Member-only story
The Unhappy Ending for the Cast of ‘Glee’
Was the show cursed? Or was it just time to change the tune?
From 2009 to 2015, Glee was one of the most popular shows on prime-time television. It followed the fictitious lives of high school misfits that found their true voices in a singing club, led by a charismatic teacher who helped the kids shine.
But while the show had a cheerful vibe — and was relatable to former high school geeks like me — a dark shadow fell across the production. Lady Misfortune whacked several cast members across the head with her stick, some harder than others.
Cory Monteith played Finn Hudson, a popular football quarterback at William McKinley High School who discovered his sensitive side while singing beautiful ballads like this one:
Believe it or not, the cast did their own singing, although you can guess from the above sample that it was likely pre-recorded and mastered for the TV spots.
While Finn was an inspiring character, showing even jocks can be vulnerable and express…