A racy photo shoot for a men's magazine featuring three Glee cast members has been labelled "creepy" and questions are being raised over whether the popular TV musical show is becoming overexposed.

Short skirts, high heels, pretty panties and provocative poses featuring lollipops dominate the GQ photoshoot featuring Lea Michele (Rachel), Dianna Agron (Quinn) and Corey Monteith (Finn). All three stars are in their 20s.

The shoot plays with the high school setting of the Emmy-winning television show.

But the Parents Television Council says the photos "border on paedophilia," given the adult male readership of GQ.

"This is just the latest example of the overt sexualization of young girls in entertainment," the PTC said.

Glee - a sometimes dark, subversive comedy featuring a high school choir - has taken US pop culture by storm since its 2009 debut.

The program has produced three bestselling albums, won two Emmys and deals boldly with issues like sex, disability and gay bullying.

It is regularly watched by some 13.4 million US viewers and has a strong following overseas.

Superstars like Madonna, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga have readily agreed to license their songs to the show.

Broadcaster Fox has declined to comment on the PTC statement.

But GQ editor-in-chief Jim Nelson says that the watchdog group "should learn to divide reality from fantasy".

"As often happens in Hollywood, these 'kids' are in their 20s. Cory Monteith's almost 30. I think they're old enough to do what they want," Nelson said.

Bob Thompson, professor of popular culture at Syracuse University, also brushed off the PTC comments.

He says that Glee has never been a "kiddie show" despite attracting a youth audience.

"From the very beginning, Glee has dealt with pot, teen pregnancy and gay sexuality. This is a show that has definitely got adult themes," he said.

"The GQ shoot demonstrates it isn't just a show for teeny boppers."

Los Angeles Times TV writer Mary McNamara, noting that Monteith remains fully clothed in the shoot, expressed dismay only that young women still feel the need to pose so provocatively.

Michele, she wrote, "seems to be auditioning for a live action version of Japanese anime porn."

The Washington Post's Celebritology blog reports the GQ shoot is "the latest evidence that the Glee hype machine might be starting to spiral out of control."

- Reuters