Pilot Optimistic high school teacher Will Schuester tries to refuel his own passion while reinventing the McKinley High School's glee club and challenging a group of outcasts to realize their star potential. With McKinley's cruel high school caste system and harsh criticism from everyone around him, Will's determined to prove them all wrong and lead the glee club to the greatest competition of them all: Nationals.
Showmance The Glee Club performs in front of the school for the first time and pushes their performance to the limits. When Quinn realizes Rachel's realizes her feelings for Finn, she goes to great lengths to keep her man. Meanwhile, Mr. Schuester's wife reveals some surprising news, forcing Will to figure out a new way to make ends meet.
Acafellas Will forms the Acafellas, an all-male acapella vocal group, and spends more time building his own confidence than he does with the glee club. In Will's absence, the glee club decides to hire a well-known choreographer to help coach them to Nationals. Meanwhile, Mercedes is bitten by the love bug, but her feelings aren't reciprocated. When the Acafellas perform for the P.T.A., they get a surprise visit backstage from Josh Groban.
Preggers Kurt takes center stage when he tries out for the football team in order to impress his dad. Sandy and Sue join forces to carry out their plans for destroying the Glee Club. Meanwhile, Quinn and Finn's relationship is tested when they receive some life-changing news.
The Rhodes Not Taken Will thinks the glee club desperately needs more of an edge, so he brings in his former classmate, April Rhodes, to spice things up. Will's plan seems to be going smoothly until he realizes he may be losing a key member of the club.
Vitamin D Will challenges the kids to a healthy dose of competition with boys against girls in a mashup showdown. Meanwhile, Terri takes a job as the school nurse, despite having no medical experience, to keep an eye on Will.
Throwdown To cause dissention among the Glee Club members, Sue forces the students to compete against each other, but the real showdown happens when she and Will get called into the principal's office. Meanwhile, the Glee kids rally to support Quinn after some shocking news is revealed.
Mash-Up Inspired the by the students, Will composes a mash-up for a very special occasion. Meanwhile, in a shocking reversal of roles, McKinley High's cool kids are dethroned in an icy fashion, and Sue shows off her softer side.
Wheels Will encourages the Glee Club to support Artie, and asks each of them to perform in a wheelchair. Meanwhile, Kurt and Rachel compete for a big solo.
Ballad Mr. Schuester has the Glee Club split up into pairs to sing their favorite ballad, but when one kid gets sick, he's forced to step in and winds up in a sticky situation. Meanwhile, Finn has dinner with Quinn's parents.
Hairography Concerned that Sue is up to no good, Will pays a visit to an instructor of a competing Glee Club (guest star Eve) to see what information Sue may be leaking, which leads to the club getting a look at their hair-rising competition. Meanwhile, Kurt gives Rachel a makeover to impress Finn, but he may have ulterior motives.
Mattress When the Glee Club is left out of the yearbook because of budget cuts, everyone seems to be relieved that they won’t have to suffer the ridicule of years past. Everyone except Rachel, that is, who wants her legacy cemented in print. Meanwhile, Quinn makes it her mission to be in the Cheerios yearbook photo, and Will and Terri’s relationship is shaken to its core.
