Disabled Advocates Protest Glee's Wheelchair Episode
Credit: Michael Yarish/FOX
Disabled viewers are not singing a happy tune when it comes to Glee's Nov. 11 episode, "Wheels."
A scene in the FOX ensemble song-and-dance series airing Wednesday where the cast performs "Proud Mary" in wheelchairs to support their paraplegic pal, Artie (Kevin McHale), deprives a disabled actor a shot at stardom, says CSI cast member Robert David Hall.
"I think there's a fear of litigation, that a person with disabilities might slow a production down, fear that viewers might be uncomfortable," the actor, 61, told USA Today.
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But that's a misconception.
"I've made my living as an actor for 30 years and I walk on two artificial legs," Hall, who chairs a multi-union committee for performers with disabilities, says.
Producers for Glee, which focuses on the plight of an underdog high school glee club, say they pride themselves on having assembled a diverse cast, which includes McHale.
"We brought in anyone: white, black, Asian, in a wheelchair," executive producer Brad Falchuk said. "It was very hard to find people who could really sing, really act, and have that charisma you need on TV."
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And while Falchuck sympathizes with those in the disabled community, he says McHale, 21, who plays Artie, is the perfect fit for the role. "It's hard to say no to someone that talented," Falchuk said.
Tell Us What You Think
27I am 36 and I am disabled. And I have been for my whole life. While Artie is supposed to have been an accident victim. To me yes I was disappointed to find out that he was able-bodied. But, I am not disappointed in how he is portrayed. I like how they are showing all the struggles he is going through and how he deals with them. To me he is a role model for disabled people.
What I am about to write is not to offend anyone. I guess you could say I'm playing devil's advocate. For one thing, I am differently-abled. One person brought up the fact that "it's called acting." A person who plays a gay person on television does not have to be gay, etc. A gay person could play a heterosexual person on t.v. Therefore, why can't a differently-abled actor just play a character on t.v.? The character's role does not have to revolve around being differently-abled. Yes, a differently-abled person may have more challenges and may do things differently, but they still have a lot of the same challenges everybody does. They do some things the same way as other people. I personally believe that everyone is differently-abled in some way. We are not all wonderful in math or science or art or athletics. I may have to walk with crutches, but I was blessed with a good brain. I was in honors or college bound classes in igh school. I graduated in May from college with a 4.0. However, at my high school, I was one of two physically differently-abled students in the honors or college bound classes. The point is, the differently-abled need more representation in television. Also, it's my opinion that people with Down Syndrome are cast, because this is a difference that can not easily be faked, not to take away from the talent of actors and actresses with Down Syndrome. However, if certain differences could be easily faked, do you think you would see a person with that difference actually playing the character? Furthermore, back in the early days of movies (1920s, 30s, etc.), some people were put in black-face. People would find that offensive today. Therefore, an African-American plays an African -American. Why shouldn't a differently-abled person play a differently-abled person?
As someone who used a wheelchair for years, I find myself torn on this issue. While I applaud producers for representing my portion of the population, and for showing that disabled kids are talented too, I do wish they'd actually cast a real disabled person. So many wheelchair bound individuals would LOVE a chance to do a show like Glee - and chances for the disabled come along very, very rarely. I'd love it if more roles were created to give the disabled more of a chance to shine. Pipe dreams...
The debate over whether to cast an actor with a disability or not is over. While I wish it could have truly been a wheelchair user, the fact is now that Artie's portrayal is terrible, including the "Wheels" episode. He doesn't sit properly in his chair and the dancing looks ridiculous and why are people always pushing him around? He went on a date with Tina and she pushed him the whole time. Nobody I know in a wheelchair would have stood for this behavior. Also, why are they having him play able-bodied football? They are missing a golden opportunity to introduce the world to wheelchair sports. Please have him gain some confidence in his life as a person with a disability who just acts like a regular person!
he's not in a wheel chair in real life cos they needed him for the "safety dance" episode where he has a dream that he dances. so he needed to be able to walk. but it is sad that they couldn't find someone who actualy was in a wheelchair.:(
@Darcy, Yes, Terri meant Down Syndrome when she said mongoloid, but that is the point! Terri's character is NOT meant to be a pillar of morality. She is supposed to be offensive and ignorant. Remember how she hid a pregnancy from her husband? Remember how she passed out pseudophedrine to the student body and tried to pass it off as vitamins? Remember how she hid in Quinn's car and ambushed her, trying to scare her into giving up her unborn child? The writers of Glee are having this character use the word mongoloid not to make it ok for others to use it, but to show what type of person Terri's character is... selfish and ignorant
There are plenty of talented performers with disabilities, including myself, and it's so hard for us to catch a break because an ignorant society is "uncomfortable" with us. It makes me sick.
I like Artie but you could have found an actor also in a wheelchair. When I found out he was an "actor" I was not happy. ADA must have a lot of actor's to pick from. jh
@Darrell, when the word "mongoloid" was used it DEFINITELY meant Down Syndrome. Terri was saying she didn't want to have a baby who was a "mongoloid." From the context there is nothing else she could possibly have meant.
It's called ACTING! Do you have to be gay to play gay? Do you have to be straight to play straight? Do you have to be crippled to play one?! Real talent is the stretch from reality to fantasy.
It amazes me that in the same episode students were putting pot in brownies and selling it in school - yet that wasn't addressed?!? I agree that Glee has done a wonderful job of portraying all types of people - kids living their day to day lives as persons viewers can relate to. As someone who works with patients who use wheelchairs I've heard great support for the show at work.
My daughter has Down syndrome. I felt his episode portrayed people living with Down syndrome in a very positive light. Especially when Sue said that they only wanted to be treated as an individual not seen as a disability. Just my take! Very rarely do I see people with a cognitive disability shown in a positive light.
@Lauren: Obviously, you didn't see this very moving episode of Glee featuring 2 individuals with Down Syndrome, which was handled very well. Also, although the term "mongoloid" has been unfortunately used as a derogatory term for people with Down Syndrome, that isn't the only connotation of the word. In fact, it is still used today as a technical term for people of Asian ancestry (i.e. in forensics), etc. Not everything is an insult to people with disabilities, and sometimes being so PC is more degrading, in my opinion to people, than just treating them like normal people (which they are).
I thought it was offensive because of the last musical number with its "wacky" references to rolling around and all that.
Where are the Disabled Advocates when it comes to other shows who have cast in wheelchairs? I didn't hear anyone crying over the episode of Community (with Chevy Chase). The Greensdale College student was shown in a wheelchair. Seems like they are not really fighting "the" battle.
i watched Glee for the first time last night, and I thought the gentleman who played Artie WAS actually wheel-chair bound! What an actor! The whole show is bringing a new light to ALL types of people - does it really make a difference if the actors are portraying them instead of really "being" them? Look at the big picture, people!
I think it was a great episode. Very moving.
I enjoyed the episode myself.
I thought the episode of wheels was well written. As a parent of a child with DS, i believe the entire episode was handled with sensitivity and warmth. Kuddos!
glee is the best... weather or not people like it i am obsessed dont hate people cuz u cant produce a show as good as this show GLEE and i love artie....(clap, clap, clap)