In the pilot of this musical comedy-drama from Ryan Murphy ("Nip/Tuck") about the misfits who make up a high-school glee club, teacher and former glee-club star Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) must find a male singer to match diva Rachel (Lea Michele). Then he hears football quarterback Finn (Cory Monteith) singing in a shower. Meanwhile, Will's wife (Jessalyn Gilsig) wants him to get a better-paying job.
This musical comedy-drama about the misfits who make up a high-school glee club opens its first season with the club's first performance. It's not what Will expects, and it gives his rival, cheerleader coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch), added ammunition. But it is crowd-pleasing. Meanwhile, Finn's cheerleader girlfriend, Quinn (Dianna Agron), is becoming jealous of Rachel; and Will's wife, Terri (Jessalyn Gilsig), wants to buy a house, so Will has to scramble to earn more money.
Will forms an all-male a cappella group, but when he neglects the glee club, the kids decide to hire a well-known choreographer to coach them. Meanwhile, Mercedes falls in love. Josh Groban appears as himself.
While Kurt tries out for the football team (taking a page from the glee playbook with him), Rachel storms out of glee practice when Will gives a plum part to Tina. Meanwhile, Sue comes up with a new plot to boost her program at glee's expense; and Quinn has news for Finn.
Will enlists a former classmate (Kristin Chenoweth) to spice up the glee club and her efforts appear to be going well. But a key member thinks otherwise.
Will challenges the kids to a mashup showdown, with the boys taking on the girls; Terri takes a job as school nurse to keep an eye on Will, despite the fact that she has no health-care training.
Sue makes the Glee kids compete against each other to sow seeds of dissension, then gets called into Principal Figgins' office, along with Will. Meanwhile, the kids rally to show their support for Quinn.
Will is inspired by the kids to create a mash-up for a special occasion. Meanwhile, the cool kids at McKinley High get a taste of their own medicine, and Sue displays her softer side.
It's Rachel vs. Kurt in a "diva-off" for the solo in Glee's rendition of "Defying Gravity." Meanwhile, the school can't pay for a wheelchair-accessible bus for Artie for the trip to regionals, so Shue challenges his charges to raise the money; Quinn's medical bills are beginning to pile up, and she challenges Finn to come up with money to pay them; and Sue must hold an open tryout for the Cheerios. Her selection has Shue scratching his head.
Mr. Schuester divides the glee club into couples for a ballad, but it turns out to be not so good an idea when one kid gets sick. Meanwhile, Finn has dinner with Quinn's parents (Gregg Henry and Charlotte Ross). This turns out to be a bad idea as well.
Will is concerned that Sue is leaking info, so he visits with a rival club's instructor (Eve) while the kids check out their competition. Meanwhile, Kurt gives Rachel a makeover, and he may have hidden motives for doing this.
Budget cuts mean no yearbook photo for the glee club, but Rachel is the only one upset about this. Meanwhile, Quinn tries to get into the Cheerios yearbook photo; and Will and Terri face serious problems in their relationship.
Quinn's secret unravels as the sectionals approach, threatening club cohesion at the worst possible time. Meanwhile, Sue's scheming continues apace (and then some); and Will ponders an important decision as Emma and Ken's wedding nears. Grace Hitchens: Eve.