The Fox network in the US is notorious for not properly supporting their shows, upsetting their schedules and canceling shows before they've had a chance to reach their audience or find their footing. And the reason I think people notice this - and remember it, is because Fox puts to air some very inventive and creative programming which appeals to a small but passionate audience. Fox has traditionally upset its science fiction viewers and now it's courting a whole new audience - musical theatre fans and glee club geeks.

Now, to be fair, the pilot will be aired this Tuesday night on the back of Fox's powerhouse ratings bonanza, America Idol - which is actually more about marketing than real musical talent. That said, it has been responsible for Clay Aiken - who went to Broadway in 2008 with Spamalot. So it's a good strategy to pair these two together - although a preview months before the show starts is questionable.

But forget the network and its potential to screw up the most inventive television imaginable. Is their new high school musical series any good? Hell yes!

First key ingredient - cast actors who can actually sing. Lead actor Matthew Morrison - who plays teacher Will Schuester - is a Tony-nominated performer (for The Light in the Piazza) and has appeared in Footloose and The Rocky Horror Show. Actress Lea Michele created the role of Wendla Bergman in the musical Spring Awakening, for which she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award.

The promise of other Broadway names as guest stars went unfulfilled in the pilot, but we have Kristen Chenoweth, Debra Monk, Cheyenne Jackson, Victor Garber and John Lloyd Young to look forward to. Singer Josh Groban, too.

The rest of the cast is filled out with a good mix of comic and dramatic actors - all fitting well into their so far not-too-complicated roles. Just as we would expect from an American high school series, we must deal with jocks and geeks and cheerleaders and nerds as shorthand for who these kids are - with only Finn trying to have a foot in more than one camp at once.

More interesting to me is the way the teacher roles have been written - reflecting on the roles they played in high school (Will was in Glee club then, his wife Terri was one of the popular girls - and they were high school sweethearts) and how little can change in the way some types of people treat other types of people. The unsure football coach trying to ask out another teacher is a cool twist on the typical high school version of it - and not too far removed, particularly in his reaction.

The highlight, as should be expected in a show called Glee, is the music used. To introduce character: Chicago's "My Celophane Man" for Kurt; Les Miserables' "On My Own" for Rachel; "RESPECT" for Mercedes and "I Kissed a Girl" for Tina. As spectacles: "That's the Way" and "Rehab". And to tell a story "Leaving on a Jet Plane" and "Don't Stop Believing".

It's not exactly a musical musical - the characters don't burst into song unless they are on stage, but the music and the rhythm is part of the characters. Rachel needs it because it makes her feel special. Finn does because it makes him feel better and stand out.

Much of the first episode is about characters making decisions based on what's expected of them versus what they feel like they really want to do. And as with most pilots, the audience needs to embrace the fact the story will play out in a certain kind of way - Will will get to teach Glee and remain at the school, even if both are in question at various points in this debut episode. What's interesting is the focus on character and particularly the relationship between what you want in high school and what you get later on. And whether those two things can ever co-exist.

Hopefully the good word-of-mouth and the post-Idol premiere will encourage Fox to let this show find its voice. Because it already sings pretty well so far. Without even trying, it already hits a high B.