Kevin McHale isn't disabled, but he plays a wheelchair-bound High School kid in the hit series, 'Glee.' In Wednesday's episode, members of the glee club twirl their wheelchairs to 'Proud Mary' in solidarity with Artie, played by McHale. It's a scene meant to be uplifting, but it is just another blow to those in the industry with disabilities and their advocates, who believe it should have gone to an actual paraplegic performer.
McHale tells PopEater that while he understands where critics are coming from, the situation wasn't black and white when producers were looking for their Artie. "The point wasn't to get somebody who was in a wheelchair," he explains. "It was the actor. It's the part that you're playing. It's not about whatever else goes on."
Usually, a casting sheet breaks down specific or desired characteristics about a role, like ethnicity or body type. But not for 'Glee,' McHale says. "It was just kind of, whoever fit the part best was gonna play it."
'Glee' executive producer Brad Falchuk backs him up. "We brought in anyone: white, black, Asian, in a wheelchair," he told the AP when discussing the hubbub. "It was very hard to find people who could really sing, really act, and have that charisma you need on TV."
He too understands the concern and frustration expressed by the disabled community, he said. But McHale excels as an actor and singer and "it's hard to say no to someone that talented," Falchuk said.
Watch McHale speak on the controversy, starting at 01:00:
The character you are talking about is not "wheelchair-bound." He is not "confined to a wheelchair." He happens to be a person using a wheelchair. You'd think people who are so up on pop culture would be past using archaic language about people with disabilities.
I support the producers of Glee. I am sick of hearing about what is the politically correct thing to do. It is their show and they can cast whoever they darn well please. Everyone doesn't and shouldn't get a trouphy in life. Suck it up and move on.
got to hand it to the guy, it took a lot of nerve to have even auditioned for the part. the guy had to put aside even the slightest semblance of human decency that he held. and not only him, the producers, as well. wow
Im a disabled (Deaf) Actor/Dancer, and I love GLEE, and after looking into the too's and fro's of Kevin McHale's part and climb to character... and well, the producers got the right talent for the job... (Applause).
At the moment Im working as a Radio Dj. and im Deaf, not many Deaf people in Radio heh!!! but I got the job, because there is nobody that can chat like me... So kudos to Kevin and all that gave us Glee... Woop woop...
Kevin McHale isn't disabled, but he plays a wheelchair-bound High School kid in the hit series, 'Glee.' In Wednesday's episode, members of the glee club twirl their wheelchairs to 'Proud Mary' in solidarity with Artie, played by McHale. It's a scene meant to be uplifting, but it is just another blow to those in the industry with disabilities and their advocates, who believe it should have gone to an actual paraplegic performer.
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Dear Popeater;
The character you are talking about is not "wheelchair-bound." He is not "confined to a wheelchair." He happens to be a person using a wheelchair. You'd think people who are so up on pop culture would be past using archaic language about people with disabilities.
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I support the producers of Glee. I am sick of hearing about what is the politically correct thing to do. It is their show and they can cast whoever they darn well please. Everyone doesn't and shouldn't get a trouphy in life. Suck it up and move on.
Reply
got to hand it to the guy, it took a lot of nerve to have even auditioned for the part. the guy had to put aside even the slightest semblance of human decency that he held. and not only him, the producers, as well. wow
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he won the part - the end
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Im a disabled (Deaf) Actor/Dancer, and I love GLEE, and after looking into the too's and fro's of Kevin McHale's part and climb to character... and well, the producers got the right talent for the job... (Applause).
At the moment Im working as a Radio Dj. and im Deaf, not many Deaf people in Radio heh!!! but I got the job, because there is nobody that can chat like me... So kudos to Kevin and all that gave us Glee... Woop woop...
Reply