Will “Mr. Schue” Schuester, a instructor who as soon as carried out the “Thong Track” on faculty premises, was meant to have a a lot darker edge within the unique “Glee” pilot.
Sure, the primary script of the Ryan Murphy-created musical juggernaut, which finally ran for six seasons on Fox and picked up a number of Emmys, featured a really completely different origin story for the glee membership director performed by Matthew Morrison.
“[The] unique script was a really darkish comedy,” Murphy mentioned on the podcast “And That’s What You REALLY Missed,” hosted by solid members Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz. “Mr. Schue, I consider, was a crystal meth addict in Ian’s script.”
“It was form of like ‘Election,’ however just like the NC-17 model of present choir with a bizarre protagonist who was unraveling,” he added.
Murphy additionally mentioned that the primary draft of the pilot, written by co-creator Ian Brennan, featured the instructor inappropriately “touching” his college students.
The script made its option to Murphy’s fingers after FX selected to not choose up his collection “Fairly/Good-looking,” leaving him feeling defeated and with out a undertaking.
“Like serendipity, I went to the gymnasium and I used to be in a towel and a man got here up and handed me a script,” Murphy recalled. “He mentioned, ‘I’ve a sense you have been in present choir, am I proper?’ And I used to be like, ‘Yeah.’”
“And he mentioned, ‘My good friend wrote this script and it’s best to learn it,’” Murphy mentioned. “And he gave it to me.”
However the darker parts of the undertaking didn’t precisely enchantment to Murphy, who wished to work on a present that was “very poppy and first colours” after helming the twisted cosmetic surgery drama “Nip/Tuck” for years. So, after months of rewriting and pitching to the community, “Glee” was given a 13-episode order, and the remaining is historical past.
As for casting the present, earlier than Morrison ultimately got here aboard, Murphy revealed that he was eyeing a sure pop star to play the position.
“Once we have been writing the pilot ― I’ve by no means actually talked about this ― that pilot was written for Justin Timberlake,” he mentioned. “Mr. Schue was written for Justin.”
“Glee” would go on to welcome a lot of A-listers all through its run, together with everybody from Gwyneth Paltrow and Britney Spears to Olivia Newton-John and Whoopi Goldberg. However the former boy band star by no means made an look.
A number of Timberlake songs, nonetheless, did slip by way of over time, together with a “Bye Bye Bye / I Need It That Means” mash-up from his ’N Sync days, in addition to his Madonna collaboration “4 Minutes.”
Need assistance with substance use dysfunction or psychological well being points? Within the U.S., name 800-662-HELP (4357) for the SAMHSA Nationwide Helpline.