Cory Monteith, Lea Michelle, Matthew Morrison and Jane Lynch return in Fox's 'Glee'. (FOX)

Surely there are some of you who avoided the first season of Fox’s phenomenon Glee because it seemed to feature things that make you itchy — spontaneous singing and choreography, un-ironic smiling teenagers.

Having seen a bit of the second season, which starts Tuesday, I can pretty much guarantee that you’re still going to hate it.

But for anyone won over by the Ryan Murphy-created series about a popularity-challenged but doggedly determined Ohio high school singing group will be pleased that it’s got all of the aforementioned stuff you liked, plus some special surprises — a well-done all-Madonna episode and a return visit from Tony winner Kristen Chenoweth as a boozy former Glee Club member.

It also retains that arch, candy-coated acidity, where a character’s newly discovered self-worth still won’t stop bullies from tossing a neon blue slushie in their face in the hallway.

The slushie-tossing, which became an expected moment last season, is back, along with the show’s basic premise: Well-meaning Glee Club coach Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) tries to navigate his musical island of misfit teens through various competitions which, if won, ensures they won’t get cut from the school’s budget.

He’s also trying to navigate past lying, scheming, fabulously evil cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch), motivated by a hatred for Will and anything that doesn’t further her agenda of world domination. She’ll stoop to pretty much anything, including blackmailing faculty and students alike, and encouraging evil cheerleaders to break up a key Glee Club couple as a way of weakening its core.

Sue and Will are like Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, except this time, the coyote wins just enough to make the Road Runner nervous.

Murphy does well to keep that key rivalry intact, but he also corrects some initial missteps.

The foremost is slightly dialing back the screen time, at least in the first few episodes, of over-zealous Glee Clubber Rachel (Lea Michele).

Although the show still focuses on Rachel, her powerful Broadway voice and her not-so-subconscious feeling that this is her glee club, it wisely allows some of the other talented young actors to shine.

Amber Riley, who plays developing diva Mercedes, gets a particularly cheer-worthy moment in the third episode, pulling off a show-stopper with a song I won’t name so as not to ruin its power.

The episode also expands Mercedes beyond the tiresome sassy black girl stereotype.

Those spontaneous singing numbers are still strong, although an episode focusing on songs with the word "Hello" in the title feels a little forced, even for this show.

But there’s plenty to sing about, including a mind-blowing Chenoweth performance of Home, from The Wiz, an electrifying Burt Bacharach medley and a split-screen seduction scene featuring Like a Virgin that joyfully dances on, but doesn’t cross, the boundaries of good taste.

That’s a dance Glee has perfected, and as long as it keeps that rhythm, it’s going to be a joyous season.

T V R E V I E W

GLEE

B+

When: Tuesday,

9:30 p.m.

Channel: Fox

(WFLX-Channel 29)