Jasmine Sahu is well suited with this new American drama exclusive to Dave.
Lois Cameron explains why this series is much more than your average cosy period drama.
The last episode of this series sees Sherlock and Moriarty attempt to solve the final problem with devastating consequences.
With major cast changes afoot, Jacob Martin ponders whether Being Human can live up to its own scarily high standard.
To say that Glee has been a “television phenomenon” is an understatement. In its freshman year it held on to consistently high ratings in the US, hijacked iTunes for a good part of 2009-10 and won countless prestigious awards. It has created a franchise not only of CDs and DVDs, but clothes, books, videogames and stationery, to name but a few. Success at this level has meant the guys behind Glee have had the world as their oyster – and boy, is this oyster full of pearls who want a piece of the Glee cake.
An endless roster of stars has been lining up saying they’d give anything to be on the show – from Zac Efron and Justin Timberlake to Katie Holmes with daughter Suri and even Rosie O’Donnell. All that demand is probably off the back of cameo appearances from Josh Groban, Neil Patrick Harris and – airing in the US next week – Britney Spears. But we shouldn’t be surprised really – after all, who wouldn’t want to be on Glee? It’s free press for a huge audience, and you get to have fun in the process.
But there is a worrisome element in all of this. I’ll admit the first time I feared for Glee’s future as a credible series was following Olivia Newton-John’s cameo in the episode 'Bad Reputation'. The Gleeks among you will recall that Sue Sylvester and Olivia re-recorded the ‘80s classic music video Physical together. For me, this was the moment Glee crossed the line from being edgy and witty and became sort of...vacant. And gimmicky. I love Olivia and have massive respect for her, but those few minutes were excruciating because they were a display of writer laziness, thinking the guest star could carry the moment just by her presence.
Here’s why I’m a Glee fan. I love the fact that the producers went out there and found a dozen unknowns and gave them a platform. I love that their storylines are inspired by real experiences of their actors. I love that in its new season they cast a former female arm-wrestling champion and a Filipino YouTube sensation. At the heart of it, this is a show about underdogs and their struggles to feel included, and that’s what makes it strike a chord with fans who’ve ever felt they don’t belong.
Whatever its intentions were upon first broadcast, it has cast a net and scooped up millions of rabid fans along the way – including big names. And when the world’s on your side and you’re spoilt for choice, it’s always going to be tempting to say ‘yes’ to a worldwide star like Britney, or even request the likes of Justin Bieber and Jennifer Lopez (both of whom Ryan Murphy has publicly announced he wants on his little-show-that-could). But every time a Gwyneth Paltrow or a Javier Bardem (both confirmed for season 2) walks on that set, Glee’s supernova shrinks just a little bit more, and it loses that ‘voice for outsiders’ that won over fans in the first place. Instead, it puts itself in danger of becoming a Hollywood showcase that diminishes the role of its true stars.
There’s nothing wrong with an occasional guest star – Idina Menzel as Vocal Adrenaline’s coach Shelby and Kristen Chenoweth as boozy faded star April Rhodes injected great pizzazz into their episodes as well as being noble nods to Broadway and theatricality in general. But Glee needs to grasp its roots and hold onto them tightly before it’s mesmerized by its own success. Just like any of us were told when entering the big wide world, they need to learn to say ‘no’ and have confidence in their own abilities without any artificial boosts.
You must log in to submit a comment.
