The Glee Project Finalists: How I’d Write Them All into the Show

No, I don’t work for Oxygen, the network that airs The Glee Project, nor Fox that airs Glee, or for Ryan Murphy or for anyone else involved with Glee or the Glee Project. I’m merely one of many opinionated fans who happens to have an idea or two on how what I’d like to see. As of right now, The Glee Project is preparing to broadcast the finale of the 1st season on Sunday, August 21st. The actual winner has been chosen, but if all four of those contenders were to win spots on Glee what roles would they play?

As I read show blog comments, and even some of the feedback I’ve seen from the Glee Project episodes, there seems to be some leaning to “replace” characters that may leave Glee due to graduation. They talk of Lindsay Pierce, the pretty brunette with a Broadway belt as “the next Rachel” or Alex Newell, an overweight African American gay teen with the voice and attitude of a diva as a “Kurtcedes” (some sort of hybrid between Kurt and Mercedes), Damian McGinty has drawn comparisons to Finn and Samuel Larsen has been compared to Glee’s bad boy Noah “Puck” Puckerman.

Overall, the purpose of the Glee Project has been served. The only promise made to the winner of The Glee Project is a seven episode roles, but of course it’s show business. So anything can happen. Here’s where I’d take potential Glee roles of Glee Project characters.

Lindsay — On The Glee Project, Lindsay’s biggest criticism is that she comes off as not real enough, as too perfect. I see her as a sophomore and former member of New Directions rival, Vocal Adreniline. Due to a messy divorce, Lindsay and her mom are forced to move to Lima and Lindsay must transfer to McKinley. There have been rumors that Idina Menzel is also returning to the show and that could bring friction between Lindsay’s character and Rachel. Coming from Vocal Adreniline, Lindsay’s character could have a real “high horse” attitude that could be tamed through the course of the season.

Samuel — Samuel’s biggest criticism is that he tries too hard to please. He will be whatever you want him to be, but never quite himself. He carries a mysterious rocker vibe that I do think is missing on Glee. I don’t agree that he is the next Puck. Although I do like Mark Salling, I think the Puck character has evolved too much. In the last few episodes, Sam has seemingly found a torch for Jesus which he coincidently found right as another contestant resigned the show due to a conflict with his faith.

Sam, I’d write as a lead singer of a born again Christian rock band whose parents aren’t on board with his newfound ideology. He joins Glee club as a “cover” at the suggestion of guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury, but starts missing rehearsals to play with his band.

Though Alex definitely does bring a “Kurtcedes” element, I would want to make sure not to share too much screen time in order to minimize those comparisons. Alex is my least favorite of the finalists, not because he isn’t talented, but because he doesn’t seem to have the work ethic of the other Glee Project contenders or the cast of Glee. He can come off as acting entitled, but I think his motivation lies in a fear of failure. I see him as a band geek, actually, perhaps marching band. He can’t keep up, so he joins Glee Club to get his music credit after hearing Glee Club will take anybody.

I think Damian McGinty has the purest voice of any of the finalists, and also brings the biggest following. Winning a contest in his native Ireland landed him a place with Celtic Thunder at 14. He’s 18 now, and his voice has matured quite nicely. He’s a bit clumsy and has a cutie-pie look and silly sense of humor. The cute and clumsy is probably what brings to mind Finn, but I would hope that Damian would get to be a little smarter. He definitely doesn’t seem like a jock.

The most obvious way to introduce Damian would be as a foreign exchange student. The only problem with that scenario is that exchange students eventually go home. I see Damian’s father as a businessman involved in some project in the US that brought him and Damian to the US. Damian’s father would hate all the music stuff, think it was a dead end and try to push Damian into sports as a distraction. Little does he know Coach Bieste is a big Glee club fan. Exactly how long Damian’s father is able to hold onto his work Visa can be in question as the season progresses, and if he is sent back to Ireland, Damian would have to go along, or get some kind of sponsorship to be allowed to stay in the states.

Of course, between now and Sunday August 21st, the Glee Project Winner will be closely guarded, and it is likely that none of my ideas will materialize. Glee certainly has plenty of their own writers on staff. Either way, I will most likely watch to see what’s next.


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