Many Less Than Gleeful Over Wednesday’s Episode Of “Glee”
Posted by: Ami Angelowicz
Filed in:
entertainment
12:20PM, Friday November 13th 2009
I don’t know about you, but I was feeling kind of warm and fuzzy inside after Wednesday night’s “Wheels” episode of “Glee.” In case you missed it, the gleeks had to roll around in wheelchairs for three hours a day to be more empathetic toward Artie. The Cheerios accepted a cheerleader with Down’s syndrome. And Kurt auditioned to sing the “Defying Gravity” solo, even though it’s traditionally sung by a woman, for sectionals. The central theme of the episode was inequality and discrimination. While it was glossy in that “Glee” sort of way, I still found it thought-provoking. But not everyone is singing praises about the show. Seems like all the episode did was inspire controversy.
On Wednesday night’s episode, Kurt Hummel struggled with the issue of what it means to be gay in a small town. He decided to throw his audition for the “Defying Gravity” solo after his father received a threatening phone call about his sexual orientation. After seeing this storyline, I was thinking, “Props to FOX for going there.” But then, in a totally hypocritical move, FOX execs tried to conceal Chris Colfer’s (the actor that plays Kurt) sexual orientation. In a recent interview with The Advocate, Chris inadvertently admitted to being gay. FOX execs were not happy about his openness on the subject. They even asked The Advocate to pull part of the interview, saying, “They’re very protective of their young stars. And while the studio is pro-gay, they didn’t want Chris stamped with a ‘gay actor’ label so early in his career. They want him to be known simply as an ‘actor.’”
But things got even worse. After seeing the episode, which included a version of “Proud Mary” with the entire glee club in wheelchairs, disabled viewers were not singing along. Why? They were offended by all of the able-bodied actors in wheelchairs—especially Kevin McHale, who plays Artie. They believe that FOX has deprived disabled actors of their shot at stardom. Executive producer Brad Falchuk shot back: “We brought in anyone: white, black, Asian, in a wheelchair. It was very hard to find people who could really sing, really act, and have that charisma you need on TV.” [US Weekly, Celebitchy]
Where do you stand on these “Glee” controversies?
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lea322
wrote on November 13 2009 @ 12:25 pm: [report]
It seems like people just need to be up in arms about something all the time.
workerbee
wrote on November 13 2009 @ 12:29 pm: [report]
I saw the controversy coming as soon as I saw the Down’s girl auditioning for cheerleading. I didn’t watch that much of the episode otherwise.
novavariations
wrote on November 13 2009 @ 12:33 pm: [report]
Agree with lea. They needed someone wheelchair bound, who could act, fit into the mix of the group charismawise, who could sing AND fit into the mix with their voice. Have they heard Artie’s voice? He’s a pretty strong base.
It was a fantastic episode. The entire show last night brought me pretty close to tears.
I love Kurt’s character, and the fact that he’s just a normal kid who almost didn’t make the show (He originally auditioned for Artie, and didn’t get the part, but they liked him so much that they wrote in a role for him) make it so much better. And I agree that the writers are just doing a fantastic job, and discovering a new middle ground for a parent’s reaction to their kid coming out. Most shows/movies, the parents are either completely supportive, or disown their kid. It’s clearly so tough for Kurt’s dad, but love overcomes all.
Didn’t like Defying Gravity, but mostly because of the way the arrangement was done, not because of any lack of talent. Also Idina Menzel holds a special place in my heart with that song, so I didn’t go into the show with high expectations for that song.
lea322
wrote on November 13 2009 @ 12:34 pm: [report]
@workerbee: That subplot was actually pretty touching, and showed a lot more of Sue’s character than has previously been shown.
cattgirl813
wrote on November 13 2009 @ 01:06 pm: [report]
I don’t understand the appeal of this show to begin with. It’s too much for me. That said, it would’ve been nice had they found a disabled actor to fill the role of a disabled character, but an abled bodied actor got the role. He had something the producers of the show wanted for the part - that’s why they call them actors, folks.
tabby
wrote on November 13 2009 @ 01:29 pm: [report]
Not my fav episode of Glee ever, but mostly because they wasted Defying Gravity. That is such an amazing song and they could have showcased it better. However, getting to see some of the humanity that Sue has hidden deep, deep, DEEP down was pretty great. I was slightly terrified that she was going to be cruel to Becky when she picked her at auditions, as Sue is wont to do. Then I got all teary-eyed when she was reading to her sister. Yay for Glee!
taylorruth
wrote on November 13 2009 @ 01:32 pm: [report]
It was one of the best written and acted episodes of the season. Sure, it would have been nice if one of the disabled actors who auditioned for the role of Artie had gotten the role, but clearly the ones who auditioned were not right for the part. Kevin McHale is, he’s a great actor with superb comic timing and an amazing voice. There’s just always something to bitch about.
As for asking the Advocate to take the part out about Chris, he’s stated he was gay in other interviews before so honestly, that doesn’t make much sense to me.
draymond
wrote on November 13 2009 @ 02:19 pm: [report]
I am a bit confused with the controversy. Are the disable actors suggesting that instead of a plot line where all the glee club put themselves in wheelchairs they instead replaced everyone with wheelchair bound singers?
I like the musical numbers on the show but some of the plot holes are really annoying. In particular the whole pregnancy story arc, which is a multiepisode jump the shark all on its own. For example in this show the girl is all upset that the bill for the sonogram is going to tip her parents off that she is pregnant. Like that isn’t going to be inescapably obvious in a couple of weeks?
On the other hand the cheerleading coach suddenly having a human side was surprizing.
MissQuinn
wrote on November 13 2009 @ 07:10 pm: [report]
Some people cannot be happy unless they are griping about something.
I watch Glee last night and I loved this episode.
They are actors who get paid to play a role, they picked these actors because they could act and sing. Its a television show for goodness sake, why can’t people just enjoy it and the message that it sends?
Jill
wrote on November 14 2009 @ 02:13 pm: [report]
I loved the episode. They managed to tackle a subject that’s really sticky and make it accessible to most. Plus with that many diversity lessons in one episode I thought it would be a bit much, but they pulled it off nicely.
I liked how Sue was adament in treating her new Cheerio as she would anyone else. All too often these lessons turn into lessons on how to baby someone, but she kept it real. Everyone wants to be treated equally, fairness does not mean preferential treatment.