Lots of hype surrounds 'Glee' sex episode

Most people would agree that underage teen sex is a very bad idea for all sorts of reasons. Most would also agree TV's had a pretty abysmal record conveying those reasons. Kids have sex, then . . . cut to the commercial! Consequences be damned.

That's why Tuesday night's much-hyped episode of "Glee" -- "The First Time" -- was potential dynamite. It ended with kids in bed -- one straight pair, one gay -- fully clothed and looking deeply into one another's eyes. Were they about to discard their clothes and virginity . . . or were they not?

Nonetheless, the Parents Television Council said in a statement earlier in the day, "the fact that 'Glee' intends to not only broadcast, but celebrate children having sex is reprehensible."

As noted, "Glee" did neither, although that might have been a sleight of hand to get around standards and practices. TV does that a lot, too.

But there's a case to be made for "virginity wins," too. Consider the plotline, which puckishly misinterpreted "West Side Story." Artie (Kevin McHale) -- who was directing McKinley High's version -- tells Blaine Anderson (Darren Criss), who's playing Tony, and Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) who's Maria, that the song "Tonight" is "about sexual awakening, as is the entire play." They need to lose their virginity, he insists, to sing it properly. Of course that's absurd, but it sets Blaine and Rachel on a course of conquest with their respective lovers, Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer) and Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith).

Later, in his carpe diem speech to Kurt, Blaine says "West Side Story" is "all about living outside your safe little world." Wrong again. In fact, it's mostly "about" racial intolerance, bigotry and thwarted love, as any high school-aged director knows. ("Tonight," by the way, ends with these words: "Good night, good night, sleep well and when you dream, dream of me." No awakening there.)

So, did these red herrings point to a no-sex ending? Did virginity, in other words, win out?

Maybe. Maybe not. At least people were talking about "Glee" again -- no ambiguity there.