From the Stage to the (Small) Screen

Regardless of if my appreciation for Glee ever peters out (which at this point seems unlikely) I’ll always be especially grateful to them for two things. One, was ensuring that after the untimely cancellation of Pushing Daisies allowing Kristin Chenoweth to return to the tube to show us just why she’s so brilliant – and the second is bringing Idina Menzel to the small screen in a role which managed to show that she was as good an actor as a singer. In its ideal form Glee is the sort of veritable playground for any Broadway actor and although guest stars don’t definitively improve the quality of the episodes – I’d love if this quintet of ladies from the Great White Way would get featured on Glee (I’ve featured some of them before in my original From Stage to Screen Post).

Jane Krakowski

 I suppose, in reality, there’s little chance of this coming to fruition since Krakowski is continuing her hilarious stint on 30 Rock where she continues to be the best-in-show. Still, the very basics of Glee seem perfect for Krakowski’s own brand of strange and sultry humour. With her very blonde hair she seems like a perfect candidate for some subplot involving Sam or Quinn, but she’s probably too old to be Quinn’s sister and unless Sam was a teenage birth she’s probably too young for that – although, who knows what they’d decide to do. I’ll always be grateful to Tina Fey and company for allowing Jane to actually perform somewhat regularly on the show, so it’s not like she’s being robbed of the chance to showcase her talent – but you can’t deny that her brand of crazy would work perfectly at McKinley High.

                               

Audra McDonald

As good an actor as Audra McDonald is, her voice is just sublime. It’s almost offensive that she’s never done any singing on any television show – Private Practice doesn’t deserve her most of the times (not that they deserve Kate Walsh, either – but I digress). I’m sort of stumped as to how Audra could fit into the fabric of Glee. If it weren’t for Cheyenne Jackson (who hasn’t even had a significant plot-point thus far) I’d think she’d be a great successor to Idina’s Shelby – original director of Vocal Adrenaline. What’s so weird about her is that you don’t think she’s a natural comedienne (she’s probably not) – but she’ll always surprise you in dramatic moments with some weird choices that always end up being humorous. I don’t know how, but I want her on Glee.

Donna Murphy

If Tangled was good for anything, other than the occasional vaguely entertaining tune from Alan Menken, it was reminding me how great Donna Murphy is. It’s probably because I associate her most with the very dour Passion that I forget that she’s a great comedienne (which manages to emerge even on an album recording of Wonderful Town). It’s that broad comedic talent of hers that would make her a perfect choice for a nemesis to Sue. Really, there’s no telling how they’d get her to sing but if there’s anyone that can take down Jane Lynch it’d be Murphy.

Bernadette Peters

Honestly, I’m sort of surprised she hasn’t turned up on Glee as yet. Before the idea of Carol Burnett (which turned into perfection) was pitched I’d contemplated the idea of Peters being Sue’s mother. Now, I’m sort of stumped but whatever role they do give her she’d be remarkable. With all these children in the club, at least one of them has to have a crazy – potentially boozy – grandmother. It’d be a stroke of genius if they get Peters to tag along on an episode with Chenoweth (I still think the two are reincarnations of the other). Perhaps the idea of Peters as April’s own boozy mother would be a sort of perfect idea. That I’d love to see.

Sara Ramirez

Two words: Santana’s sister. Sara Ramirez is brilliant, and she’s constantly doing good things with occasionally middling writing on Grey’s Anatomy (I’m still a vague fan of the show, truth be told). It’s watching the clips of her in Spamalot that make me realise just how vociferous and passionate she can be – they always make Callie a beat too sedate. Wouldn’t it be great seeing her play opposite Glee’s own resident crazy Latina? I can already imagine her – in typical Santana fashion – trying to seduce Will Schuster.

                              

Which of these ladies would you love most to appear for a guest stint on Glee?

Glee Meme, Day 13: A Tear-Jerker Moment

The Glee MEME gets personal.

Honestly, I’ve turned into a huge cry-baby at the movies (and TV) recently. I think all the years of ignoring my morality and are finally catching up with me. Sigh. Honestly, I sort of had a heavy heart throughout the back half of “Dream On”. Maybe it was Josh Whedon’s brilliant directing – where the f*** was his Emmy nod? WTF? I digress…I don’t think anyone could not lose the message there, it was honed it, but it wasn’t clichéd. Everyone’s got that dream, and we all won’t see them come true. I know people hate how Glee tends to end with some nice ribbon on top to close the episodes with, but I kind of like that. The thing is, the ribbon isn’t always pleasant especially here. “Dream On” has Neil Patrick Harris being brilliantly funny but it sears in the quieter moments like Idina and Lea teaming up for a number from “Les Miz” or Jenna and Harry tapping and Artie singing “Dream A Little Dream”. It’s all most profound and it’s not just manipulatively sad…but it’s oh so poignant (even if Mark and Dianna get one line each. Ugh.)

And then of course, there’s the finale. Emma’s odd confrontation with Figgins was so bizarre and yet fitting. Glee’s always good at the teacher / student dynamic (even if Will will always continue his nepotism for Finn) and “To Sir, With Love” was just that moving (Santana crying was very WTF – in a good way) – even Sue was moved. And she’s Ajax!

              

Has Glee ever hit you with any emotional bit?

Glee Meme, Day 5: Favourite Duet

The Glee MEME continues…I’m choosing more than one. I can’t commit.

              

I like Idina from listening to her on “Rent”, “The Wild Party” and “Wicked” soundtracks – but she has a penchant for vocal overexertion – an apparent inability to tone down. I don’t know if it’s her age, or the character but she’s flawless on Glee (rewatching the back 9 last week I feel like a fool for leaving her off my guest list. She’d easily make the top 5. Ugh.) I’m still mostly apathetic to Lady Gaga but the rendition of “Poker Face” between Idina and Lea is all sorts of brilliant. In some ways it’s a master class in singing. And the moment is just bloody brilliant. Ironically, perhaps, another duet that always gets me smiling is Lea’s pairing with the other “Wicked” cast member – Kristin Chenoweth. “Maybe This Time” works surprisingly well as a duet and though my allegiance is with Kristin (naturally) it’s never one-sided. April is so much of a cautionary tale for Lea and having them pair up for that number is not incidental. They don’t get to sing to each other like her and Idina, but it’s still lovely.

             

Matthew Morisson continues to be woefully underrated, he’s good…but he’s even better when he gets a talented performer to duet with. “Dream On” and “Fire” could go down in history. On the former the pairing with NPH is brilliant to watch (even if I wish they’d song “The Confrontation” from Les Miserables. And talking about “Fire” Kristin Chenoweth brings out the best in Morrison on the whole (those two have wicked chemistry) – even in the non-singing parts. They work great together.

I’d like to make mention of Morrison’s final song of the season – “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” with Puck is great. I’ll always have allegiance to the original arrangement, but this one works just as well.

Glee Meme, Day 4: Favourite Solo

I probably love Glee so much because I’m a major music buff (inherited from my father who’s an actual musician). The MEME continues.

I don’t like Neil Diamond, I appreciate his music but he tends to annoy me – it’s probably years of seeing his Christmas Special more than thrice a year every year for most of my life. Still, Noah Salling singing “Sweet Caroline” was a nice surprise. I don’t even have any significant affection for the song, but it worked in more ways than one – and it’s nice to hear him sing alone, that’s rare. It’s never happened since (go figure). 

Speaking of Jewish greatness, Lea Michele’s “Don’t Rain On My Parade” is pure brilliance. She’s not Barbra, but she’s not supposed to be. The reason the covers on Glee manage to work is because they’re never attempting to copy the original. It’s her “moment” and it works because Lea completely delivers. She sings and she acts at the same time…that’s rare with young performers

[On a side note on the topic of Barbra and Funny Girl though, I’d call Idina’s rendition of Funny Girl better than Barbra (insert offended gasp). I’ve never really felt the song fit the musical – it was written specifically for the film. But Idina sort of rocked it with her “Theatricality” even if it doesn’t make my top 3.]

In the end I turn to another guest for my favourite solo though. There’s something moving about the lyrics for “Home” from The Wiz and though the choir provides back up – it’s a solo and one that impresses on all counts. It’s a moving moment, for April and because Glee loves to get moralistic on us it’s a given that they’re sending us a message. But I really don’t care Living here in this brand new world might be a fantasy….but it’s taught me too love, so it’s real to me.” Damn, those lyrics are incredibly saccharine and NOT badass, but damn if they aren’t still awesome. It works…it really really does.