{alltv} 'Glee' goes typically, enjoyably over-the-top for its encore

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Here's to heading in new New Directions.

It's the start of another semester for Fox's outlandishly entertaining musical schoolhouse romp, Glee, but not much has changed. The New Directions singers may have tasted a bit of success, but they're still social outcasts, and their club could still become a budget fatality — with or without Sue's conniving.

As for the TV show itself, it remains the same heady, sometimes-too-rich mix of song-and-dance magic, high school musical spoof and overall excess. It's a mess, but it's the kind of joyous mess that makes you think order can be overrated.

Don't tune in late, because Glee is at its humorous best in tonight's opening moments. With tongue firmly in cheek, it addresses and mocks most of the summer's Internet-fed rumors and complaints. Have you heard that one of the cast members may be difficult to work with, or no one likes it when Matthew Morrison raps, or some dismiss the musical performances as Auto-Tuned karaoke numbers that "sound like they come from a drag queen's iPod"? Apparently, so have the writers.

The Gleesters, however, have bigger worries. They need one more member if they hope to re-enter the competition that this year might take them to New York. And while looking for a singer, they have to wade through their school's social status warfare, from Quinn's determination to win her spot back on the cheerleading squad to Finn's desire to hang on to his position on the football team.

Sad to say, that team also represents Glee's penchant to go a few steps too far — showcased by tonight's introduction of Dot Marie Jones as the new female football coach, Coach Beiste (as in, yes, beast). Outfitted like a female impersonator and initially treated like a grotesque, bromide-torturing joke, Beiste then gets turned into a sympathetic stand-in for outsiders everywhere. That's a lot for a new character to handle in one hour, and Beiste buckles under the initial weight.

Still, while you wait for the interaction between Beiste and Sue (Jane Lynch, a prickly delight as always) to settle into a more sustainable hatred, sit back and let the compensating virtues of Glee wash over you. Those include the promising introduction of a new, would-be glee member (Chord Overstreet) and a cameo by singer Charice as a potential rival for Rachel.

Best of all, there's the music itself. The songs are all worth hearing, but the highlight is an emotion-fraught version of What I Did for Love from Lea Michele that puts every amateur musical performance on every TV talent show this year to shame.

And if that ends up on some drag queen's iPod, odds are that will be just fine with Glee.

Glee
Fox, Tuesday, 8 ET/PT
* * * (out of four)