn Fabray]]: The Head Cheerio, the HBIC, ''The'' Alpha Bitch, who essentially rules the school with an iron fist. Demands loyalty from her minions and her subjects, all while hiding crippling self-loathing stemming from a bastard father who paid for the plastic surgery to turn her from a FormerlyFat, shy, but kind girl, into the visually stunning, but emotionally broken girl we see. Currently dating Finn, though it's made clear it's only for status purposes. Downright hates Rachel, first for being her, then for sniffing around Finn. As mentioned though, a bulk of the gleeks believe this actually stems from her having feelings for Rachel but being panicked by them due to her uber-religious upbringing.

We cut to the McKinley trophy case, as Will glimpses the trophy his glee club won in '93, alongside a portrait of its late director, Lillian Adler, implied to be TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth. As Will stares, we then cut to him doing the job he was hired to do, teach Spanish. Badly. We notice Finn in this class, as we cut again, this time to the school's choir room, home of the dilapidated glee club, Rhythm Explosion. We see its director, [[CampGay Sandy Ryerson]], at the piano, trying to teach a student "Where is Love", from the musical, Oliver. As they harmonize, Sandy's hand begins to go where it shouldn't, leading to a zoom in to the door to reveal Rachel with one very effective DeathGlare. Apparently, she's a fellow glee member, and seeing Mr. Ryerson show attention to anyone else is a slight that will not go unpunished.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: New Directions' attempt at "You're the One that I Want" forsees its being played in its entirety during the Season 4 episode, ''Glease''.
* FiveTokenBand: New Directions, especially before Finn joined. Rachel is [[InformedJudaism Jewish]], Kurt is [[CampGay gay]], Mercedes is [[SassyBlackWoman black]], Tina is Asian, and Artie is [[DisabledSnarker in a wheelchair.]]

* OneHourWorkWeek : Lampshaded by Terri. "I'm on my feet four hours a day, three times a week here. Now I have to go home and cook dinner for myself?"
* RunningGag: There will be many in these recaps, the main one being any reference to Quinn being in love with Rachel and/or vice versa.

* UrineTrouble : A bed-wetter returns sheets to Terri's store.

Okay. Question. What do you get when you take Film/HighSchoolMusical, pump it full of antidepressants, and have it helmed by a producer with a... "[[Creator/RyanMurphy quirky]]" sense of storytelling? You get a show that for six seasons and 121 episodes polarized its fanbase to insane levels, while at the same time loaded its cast with some of the purest talent you'll find anywhere. Broadway was the stomping ground for a bulk of the cast, and you'll know it when you watch. Anyway, to business.

Introducing our main cast of [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits characters]]:
* [[TheEveryman Will Schuester]]: The "straight man" of the madness, a former National Show Choir champion and dubious [[TheArtifact Spanish teacher]] who returns to his old school with ambitions of not only reliving some of his own glory, but leading a new crop of kids on a [[IncrediblyLamePun Journey]] to achieve their own.

* [[CampGay Kurt Hummel]]: The resident fashion plate and DeadpanSnarker. Hides behind verbal jabs to cover up his insecurities. Fiercely protective of his father, having lost his mother years prior. Has the ability to achieve falsetto and baritone almost instantaneously.
* [[PerkyGoth Tina Cohen-Chang]]: The wallflower. Spent years being invisible, decided to run with it, fake a stutter and embrace a more Goth style of dress, though she herself is outgoing and happy. Girlfriend to...
* [[DisabledSnarker Artie Abrams]]: Having gone paraplegic due to a car wreck at the age of eight, decided to try and be as nice as possible while still having the ability to drop snark at the drop of a hat.
* [[ItsAllAboutMe Rachel Berry]]: The talent, the ingenue, the diva, the star, and she knows it. Never heard a Music/BarbraStreisand song she didn't obsess over. Sadly has the uncanny ability to make any conversation swing back to her, often even when she doesn't realize it. Also has an weird obsession with argyle sweaters, though the [[ShesGotLegs short]] [[InnocentFanserviceGirl skirts]] do tend to make up for it. Soulmate of...
* [[BigManOnCampus Finnegan Hudson]]: While nominally a DumbJock, had remarkable emotional savvy and an ability to lock in on a person's feelings. Sadly, as the Gleeks attested, this, coupled with a hair trigger temper and easily pressed BerserkButton, led to him committing emotional atrocities under the [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation alleged]] guise of cluelessness. Regrettably, due to a tragic case of RealLifeWritesThePlot, he would meet an untimely demise not long after graduating. Unquestionably the love of Rachel's life.

There are of course more players, and we'll meet them as we go along. Now, let us begin.

Lima, Ohio. September 21, 2009. We open with a routine by William McKinley High School's resident cheerleading squad, the Cheerios. Explosive, high energy, and intricately choreographed, it's clear that this squad knows what their doing. Unfortunately, their coach believes otherwise...

Yes gleeks, for the first time, we hear the dulcet tones of the show's BreakoutCharacter and resident WildCard...

* [[DrillSergeantNasty Sue Sylvester]]: The Devil with the Tracksuit on. The Cheerio coach whose ruthlessness is legend. Nasty, abrasive, harsh, the PoliticallyIncorrectVillain of Glee. Steel hiding more steel hiding just enough silk to be considered human, Sue will do anything to keep the Cheerios on top. As the series progresses, we see the heart underneath the polyester... though Sue will immediately balance it out with straight up villainy.

Following the TitleCard, we cut to Will arriving in an [[TheAllegedCar alleged car]]. He then walks by Kurt being surrounded by the McKinley Bulldogs, the school football team and Alpha Dogs of the school. Among them are Finn and...

* [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Noah "Puck" Puckerman]]: Alleged BadAss and lover of cougars. His sex prowess is legend amongst the housewives of Lima, though it's linked to issues stemming from his father abandoning him and his family; he whores himself out for money to keep the family fed. As we see in a few episodes time though, he'll discover another mouth to feel. Has HiddenDepths one might find surprising; loves piano and accordions, and revels in his VideoGame/SuperMarioBrothers. At this point though, he revels in being a JerkJock.

* [[AlphaBitch Lucille Quinn Fabray]]: The Head Cheerio, the HBIC, ''The'' Alpha Bitch, who essentially rules the school with an iron fist. Demands loyalty from her minions and her subjects, all while hiding crippling self-loathing stemming from a bastard father who paid for the plastic surgery to turn her from a FormerlyFat, shy, but kind girl, into the visually stunning, but emotionally broken girl we see. Currently dating Finn, though it's made clear it's only for status purposes. Downright hates Rachel, first for being her, then for sniffing around Finn. As mentioned though, a bulk of the gleeks believe this actually stems from her having feelings for Rachel but being panicked by them due to her uber-religious upbringing.

[[DrillSergeantNasty Sue Sylvester]]: The Devil with the Tracksuit on. The Cheerio coach whose ruthlessness is legend. Nasty, abrasive, harsh, the PoliticallyIncorrectVillain of Glee. Steel hiding more steel hiding just enough silk to be considered human, Sue will do anything to keep the Cheerios on top. As the series progresses, we see the heart underneath the polyester... though Sue will immediately balance it out with straight up villainy.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[Music/{{Journey}} Don't Stop Believin']]]]
!!!Summary
[[TheArtifact Spanish teacher]] [[TheEveryman Will Schuester]] decides to take over the Glee club after the former coach has *ahem* [[StudentTeacherRomance an "incident"]] [[HoYay with student Hank Saunders]] and is subsequently fired. Will has auditions for the Glee Club, which he renames New Directions, and ends up getting five students: [[SassyBlackWoman Mercedes Jones,]] [[CampGay Kurt Hummel,]] [[PerkyGoth Tina Cohen-Chang]], [[ItsAllAboutMe Rachel Berry]] and [[DisabledSnarker Artie Abrams]]. They [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits aren't the most popular of kids]], and a Glee club doesn't exactly work with five people, so Will goes recruiting. After getting a bit of advice, he talks to [[JerkJock the football team]], but no one signs up. Then Will overhears [[BigManOnCampus Finn Hudson]] singing [[HoYay in the shower]], and uses some pot the old glee club coach gave him to blackmail Finn into joining the Glee club. After a few rehearsals with the newest member, Will decides to take the club on a field trip to see another show choir perform. Finn lies to the football team to miss practice so he can go.

They see the other show choir, Vocal Adrenaline, perform and are (understandably) freaked out. As New Directions leaves the performance, Finn gets caught by his fellow football players and decides to quit the club. As his "Welcome back present" they trap Artie in [[StuffedIntoALocker a port-a-pottie]] and try to tip it. Finn chooses to free Artie and return to Glee Club. They are skeptical of Finn's return but give him a chance anyway, and he leads them to put together an [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome epic]] version of "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey (which became the show's SignatureSong). Slightly before that, Will's [[{{Understatement}} slightly unhinged]] wife, Terri, finds out she's pregnant and suggests that Will get a better paying job so that he can take care of his family. Will almost quits his job at [=McKinley=] to become an accountant, but [[NeatFreak Emma Pillsbury]], the guidance counselor talks him out of it, and seeing the Glee club perform is what finally convinces him to stay.

* "Where is love" from ''Oliver'', performed by Sandy Ryerson and Hank Saunders.

* "Respect" by ArethaFranklin, performed by Mercedes Jones

* "I Kissed a Girl" by KatyPerry, performed by Tina Cohen-Chang

* "Can't Fight This Feeling" by REOSpeedwagon, performed by Finn Hudson
* "You're the One that I Want" from {{Grease}}, performed by Finn Hudson, Rachel Berry, and New Directions
* "Rehab" by AmyWinehouse, performed by Vocal Adrenaline

* ActorAllusion: Rachel sings "On My Own" as her audition song. Creator/LeaMichele, who plays Rachel, made her broadway debut in ''Theatre/LesMiserables'', and was going to be in the revival, but instead decided to be in ''SpringAwakening''.

* UrineTrouble : A bed-wetter returns sheets to Terri's store.

They see the other show choir, Vocal Adrenaline, perform and are (understandably) freaked out. As New Directions leaves the performance, Finn gets caught by his fellow football players and decides to quit the club. As his "Welcome back present" they trap Artie in [[StuffedIntoALocker a port-a-pottie]] and try to tip it. Finn chooses to free Artie and return to Glee Club. They are skeptical of Finn's return but give him a chance anyway, and he leads them to put together an [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome epic]] version of "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey [[note]] which has become the show's unofficial theme song.[[/note]] Slightly before that, Will's wife, Terri, finds out she's pregnant and suggests that Will get a better paying job so that he can take care of his family. Will almost quits his job at [=McKinley=] to become an accountant, but [[NeatFreak Emma Pillsbury]], the guidance counselor talks him out of it, and seeing the Glee club perform is what finally convinces him to stay.

* "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat" from GuysAndDolls, performed by Artie Abrams and New Directions

* ActorAllusion: Rachel sings "On My Own" as her audition song. LeaMichele, who plays Rachel, made her broadway debut in ''Theatre/LesMiserables'', and was going to be in the revival, but instead decided to be in ''SpringAwakening''.

They see the other show choir, Vocal Adrenaline, perform and are (understandably) freaked out. As New Directions leaves the performance, Finn gets caught by his fellow football players and decides to quit the club. As his "Welcome back present" they trap Artie in [[StuffedIntoALocker a port-a-pottie]] and try to tip it. Finn chooses to free Artie and return to Glee Club. They are skeptical of Finn's return but give him a chance anyway, and he leads them to put together an [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome epic]] version of "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey [[hottip:*: which has become the show's unofficial theme song.]] Slightly before that, Will's wife, Terri, finds out she's pregnant and suggests that Will get a better paying job so that he can take care of his family. Will almost quits his job at [=McKinley=] to become an accountant, but [[NeatFreak Emma Pillsbury]], the guidance counselor talks him out of it, and seeing the Glee club perform is what finally convinces him to stay.

* "Leaving on a Jet Plane" by Peter, Paul, and Mary, performed by Will Schuester [[hottip:*: this was only in the director's cut of the pilot]].

* "On My Own" from LesMiserables, performed by Rachel Berry.

* ActorAllusion: Rachel sings "On My Own" as her audition song. LeaMichele, who plays Rachel, made her broadway debut in LesMiserables, and was going to be in the revival, but instead decided to be in SpringAwakening.

* "Mr. Cellophane" from {{Chicago}}, performed by Kurt Hummel

* "Don't Stop Believing" by {{Journey}}, performed by Rachel Berry, Finn Hudson, and New Directions.

They see the other show choir, Vocal Adrenaline, perform and are [[BeyondTheImpossible (understandably)]] freaked out. As New Directions leaves the performance, Finn gets caught by his fellow football players and decides to quit the club. As his "Welcome back present" they trap Artie in [[StuffedIntoALocker a port-a-pottie]] and try to tip it. Finn chooses to free Artie and return to Glee Club. They are skeptical of Finn's return but give him a chance anyway, and he leads them to put together an [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome epic]] version of "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey [[hottip:*: which has become the show's unofficial theme song.]] Slightly before that, Will's wife, Terri, finds out she's pregnant and suggests that Will get a better paying job so that he can take care of his family. Will almost quits his job at [=McKinley=] to become an accountant, but [[NeatFreak Emma Pillsbury]], the guidance counselor talks him out of it, and seeing the Glee club perform is what finally convinces him to stay.

* YouFailSexEdForever: Finn's lie to miss football practice so he can go on the glee club trip is that his mom has to have her prostate out.
** Puck has to look it up to find out "chicks don't have prostates".

[[TheArtifact Spanish teacher]] [[TheEveryman Will Schuester]] decides to take over the Glee club after the former coach has [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean *ahem*]] [[StudentTeacherRomance an "incident"]] [[HoYay with student Hank Saunders]] and is subsequently fired. Will has auditions for the Glee Club, which he renames New Directions, and ends up getting five students: [[SassyBlackWoman Mercedes Jones,]] [[CampGay Kurt Hummel,]] [[PerkyGoth Tina Cohen-Chang]], [[ItsAllAboutMe Rachel Berry]] and [[DisabledSnarker Artie Abrams]]. They [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits aren't the most popular of kids]], and a Glee club doesn't exactly work with five people, so Will goes recruiting. After getting a bit of advice, he talks to [[JerkJock the football team]], but no one signs up. Then Will overhears [[BigManOnCampus Finn Hudson]] singing [[HoYay in the shower]], and uses some pot the old glee club coach gave him to blackmail Finn into joining the Glee club. After a few rehearsals with the newest member, Will decides to take the club on a field trip to see another show choir perform. Finn lies to the football team to miss practice so he can go.

* EarlyBirdCameo: Ine of the A Capella songs that plays in the background is "When I Get You Alone", which later appears in Season Two.

[[TheArtifact Spanish teacher]] [[TheEveryman Will Schuester]] decides to take over the glee club after the former coach has [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean *ahem*]] [[StudentTeacherRomance an "incident"]] [[HoYay with student Hank Saunders]] and is subsequently fired. Will has auditions for the Glee Club, which is called New Directions, and ends up getting five students: [[SassyBlackWoman Mercedes Jones,]] [[CampGay Kurt Hummel,]] [[PerkyGoth Tina Cohen-Chang]] [[ItsAllAboutMe Rachel Berry]] and [[DisabledSnarker Artie Abrams]]. They [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits aren't the most popular of kids]], and a glee club doesn't exactly work with five people, so Will goes recruiting. After getting a bit of advice, he talks to [[JerkJock The football team]], but no one signs up. Then Will overhears [[BigManOnCampus Finn Hudson]] singing [[HoYay in the shower]], and uses some pot the old glee club coach gave him to blackmail Finn into joining the Glee club. After a few rehearsals with the newest member, Will decides to take the club on a field trip to see another show choir perform. Finn lies to the football team to miss practice so he can go.

They see the other show choir, Vocal Adrenaline, perform and are [[BeyondTheImpossible (understandably)]] freaked out. As New Directions leaves the performance, Finn gets caught by his fellow football players and decides to quit the club. As his "Welcome back present" they trap Artie in [[StuffedIntoALocker a port-a-pottie]] and try to tip it. Finn chooses to free Artie and return to Glee Club. They are skeptical of Finn's return but give him a chance anyway, and he leads them to put together an [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome epic]] version of "don't stop believing" by Journey [[hottip:*: which has become the show's unnoficial theme song.]] Slightly before that, Will's wife, Terri, finds out she's pregnant and suggests that Will get a better paying job so that he can take care of his family. Will almost quits his job at [=McKinley=] to become an accountant, but [[NeatFreak Emma Pillsbury]], the guidance counselor talks him out of it, and seeing the glee club perform is what finally convinces him to stay.

-->'''Rachel''': He was touching Hank, caressing him. it was '''so wrong''.
* EarlyBirdCameo: one of the A Capella songs that plays in the background is "When I Get You Alone", which later appears in Season Two.

[[TheArtifact Spanish teacher]] [[TheEveryman Will Schuester]] decides to take over the glee club after the former coach has [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean *ahem*]] [[StudentTeacherRomance an "incident"]] [[HoYay with student Hank Saunders]] and is subsequently fired. Will has auditions for the Glee Club, which is called New Directions, and ends up getting five students: [[SassyBlackWoman Mercedes Jones,]] [[CampGay Kurt Hummel,]] [[PerkyGoth Tina Cohen-Chang]] [[ItsAllAboutMe Rachel Berry]] and [[DisabledSnarker Artie Abrams]]. They [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits aren't the most popular of kids]], and a glee club doesn't exactly work with five people, so Will goes recruiting. After getting a bit of advice, he talks to [[JerkJock The football team]], but no one signs up. Then Will overhears [[BigManOnCampus Finn Hudson]] singing [[HoYay in the shower]], and uses some pot the old glee club coach gave him to blackmail Finn into joining the Glee club. After a few rehearsals with the newest member, Will decides to take the club on a field trip to see another show choir perform. Finn lies to the football team to miss practice so he can go. They see the other show choir, Vocal Adrenaline, perform and are [[BeyondTheImpossible (understandably)]] freaked out. As New Directions leaves the performance, Finn gets caught by his fellow football players and decides to quit the club. As his "Welcome back present" they trap Artie in [[StuffedIntoALocker a port-a-pottie]] and try to tip it. Finn chooses to free Artie and return to Glee Club. They are skeptical of Finn's return but give him a chance anyway, and he leads them to put together an [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome epic]] version of "don't stop believing" by Journey [[hottip:*: which has become the show's unnoficial theme song.]] Slightly before that, Will's wife, Terri, finds out she's pregnant and suggests that Will get a better paying job so that he can take care of his family. Will almost quits his job at [=McKinley=] to become an accountant, but [[NeatFreak Emma Pillsbury]], the guidance counselor talks him out of it, and seeing the glee club perform is what finally convinces him to stay.

* FiveTokenBand: New Directions, especially before Finn joined. Rachel is [[InformedJudaism Jewish]], Kurt is [[CampGay gay]], Mercedes is [[SassyBlackWoman black]], Tina is Asian, and Artie is [[DisabledSnarker in a wheelchair.]]