So, a new TV star was born.
Or, I should say, new TV stars were born.
Or, potential TV stars, depending on how they actually do.
But more on that later.
I never planned to watch The Glee Project, mostly because I felt that the 2nd season of Glee was, while still enjoyable to watch to a certain extent, never quite lived up to the connection it created for the first thirteen episodes that made it a part of our current pop culture. While still entertaining, I felt that the show somehow deviated from the original concept of championing underdogs, and while well-meaning and flattering, the famous guest superstars were unnecessary distractions. My thoughts were that while I would still watch the forthcoming 3rd season, I wasn't particularly interested in spending more of my TV time to watch anything else that's related to it.
Yet, watch I did, albeit accidentally and rather belatedly. I missed the selection process and only saw parts of the next three episodes when I channel surfed to find something to watch over dinner. It wasn't until the Dance Ability episode that I finally tuned in weekly. And admittedly, that was mostly because of Harry Shum, Jr., who was that week's guest mentor.
The reality show was created to serve as an audition for Glee, giving the contestants an opportunity to win a seven-episode arc on the show's third season. Twelve contestants were culled out of an intensive workshop/casting process, and subsequently subjected to the show's elimination process.
The contestants are given a theme each week and have to go through five parts for each episode. The first is the homework assignment, where the group gets a song that they have to sing in parts in front of a guest mentor, who was a cast member of Glee. The mentor will then choose a winner, who gets a one-on-one session with him or her, and will be featured in the week's music video. The guest mentors in the show were Darren Criss, Idina Menzel, Dot-Marie Jones, Harry Shum, Jr., Max Adler, Mark Salling, Ashley Fink, Jenna Ushkowitz, and Kevin McHale.
The second part is the music video. The contestants record their parts in the song, with vocal coach Nikki Anders. Then, they learn choreography from Zach Woodlee. Then off to the music video shoot with director Erik White. During the shoot, casting director Robert Ulrich, Zach Woodlee and Nikki Anders, observe the contestants to see who are performing well and those that would comprise the bottom three performers.
The third part is the callback, where Robert Ulrich and Zach Woodlee inform them about how they did for the week, especially during the music video shoot. Ultimately, three contestants are chosen for a last chance performance, where they have to perform assigned songs to save themselves from elimination.
Next is the last chance recital, where the bottom three perform for executive producer Ryan Murphy. With input from Robert Ulrich and Zach Woodlee, Ryan Murphy then chooses which one of the three contestants are eliminated from the competition.
And last, is the final callbacks, where the bottom three learn their fate, after Robert Ulrich tells them that the list is up. The three then go to the bulletin board one by one to see if their name appears under the list of callbacks or under the dreaded "not called back" page. The eliminated contestant then sings Avril Lavigne's "Keep Holding On", while the remaining contestant backs him or her up.
So, what are my thoughts on the program?
It's not really as groundbreaking as Jack TV claimed it to be, but the show can be a joy to watch. This is all the more true when you start to invest in certain contestants. It was a pretty good mix of aspiring Glee cast members, with many ethnic and social backgrounds represented. All have varying talents, and it's not a guarantee that the best singer will necessarily stay or win. Ryan Murphy, with the help of his team, have to not only gauge them according to their singing and acting skills, but on whether they can actually create characters for them in the show.
My favorites among the contestants would have to be Cameron Mitchell, Hannah Mclalwain and Damian McGinty.
When I started watching, I actually thought that Cameron would be the one to win the reality competition. Until he dropped out. It turned out that his faith and morals couldn't stand the demands of acting, especially after realizing that kissing on camera made him feel like he was cheating on his girlfriend. It was a shame. He was awkward cool. He did an awesome rendition of "Blackbird" for his final performance before walking out. And he's damn cute... cute enough to gain Ryan Murphy's show more screaming teenage girl Gleeks. And in our world where media easily sells the idea of sex and the constant change of partners on screen, his views on commitment to his girlfriend and his religious beliefs, has become a novelty that Ryan Murphy was very much interested to write about.
Hannah stuck out to me, not because of her big frame. Like Ryan Murphy, I thought that she really did embody the show. She had body issues, and felt insecure when the group would have choreography lessons or if the week's video shoot required her the cast to be romantic or confident. Yet, despite all that, she soldiered on in every dance practice and music video shoot. I would rather that either Lindsey or Samuel were the ones to leave the week she got eliminated.
As for Damian, chalk another one for cuteness factor. Despite already achieving professional success with the Irish group Celtic Thunder, he was still included in several bottom three performances. Yet, he hands down wins the award for best improved, as proven by his ultimately winning the prized seven-arc episode guest appearance on Glee. For me, what made him a winner was his personality, as evidenced by being one of the few who never got criticized for their personality. He was sweet without being saccharine, and insecure without delving into self-derision. He brought a sense of old school charm, which was reflected by his choice of singing standards. While Cameron's walk-out was a definite upset, it allowed Damian to be saved for a bigger role than a contestant in a reality show. And on that note, I believe that their bromance will endure FOREVER.
Now, as for those I didn't like so much. There are a few who I felt tried too hard, which I can't blame them for, considering the stakes. I felt that this was the case with Matheus Fernandes, Samuel Larsen and Lindsay Pearce. Matheus had a strong start, but tried to do too much as the episodes progressed. Samuel was cool, until he insisted that he could fill the role that would have been given to Cameron, which was a Christian kid with very strict values. That was when it felt like he was trying to sell himself too much, although he is rewarded with Ryan Murphy considering him for a role of an unusual Christian character for the series.
As for Lindsey, I found that there were a lot of cringe-worthy moments in several episodes. While she was continuously referred to as one of the best singers, as well as potentially the best actor, in the bunch, there were a lot of forced and off scenarios. She talked a lot, which the others found to be tiring, especially since it seemed that all she talked about was what she thought and her supposed expertise on different matters. The worst moments for me as a viewer, was when she tried to replicate or one-up the feats of the other contestants. She did this in the duet episode, when she decided to kiss Cameron after the positive feedback Marissa and Samuel got. She did this in another episode by crying, after she heard about Nikki comforting Alex during recording, after the latter remembered his deceased father. I still think that by kissing Cameron, she set off a series of events that would cause Cameron to decide to leave the competition. So... Boo.
So, by the time it was down to the last four contestants, I was pretty much as invested in The Glee Project as I usually am with guilty TV pleasure picks such as America's Next Top Model or Masterchef Australia. I had my heroes, and I have my villains (on this note, I apologize to Lindsey, who may not have just come across as a completely genuine person). I thoroughly enjoyed the performances and music videos, even if most were recycled from the original show.
I applaud the effort that the creators of Glee put into the creation of the Glee Project. It was successfully entertaining and you get a glimpse of the life of the cast members, making you appreciate the reason for their long hours of recording, rehearsing and shooting. What I applaud the most, though, is that The Glee Project reminded us about the humble beginnings of Glee, where the casting process didn't care much for fame or big names, and that they welcomed veritable unknowns to represent and headline a show unlike anything American television (and the rest of the world's television) had ever seen.
If there was ever any fault to be found in Ryan Murphy and his team, is that they tried looking for potential characters in the contestant's personalities too much. Posing the question "Who are you really?" to teenagers in real life has never been a good idea, much less that they should struggle to find an answer on national TV. It should be remembered that while a character on screen can be inspired by the actor that plays it (i.e. Chris Colfer and his real-life experience with "Defying Gravity"), you are still gauging them according to their acting and singing ability. These kids know that the show is essentially a full-blown, public casting process. They're trying to break into the industry, so they are essentially prepared to play characters different from who they really are.
But even that was redeemed in the end for me, as the final four waited for Ryan Murphy's ultimate decision on who is the winner of the The Glee Project.
While I was chanting "Damian. Damian. Damian" in my head, I was gleeful (pun intended) when Alex and Lindsay were informed that they didn't win the competition. With bated breath and spoon in hand, I mentally berated Harry Shum, Jr. for rooting for Samuel and cheered Darren Criss on when he expressed support for Damian.
When it was announced that Samuel Larsen won, I was disappointed but silently agreed that he would make for an interesting character.
And then Ryan Murphy became my dinner time hero, when he told Damian McGinty that he ALSO won The Glee Project.
And then he told Lindsey Pearce and Alex Newell that they were going to get two episode guest spots on the show as a consolation price.
So yep, nobody really lost. Everybody got something out of it.
And Ryan Murphy now has a pool of interesting actors / singers to pull from if he needs a new character.
Glee was the ultimate winner in the end.
Now, if only they include that suggested scene where Damian's future character speaks in his native Irish accent and Heather Morris' character Brittany asks him what language he's speaking, then everything would be peachy for season 3.
Oh, and may the Damian-Cameron bromance live on FOREVER.
Happy viewing!!Labels: Must-Watch, Oxygen, Reality, The Glee Project, TV, TV Series
