HOLLYWOOD, March 20 — Today, March 20, Fox will air the final double episode of Ryan Murphy’s musical comedy series. After bringing a breath of fresh air to the small screen in 2009, “Glee” is poised to go out with a fizzle.

TV audiences are fickle, and many a series has been the victim of viewers’ changing tastes and constant search for something new. “Glee” is certainly one of them. After attracting a strong following early on, the musical series saw its ratings and influence decline with each passing season.

A smash hit

On paper, nothing indicated “Glee” would be a hit. There is nothing particularly original about the story of a high school teacher who steps up to revive the school’s glee club. But the show touched upon a range of themes teenagers can’t resist, from sex and drugs to disability, eating disorders and self-esteem. Viewers also responded to the characters — lovable slushy-sipping underdogs — and of course to their song and dance routines.

Sensing the show’s potential to engage younger viewers, Fox began building the buzz early on, namely by airing the pilot in May 2009, four months before the official premiere. From the first season, 9 million Americans tuned in each week for the musical stylings of Rachel and her fellow singers.

The show’s popularity peaked in season two, which was watched by 11.6 million viewers. On February 6, 2011, the show attracted its largest ever audience, 26.8 million viewers, with a special episode aired after the Super Bowl. A few months earlier, Britney Spears had agreed to make a cameo. Other famous guest stars to have appeared alongside the New Directions include Gwyneth Paltrow, Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Sarah Jessica Parker and Olivia Newton-John.

A flash in the pan

Despite winning dozens of awards and selling millions of albums, “Glee” quickly ran out of steam. Ratings declined starting in the third season, and the musical comedy also fell out of favour with critics, coming under fire namely for its plot shortcomings. Nonetheless, Fox kept its faith in the show, which escaped cancellation season after season.

“Glee” came close to disappearing after its fourth season due to the death of actor Cory Monteith, in July 2013. Murphy considered calling it quits, but he decided to leave the decision to Lea Michele, who was Monteith’s real-life companion and played his character’s girlfriend on the show. Ultimately, his character’s death was incorporated into the plot of the fifth season.

One month after the premiere of season five, the first without the character of Finn, Murphy announced that “Glee” would bow out after the end of its sixth season, which consists of just 13 episodes. The last two will air Today as a final tribute to Monteith. — AFP/Relaxnews