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Saturday, September 10, 2011

Thoughts on Glee and The Glee Project

Just felt like writing about Glee tonight as the new season is coming later in September. Over the summer, I watched The Glee Project and was one of the few who saw the movie. This entry does have spoilers.

The Glee Project was a casting show on Oxygen. The big prize was a seven-episode stint on the program. There were 12 contenders for the big prize, but the final four all were winners as they all got cast on Glee. Two won seven episodes (Sam and Damian) while the other two got two episodes each (Lindsay and Alex). Each of these people is very different, and hopefully will add to Glee.

How the show worked was each week the contestants were in a classroom waiting for a homework assignment from Robert, the casting director, who also was a judge and host. This would be a group performance for a celebrity judge who would decide, which person did the best. The celebrity judges were actors who have appeared on Glee. Some of them were regulars like Kevin McHale (Artie), while others were guest stars like Idina Menzel (Shelby). Whomever the celebrity guest would pick, got additional help and a bigger feature in the music video.

What determined whether someone would stay or go was based on the music video. During this portion they would go to choreography with Zach (who does that for Glee), and record audio in the booth with Nikki (who works in the music department). As nearly every episode of Glee has a video, they would see how well they would do in front of the camera. During one video, they had to get slushied, another week they had act out their insecurities, and in some they had to show romantic interest. The mentors would pick, which of the three performers did the least well. The rest who were successful would be called back to the next show. We’d be told how well everyone did and also what was done wrong.

The callback performance would be for the judges typically (mentors Zach and Robert) along with Ryan Murphy (Glee’s executive producer). One week Nikki filled in for Zach, and towards the end Ian Brennan joined Ryan. At the end of the show, we’d find out who was going home when the people in jeopardy would look at the list. We’d see the happy reactions from those who were saved, and the sad one from the person who would be sent home. At the end, the eliminated contestant, while the continuing people singing back up to them, performed “Keep Holding On” as a solo.

The song selection on The Glee Project included some that were on Glee and others that were not. The one thing that was left in question was the acting as other than the music videos, and via singing, we never saw any of the contestants act a scene with dialogue. While this is a talent competition, being cast is based on more than ability. So you didn’t need to be the best at everything, just be inspiring to Ryan Murphy to want to create a character for you on Glee.

The thing with Glee is the show has a huge cast already, and along with the new cast members from TGP, we are also adding a few others like Sugar and Mercedes' new boyfriend. Shelby will also be back in an expanded role, and both Mike and Blaine will be regulars. The only characters we seem to be losing (Sam) or seeing less of are (Lauren). If we didn't think the cast could get bigger it did, as even if Lindsay and Alex are only on two shows, Samuel and Damian will have longer arcs. Supposedly, the actors who won (meaning Sam and Damian) would be part of New Directions. Of course, this may not be the case, but that's how it was referenced on TGP.

Glee is in a mode of transition, as some of the main characters will be seniors, meaning who knows if they will be regulars in season four. I doubt they will have all of them flunk out and there have been no plans of having senior year shown over a two year period. There have been spin-off rumors, that have been denied, but who knows. If “The Glee Project” performers are seen as successful, perhaps some will be part of the newer class. Also it is possible for cast members who didn’t win a part to be seen as perfect for a role and get cast at a future date.

There are plans to bring The Glee Project back in 2012. At this point, I just wonder how well the finalists from TGP do on Glee. If they are successful, I hope they are kept as part of the show. I also wish that the current cast members each get a final bow and the ability to strut their stuff before their characters' graduate.

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