It worked for Disney. Disney makes money. FOX likes to make money, too. So why not sort of borrow an idea inspired by Disney, tweak it for TV, and make a truckload of money?

I’m just guessing here, but I feel like the pitch for FOX’s Glee went something like this. The network has ordered thirteen episodes of a new scripted musical series, truly the first of its kind. The maker of Nip/Tuck is behind the High School-based series, which will follow the characters inside a glee club that’s striving toward nationals.

Sources say the series will premiere in 2009, with speculation on the exact date running rampant. Some say it won’t appear until the summer season hits, while others are saying FOX will surely air it earlier to make use of an American Idol tie-in.

At any rate, it’s a musical series (there will be numbers every episode) starring a bunch of young, good-looking people. It’s not High School Musical, it’s Glee.

And it’s probably going to be huge.