Remember Marissa (von Bleicken) and Hannah (Mclalwain) ? They were both eliminated as contestants in THE GLEE PROJECT after placing first in the very same episode's opening challenge. They won the homework assignment (on most competition shows, a win like this confers some level of protection!) but it couldn't have mattered less.
Of course we remember Cameron (Mitchell). In his case, even the contestant himself thought he had lost—but after watching showrunner Ryan Murphy beg him to stay (to no avail), it sure felt like a win.
I think it's time we accept that the details of this particular game never really mattered. All that matters is this: Does Ryan want to put you into the cast of GLEE?
THE GLEE PROJECT isn't JEOPARDY or THE BACHELOR. More than one contestant can win the prize: a meaty, custom-fit role in GLEE. What's more, at this point, there's not much of a connection between winning a challenge and being good on GLEE. Of course, the final survivor of the individual challenges will probably be cast on the show. But there are a bunch of openings available for season three, so why wouldn't they cast another known entity from THE GLEE PROJECT--tried, tested, and with a proven fan base?
We can't expect THE GLEE PROJECT to start suddenly following its own rules next week—it is a competition (“reality”) program about a casting decision, not about a game or a skill. In all competition shows (though the impact varies enormously) producers actively manage the contest results. That's the “real reality” of the show, if you will. They do it in order to maximize audience appeal, or, in other words, they manage it for the ratings.
But usually, they only have to worry about their own ratings. With THE GLEE PROJECT, the ratings of a larger, hugely popular franchise are also at stake. There absolutely must be some pressure to ignore the manufactured “rules of the game” and do what's best for the parent program. It's all about GLEE Season Three.
With this competition series, I think, the fans are on the same side as the producers. We all want a viable GLEE cast member more than we want a GLEE PROJECT challenge-winner. At least, on most shows, the audience keeps everyone honest, but that's not really a concern here. Denying a “winner” a prize, and giving it to someone else, would usually seem totally unfair. We normally just agree to buy into the fact that the contestant who, for example, eats enough worms and such, is the one we will want to be rewarded at the end of that episode. It's all rather arbitrary, but usually, it's just a big game anyway, so we're willing to go ahead, play along and invest in whomever came in first. In other words, by convention, the competition is usually an end in, and of, itself.
Not so with THE GLEE PROJECT. Sunday, with their arbitrary zero-elimination decision, the producers essentially conceded the point that the weekly contests are, in large part, incidental. Literally, in this case, inconsequential. They pretty much admitted that they could take the results or leave 'em—because this week they went ahead and left 'em. Audience outcry was minimal.
The little weekly challenges (homework, sing-offs, videos) don't matter anymore—they never counted for much to begin with—because it's almost time to start shooting season three of GLEE. That's the elephant in the room. Everyone is dying to know: who is who is going to be on GLEE? It won't have much to do with whatever performing-arts-school busywork the remaining four contestants complete this week.
If a contestant fits the show, and brings a little something novel to he table; if he or she has a strong fan base and appeals to Ryan—they'll be put on the show. Two contestants currently meet this criteria. We can deduce who they are, and so we pretty much already know the winners.
Alex (Newall) isn't one of them. He doesn't have the fan base. Current GLEE characters have hundreds of thousands of fans for their own personal pages. Some of the GLEE PROJECT frontrunners are well on their way, with thousands of supporters already, and you can bet they will largely roll-over their fans to their character. At the other extreme is Alex who, sadly, has more than one “fan page” devoted to his defeat. That's a solid indicator that it would be a missed opportunity to put him on the show.
Samuel (Larsen) won't make it either, although he's popular, he's charismatic, and he's a superb artist. But he suffers from being not-Cameron. For now, Ryan is still playing nice, trying to make the most of Samuel's self-proclaimed piety, and agreeing to go along with the process. Yes, Samuel has Christian tattoos, but Cameron is like a living, breathing WWJD bracelet: earnestly dorky-hip and undeniably all-about-Jesus. No point in settling for second best. More than a new car or cash prizes are at stake, here, remember—GLEE is Ryan's baby. Who wouldn't bend the rules for their baby?
The biggest reason to think that Cameron Mitchell is still a frontrunner for a role on GLEE is that Ryan pretty much said so. And I think that trumps the Oxygen network's made-up rules. Ryan stated that he wants to write for Cameron, and he also stated that he still can't stop thinking about him. Even since the theoretical elimination. In the end, isn't that enough for him to win a part in GLEE? After all, that's kind of how everyone else got their part in GLEE. They really impressed Ryan.
Of course, there will have to be at least one participant in THE GLEE PROJECT who wasn't sent home from the competition early. So, we're destined to see either Damian or Lindsay (Pearce) on GLEE, in addition to Cameron.
Probably not Lindsay. Ryan said he found her hard to root for, so she can't be a Lea Michele. She's not as absurdly attractive as the lead cheerleader characters, so that's out. Finally, they seem to be editing the series together in a way that “explains” that Lindsay is unlikable. Even the ebullient Nikki Anders finds her off-putting, and the producers make sure that we're watching Nikki when she takes Lindsay down.
Damian McGinty will be the official winner. He already looks the most like a cast member, and he's affable and easy-going enough to fit in effortlessly. Ryan already has a role in mind for him—he can play the foreign exchange student—that's something new (and he doesn't necessarily have to be an Irish exchange student). Alternatively, he can be also be Baby Jock. Very GLEE. Also, Damian has built upon his European fan base, and now he's an international force to be reckoned with.
Finally, since Damian says Cameron is his best mate, and a guy he thinks of “as a big brother,” it won't be weird when Cameron is resurrected and steals a bit of Damian's Celtic Thunder. It's almost too perfect that Damian would be gone if Cameron hadn't “quit.” In fact, it's almost like they planned it.
In my opinion, after considering the rules and the needs of THE GLEE PROJECT, and accepting that, in the end, it's all about what will work for GLEE--a separate, greater TV juggernaut (with higher stakes than a basic cable summer series)--it's easy to conclude that there will be two winners. The official winner will be Damian, and the unofficial winner will be Cameron.
Of course, I can't be certain. If you have a different point of view, please go ahead and convince me in the comments section below. I don't want to wait until the final episode of THE GLEE PROJECT!
RELATED:
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- THE GLEE PROJECT Semifinals: Who Do You Want To See Win?
- THE GLEE PROJECT: No One Goes Home, Final Four To Perform At Angel Awards
- GLEE and DARK SHADOWS: More Alike Than You May Think!
Kevin Mulcahy Jr. is a Harvard alum who is currently working as a staff contributor at welovesoaps.com writing theater and web series reviews as well as other in-depth features. Read all his Web Series reviews here. To contact Kevin, email [email protected].
I think (or hope) you're absolutely right! Lindsay is gorgeous, but like the fat-people quotient, the pretty-people quotient has also been filled. Glee doesn't have a foreigner, and although Mercedes and Quinn are both Christians, there are no staunch, actually-cellibate Christians on the show. So far, they've just been made fun of, which makes the show a little one-sided.
ReplyDeleteI could see that. Ryan said Damian is the one you root for, but will he pick him as the winner? I could totally see multiple people from Glee Project making it onto Glee next season. Whenever they are casting a role, if it fits Samuel or Lindsay or Alex or Hannah, why not just cast them?
ReplyDeleteTrue. Even for a guest role for one episode! I could totally see Samuel as a secret weapon Vocal Adrenaline pulls out at Regionals...
ReplyDeleteI hope you are right, and agree with you. Cameron was perfect for that show, and would have made a great addition. They would be ridiculous not to add him.
ReplyDeleteIf Mercedes and Kurt had a baby, it would be Alex. Samuel has one look, and one look only, and doesn't come across as sincere. Nor does Lindsey. None of those three are sympathetic likable personalities.
Damian is adorable, and I am rooting for him - but my first pick is Cameron. Hopefully they will both get cast.
I predict that Lindsay does not win. I base this on her tweets, which are off putting and kind of rude. She argues with her detractors, often saying "later hater". I find this behavior alienating to a lot of people that, while not fans of her, are fans of Glee. I would hope that a winner and future cast member would be groomed better in PR than to act that way on a social media outlet. If she won, she would be taping now. Would you want a cast member on your show acting that way? Let's hope the answer is no.
ReplyDeleteSorry that's just to easy. while I suspect that damian and cameron may be appear on the show. I am thinking it will either be alex or samuel. Have to think like ryan. Its all about who happens to be on that nite, and ryan seems to like controversy, which in alex's case is easier to hate him. glee fans would love watching sue tear into him, and the fans would love it.Have to go with alex because ryan already is seeing gthe conflict. damian is too nice as is cameron
ReplyDeleteThats to obvious. I think it will be alex. Even thou he hasn't a huge fan base, he has a huge hate base. and people love to hate his character. Sue would have a field day with him. and fans would tune in to see her destroy him every week. Damian and cameron, too nice and easy going. really would n't fit the mold of glee, although they may appear somehow together in episodes. alex could sing some sad epic songs, and sue would ponce on him for it. that is a better twist to a new character for glee, he's exactly what glee doesn't need.
ReplyDeleteI think that Damian will be the winner, and it only makes sense that his huge fan base, most of whom have never seen an episode of Glee, will folloe him on the seven shows he will do. Whether they will watch after he is off(if he is)is doubtful. If he doesn't win TGP some other show will snap him up and the fan base will follow him there. We Thunderheads are very loyal. You are probably right about Cameron, but he is being wooed by music companies and that may appeal more.For me, I think Damian is too good for Glee and I hope stays with Celtic Thunder, but that's just selfish on my part.
ReplyDeleteAs of the last show of TGP, I'm hoping that Damian will be the winner. On the very first episode, I picked out Cameron as being different and the possible winner of the whole thing. But, since Cameron quit, I have been cheering for Damian and Hannah, also. Samuel and Lindsay are very unique and talented also. Plus, Alex is special and likable. I hope that several from the Glee Project get hired for this show.
ReplyDeleteI kinda think there is a shot that he'll use all the kids or a lot of them now and again. I'm sure we'll see them somewhere.
ReplyDeletethis is really as close as i could also guess, for similar reasons of logic. unless cameron says an emphatic, get-off-my-leg-dude NO, i suspect he will continue to be courted by ryan murphy - & what a situation to be sitting in, kid! the huge undeveloped fanbase of on-the-fence-about-glee christian teenagers and their likely sympathizing with cameron's story is hanging in the balance. he is as prime of real estate as is possible & ryan knows it. & it is handy that cameron and damian are besties & have been releasing cute, media savvy, glee-cast-ish youtube videos together as such.
ReplyDeletewith the way they have crafted the substory with their edits, unless ryan makes a gamechanging, rash emotional decision with alex at the end, i can't see anyone but damian winning it. if it were lindsay, i can't imagine they couldn't have done more sympathetic edits along the way. if it were samuel, you're spot on, they probably can have cameron once he names his price & boundaries (& why pick second rate samuel for your shiny new guaranteed jeezus cast member when you know you could have him back in an instant if you wanted him later on, if sir mitchell says no in the end?) unless they're overestimating the average intelligence of a glee project viewer & doing their edits to use the damian-as-underdog theme as the glee-esque predictable layer and alex as the last minute surprise plot, i think it's damian by a long long shot. after their edits on him, i think anything else will result in a bit of a trust-damaging riot for a large number of people & i can't see that being an easy pill for ryan et al to swallow. plus, ian brennan, irish catholic boy...
the only lost gem i've seen in this whole glee project is matheus, but it seems like i'm in a very small minority here. (pun intended.)
lisa
I hope you're right. I'm totally rooting for Damian since Day 1. As what Ryan said, glee is a show about underdogs & in the entire season, Damian had been into bottom 3 most of the time.He'll be the perfect cast of glee for me.
ReplyDeleteYou make a compelling case, making some points I had been thinking myself and hoping you are right. However, what we don't know is what has been planned and written for season 3. That's a very big unknown. Glee is an ensemble so whom they select must be expected to fit a role or roles we don't really know much about. Consequently they may select someone we wouldn't expect at all. But since your guess conforms with my wishes I'll go with it.
ReplyDeleteAs much sense as it makes for Alex to be the "surprise!" winner, think about it. We already have Kurt, who is gay and sings high. Which is exactly what Alex does, except with the personality of Mercedes. Why repeat a character? Samuel has been boring me week after week with the same face, and Lindsay (as pretty and talented as she is) really isn't relatable. Damian seems to be the clear cut winner and I'm not sure Ryan will lean more towards repeating characters personalities.
ReplyDeleteGlee's homophobic bullying story line had a huge impact. After school specials are in the show's DNA.
ReplyDeleteIf they want to continue making a difference Alex is their best choice. The HIV epidemic among gay African American youth is nightmarish - the CDC estimates it to be as high as 50%. Alex could make an enormous difference.
I am not posting this as a prediction, only saying that there are considerations that matter more than a contestant's pile of twitter followers.
Another consideration, record sales, would lead one to favor Samuel - he could open up whole new catalogs of possibilities for the show - the Stones, Bowie, believable rap - Glee could use that kind of sex appeal
i think lindsay will problaly win
ReplyDeleteshe is very talented and pretty and im also rooting for damion i can see him being a star.and he is also very cute!
Kevin, I love to agree with you, but I have a second thought that Damian might not be the winner.. Damian will start preforming CT tour next month. He could be a guest appearance in Gree.
ReplyDeleteRyan said that " he or she will be very much unexpected winner(s)"??????
So my guess of winner would be Alex. Oooh Cameron whom he does not want be Actor... he made his decision that night when he wants out..... I did surprise that night Ryan wants talk with him back again.
Well good luck guessing, I do that same.
Think about it though.. Ryan said the winner would be "unexpected" and Damian has been in the bottom 3 the most out of any remaining contestants, and he arguably has the weakest voice and least dance ability. So for Ryan, I think Damian could be the "unexpected winner". I certainly hope so! I can see him fitting into Glee just perfectly.. he is quirky and genuinely kind. Team Damian! x
ReplyDeleteIf it's true that Damian is touring with Celtic Thunder next month then it's unlikely he'll win as Glee has a pretty intense filming schedule and they should be filming episodes from this month on until November. We've seen from The Glee Project that it would be difficult for a cast member to be missing for several weeks. A week maybe, or even two but a month or two? No.
ReplyDeletei think lindsay will be the winner.
ReplyDeletethink of her as the brand new co-captain of the cheerios! a character your suppouse to hate, like quinn/santana in the 1rst season. Then, we all find something lindsay hides, a painfull secret that makes her joins glee club and leaves cheerios before sectionals making them lose, so Sue hates her and try to make her life a living hell.
Now I only need to figure out what would be that painfull secret... maybe her parents telling her she's adopted and she can't deal it, so she feels like an underdog and an outsider. Maybe her parents die and he has to work and study and music is the only thing that makes her happy for a while. (Let's remember RM said we're gonna met some parents). I dunno, what do you think?
Sorry about my english :(
Regarding the various comments on Damian not being chosen due to his Celtic Thunder touring schedule, I personally don't think you need to put too much of an emphasis on that. Since the winner of TGP will only be appearing in seven episodes, it wouldn't be too difficult to start and finish filming all seven episodes before Damian has to leave for tour. That being said, I'm not making a guess as to who the winner will be (though I'm an avid Damian supporter). If anything, I learned through this show that there are so many variables to consider that an accurate prediction is close to impossible.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that you could both be right and wrong. I believe that a few of TGP members will make it onto Glee for one simple reason: At the end of Season 3 the current cast graduates. That means no more Quinn or Rachel or Finn or Kurt and we are going to need a new cast. To be honest, I think we're looking at the New New Directions.
ReplyDeleteRyan did say that Damian is the one you vote for, however he also said that about Hannah.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I still like Samuel the most.
ReplyDeleteLindsay has been spotted in the set already as a show choir leader of a rival school. She also got a role. Cameron may be after the first half of the season, but Damian is most likely to be there in later in episode 2 or 3.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Lindsay, Cameron, and Damian recently hanged out together. If Damian and Cameron are still in L.A., then they must had roles. Samuel is still promoting his band alot and Alex is starting School in New York soon, so I don't think they could had a role. :c
i believe it is going to be Dams. if Cameron comes too, ill be psyched! But damian is my prediction. I don't think RM would cast alex bc of all his haters, as that may result in hate mail and threats. I hope not, but that may happen if alex is chosen.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you, Damien for sure. He has the following, especially in the UK, and I bet SkyTV, that recently paid double the price to air, Glee from now on, would be happy. I think it is a good business decision, for sure. I like Cameron and the type of character he could be, my concern is, can he pull it off, can he act. I still wish we could have seen Marissa a couple more episodes, I don't think she got a proper opportunity to shine.
ReplyDeleteIf you would have read up on this show you wouldn't have been surprised to see Marissa or Hannah go. You assumed that they got more than a featured part and one to one mentoring from the guest mentor. That was never stated. It has always been known that Ryan didn't see them during the week and the people Robert and Zach who put them in the bottom 3 were the only ones to give input. Perhaps you don't like that way of doing things, but Glee is being filmed at the same time as TGP is being filmed so there is only so much time in a week. It isn't a reality program however they have followed their rules from the beginning with the exception of the week Cameron quit, and then I don't know that they had rules figured out for that situation as Ryan had never heard of anyone getting that far and quitting before. There is only going to be one winner, that doesn't mean that some other spots in the show that have vacancies couldn't be filled with some of the contestants, but nothing is guaranteed. They were very pleased with the level of talent they got for this program and have said many times they would have been happy with anyone of them. They may have changed their minds and felt they have gotten a star, someone to have a full time part on the show, but that was not in the guarantee. It was for a 7 episode arc, so they would not be a bit player, but it didn't have to be a major part of the show either.
ReplyDelete1. Unless they're lying, you can tell where everyone is on Twitter. At least 4 of them have been hanging together.
ReplyDelete2. It's Ryan Murphy. He could say, "It was all a joke", and cast Bryce. He won't, but he could. I'm rooting for Damian, but can't imagine Cameron not being on Glee either.
3. Lindsay has pipes. Enough said.
4. It's Ryan Murphy....
I agree to a certain extent with everything said, and I am certainly banking on Damian to win because Ryan is not a fool. I do have an issue with your assumption that "fan base" is the largest issue in casting though, because as big as Glee is, even if Damian's fan base from CT is a couple hundred thousand, Glee already has tens of MILLIONS and a hundred thousand in one direction or another is not going to put the show in danger of being cancelled. If Ryan chooses Damian, it will be because Ryan thinks he is the best PERSON for the job, NOT because he can nudge the ratings higher for a couple episodes here and there. You also have to think about the fact that, it isn't like when they were taping the show that CT or his fans were able to help him get through every week, because "Fan Favorite" and all that noise wasn't even going on then. Also, I hope Cameron gets the Christian part over Samuel, because lets face it, I don't doubt Sam's devotion, but it is all a little too convenient for me. Also as far as I know, there was never an "all or nothing" clause about this show, so there is no reason that we shouldn't see some the rest of these guys anyway, not just Damian (hopefully) and Cameron (definitely).
ReplyDeleteI am on team Damian. At first I wanted him to win because I have been a fan of his and Celtic Thunder for 4 years and have have watched him grow from a child with braces to a handsome, funny, nice young man. During the course of the competition, I have come to root for him because I can see him on the show as the exchange student and because he has grown each week on TGP. I hope he is the winner. As far as his touring with CT, the other members of CT are at this moment rehearsing for the tour. Damian however is in New York. Maybe that means something, maybe not. I would miss Damian from CT but I would love seeing him weekly on Glee. We shall see.
ReplyDeleteOne more thing, Damian's following is not especially in the UK. There are 10s of thousands of supporters in the USA and Canada. Check out the many Team Damian pages in Facebook. And the number of followers he has there and on Twitter. And those among us who have never watched Glee will become avid fans if Damian is chosen
ReplyDeleteI realize something, the prize of the winner of The Glee Project is a 7-arc episode meaning he/she can't be a member of the New Direction because the New Direction is always on the go, did you get my opinion. But I want all of them to be on Glee
ReplyDeleteI agree that this scenerio sounds very likely. Note that Damian and Cameron are by far the leaders in the Fan Favorite poll, and I'm sure that has not gone unnoticed by Ryan Murphy.
ReplyDeleteLindsay has already been spotted on the glee set so she already has a part on glee
ReplyDeleteMy vote goes to Damian. They are all talented but Damian is the most versatile. He is willing to work his butt off to do what is asked of him. The judges were like teenaged girls with a huge crush on Cameron. Grow up!
ReplyDeleteI want everyone from the entire Glee project there except for Lindsay, Marissa, and Ellis ( mostly Lindsay and Ellis). Lindsay is cute but not that cute and Marissa's spot has been filled the thing that makes Emily stand out is her voice and her alter-ego and there aren't any Hispanics unless if you count Santana I thought she was black and white. Ellis I don't like her she is unlikable in my opinion and her voice isn't jaw dropping either. McKinleigh sings country and she happens to be gorgeous also so that works. I loved Bryce from the beginning I still do. My favorites are Alex, Cameron, Damian, and Matheus. Samuel is great he should be on Glee but he is just not me favorite.
ReplyDeleteGuess I see Cameron in the Christian role, but my first choice is Samuel, and I think he will grow to be a huge draw and star. They are all so talented, hope the final 4 plus Hannah and Maissa get parts. Actually love Glee Project more than Glee. Sue Sylvestor's part is totally
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable to me, not that she isn't a talented actress. The Glee Project seemed so real and is my favorite show on TV. Fingers still crossed for Samuel.
MARISSA! I wants some Gingertana
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed the happy ending with all the contestants returning and all four candidates being honored. Can't wait for Glee!
ReplyDelete