Image Credit: Michael Yarish/FoxEven though it has tackled such heavy topics as homophobia and teen pregnancy, Glee will follow in the footsteps of one-hour series Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty by vying for Outstanding Comedy at the Emmys. Eleven years after Ally McBeal became the first dramedy to score a win in the category, Glee is considered a lock to earn a nomination July 8, and it may well win the trophy Aug. 29. But comedy purists are asking: Do hour-long shows — which mix lighthearted moments with full-on tearjerkers — really belong in a category that usually honors traditional sitcoms? A handful of comedy writers polled by EW have their doubts.
“We bust our asses trying to get as many laughs into the shows as possible,” gripes one veteran scribe. “Dramedies don’t do that.” Adds another: “I’ve seen Glee a couple times, and I like it okay. But it has never, not even once, made me laugh, which seems like something any comedy should do.” Still, that writer points out, “I don’t know that a show like Glee should be competing against, say, The Wire, either.”
The Emmy brass recognizes the issue, but is understandably reluctant to create a new award for dramedies. “To [add] another category just to take care of the odd ducks would dilute the meaning of each one,” says John Leverence, the academy’s senior VP of awards. Still, the pressure is on Glee to submit comedic episodes that can go toe-to-toe with three-time winner 30 Rock and this year’s breakout, Modern Family. (Glee plans to offer its pilot and the Madonna episode for consideration.) But other than the musical numbers, creator Ryan Murphy argues, Glee isn’t that different. “People get caught up on that ‘dramedy’ label. But every time I watch 30 Rock or Modern Family, I am moved,” he says. “The more heart that a show has, the bigger laugh you get in the payoff. All in the Family had a rape episode. Just because it’s a sitcom doesn’t mean it’s not moving. And just because it’s a one-hour [show] doesn’t mean it’s not funny.”
Glee aired its first season finale on Tuesday; it averaged nearly 11 million viewers. The episode was the highest-rated season finale for all freshman series this year.
—With additional reporting by Whitney Pastorek
Yeah, I think Glee should compete in comedy. It makes much more sense for a show as quirky as Glee to compete against 30 Rock,The Office and modern family, rather than Breaking Bad and Lost…
EW trying to shove Glee down our throats again….I wonder if they know there are other shows out there other that Glee, Bachelor, Dancing with the Washed up Stars, or SheB*tch plus 8?
LMAO @ She***** plus 8
uhh…did you not notice 11 million viewers?…i think the show may deserve some discussion.
11 million viewers isnt really that astounding. Even Lost could scrap together 11 million viewers in it’s final season after everyone stopped watching. But then it’s better than the 2 million viewers who watch the CW.
But seriously, 50% of the content on this site/magazine is Glee.
Yeah, because EW doesn’t eve pay attention to shows like LOST ever – they’ve never devoted an ENTIRE issue to it or anything….
PLUS – the reason there’s a bunch of Glee stuff on the site is because the season finale aired 2 nights ago. Quit your whining.
Doesn’t matter, if those are the episodes they submit, they won’t win.
Exactly what I thought. There are better episodes they could submit. The pilot makes sense, but the Madonna episode makes me want to hurl. If anything, submit the finale or The Rhodes Not Taken. Far better episodes than the Madonna one.
The finale was IMO one of the worst episodes of the series.
And not at ALL comedic. More like a sappy sobfest.
I agree. The pilot is definitely worth an Emmy nom at least but the Madonna was more of a personal thing for Ryan Murphy, imo. I think the only one worth the back 9 was Bad Reputation-Run Joey Run should guarantee a win. That was the funniest thing I’ve seen on any tv show in ages. I’d go with Preggers or Mash-Up maybe as well.
Yet, the Madonna episode was the most critically acclaimed… thank god you lot aren’t working for Glee.
Thinking about the Emmy voters, submitting the Madonna makes the most sense. The other episodes like Run Joey Run may appeal to fans, but not to first-time viewers (like most Emmy voters). At least, these voters know Madonna and can relate to the episode.
I would submit Vitamin D. It was one of my favorites and funniest of the season.
Why did the Madonna episode make you want to hurl? Hate Madonna much?
The Madonna episode made me want to hurl too. Not because I hate Madonna, but because it was 42 minutes of gimmicks and bad writing. It was also my “probation” episode…and the following ep was my last Glee ever. It’s a shame, because it was easily my favorite thing on TV in the Fall. Oh well. Modern Family should win anyway.
The music in the Madonna episode was great, but the episode as a whole really wasn’t. The critical acclaim for it was not because of the writing.
I thought Vitamin D was the funniest episode of all (the one where Terry gave all the kids cold medicine when she became the school nurse). And the kids all performed on speed, and Howard Bamboo got arrested because they thought he was running a crystal meth lab.
Glee is not a comedy. Nor are any of the others mentioned. Rarely does Glee make me laugh, and then it’s a mild chuckle. 30 Rock, Modern Family, Chuck, Parks & Recs, these are actual comedies.
Funny you mention “Chuck”, another show I absolutely love, because I bet these writers they interviewed for this article would categorize it as a dramedy as well. And you know what? It is. But to quote another great comedy, “Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”
That’s funny, because Glee often manages to make me laugh more times in one episode than the times I’ve laughed at all those other shows combined. And Chuck is also a dramedy too, as Carlitos mentioned.
Couldn’t agree more. Glee is too unfunny to be a comedy, too much teen melodrama to be a serious drama, and too poorly written to be considered for any award. God, I hate this show.
” The not at all stupidly named Aural Intensity” pretty funny to me. If they use less celebrity guest stars and focus more on the the other characters not named Rachel and Mr Shu, then Glee will defenitely be a force to reckon with in both comedy and drama
Interesting question. My first thought was, “Of course it is.” Then I thought, wait a minute….
Haha, same here!
The writer who watched and didn’t once laugh clearly didn’t watch the “dolphins are just gay sharks” episode.
Oh man. I laughed out loud again just reading it.
Seriously! That was by far the funniest thing I heard on TV all year.
With the crap that some “comedy writers” try to pass off as funny these days, that guy should be embarrassed.
…but does some funny lines throughout really made it a comedy? Almost any drama will make me laugh now and then. The West Wing or Lost, for example, are both Emmy winning dramas and both have some very funny lines and funny episodes. Heck, even The Sopranos made me laugh every now and then. So, yes, Glee has some comedy moments, but is it a comedy at the core? Maybe, but I’m not yet convinced…
I love me some Glee. However, the second half of the season was a big letdown. The season finale though hit it right on the head. Ryan Murphy and Co need to write more episodes like “Journey”. Glee runs the risk of becoming a parody of itself and episodes like the Madonna one show it can easily become the joke. Having said that, 30 Rock or Modern Family should win for comedy. Glee might be shooting itself in the foot with competition like that in the comedy category.
I agree that the first half of Glee was much funnier than the second and that Modern Family is overall a better show. But 30 Rock? I think that show is past its prime. The first couple of seasons were outstanding, but now I actually prefer Parks & Recreation to 30 Rock.
Oops, I meant that the first half of Glee was much better than the second half.
Completely agree that the second half was far spottier than the first.
“Home” was the only episode of the back nine that completely worked for me. Wish that had been one of the episodes submitted.
Um, I’ve always approached Glee as parody. Doesn’t mean it can’t be moving and tackle serious issues, but it’s ALWAYS tongue-in-cheek. The bigger risk, to me, is having it become too earnest. Maybe it’s just that I was a huge Nip/Tuck fan, so that’s what I expected–an envelope-pushing satire with a lot of heart but not a lot of realism. I’m a choir geek, too, so I relate to it on that level, but, in my opinion, the worst thing Glee can do is to take itself seriously.
Actually, it’s NOT always tongue-in-cheek. That’s my biggest problem with it, and why I stopped watching. I adored how over-the-top it can be…but had a very hard time buying seriousness within the same episode. It just doesn’t work for me.
I like Glee just fine. It does not need an Emmy win or nomination to make it better.
It doesn’t need an Emmy , It DESERVES it. Let’s not try to act like we gleeks don’t care. I don’t care which category it is, just give GLEE its Emmy. Period.
Emmy or no Emmy, I’ll still watch it…..well, unless they get rid of Quinn, then I’m going to have to go
I don’t get the hatred for the Madonna episode?? I guess it comes down to how much you like Madonna to begin with. I am a huge fan and adored the episode. It was fun picking out people dressed in various stages of Madonna’s career. If you haven’t followed M’s career that stuff may have gone unnoticed. But, there are probably things that I don’t notice that have to with pop culture I don’t follow. It doesn’t mean I can’t still enjoy the show?
No, I love Madonna, I definitely know her career and hated that episode. HATED.
I enjoy Modern Family……..But what is Modern Family, in actuality? Its a traditional, 1/2 sitcom, albeit a well written one.
Glee should win the emmy because it is completely original, fresh and has created its own format. It is not boxed in by the traditional categories, and dares to entertain us with music, laughs and tears, all in one package. It’s socially relevent and has significant cultural impact. It is more original than any 1/2 hour sitcom ever could hope to be.
Glee is just a musical remake of Ryan Murphy’s own “Popular”. It didn’t create anything, and while I prefer “30 Rock” to “Modern Family”, I won’t be mad if “Modern Family” walked away with the Best Comedic Series Emmy this year. It’s an actual comedy. “Glee” will not and should not win.
To be honest, I’ve never laughed during an episode of 30 Rock and Modern Family. The difference between myself and the writers who don’t like dramadies taking their emmys is that I know there are other people in the world with different comedic tastes.
You have never laughed during ANY episode of “30 Rock” nor “Modern Family”? All I can say is, wow.
That’s because 30 Rock isn’t funny.
You mean 30 Rock isn’t funny…to YOU.
I respectifully disagree.
Modern Family is not funny. To me at least. It’s just another one of those lame shows with tame humor.
Sorry both shows are better written that “Glee” will ever be. The Dolphins are Gay Sharks line has nothing on the scores of laugh out loud lines on 30 Rock. Your special, like a Black Stripper with Blue Eyes!
Modern Family is freaking hilarious, the episode in Hawaii where they leave the baby in the elevator and then again when they think they lost it on like a banana tour or something, it was great!
the guy that said he never laughed at glee should have not seen Bad Reputation. I didnt laughed as hard as I did during Run Joey Run about anything on television this season. That was split-size funny.
And glee when is funny is FUNNY. Just as when is sad is SAD. I laugh at glee way more than I laugh at Modern Family, wich is a show I like, but at most it makes me smirk.
I didn’t know this was a question. ABSOLUTELY it’s a comedy. If it went in as a drama, wouldn’t Jane Lynch have to enter for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama? No way she’d win that, but I think the Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy trophy already has her name on it. It’s a comedy. It deals with drama–often in a satirical way–but at the end of the day, it’s funny. “30 Rock” is great, but this has not been a banner year for them.
I’m sorry, anyone who doesn’t laugh at “Did you know a dolphin is just a gay shark” has no sense of humor. It scares me that a professional writer has never once laughed at Glee. That just tells me he has never watched it and is just posturing.
I agree. How on earth can you not laugh once at Glee? There are moments when I burst out laughing, only to look around and see I’m completely alone.
Let’s be honest though… aren’t the people who write Big Bang and Two & a Half Men and Accidentally on Purpose technically “professionals?” Is it shocking that a professional from that side of “Comedy” would talk smack about an ACTUALLY funny show. I especially love the part where he says he “busts his ass to get as many laughs[... ]” Loser.
As far as that writer’s comments go, – it’s called hyperbole. Sure, you can laugh at the little moments (the things Brittany says are usually hilarious, and Sue comes up with some good one-liners), but the tone of the show is more dramatic and, frankly, tragic than it is comedic. You don’t usually laugh at drama/tragedy. The important part of comedy (historically) is a happy ending. I’m not sure you can argue that Glee has a happy ending for the participants, especially since they keep harping the point that this experience is as good as it gets for those involved with New Directions.
Jones I agree that Parks and Rec really came into its own this year and was consistently funny. The dinner party episode and the Hunting Trip come to mind! However, 30 Rock really had some amazing episodes. An episode like “Derek Jeter VS. Lee Marvin” I think easily beats out most other comedies. Then again, The Modern Family episode with Minnie Driver was pretty amazing too. I’m torn but I think Tina Fey and Co deserve the award. BTW Parks and Rec coming back mid-season is very disheartening and I hope it is ONLY because of Amy P’s pregnancy. Lets hope!
I think it would benefit shows to add a Dramedy category. I’ve never thought Desperate Housewives fit into the comedy category and I feel it takes away from some shows that deserve the best comedy title. Glee shouldn’t take away from the hilarity that is Modern Family, but I think it does deserve to be recognized.
This is a debate that’s been going on for a long time. When Northern Exposure won for best drama, their comment was “Hate to break it to you, but we’re a comedy”. The Emmy people just don’t know what to do with shows that are half-hour sitcoms or hour dramas. But more and more shows are falling into that middle ground. Just one more issue that they need to address in how they hand out their award.
Sorry – shows that aren’t half-hour sitcoms or hour dramas.
I’ve always hated the term “Dramedy”. Yes, you can have different elements of both in one show but it seems to me that at the end of the day a show has an over all flavor to it and most people have not trouble figuring out what that is. Perhaps if they expanded to have a “half-hour” comedy catagory and also an “Hour” comedy catagory. (You could do the same for Drama too although I can’t think of any half-hour dramas right now.)
I don’t know…I feel like Desperate Housewives is the perfect example of a Dramedy. Within one episode it can be completely hilarious (Gaby shenanigans, for example) and also incredibly dramatic (some of the very serious stuff that Lynette has gone through). I don’t think it’s well-definied at all. What category would you put it in?
Glee shouldn’t be nominated for or win an Emmy at all. The writing is terrible. Honestly, until this show proves it lives up to what we all actually want it to be, I don’t see how it’s productive to shower it with praise when the show is clearly a train wreck. It’s “funny,” if by funny you mean “it goes for cheap laughs.” It’s “dramatic” if you mean, it swings so wildly between totally artificial plot conceits that there are no stakes in any of the “drama” at all, none whatsoever.
What a farce.
I think you’re trying to take the show too seriously. And what does “until this show proves it lives up to what we all actually want it to be….” mean? It’s living up to what I want it to be? What do you want it to be?
No, I agree with Sarah. I LOVED the show when it first started, but it’s become a shell of what it once was. With the exception of some of their one-liners, the writing is just abysmally bad, and it definitely can’t seem to get a grasp on its voice. Shame, because it has so much potential.
“Not once made [them] laugh”? Really? That writer seems to be comedy-deaf or something. Did they, by any chance, miss Jane Lynch in action, killing every single time with her lines? Seriously, for a comedy writer, they don’t seem to have that much of a sense of humor; oh, the irony.
Still, I sort of get where they’re coming from: there’s nothing harder to write than comedy, especially GOOD comedy. But saying that seems like a cheap shot at the shiny, bright, new show that everyone’s talking about.
ITA. The problem with most traditional sitcoms these days, is they aren’t funny. The writers of those shows are probably jealous if Glee’s success.
This show is definately supposed to be comedy, but the humor is pretty stale and cheesy. I do like Jane Lynch but in the far superior Party Down.