There's nothing else on TV like Glee. At its best it's an intriguing and endlessly entertaining mix of high school drama, subversive snark and jaw-dropping musical performances.

So I was beyond bummed when Tuesday night's Britney Spears episode dropped all these qualities the way Brit-Brit used to bobble her babies, instead turning it into a half-hour tour through her collected video works.

Don't get me wrong, I love the revelation that cheerleader Brittany — full name Brittany S. Pierce — lives in the shadow of the other Britney's talent. That is until a nitrous oxide-induced fantasy transports Brittany into Britney's "I'm a Slave 4 U" video, faux-nude body glitter, red latex body suit and yellow python included. It was awesome — Heather Morris, who could easily double for Ms. Spears, is an amazing dancer with a perfectly breathy voice for singing Britney.

The next dream adds Santana into the mix as Madonna next to Brittany's "Me Against the Music." More great dancing. More shot-for-shot video reproductions. I'm still loving this.

But by the time Rachel gets her turn in the dentist's chair, recreating the iconic "... Baby One More Time" video with pitch-perfect accuracy and Lea Michele's far superior vocals, you can't help but notice something's missing.

To quote the show, it's Britney, bitch. The recreations of Britney videos are spot-on, but it takes more than singing and dancing to be Britney Spears. It takes that perfect amount of "not a girl, not yet a woman" stares into the camera that read as the perfect mix of innocence, neediness, confidence and sex. It takes a work ethic that comes from the desire to get the hell out of Kentwood, La. It takes a star.

And while everyone on Glee has talent and charisma, it can't be harnessed by trying to imitate the work of someone else. If I want to watch Britney Spears videos, I will. But I would also like to watch Glee be Glee.

The best performance of the episode was the pep rally group dance to a sexy, stripped down version "Toxic." Between the black and white costumes, the overtly risque moves and some very naughty things done with bowler hats, the performance caused what Sue Sylvester termed a "Britney Spears sex riot."

This is what I love about Glee. Taking great music and making it different, newer, better.

What do you think, CultureGleeks? Which performance drives you crazy? And were you as bummed as I was that Glee didn't take on "Lucky"?

"Me Against The Music":

"Toxic"