Amber Riley wins my vote for best dressed Gleek at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
She looks fabulous!
gleekette
Monday, January 31, 2011
My pick for best dressed: SAG awards
Amber Riley wins my vote for best dressed Gleek at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
She looks fabulous!
gleekette
My pick for Best Dressed: Golden Globes
Dianna Agron wins my vote for best dressed Gleek at the Golden Globes.
She is absolutely stunning.
gleekette
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Unfortunately it was a Glee shut out at the SAG awards last night. Chris Colfer lost to Alec Baldwin from “30 Rock,” Jane Lynch lost to Betty White from “Hot in Cleveland” and the show lost to “Modern Family.”
I was not surprised by any of the results. I predicted all three. Disappointing yes, but not unexpected. Still, there is much to rejoice about. The glow of the Golden Globes trifecta has not faded. And Chris and Jane should feel so proud and honored to have been nominated for SAGs, especially given that there are no categories for supporting cast members in the television section, so they were nominated with lead actors and actresses.
Plus, the E! channel definitely showed its love for “Glee” during the red carpet broadcast. Chris, Jane, Jenna, Dianna, Naya, and Chord were all interviewed, and Lea, Amber, Heather, and Jayma were spotlighted as they walked the red carpet. For six members of a show to be interviewed during a two hour telecast is quite impressive I think. The casts of no other television show or movie were afforded so much camera time.
Unfortunately, however, Giuliana Rancic’s interview with Chris was rather embarrassing at times. Yes, he’s a gay man, but that doesn’t mean he watches the “Real Housewives” or should be urged to “work it” when asked about his Dior suit. In the most bizarre moment of the interview, she seemed to point to the lower half of his body when she started to tell a story about his childhood, causing him to express concern that his fly was open. Of course Chris handled the situation with grace and humor. I do think Giuliana likes him, but evidently she doesn’t have a lot of respect for him, or for the audience, which is unfortunate.
On the up side again, I have to give big props to Max Adler and Kevin McHale, both of whom tweeted congratulations to the cast of “Modern Family” for their win. Ryan, Ian, Brad Falchuk, and Chris gushed about them as well after the Golden Globes. Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet have sung Chris’ praises in tweets and the press. Sofia Vergara’s warm embrace when Jane won the Globe was a lovely antithesis to Ed O’Neil’s ridiculous public comments that Jane was undeserving of her Emmy. But I decided to forgive him when I noticed his big smile as Chris approached the stage to accept his Golden Globe.
Anyway, the point is, both casts seem to have mad respect for each other. And I am very proud of our classy Gleeks.
gleekette
I was not surprised by any of the results. I predicted all three. Disappointing yes, but not unexpected. Still, there is much to rejoice about. The glow of the Golden Globes trifecta has not faded. And Chris and Jane should feel so proud and honored to have been nominated for SAGs, especially given that there are no categories for supporting cast members in the television section, so they were nominated with lead actors and actresses.
Plus, the E! channel definitely showed its love for “Glee” during the red carpet broadcast. Chris, Jane, Jenna, Dianna, Naya, and Chord were all interviewed, and Lea, Amber, Heather, and Jayma were spotlighted as they walked the red carpet. For six members of a show to be interviewed during a two hour telecast is quite impressive I think. The casts of no other television show or movie were afforded so much camera time.
Unfortunately, however, Giuliana Rancic’s interview with Chris was rather embarrassing at times. Yes, he’s a gay man, but that doesn’t mean he watches the “Real Housewives” or should be urged to “work it” when asked about his Dior suit. In the most bizarre moment of the interview, she seemed to point to the lower half of his body when she started to tell a story about his childhood, causing him to express concern that his fly was open. Of course Chris handled the situation with grace and humor. I do think Giuliana likes him, but evidently she doesn’t have a lot of respect for him, or for the audience, which is unfortunate.
On the up side again, I have to give big props to Max Adler and Kevin McHale, both of whom tweeted congratulations to the cast of “Modern Family” for their win. Ryan, Ian, Brad Falchuk, and Chris gushed about them as well after the Golden Globes. Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet have sung Chris’ praises in tweets and the press. Sofia Vergara’s warm embrace when Jane won the Globe was a lovely antithesis to Ed O’Neil’s ridiculous public comments that Jane was undeserving of her Emmy. But I decided to forgive him when I noticed his big smile as Chris approached the stage to accept his Golden Globe.
Anyway, the point is, both casts seem to have mad respect for each other. And I am very proud of our classy Gleeks.
gleekette
Friday, January 28, 2011
Another Ryan Murphy quote
I'm not trying to nitpick or dissect his every comment, but I'm confused by this quote in the Hollywood Reporter article:
"...It didn’t cross my mind there would be this big controversy. … But I never judge the actors because I know they all felt bad about it. And I think all parties involved learned a lesson about how parents look to the show as something inspirational and aspirational. We all realized that we have to be a little more careful when it comes to sexuality.”
The bolding in the quote is my doing. Murphy is talking about the GQ photo debacle involving Lea Michele and Dianna Agron. Am I reading this wrong, or is Ryan actually trying to place blame on the actresses?
I was under the impression that photo shoots were mandatory for actors, musicians, etc. And I also was under the impression that sets and costumes and those kinds of plans were decided by other people. I recently saw a youtube video where the ladies of “The View” were discussing this topic, and Barbara Walters said repeatedly during the discussion that it was Dianna’s and Lea’s “decision” to do the photo shoot, that they had a “choice” to do it or not do it.
So maybe I’m wrong. But still, I wish Ryan hadn’t said that. It really smacks of throwing your employees under the bus. “This photo shoot was set up and planned by other people, but I don’t blame them for actually going through with it.” That’s what he seems to be saying. Or maybe he’s saying that the actresses should have been the ones to smell trouble on the horizon and stopped the photo shoot from happening? This just doesn’t make any sense. Or maybe he’s just blaming them for the suggestive poses. I think with most photo shoots the photographer tells the person being photographed what the set up is, and offers some direction, but the artist or musician is responsible for most of the poses. Perhaps Lea, Dianna, and Cory were having so much fun that they got a bit carried away. I could see that happening. The cast is extremely close and comfortable with each other. Lea and Dianna have or are still sharing an apartment. And we know that Lea is not uncomfortable showing her body. When she was in the musical “Spring Awakening” she went topless in one scene.
Regardless, I think a series creator and executive producer should protect and stand up for his actors. If a decision is made, either defend it or apologize for it, but don’t deflect it. I also find it interesting that he mentioned being more careful about the sexual elements of the show. Perhaps when he said that he didn’t know that the show was planning to have several of its cast members shed most of their clothes in an upcoming episode.
gleekette
"...It didn’t cross my mind there would be this big controversy. … But I never judge the actors because I know they all felt bad about it. And I think all parties involved learned a lesson about how parents look to the show as something inspirational and aspirational. We all realized that we have to be a little more careful when it comes to sexuality.”
The bolding in the quote is my doing. Murphy is talking about the GQ photo debacle involving Lea Michele and Dianna Agron. Am I reading this wrong, or is Ryan actually trying to place blame on the actresses?
I was under the impression that photo shoots were mandatory for actors, musicians, etc. And I also was under the impression that sets and costumes and those kinds of plans were decided by other people. I recently saw a youtube video where the ladies of “The View” were discussing this topic, and Barbara Walters said repeatedly during the discussion that it was Dianna’s and Lea’s “decision” to do the photo shoot, that they had a “choice” to do it or not do it.
So maybe I’m wrong. But still, I wish Ryan hadn’t said that. It really smacks of throwing your employees under the bus. “This photo shoot was set up and planned by other people, but I don’t blame them for actually going through with it.” That’s what he seems to be saying. Or maybe he’s saying that the actresses should have been the ones to smell trouble on the horizon and stopped the photo shoot from happening? This just doesn’t make any sense. Or maybe he’s just blaming them for the suggestive poses. I think with most photo shoots the photographer tells the person being photographed what the set up is, and offers some direction, but the artist or musician is responsible for most of the poses. Perhaps Lea, Dianna, and Cory were having so much fun that they got a bit carried away. I could see that happening. The cast is extremely close and comfortable with each other. Lea and Dianna have or are still sharing an apartment. And we know that Lea is not uncomfortable showing her body. When she was in the musical “Spring Awakening” she went topless in one scene.
Regardless, I think a series creator and executive producer should protect and stand up for his actors. If a decision is made, either defend it or apologize for it, but don’t deflect it. I also find it interesting that he mentioned being more careful about the sexual elements of the show. Perhaps when he said that he didn’t know that the show was planning to have several of its cast members shed most of their clothes in an upcoming episode.
gleekette
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Ryan Murphy v Kings of Leon
The Hollywood Reporter did a very interesting cover article on Glee. The article is very long and involved, covering the inception of the show, and how FOX and the music partnerships developed, etc, so I'm not going to post it here, at least for now, but I will post the URL:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hot-business-glee-75593?page=4
However, I do want to mention some tidbits I read in the article, and right now one of those tidbits has erupted into headline-grabbing material.
Both the band Kings of Leon and the guitarist Slash from Guns N Roses have made news recently for their loud refusals to allow their music to be used for Glee. Slash said that Glee is "worse than Grease" (whatever that means.) I don't know specifically what the Kings of Leon said. But in the article, Ryan lashed out at both of them. First he said, " F--- you, Kings of Leon,”...“They’re self-centered assholes, and they missed the big picture. They missed that a 7-year-old kid can see someone close to their age singing a Kings of Leon song, which will maybe make them want to join a glee club or pick up a musical instrument. It’s like, OK, hate on arts education. You can make fun of Glee all you want, but at its heart, what we really do is turn kids on to music." Murphy's response to Slash's statement was, "“Usually I find that people who make those comments, their careers are over; they’re uneducated and quite stupid.”
So of course the media outlets are having a field day with all of this. And a lot of the reader responses I've read were very negative towards Murphy. They feel his statements were over the top and egotistical, like every musician should bow down in worship to him and the show. They also blame Ryan for what they consider to be a poor first half of the season in terms of the writing and direction of the show.
But wait. There's more. It could have ended there, but the drummer from the Kings of Leon tweeted this a few hours ago, "“Dear Ryan Murphy, let it go. See a therapist, get a manicure, buy a new bra. Zip your lip and focus on educating 7yr olds how to say f–k.”
So then the media outlets, including Perez Hilton, ran with that. Ryan then released this statement, which ran on Perez's site: ""Just read Nathan Followill's Tweet…in which he implied I should ‘get a manicure and buy a bra.’ Wow. That's a homophobe badly in need of some education. I'm all for manicures, don't wear a bra. Would guess most gay dudes don't. But it's telling that Nathan can reduce a group of people to a mean-spirited cliché, in a time where young gay men are killing themselves all over the country because of hatred like this. That said, I would love to sit down with Nathan or any member of Kings and Leon, and tell them how on Glee we actually love their music, and support their artistry…but cannot condone or even laugh at their clear disdain of gay people."
The last word on the subject thus far has been an apology tweet by the drummer: "I'm sorry 4 anyone that misconstrued my comments as homophobic or misogynistic. I'm so not that kind of person. I really do apologize."
Maybe this will be the end of it; maybe not. Here's my take: I wish Ryan would have taken the high road to begin with. I'm not saying at all that he deserved that homophobic tweet. I just don't understand why he had to come on so strong. Does it really matter that much that a few artists won't give up their music? Did they deserve that level of disdain and the name calling? Murphy should have rose above the fray instead of putting a match to the gas can. He had a much better chance of being viewed as the mature one in the arguement if he had left out the vitriol and focused on the importance of music and the arts programs in schools. Unfortunately he did give people a good excuse to call him a hypocrite, by using inflamatory language in one breath, and then talking about being a role model for kids in the next.
Having said all that, however, I do understand Ryan's frustration. Say what you want about him, maybe he's a control freak, maybe he's on a ego trip, maybe he's power hungry, but I also firmly believe that Ryan Murphy is deeply committed to Glee...to the message of the show and to the power of the music, not just the fame and wealth that he has amassed because of it. Ryan Murphy is a music lover of the highest eschelon; he selects every single song that is used in the show, and he often has to fight tooth and nail for the rights to use a particular song. He also often has to shell out a lot of money. So I can imagine how hard it is for him when he knows exactly what song he wants to use in a certain scene, what song would be absolutely perfect in a given situation, and he can't use it because an artist won't give permission.
I'm obviously not a musician, so maybe if I was I would feel differently, but I have a hard time understanding why an artist or band wouldn't allow their music to be used. Okay, yes, artistic integrity, I can see that. But there are so many other factors to consider. How about reaching a wider audience. How about knowing that people of all ages are going to hear your music, people that may have been resistant because they thought they wouldn't like it, and then they hear it on Glee, and wow, they like it! How about the impact a particular song can make when used in a certain context or an emotional scene. It has been proven time and again that an artist or band can see a spike in their sales when one of their songs is used on Glee. Glee is causing fifteen year old kids to like "Singing in the Rain" and "Sweet Caroline," and fifty year old adults to like Rianna's "Umbrella" or Bruno Mars' "Just The Way You Are." Not everyone likes Glee, fair enough. Some think the show sanitizes or "vanillas" some songs. But its hard to argue with sales figures I think. And I think its also important to note that Ryan Murphy and crew appreciate the music. They are careful to preserve the quality, to stay as true to the original version as possible without sounding kareoke. And the actors/singers show their respect by trying to do justice to the material. Many of them have expressed nervousness at singing classics and big Broadway numbers like "Somebody to Love," "Don't Rain on My Parade," and "Rose's Turn." They are all music and theatre nerds. They want to do their idols proud.
Ryan Murphy has plenty of artists literally begging him to use their music in the show. Another reason why he could have been the bigger person in this fight.
gleekette
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hot-business-glee-75593?page=4
However, I do want to mention some tidbits I read in the article, and right now one of those tidbits has erupted into headline-grabbing material.
Both the band Kings of Leon and the guitarist Slash from Guns N Roses have made news recently for their loud refusals to allow their music to be used for Glee. Slash said that Glee is "worse than Grease" (whatever that means.) I don't know specifically what the Kings of Leon said. But in the article, Ryan lashed out at both of them. First he said, " F--- you, Kings of Leon,”...“They’re self-centered assholes, and they missed the big picture. They missed that a 7-year-old kid can see someone close to their age singing a Kings of Leon song, which will maybe make them want to join a glee club or pick up a musical instrument. It’s like, OK, hate on arts education. You can make fun of Glee all you want, but at its heart, what we really do is turn kids on to music." Murphy's response to Slash's statement was, "“Usually I find that people who make those comments, their careers are over; they’re uneducated and quite stupid.”
So of course the media outlets are having a field day with all of this. And a lot of the reader responses I've read were very negative towards Murphy. They feel his statements were over the top and egotistical, like every musician should bow down in worship to him and the show. They also blame Ryan for what they consider to be a poor first half of the season in terms of the writing and direction of the show.
But wait. There's more. It could have ended there, but the drummer from the Kings of Leon tweeted this a few hours ago, "“Dear Ryan Murphy, let it go. See a therapist, get a manicure, buy a new bra. Zip your lip and focus on educating 7yr olds how to say f–k.”
So then the media outlets, including Perez Hilton, ran with that. Ryan then released this statement, which ran on Perez's site: ""Just read Nathan Followill's Tweet…in which he implied I should ‘get a manicure and buy a bra.’ Wow. That's a homophobe badly in need of some education. I'm all for manicures, don't wear a bra. Would guess most gay dudes don't. But it's telling that Nathan can reduce a group of people to a mean-spirited cliché, in a time where young gay men are killing themselves all over the country because of hatred like this. That said, I would love to sit down with Nathan or any member of Kings and Leon, and tell them how on Glee we actually love their music, and support their artistry…but cannot condone or even laugh at their clear disdain of gay people."
The last word on the subject thus far has been an apology tweet by the drummer: "I'm sorry 4 anyone that misconstrued my comments as homophobic or misogynistic. I'm so not that kind of person. I really do apologize."
Maybe this will be the end of it; maybe not. Here's my take: I wish Ryan would have taken the high road to begin with. I'm not saying at all that he deserved that homophobic tweet. I just don't understand why he had to come on so strong. Does it really matter that much that a few artists won't give up their music? Did they deserve that level of disdain and the name calling? Murphy should have rose above the fray instead of putting a match to the gas can. He had a much better chance of being viewed as the mature one in the arguement if he had left out the vitriol and focused on the importance of music and the arts programs in schools. Unfortunately he did give people a good excuse to call him a hypocrite, by using inflamatory language in one breath, and then talking about being a role model for kids in the next.
Having said all that, however, I do understand Ryan's frustration. Say what you want about him, maybe he's a control freak, maybe he's on a ego trip, maybe he's power hungry, but I also firmly believe that Ryan Murphy is deeply committed to Glee...to the message of the show and to the power of the music, not just the fame and wealth that he has amassed because of it. Ryan Murphy is a music lover of the highest eschelon; he selects every single song that is used in the show, and he often has to fight tooth and nail for the rights to use a particular song. He also often has to shell out a lot of money. So I can imagine how hard it is for him when he knows exactly what song he wants to use in a certain scene, what song would be absolutely perfect in a given situation, and he can't use it because an artist won't give permission.
I'm obviously not a musician, so maybe if I was I would feel differently, but I have a hard time understanding why an artist or band wouldn't allow their music to be used. Okay, yes, artistic integrity, I can see that. But there are so many other factors to consider. How about reaching a wider audience. How about knowing that people of all ages are going to hear your music, people that may have been resistant because they thought they wouldn't like it, and then they hear it on Glee, and wow, they like it! How about the impact a particular song can make when used in a certain context or an emotional scene. It has been proven time and again that an artist or band can see a spike in their sales when one of their songs is used on Glee. Glee is causing fifteen year old kids to like "Singing in the Rain" and "Sweet Caroline," and fifty year old adults to like Rianna's "Umbrella" or Bruno Mars' "Just The Way You Are." Not everyone likes Glee, fair enough. Some think the show sanitizes or "vanillas" some songs. But its hard to argue with sales figures I think. And I think its also important to note that Ryan Murphy and crew appreciate the music. They are careful to preserve the quality, to stay as true to the original version as possible without sounding kareoke. And the actors/singers show their respect by trying to do justice to the material. Many of them have expressed nervousness at singing classics and big Broadway numbers like "Somebody to Love," "Don't Rain on My Parade," and "Rose's Turn." They are all music and theatre nerds. They want to do their idols proud.
Ryan Murphy has plenty of artists literally begging him to use their music in the show. Another reason why he could have been the bigger person in this fight.
gleekette
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Some Golden Globe articles
From zap2it.com
http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2011/01/chris-colfers-golden-globes-speech-draws-a-tear-from-everyone-he-knows.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Chris Colfer's Golden Globes Speech Draws a Tear From...Everyone He Knows
Once a tertiary character on "Glee," Kurt Hummell (Chris Colfer) has been front-and-center for most of Season 2 as the show addresses heavy issues like religion, homophobia, and bullying. The spotlight earned Colfer a Golden Globe at Sunday's ceremony, and while everyone watching at home may have been unsurprised, Colfer seemed genuinely shocked by the honor.
"I can't believe it. I'm not sure how much my shaky hands can tweet, but thank you so much! Couldn't do what I do without you guys!" he tweeted after his acceptance speech, which made just about everyone at the "Glee" table cry. (Lea Michele might win a Golden Globe next year for her dramatic performance at this year's Golden Globes.)
After getting smooches from co-stars Dianna Agron and Ashley Fink (his date!), Colfer took the stage shakily. "But most importantly to all the amazing kids who watch our show and the kids that our show celebrates who are constantly told 'no' by the people in their environments, by bullies at school, that they can't be who they are or have what they want because of who they are. Well, screw that, kids."
end of article
From afterelton.com
http://www.afterelton.com/tv/2011/01/chris-colfer-wins-golden-globe
Chris Colfer wins a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor
Tonight 20-year-old Chris Colfer was up for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television.
The kid scored one for the team, winning out over Scott Caan (Hawaii Five-0), Chris Noth (The Good Wife), David Straithairn (Temple Grandin), Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family).
What struck me as his name was announced and he made his way to the stage – how honestly overjoyed the audience seemed to be that he won. It wasn't just polite clapping. Clearly a lot of the people in the room were rooting for him. Not the least of which were his castmates. Heather Morris, Jane Lynch, Lea Michele, Jayma Mays and Mathew Morrison could all be seen tearing up during his acceptance speech.
[snip]
paragraph from EW.com:
http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/01/17/golden-globes-backstage/
Most Visibly Happy (tie): Glee‘s Chris Colfer and Danish director Susanne Bier, whose In a Better World won Best Foreign Language Film. First, Colfer said he was attempting to hold back tears. “I have my big-boy pants on, so I am trying not to [cry],” said Colfer. “It’s insane. I have been watching [the Globes] since I was in embryo.” And did the actor think his victory had any positive social ramifications? “I think one of the best things for all the kids that are watching tonight who don’t quite understand that Kurt is a character and that we are actors, they saw Kurt Hummel get an award for just being him,” said Colfer. “I think that’s a great thing they are seeing right now.”
[snip]
From accesshollywood.com:
Chris Colfer Emotional Over Globes Win
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
A Golden Globe win means a lot to the winners, but to “Glee’s” Chris Colfer, who picked up the statute for Best Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role, it was a the culmination of a childhood dream.
“It’s insane. I hate to say that I am a ‘Cinderfellow’ but I really kind of feel like it tonight,” Chris told reporters backstage at the ceremony following his win for playing Kurt Hummel. “Literally, I have been watching the Globes since I was an embryo. I actually got a message via Facebook from a friend and he said, ‘One of my elementary school memories is you standing up in front of the class and telling everyone to watch the Golden Globes,’ and now I am here.”
The actor said he expects himself to have only few memories from Sunday night, because it was so emotional.
“I won’t remember this. I kind of blacked out when I heard my name,” he said.
There is someone who might be able to help him recall things later – his mom, whom he called backstage.
“I was on the phone with my mom. And I was trying to say, ‘I can’t talk right now because I am in the pressroom.’ [She said], ‘You’re in the rest room?’ [I responded], ‘No, the press room!’”
While he can spend the next few days, trying to tap into his Sunday night memories, Chris said he considers his win as a win for young children, who see him as the openly gay Mckinley High School student character, Kurt.
“Now I am really going to cry — I think one of the best things for all the kids that are watching tonight who don’t quite understand that Kurt is a character and that we are actors — they just saw Kurt [Hummel] get an award for being him. I think that’s a great thing they are seeing right now,” Chris said.
end of article
gleekette
http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2011/01/chris-colfers-golden-globes-speech-draws-a-tear-from-everyone-he-knows.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Chris Colfer's Golden Globes Speech Draws a Tear From...Everyone He Knows
Once a tertiary character on "Glee," Kurt Hummell (Chris Colfer) has been front-and-center for most of Season 2 as the show addresses heavy issues like religion, homophobia, and bullying. The spotlight earned Colfer a Golden Globe at Sunday's ceremony, and while everyone watching at home may have been unsurprised, Colfer seemed genuinely shocked by the honor.
"I can't believe it. I'm not sure how much my shaky hands can tweet, but thank you so much! Couldn't do what I do without you guys!" he tweeted after his acceptance speech, which made just about everyone at the "Glee" table cry. (Lea Michele might win a Golden Globe next year for her dramatic performance at this year's Golden Globes.)
After getting smooches from co-stars Dianna Agron and Ashley Fink (his date!), Colfer took the stage shakily. "But most importantly to all the amazing kids who watch our show and the kids that our show celebrates who are constantly told 'no' by the people in their environments, by bullies at school, that they can't be who they are or have what they want because of who they are. Well, screw that, kids."
end of article
From afterelton.com
http://www.afterelton.com/tv/2011/01/chris-colfer-wins-golden-globe
Chris Colfer wins a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor
Tonight 20-year-old Chris Colfer was up for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television.
The kid scored one for the team, winning out over Scott Caan (Hawaii Five-0), Chris Noth (The Good Wife), David Straithairn (Temple Grandin), Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family).
What struck me as his name was announced and he made his way to the stage – how honestly overjoyed the audience seemed to be that he won. It wasn't just polite clapping. Clearly a lot of the people in the room were rooting for him. Not the least of which were his castmates. Heather Morris, Jane Lynch, Lea Michele, Jayma Mays and Mathew Morrison could all be seen tearing up during his acceptance speech.
[snip]
paragraph from EW.com:
http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/01/17/golden-globes-backstage/
Most Visibly Happy (tie): Glee‘s Chris Colfer and Danish director Susanne Bier, whose In a Better World won Best Foreign Language Film. First, Colfer said he was attempting to hold back tears. “I have my big-boy pants on, so I am trying not to [cry],” said Colfer. “It’s insane. I have been watching [the Globes] since I was in embryo.” And did the actor think his victory had any positive social ramifications? “I think one of the best things for all the kids that are watching tonight who don’t quite understand that Kurt is a character and that we are actors, they saw Kurt Hummel get an award for just being him,” said Colfer. “I think that’s a great thing they are seeing right now.”
[snip]
From accesshollywood.com:
Chris Colfer Emotional Over Globes Win
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
A Golden Globe win means a lot to the winners, but to “Glee’s” Chris Colfer, who picked up the statute for Best Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role, it was a the culmination of a childhood dream.
“It’s insane. I hate to say that I am a ‘Cinderfellow’ but I really kind of feel like it tonight,” Chris told reporters backstage at the ceremony following his win for playing Kurt Hummel. “Literally, I have been watching the Globes since I was an embryo. I actually got a message via Facebook from a friend and he said, ‘One of my elementary school memories is you standing up in front of the class and telling everyone to watch the Golden Globes,’ and now I am here.”
The actor said he expects himself to have only few memories from Sunday night, because it was so emotional.
“I won’t remember this. I kind of blacked out when I heard my name,” he said.
There is someone who might be able to help him recall things later – his mom, whom he called backstage.
“I was on the phone with my mom. And I was trying to say, ‘I can’t talk right now because I am in the pressroom.’ [She said], ‘You’re in the rest room?’ [I responded], ‘No, the press room!’”
While he can spend the next few days, trying to tap into his Sunday night memories, Chris said he considers his win as a win for young children, who see him as the openly gay Mckinley High School student character, Kurt.
“Now I am really going to cry — I think one of the best things for all the kids that are watching tonight who don’t quite understand that Kurt is a character and that we are actors — they just saw Kurt [Hummel] get an award for being him. I think that’s a great thing they are seeing right now,” Chris said.
end of article
gleekette
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
The Golden Globes
Its been about 72 hours since the big event, but I am still giddy over the Golden Globe Awards. Real life has intervened in the form of an apartment de-cluttering project, and that is what has delayed me from blogging until now. But rest assured, I am beyond thrilled with
THE THREE WINS FOR GLEE!!!!
Three out of a possible five...a very strong showing. As I suspected, Matthew and Lea's categories were impossibly tough. Nearly everyone predicted that Laura Linney would win best actress in a tv comedy for "The Big C," and indeed she did. Unfortunately she did not attend the ceremony because her father passed away, although that fact was not announced during the broadcast. As much as I love Glee and Matthew, my second favorite show is "The Big Bang Theory," and I think Jim Parsons definitely deserved the Globe for his portrayal of Dr. Sheldon Cooper. Jim receiving the award from his co-star Kaley Cuoco provided one of the sweetest moments of the night, as she jumped up and down in her designer gown and squealed as she said his name, then hugged him effusively when he reached the stage.
Of course anyone who reads this blog will without a doubt know my favorite moment of the night. I have lost count as to how many times I have watched Chris Colfer, any trace of color drained from his face, literally pulled out of his seat by his co-stars Dianna Agron and Ashley Fink, begin to make his way to the stage as the Globe winner for best supporting actor in a tv show, miniseries, or made-for-tv movie. On the way he is grabbed by Jane Lynch, kissed by Ryan Murphy, slapped on the back in congratulation by fellow nominee Eric Stonestreet, nearly knocked into by a returning-to-her-seat Ellen Pompeo, and for the eagle-eyed watcher, given a standing ovation by Anne Hathaway two tables over. When he finally reaches the stage, in a breathless, shaking, possibly an octave higher-than-usual tone of voice, he delivers this heartfelt and humorous acceptance speech:
"I think I dropped my heart somewhere between Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, so if anyone sees that please give it back to me.
I - I can't believe this.
Thank you to the Hollywood Foreign Press.
I have to thank Ryan Murphy, for basically being my fairy godfather.
Everybody at Fox.
To Robert Ulrich, for submitting to the show when there was nothing to submit me for.
To our amazing, amazing, amazing crew, who keep us sane during the crazy times.
And to our very talented cast...you all owe...you all deserve this just as much as I do.
But most importantly, to all the amazing kids who watch our show and the kids that our show celebrates who are constantly told 'no' by the people in their environments, by bullies at school, that they can't be who they are or have what they want because of who they are. Well, screw that, kids."
As he's talking, the camera keeps panning to his castmates, all of whom are listening with rapt attention. Several of them are in or near tears, especially Lea Michele. When he finishes his speech, there is a big burst of cheers and applause.
It was a wonderful moment, a bright spot in an often mean-spirited awards show. It was by no means the only emotional moment of the evening. Michael Douglass' triumphant return would probably top the list by the majority. And Chris' speech wasn't the only heartfelt one. Natalie Portman gave a lovely acceptance speech, as did Melissa Leo.
In contrast to Chris' shocked, quavering comments that revealed no trace of his character Kurt, Jane Lynch's speech exuded confidence and more than a hint of her alter-ego Sue. She said, "I am nothing if not falsely humble," and then went on to thank Ian Brennan, the 'deranged young man' "responsible for all the heinous things that come out of my mouth." She said, "I share this [award] with you, but I'm hanging on to it." She then talked about the "fourteen year old kids that come up to me, vibrating out of their bodies over how much they love Glee," and quipped, "and you know, if I'm not busy...or eating...I might give them a moment of my time..." :)
I love Jane Lynch!
I cried when Chris won, I wiggled on the couch when Jane won, but I totally screamed when Glee won Best Comedy or Musical. I was so shocked! Nearly everyone predicted that the Big C would win, but I really thought it would be Modern Family. How fantastic it was to see the entire cast have the opportunity to be on stage, even if for such a short time. And how great for Ian Brennan to use his time to thank public school teachers. "You don't get paid like it, but you really are doing the most important work in America," he said.
I watched several backstage and post-show interviews with Chris after his win, and in each one he was charming, self-effacing, and still shaking. When asked by a reporter if he was going to cry, he answered, "I have my big boy pants on, so I'm going to try not to." But he did tear up in response to a question about what his win means to him as a person who is a role model and champion for gay rights.
A reporter asked him who he was on the phone with as he was entering the press room, and he replied, "I was on with my Mom. I told her, 'I can't talk. I'm in a press room.''You're in the rest room?''No, I'm in a press room!'" :)
When asked about celebrating with a glass of champagne, Chris said, "Well, I can't legally...but maybe the LAPD will let me off with a warning." He also said, "I'm not going to remember any of this. I blacked out as soon as I heard my name." He told Mary Hart, "I haven't been able to finish a sentence without stuttering."
When Giuliana Rancic from E! asked him where he was going to put his Globe statue, Chris quipped, "I'm probably going to sleep with it for the first week at least. Usually when I win one of these, I wake up." When Andrew Freund asked him a similar question, he replied, "I think I'm gonna get like a stroller and carry it around with me." :)
I am really curious to know what scene was submitted for his nomination. Was it from "Never Been Kissed"? Was it from "Grilled Cheesus"? Or were both of those episodes too recent? Are different scenes submitted for consideration to be a nominee, and then once you are a nominee? "Grilled Cheesus" originally aired on October 5th, and "Never Been Kissed" on November 9th. Nominations were announced in mid December. So I don't know. Maybe he was nominated for an episode in season one, like "Laryngitis" or "Theatricality," both of which aired in May of 2010.
....Okay. Since I posed the question, I've performed a few minutes of research. Apparently the eligibility period for the Globes begins on October 1st. Is that for both movies and tv or just movies? If its for both, that would mean that "Grilled Cheesus" and "Never Been Kissed" would NOT have been eligible for the 2011 awards. This is very significant in my opinion, because it means that he was not nominated for two of his "most talked about" episodes. He was NOT in consideration based on the bullying storyline. I think most people would think that was what he was nominated for.
All I could find was information about ballots. Members first receive a list of eligible candidates in each category. I don't know how many they get to choose. Then they receive another ballot with five nominees in each category, and they have to select a winner for each category. So are the voting members on their own when it comes to what to watch? Aren't scenes submitted for the Emmys and the Academy Awards? (hence the joke about "someone's Emmy or Oscar clip?")
If this information is accurate, he could theoretically be nominated again for next year. I seriously doubt that he will be though, which is one reason why I wanted so badly for him to win this year. Given that some viewers are suffering from "Kurt burnout," and knowing that more characters and more storylines are coming down the pipe for the end of season 2 and beginning of season 3, I firmly (and unhappily) believe that Kurt's storyline will be further diminished as the months roll on. I am trying to prepare myself for that.
Of course it doesn't really matter how or why he won. What I'm trying to say is that in a way its almost more impressive that he may have won because of his work in episodes that garnered less public attention, shows that aired before "the season of Kurt." For me it will be awesome if he won a Globe because of episodes like "Laryngitis" and "Theatricality" and then he wins an Emmy for his acting in episodes such as "Grilled Cheesus" and/or "Never Been Kissed." Yes, I'm thinking way ahead! :)
I'll be posting Golden Globe articles soon.
gleekette
THE THREE WINS FOR GLEE!!!!
Three out of a possible five...a very strong showing. As I suspected, Matthew and Lea's categories were impossibly tough. Nearly everyone predicted that Laura Linney would win best actress in a tv comedy for "The Big C," and indeed she did. Unfortunately she did not attend the ceremony because her father passed away, although that fact was not announced during the broadcast. As much as I love Glee and Matthew, my second favorite show is "The Big Bang Theory," and I think Jim Parsons definitely deserved the Globe for his portrayal of Dr. Sheldon Cooper. Jim receiving the award from his co-star Kaley Cuoco provided one of the sweetest moments of the night, as she jumped up and down in her designer gown and squealed as she said his name, then hugged him effusively when he reached the stage.
Of course anyone who reads this blog will without a doubt know my favorite moment of the night. I have lost count as to how many times I have watched Chris Colfer, any trace of color drained from his face, literally pulled out of his seat by his co-stars Dianna Agron and Ashley Fink, begin to make his way to the stage as the Globe winner for best supporting actor in a tv show, miniseries, or made-for-tv movie. On the way he is grabbed by Jane Lynch, kissed by Ryan Murphy, slapped on the back in congratulation by fellow nominee Eric Stonestreet, nearly knocked into by a returning-to-her-seat Ellen Pompeo, and for the eagle-eyed watcher, given a standing ovation by Anne Hathaway two tables over. When he finally reaches the stage, in a breathless, shaking, possibly an octave higher-than-usual tone of voice, he delivers this heartfelt and humorous acceptance speech:
"I think I dropped my heart somewhere between Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, so if anyone sees that please give it back to me.
I - I can't believe this.
Thank you to the Hollywood Foreign Press.
I have to thank Ryan Murphy, for basically being my fairy godfather.
Everybody at Fox.
To Robert Ulrich, for submitting to the show when there was nothing to submit me for.
To our amazing, amazing, amazing crew, who keep us sane during the crazy times.
And to our very talented cast...you all owe...you all deserve this just as much as I do.
But most importantly, to all the amazing kids who watch our show and the kids that our show celebrates who are constantly told 'no' by the people in their environments, by bullies at school, that they can't be who they are or have what they want because of who they are. Well, screw that, kids."
As he's talking, the camera keeps panning to his castmates, all of whom are listening with rapt attention. Several of them are in or near tears, especially Lea Michele. When he finishes his speech, there is a big burst of cheers and applause.
It was a wonderful moment, a bright spot in an often mean-spirited awards show. It was by no means the only emotional moment of the evening. Michael Douglass' triumphant return would probably top the list by the majority. And Chris' speech wasn't the only heartfelt one. Natalie Portman gave a lovely acceptance speech, as did Melissa Leo.
In contrast to Chris' shocked, quavering comments that revealed no trace of his character Kurt, Jane Lynch's speech exuded confidence and more than a hint of her alter-ego Sue. She said, "I am nothing if not falsely humble," and then went on to thank Ian Brennan, the 'deranged young man' "responsible for all the heinous things that come out of my mouth." She said, "I share this [award] with you, but I'm hanging on to it." She then talked about the "fourteen year old kids that come up to me, vibrating out of their bodies over how much they love Glee," and quipped, "and you know, if I'm not busy...or eating...I might give them a moment of my time..." :)
I love Jane Lynch!
I cried when Chris won, I wiggled on the couch when Jane won, but I totally screamed when Glee won Best Comedy or Musical. I was so shocked! Nearly everyone predicted that the Big C would win, but I really thought it would be Modern Family. How fantastic it was to see the entire cast have the opportunity to be on stage, even if for such a short time. And how great for Ian Brennan to use his time to thank public school teachers. "You don't get paid like it, but you really are doing the most important work in America," he said.
I watched several backstage and post-show interviews with Chris after his win, and in each one he was charming, self-effacing, and still shaking. When asked by a reporter if he was going to cry, he answered, "I have my big boy pants on, so I'm going to try not to." But he did tear up in response to a question about what his win means to him as a person who is a role model and champion for gay rights.
A reporter asked him who he was on the phone with as he was entering the press room, and he replied, "I was on with my Mom. I told her, 'I can't talk. I'm in a press room.''You're in the rest room?''No, I'm in a press room!'" :)
When asked about celebrating with a glass of champagne, Chris said, "Well, I can't legally...but maybe the LAPD will let me off with a warning." He also said, "I'm not going to remember any of this. I blacked out as soon as I heard my name." He told Mary Hart, "I haven't been able to finish a sentence without stuttering."
When Giuliana Rancic from E! asked him where he was going to put his Globe statue, Chris quipped, "I'm probably going to sleep with it for the first week at least. Usually when I win one of these, I wake up." When Andrew Freund asked him a similar question, he replied, "I think I'm gonna get like a stroller and carry it around with me." :)
I am really curious to know what scene was submitted for his nomination. Was it from "Never Been Kissed"? Was it from "Grilled Cheesus"? Or were both of those episodes too recent? Are different scenes submitted for consideration to be a nominee, and then once you are a nominee? "Grilled Cheesus" originally aired on October 5th, and "Never Been Kissed" on November 9th. Nominations were announced in mid December. So I don't know. Maybe he was nominated for an episode in season one, like "Laryngitis" or "Theatricality," both of which aired in May of 2010.
....Okay. Since I posed the question, I've performed a few minutes of research. Apparently the eligibility period for the Globes begins on October 1st. Is that for both movies and tv or just movies? If its for both, that would mean that "Grilled Cheesus" and "Never Been Kissed" would NOT have been eligible for the 2011 awards. This is very significant in my opinion, because it means that he was not nominated for two of his "most talked about" episodes. He was NOT in consideration based on the bullying storyline. I think most people would think that was what he was nominated for.
All I could find was information about ballots. Members first receive a list of eligible candidates in each category. I don't know how many they get to choose. Then they receive another ballot with five nominees in each category, and they have to select a winner for each category. So are the voting members on their own when it comes to what to watch? Aren't scenes submitted for the Emmys and the Academy Awards? (hence the joke about "someone's Emmy or Oscar clip?")
If this information is accurate, he could theoretically be nominated again for next year. I seriously doubt that he will be though, which is one reason why I wanted so badly for him to win this year. Given that some viewers are suffering from "Kurt burnout," and knowing that more characters and more storylines are coming down the pipe for the end of season 2 and beginning of season 3, I firmly (and unhappily) believe that Kurt's storyline will be further diminished as the months roll on. I am trying to prepare myself for that.
Of course it doesn't really matter how or why he won. What I'm trying to say is that in a way its almost more impressive that he may have won because of his work in episodes that garnered less public attention, shows that aired before "the season of Kurt." For me it will be awesome if he won a Globe because of episodes like "Laryngitis" and "Theatricality" and then he wins an Emmy for his acting in episodes such as "Grilled Cheesus" and/or "Never Been Kissed." Yes, I'm thinking way ahead! :)
I'll be posting Golden Globe articles soon.
gleekette
Sunday, January 9, 2011
"A Very Glee Christmas" analysis
Its January 9th, and I am finally reviewing the Glee Christmas episode. Yes, I am skipping "Special Education," and yes, I remember that I still need to finish "Never Been Kissed." But this analysis should be very short, so I thought I would write it first.
One thing you have to know about me is that I am often kind of a Grinch about Christmas. I'm Jewish; I don't celebrate the holiday. Yes, I can appreciate the beauty and joy of the holiday season, and I don't mind Christmas music at times. But I knew going into it that a Christmas-themed Glee episode would probably not be among my favorites, and I was correct. It was definitely my least favorite, and one I do not see myself watching again, save for one scene, and I'm sure you can guess which one that is.
"Baby Its Cold Outside" was absolutely adorable. Sweet, fun, flirty. As somone else said, it was nice to see Blaine be the agressor and Kurt was the one playing coy and hard to get. I held my breath when their faces got close to each other towards the end of the song, but I knew nothing was going to happen. Sure, I want them to kiss, but I'm still enjoying the build-up.
The part with Kurt and Mr. Schue was very short of course, but it was so nice to see how happy they were to see each other.
Sorry, that is all the positivity I can muster for this episode. Its all downhill from here.
I have two main criticisms of the episode:
1) No mention of any other holiday except Christmas.
Obviously I would be sensitive to this omission. But c'mon writers of Glee, you have at least two characters who are Jewish, and there was no mention of Hanukkah? Nothing. Rachel said she doesn't celebrate Christmas, but that was as far as it went. Puck has not been shy about mentioning his religion in the past, but in this episode, where it would have made the most sense for him to mention being Jewish, he didn't say a word. Plus, I still wonder about Tina and Artie. They have never talked about religion, but they both have very Jewish sounding surnames: Cohen (-Chang) and Abrams. For a show that touts inclusion and diversity, an important opportunity was lost.
2) Artie's re-walk.
I have resisted writing about this, because I know my viewpoint will be unpopular, and honestly I am still wrestling with this.
Artie is one of my very favorite characters on Glee. I absolutely adore him. I think he is the nicest of the "kid" characters (characters, not actors), and also the student who seems the happiest, with the least amount of emotional baggage. Which I think is very important for the audience to see, that a person who uses a wheelchair can be well-adjusted, positive, and have friends.
A wheelchair is not a machine that confines a person. A person is not "wheelchair-bound." A wheelchair is a freedom machine. Artie can go places because of his wheelchair. He can dance because of his wheelchair.
We already know that Artie dreams of walking, or more specifically he dreams of dancing. In the "Dream On" episode we are treated to a dream sequence of Artie dancing. It is one of my favorite moments of Glee, and a scene applauded by fans and critics alike, directed by the genius Joss Whedon and featuring a flash mob of actors and shoppers in a mall.
So we know that Artie isn't 100% happy being a wheelchair user. But is anyone 100% happy with their lot in life? I would say no. The key here is making the best life of what you have, and in my opinion, that is what Artie does. Happiness is a choice, and Artie has made that choice. He dreams of being able to do things he can't do, just as we all have such dreams. Some of us want to travel the world, but we don't have the money. Some of us want to sing, but we don't have pitch or tone. Some of us want to be football players, but we have damaged knees. Everyone has aspirations. Sometimes they come true. More often they don't.
After "Santa" told Brittany that "he" couldn't make her wish come true, that he couldn't make Artie walk, Artie told her that he was fine. Meaning, he was okay with not being able to walk. He dreams of walking, and dancing, but he doesn't pine away for those abilities.
The only two times that Artie has explored walking have been when his two girlfriends have pushed the issue. First Tina, then Brittany, have wished for Artie to walk. With Tina, she went the realistic route, researching medical information. With Brittany, she simply wanted a Christmas miracle. But they both wanted the same event to take place. They wanted a cure for Artie. Which begs the question to me: Did they want Artie to walk for him, or for themselves? Is Artie "broken?" Does he need to be "fixed?"
I didn't get tears in my eyes when Artie was "walking." I felt disappinted. And upset. I understand that this episode was supposed to be about fantasy, and I am taking it way too literally. I should just think its wonderful that Brittany got her Christmas miracle. But I think the scene does a disservice to a show that has always presented a realistic portrayal of a person in a wheelchair.
The re-walk IS a real device. It was developed by a company in Israel and was supposed to be available commercially in 2010. It does allow individuals with lower limb paralysis the ability to walk and climb stairs.
However, a person who has been in a wheelchair for years like Artie has would not simply be able to strap on the device and walk. Extensive rehab would be required, and tests would be needed to determine that the person had a healthy cardiovascular system and a skeletal system that would support movement. Muscles and bones deteroriate after months and years of non-use, and I doubt Artie has a workout/therapy regime similar to what the late Christopher Reeve performed on a daily basis. In addition, while there is no information on the company website about the cost of the re-walk, I feel certain it is far beyond what a high school football coach would be able to afford.
From a health/medical standpoint, of course the re-walk would be beneficial for Artie. Walking, even standing, benefits the heart, lungs, muscles, and bone. Movement decreases the chances of potentially life-threatening blood clots and pressure sores.
But Artie's health isn't the issue here. Artie dreams of dancing. One of the aspects of Glee that has always thrilled me is that Artie DOES dance. I can only think of three performances where Artie did not dance. He played guitar with the band during "Don't Stop Believin" and "Somebody to Love," although when those songs were performed on the "Oprah Winfrey Show" and on the tour, Artie did dance with the rest of the cast. The other time was the choir room performance of "Ice Ice Baby."
I think it is so important that Artie is included in the choreography, including dancing at times with a partner, and I know I have mentioned this previously. The point I'm trying to make is that Artie would not be able to dance using the re-walk. The device is not designed for it. The person using a re-walk moves in a robotic, not a rhythmic, fashion. Artie can glide around a stage in his wheelchair, but using the re-walk, he would be jerky, slow, stiff. He would actually be more "handicapped" in a dance sequence using the re-walk.
So those are my views, for better or worse. I don't expect anyone to agree with me. Some people simply enjoy Glee for being a zany, offbeat comedy. Which it is. But with the inclusion of social issues such as teen pregnancy, bullying, homophobia, racial bias, body issues, adoption, and disability acceptance, Glee is using entertainment to educate. I think the show hits the mark most of the time, but unfortunately not all of the time.
Okay, and while I'm on a roll (no pun intended), one more criticism, although I do understand the omission was for plot purposes. At the end of the episode, when Sue brought the kids to Mr. Schue's house, Kurt wasn't there. Yes, I know he wasn't there because the idea is to highlight Kurt's alienation from New Directions. They aren't intentionally leaving him out because they don't like him. He goes to a new school now, and Sue wouldn't have thought to include him. Plus, if he had been there, the focus would have been on him instead of the students surprising Mr. Schue to make his Christmas bright. Still, its hard for me to see Kurt left out of so much that goes on at McKinley. The bullying storyline has been amazing, and the addition of Blaine and the Wablers have definitely been a boon for the show. But as someone who had to spend most of her high school years on homebound and half-day programs due to illness, I feel Kurt's alienation acutely. These are times he will never be able to re-capture. Life in the glee club is going on without him, and that doesn't feel right.
Did I really say this analysis would be short? :)
gleekette
One thing you have to know about me is that I am often kind of a Grinch about Christmas. I'm Jewish; I don't celebrate the holiday. Yes, I can appreciate the beauty and joy of the holiday season, and I don't mind Christmas music at times. But I knew going into it that a Christmas-themed Glee episode would probably not be among my favorites, and I was correct. It was definitely my least favorite, and one I do not see myself watching again, save for one scene, and I'm sure you can guess which one that is.
"Baby Its Cold Outside" was absolutely adorable. Sweet, fun, flirty. As somone else said, it was nice to see Blaine be the agressor and Kurt was the one playing coy and hard to get. I held my breath when their faces got close to each other towards the end of the song, but I knew nothing was going to happen. Sure, I want them to kiss, but I'm still enjoying the build-up.
The part with Kurt and Mr. Schue was very short of course, but it was so nice to see how happy they were to see each other.
Sorry, that is all the positivity I can muster for this episode. Its all downhill from here.
I have two main criticisms of the episode:
1) No mention of any other holiday except Christmas.
Obviously I would be sensitive to this omission. But c'mon writers of Glee, you have at least two characters who are Jewish, and there was no mention of Hanukkah? Nothing. Rachel said she doesn't celebrate Christmas, but that was as far as it went. Puck has not been shy about mentioning his religion in the past, but in this episode, where it would have made the most sense for him to mention being Jewish, he didn't say a word. Plus, I still wonder about Tina and Artie. They have never talked about religion, but they both have very Jewish sounding surnames: Cohen (-Chang) and Abrams. For a show that touts inclusion and diversity, an important opportunity was lost.
2) Artie's re-walk.
I have resisted writing about this, because I know my viewpoint will be unpopular, and honestly I am still wrestling with this.
Artie is one of my very favorite characters on Glee. I absolutely adore him. I think he is the nicest of the "kid" characters (characters, not actors), and also the student who seems the happiest, with the least amount of emotional baggage. Which I think is very important for the audience to see, that a person who uses a wheelchair can be well-adjusted, positive, and have friends.
A wheelchair is not a machine that confines a person. A person is not "wheelchair-bound." A wheelchair is a freedom machine. Artie can go places because of his wheelchair. He can dance because of his wheelchair.
We already know that Artie dreams of walking, or more specifically he dreams of dancing. In the "Dream On" episode we are treated to a dream sequence of Artie dancing. It is one of my favorite moments of Glee, and a scene applauded by fans and critics alike, directed by the genius Joss Whedon and featuring a flash mob of actors and shoppers in a mall.
So we know that Artie isn't 100% happy being a wheelchair user. But is anyone 100% happy with their lot in life? I would say no. The key here is making the best life of what you have, and in my opinion, that is what Artie does. Happiness is a choice, and Artie has made that choice. He dreams of being able to do things he can't do, just as we all have such dreams. Some of us want to travel the world, but we don't have the money. Some of us want to sing, but we don't have pitch or tone. Some of us want to be football players, but we have damaged knees. Everyone has aspirations. Sometimes they come true. More often they don't.
After "Santa" told Brittany that "he" couldn't make her wish come true, that he couldn't make Artie walk, Artie told her that he was fine. Meaning, he was okay with not being able to walk. He dreams of walking, and dancing, but he doesn't pine away for those abilities.
The only two times that Artie has explored walking have been when his two girlfriends have pushed the issue. First Tina, then Brittany, have wished for Artie to walk. With Tina, she went the realistic route, researching medical information. With Brittany, she simply wanted a Christmas miracle. But they both wanted the same event to take place. They wanted a cure for Artie. Which begs the question to me: Did they want Artie to walk for him, or for themselves? Is Artie "broken?" Does he need to be "fixed?"
I didn't get tears in my eyes when Artie was "walking." I felt disappinted. And upset. I understand that this episode was supposed to be about fantasy, and I am taking it way too literally. I should just think its wonderful that Brittany got her Christmas miracle. But I think the scene does a disservice to a show that has always presented a realistic portrayal of a person in a wheelchair.
The re-walk IS a real device. It was developed by a company in Israel and was supposed to be available commercially in 2010. It does allow individuals with lower limb paralysis the ability to walk and climb stairs.
However, a person who has been in a wheelchair for years like Artie has would not simply be able to strap on the device and walk. Extensive rehab would be required, and tests would be needed to determine that the person had a healthy cardiovascular system and a skeletal system that would support movement. Muscles and bones deteroriate after months and years of non-use, and I doubt Artie has a workout/therapy regime similar to what the late Christopher Reeve performed on a daily basis. In addition, while there is no information on the company website about the cost of the re-walk, I feel certain it is far beyond what a high school football coach would be able to afford.
From a health/medical standpoint, of course the re-walk would be beneficial for Artie. Walking, even standing, benefits the heart, lungs, muscles, and bone. Movement decreases the chances of potentially life-threatening blood clots and pressure sores.
But Artie's health isn't the issue here. Artie dreams of dancing. One of the aspects of Glee that has always thrilled me is that Artie DOES dance. I can only think of three performances where Artie did not dance. He played guitar with the band during "Don't Stop Believin" and "Somebody to Love," although when those songs were performed on the "Oprah Winfrey Show" and on the tour, Artie did dance with the rest of the cast. The other time was the choir room performance of "Ice Ice Baby."
I think it is so important that Artie is included in the choreography, including dancing at times with a partner, and I know I have mentioned this previously. The point I'm trying to make is that Artie would not be able to dance using the re-walk. The device is not designed for it. The person using a re-walk moves in a robotic, not a rhythmic, fashion. Artie can glide around a stage in his wheelchair, but using the re-walk, he would be jerky, slow, stiff. He would actually be more "handicapped" in a dance sequence using the re-walk.
So those are my views, for better or worse. I don't expect anyone to agree with me. Some people simply enjoy Glee for being a zany, offbeat comedy. Which it is. But with the inclusion of social issues such as teen pregnancy, bullying, homophobia, racial bias, body issues, adoption, and disability acceptance, Glee is using entertainment to educate. I think the show hits the mark most of the time, but unfortunately not all of the time.
Okay, and while I'm on a roll (no pun intended), one more criticism, although I do understand the omission was for plot purposes. At the end of the episode, when Sue brought the kids to Mr. Schue's house, Kurt wasn't there. Yes, I know he wasn't there because the idea is to highlight Kurt's alienation from New Directions. They aren't intentionally leaving him out because they don't like him. He goes to a new school now, and Sue wouldn't have thought to include him. Plus, if he had been there, the focus would have been on him instead of the students surprising Mr. Schue to make his Christmas bright. Still, its hard for me to see Kurt left out of so much that goes on at McKinley. The bullying storyline has been amazing, and the addition of Blaine and the Wablers have definitely been a boon for the show. But as someone who had to spend most of her high school years on homebound and half-day programs due to illness, I feel Kurt's alienation acutely. These are times he will never be able to re-capture. Life in the glee club is going on without him, and that doesn't feel right.
Did I really say this analysis would be short? :)
gleekette
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
People's Choice Awards
YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Glee won Favorite TV Comedy!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOO-HOO!!!!!!!!!
And Jane won for Favorite TV Comedy Actress!!!!!
They announced that the show won as Jane was walking up to receive her award. Cory and Chris went up on stage with her, but only Jane got to say anything. Oh well. Still mega exciting!!!!!
Unfortunately, Matthew didn't win in his category. :(
I think Glee is also nominated in a music category, so there's still a chance for more awards tonight...
gleekette
Update: No more wins for the show. I'm not sure if they were nominated in any other categories.
Unfortunately the results are not getting much respect because the People's Choice Awards are predominantly voted on by teenagers, as evidenced by the fact that the stars of Twilight were the big winners of the night, and Conan O'Brien beat out Oprah and Ellen for best talk show host, etc.
But hey...a win is a win, right? That's what I say! I voted, and I'm not a teenager (I just act like one) :)
I was disappointed that Cory and Chris didn't get to say anything, and that more of the cast wasn't there to accept the award. Last year Cory, Chris, Mark, Kevin, Lea, Dianna, Amber, and Jenna all went on stage to collect their trophies, and it was fun to see them all up there together.
Anyway, yea to all the fans who voted!
Glee won Favorite TV Comedy!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOO-HOO!!!!!!!!!
And Jane won for Favorite TV Comedy Actress!!!!!
They announced that the show won as Jane was walking up to receive her award. Cory and Chris went up on stage with her, but only Jane got to say anything. Oh well. Still mega exciting!!!!!
Unfortunately, Matthew didn't win in his category. :(
I think Glee is also nominated in a music category, so there's still a chance for more awards tonight...
gleekette
Update: No more wins for the show. I'm not sure if they were nominated in any other categories.
Unfortunately the results are not getting much respect because the People's Choice Awards are predominantly voted on by teenagers, as evidenced by the fact that the stars of Twilight were the big winners of the night, and Conan O'Brien beat out Oprah and Ellen for best talk show host, etc.
But hey...a win is a win, right? That's what I say! I voted, and I'm not a teenager (I just act like one) :)
I was disappointed that Cory and Chris didn't get to say anything, and that more of the cast wasn't there to accept the award. Last year Cory, Chris, Mark, Kevin, Lea, Dianna, Amber, and Jenna all went on stage to collect their trophies, and it was fun to see them all up there together.
Anyway, yea to all the fans who voted!
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