Glee Had No Official Writing Staff, Now Has One With Women On It
This Makes Sense
First, you might be wondering why we’re covering Glee. Well, some of us are Gleeks. But mostly, it’s about the hiring of female writers for a show that never had an official writing staff for any of its 44 existing episodes. It’s true: every episode of the first and second seasons of Glee were written solely by its producing staff, Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan. And in case you were wondering if that was insane, then yes, that is indeed insane. But now, they’re finally getting some help from some very geek-friendly writers, including some women. Let’s say it together: it’s about freaking time!
Many of us who follow Glee would probably agree that while there were some good episodes in Season 2, it’s hard to call it a 100% good season. Nothing compares to the first half of the first season, before the show was a massive success and probably before the original writing trio got super exhausted. That’s why there is potential for some excellent stories this season if these guys can get some help from some really talented people. So, who are the new hires?
Allison Adler, who has written for Chuck and No Ordinary Family, will write and become a co-executive producer. And Marti Noxon, who has written for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, has signed on to become a consulting producer. The thought of anyone who once belonged to the Whedonverse writing for Glee is cause for great, well, I’ll just say it — glee. Here’s another horrible pun: that combination is just pure harmony. And now I’ll stop.
Other additions to the staff are John Michael Higgins, who has appeared in Christopher Guest‘s improv/mockumentary movies (oftentimes alongside Sue Sylvester herself, Jane Lynch), and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who you may recall repaired the Spider-Man musical. (Which some people liked, and some people didn’t.) And that rounds out a pretty superhuman writing staff for a show that could really use a fresh set of eyes. Or eight. Murphy, Falchuk, and Brennan have been responsible for some really excellent storylines and some downright heartbreaking scenes (three words: Kurt and Burt), but they’ve also been responsible for some of its lazier and stuntier moments. (Two more words: Britney Spears. I’m not saying that Britney was unwelcome, or that the whole “Britney S. Pierce” thing wasn’t funny, but when you delve into the whole “and then they hallucinated” … yeah. Really? What a waste of Britney.)
This gives us good reason to be cautiously optimistic that Glee will return to its glory days. And I promise not to make a reference to “Don’t Stop Believin’,” except I just did. Sorry.
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