Well, it seems as if we have the next TV trend on our hands, guys.

According to deadline.com, ABC has greenlit two musical pilots, joining the CW in trying to cash in on Glee mania. While the CW project is described as “Glee meets Bad Santa”, ABC’s projects tap Idina Menzel as a Lorelai Gilmore-esque working single mother/singer and try to confine a whole lot of theatricality into a separate half hour pilot as yet to be named. While each of these projects have slight quirks to try to differentiate themselves from the mothership of all network musicals (Menzel’s project is supposed to be more dramatic while the CW’s focuses on the counselors), each project will likely simply be referred to “Glee but…” when being described by television viewers.

I don’t begrudge any network executive trying to take a trend and run with it, mostly because they're just responding to what people are telling them they enjoy (through ratings). CBS didn’t make three CSI’s, two Criminal Minds’s, two NCIS’s, and three Chuck Lorre sitcoms because they were just feeling a bit lazy one day during the summer. People are demanding it and by golly, if America is yearning for elaborate dance sequences and familiar pop songs, that’s what they’re going to get. I’m not ruling out watching any of these projects, mostly because it’s so early in the pilot season that anything could change (someone I really enjoy watching could be cast, plot details could be further fleshed out, etc). Plus, if one of these shows makes it onto the air, the trailers, buzz around them, and what airs against them will tell the tale of my possible viewership. If they’re different enough to really make me take notice, I wouldn’t be opposed to following a musical because I consider myself to be a decently open minded TV fan. The massive overexposure that Glee has had, though, hasn’t made it any easier to concede even that, but we shall see where things are come May.

Do you think any of these would be good shows? Do you have room enough in your heart for two (more) musical shows?