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==Development==
==Development==
Sue's role in ''Glee'' is head coach of the [[cheerleading|cheerleading squad]] or "Cheerios", and the [[glee club]]'s "arch-nemesis".<ref name="NYT"/> Lynch states that Sue is "pure evil and doesn't hide it",<ref name="NYPost">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.nypost.com/popwrap/archives/2009/05/glee_cast_interview.html|title=Meet The Cast of 'Glee,' I Did!|last=Wieselman|first=Jarett|date=May 19, 2009|work=[[New York Post]]|accessdate=2009-06-01}}</ref> having been created as a product of Murphy, Brennan and Falchuck's "inner mean girl".<ref name="NYT"/> Discussing Sue's treatment of the students, Lynch has stated: "She's not above engaging in inappropriate behavior with minors. She somehow manages to be horrible and really delightful at the same time."<ref name="Lynch">{{cite web|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2009/09/qa-jane-lynch-might-just-slip-you-a-mickey.html|title=Q&A: Jane Lynch Might Just Slip You a Mickey|last=Spitznagel|first=Eric|date=September 4, 2009|work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|accessdate=2009-09-05}}</ref> Lynch has described Sue as having "no filter", explaining: "Whatever comes to Sue's head comes out of her mouth. She loves the look of shock on people's face that they can't believe that she would say that and indeed she did."<ref name="CNN"/> With regards to her motivation, Lynch explained: "Sue will do whatever it takes to win. If that means she has to prostitute herself or take advantage of a 16-year-old boy, she'll do it. It's all about power and winning. That's her entire world view."<ref name="Lynch"/> Sue often makes blatantly "politically incorrect" comments including [[homophobic]] remarks.
Sue's role in ''Glee'' is being a funny, hilarious, crazy, and ridiculous hoe, ans she (maybe a he) is head coach of the [[cheerleading|cheerleading squad]] or "Cheerios", and the [[glee club]]'s "arch-nemesis".<ref name="NYT"/> Lynch states that Sue is "pure evil and doesn't hide it",<ref name="NYPost">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.nypost.com/popwrap/archives/2009/05/glee_cast_interview.html|title=Meet The Cast of 'Glee,' I Did!|last=Wieselman|first=Jarett|date=May 19, 2009|work=[[New York Post]]|accessdate=2009-06-01}}</ref> having been created as a product of Murphy, Brennan and Falchuck's "inner mean girl".<ref name="NYT"/> Discussing Sue's treatment of the students, Lynch has stated: "She's not above engaging in inappropriate behavior with minors. She somehow manages to be horrible and really delightful at the same time."<ref name="Lynch">{{cite web|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2009/09/qa-jane-lynch-might-just-slip-you-a-mickey.html|title=Q&A: Jane Lynch Might Just Slip You a Mickey|last=Spitznagel|first=Eric|date=September 4, 2009|work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|accessdate=2009-09-05}}</ref> Lynch has described Sue as having "no filter", explaining: "Whatever comes to Sue's head comes out of her mouth. She loves the look of shock on people's face that they can't believe that she would say that and indeed she did."<ref name="CNN"/> With regards to her motivation, Lynch explained: "Sue will do whatever it takes to win. If that means she has to prostitute herself or take advantage of a 16-year-old boy, she'll do it. It's all about power and winning. That's her entire world view."<ref name="Lynch"/> Sue often makes blatantly "politically incorrect" comments including [[homophobic]] remarks.


Discussing the revelation that Sue's older sister Jean has [[Down syndrome]], Lynch commented: "we get to see the softer side of Sue, and see how much she loves her sister and how gentle and kind she is with her sister. And of course she turns around and stabs someone else in the back. But we know that she does have it in there, that she has a heart. But we won't see a lot more of that of Sue."<ref name="CNN">{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/11/24/unexpected.glee/|title=Stars discuss their unexpected 'Glee' |last=Mineo|first=Andrea|date=November 25, 2009|publisher=[[CNN]]|accessdate=26 November 2009}}</ref>
Discussing the revelation that Sue's older sister Jean has [[Down syndrome]], Lynch commented: "we get to see the softer side of Sue, and see how much she loves her sister and how gentle and kind she is with her sister. And of course she turns around and stabs someone else in the back. But we know that she does have it in there, that she has a heart. But we won't see a lot more of that of Sue."<ref name="CNN">{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/11/24/unexpected.glee/|title=Stars discuss their unexpected 'Glee' |last=Mineo|first=Andrea|date=November 25, 2009|publisher=[[CNN]]|accessdate=26 November 2009}}</ref>

Revision as of 01:31, 2 October 2010

Sue Sylvester
Glee character
File:Sue Sylvester.jpg
Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester.
First appearance"Pilot"
Created byRyan Murphy
Brad Falchuk
Ian Brennan
Portrayed byJane Lynch
In-universe information
OccupationCheerleading coach
Fine arts administrator
TV news personality
FamilyUnnamed mother
Unnamed father
Jean Sylvester (sister)

Sue Sylvester is a fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series, Glee. The character is portrayed by actress Jane Lynch, and has appeared in Glee from its pilot episode, first broadcast on May 19, 2009. Sue was developed by Glee creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan. In Glee, Sue is the coach of the William McKinley High School cheerleading squad, and a ruthless bully to both students and faculty members alike. Because her cheerleading squad competes with the glee club for the school's limited funding, her role in the show is that of an antagonist to the club and to its director, Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison).

Originally intended to be a recurring character, Lynch was promoted to a starring role when the Damon Wayans pilot she was working on for ABC fell through.[1] The character has been generally well received by critics. Mary McNamara for the Los Angeles Times has written that "Lynch alone makes Glee worth watching", while Entertainment Weekly's Ken Tucker has called Sue "the greatest Broadway-musical villain to ever co-star in a TV series". On December 15, 2009, Lynch was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Golden Globe Award for her performance in the role, and won the Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her portrayal of Sue Sylvester.

Development

Sue's role in Glee is being a funny, hilarious, crazy, and ridiculous hoe, ans she (maybe a he) is head coach of the cheerleading squad or "Cheerios", and the glee club's "arch-nemesis".[1] Lynch states that Sue is "pure evil and doesn't hide it",[2] having been created as a product of Murphy, Brennan and Falchuck's "inner mean girl".[1] Discussing Sue's treatment of the students, Lynch has stated: "She's not above engaging in inappropriate behavior with minors. She somehow manages to be horrible and really delightful at the same time."[3] Lynch has described Sue as having "no filter", explaining: "Whatever comes to Sue's head comes out of her mouth. She loves the look of shock on people's face that they can't believe that she would say that and indeed she did."[4] With regards to her motivation, Lynch explained: "Sue will do whatever it takes to win. If that means she has to prostitute herself or take advantage of a 16-year-old boy, she'll do it. It's all about power and winning. That's her entire world view."[3] Sue often makes blatantly "politically incorrect" comments including homophobic remarks.

Discussing the revelation that Sue's older sister Jean has Down syndrome, Lynch commented: "we get to see the softer side of Sue, and see how much she loves her sister and how gentle and kind she is with her sister. And of course she turns around and stabs someone else in the back. But we know that she does have it in there, that she has a heart. But we won't see a lot more of that of Sue."[4]

Storylines

Sue dislikes Spanish teacher Will Schuester's (Matthew Morrison) attempt at reviving William McKinley High School's failing glee club, and enlists cheerleaders Quinn (Dianna Agron), Brittany (Heather Morris), and Santana (Naya Rivera) to help her bring the club down from the inside.[5] When her plan fails, she has former glee club director Sandy Ryerson (Stephen Tobolowsky) reinstated as the school arts director, working with him to entice Rachel (Lea Michele), the glee club's star, into quitting.[6] In "Vitamin D", Sue is made co-director of the glee club,[7] but in the following episode, "Throwdown", she scales back her involvement considerably after a public confrontation with Will.[8]

Sue has her own spot on the local news, "Sue's Corner", which she uses to editorialize on issues such as support for caning and pro-littering.[6] She falls in love with news anchor Rod Remington (Bill A. Jones), but their burgeoning relationship comes to an abrupt end when she discovers he is sleeping with his co-anchor, Andrea Carmichael (Earlene Davis).[9]

In "Wheels", Sue allows Becky Jackson (Lauren Potter), a sophomore student with Down syndrome to join the Cheerios. Will is suspicious of her motives, increasingly so when Sue donates money to the school to fund three new ramps for disabled students. It is revealed that Sue's older sister Jean (Robin Trocki) also has Down syndrome, and lives in a residential care facility.[10]

Hoping to sabotage the glee club's chances of winning at sectionals, Sue gives the club's set-list to rival glee club directors Grace Hitchens (Eve) and Dalton Rumba (Michael Hitchcock).[11] When her actions are discovered by Principal Figgins (Iqbal Theba), Sue is suspended from the school, but not without issuing Will Schuester one last threat.[12]

In the episode "Hell-O", Sue returns to the school and continues her vendetta against the glee club, blackmailing Principal Figgins with photos of them in bed together, taken after lacing his drink with a date rape drug. In "The Power of Madonna" Sue reveals that she idolizes Madonna, and recreates the video to "Vogue", and has Madonna's hits played on the school intercom system. She later films herself jazzercising to Olivia Newton-John's 1981 hit "Physical", which the glee club members post on the internet to humiliate her. Olivia contacts Sue, and together they recreate the "Physical" video, resulting in Sue becoming a top 700 recording artist.

Sue attempts to persuade school budget executive Bryan Ryan (Neil Patrick Harris) to cut the glee club budget in favor of the Cheerios. They have sex, but her plan fails when Bryan ultimately endorses the glee club. In "Funk", Will seeks revenge on Sue, seducing her then standing her up on their planned date. Sue becomes bed-bound, leading Will to apologize. Sue serves as a judge at Regionals, alongside Olivia Newton-John, Josh Groban and Rod Remington. When the other judges ridicule her for her lack of fame and underdog status, Sue identifies with New Directions, and votes for them to win the competition. Although they come last, Sue blackmails Figgins one last time, demanding that he allow the club another year to compete.

In season two, we are to meet her mother as played by Carol Burnett.[13] She and Will are also set to match wits against the new female football coach (Dot Marie Jones).

Reception

Sue has been generally well received by critics. On December 15, 2009, Lynch was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Golden Globe Award for her performance in the role.[14][15] Mary McNamara for the Los Angeles Times has written that "Lynch alone makes Glee worth watching".[16] Wendy Mitchell for Entertainment Weekly opined that Sue "may be the sharpest-tongued character on network TV",[17] while Eric Goldman for IGN has called her: "a truly inspired comic creation – so wonderfully smug and sure of herself that she compares herself to the Greek hero Ajax."[18] Goldman opined: "You need a comic actress like Lynch to pull it off, and to make her someone we love spending time watching on TV (even if we'd hate her in real life), but kudos to Ryan Murphy and his writing team for giving us such a great television character."[18] Shawna Malcom for the Los Angeles Times enjoyed Sue's character development in the episode "Vitamin D", noting: "In less skilled hands, there’s no doubt Sue would be an over-the-top disaster. But thanks to the incomparable Jane Lynch, I can’t wait to see what trouble the character stirs up next."[19] Raymund Flandez for The Wall Street Journal suggested that Lynch's performance as Sue in the episode "Throwdown" was Emmy worthy and assessed: "without her snappy SAT comebacks and killer delivery, this show wouldn’t be as much fun".[20] As with Flandez, Liz Pardue for Zap2it also opined that Lynch's performance as Sue in the episode was Emmy-worthy.[21] Entertainment Weekly's Ken Tucker has called Sue "the greatest Broadway-musical villain to ever co-star in a TV series", and deemed "Throwdown" "possibly the best showcase yet for Jane Lynch".[22]

In contrast, Variety's Brian Lowry has criticized Lynch's "tyrannical cheer matron", calling Glee's adult cast "over-the-top buffoons."[23] He deemed her performance in early episodes: "fitfully funny but usually just plain annoying".[24] Robert Lloyd for the Los Angeles Times opined that: "the writing flattens her toward a single note. She's funny from line to line, but there is little to her besides tin-pot contrariness."[25] Mike Hale for the New York Post wrote that Lynch gave a "one-note performance" in the episode "Preggers", suggesting that she had been miscast in the role.[26]

References

  1. ^ a b c Itzkoff, David (May 18, 2009). "Jane Lynch Brings Her Inner Mean Girl to 'Glee'". New York Times. Retrieved May 31, 2009.
  2. ^ Wieselman, Jarett (May 19, 2009). "Meet The Cast of 'Glee,' I Did!". New York Post. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  3. ^ a b Spitznagel, Eric (September 4, 2009). "Q&A: Jane Lynch Might Just Slip You a Mickey". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  4. ^ a b Mineo, Andrea (November 25, 2009). "Stars discuss their unexpected 'Glee'". CNN. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  5. ^ Ryan Murphy (director, writer), Brad Falchuk (writer), Ian Brennan (writer) (2009-09-09). "Showmance". Glee. Season 1. Episode 2. Fox. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b Brad Falchuk (writer, director) (2009-09-23). "Preggers". Glee. Season 1. Episode 4. Fox. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Brad Falchuk (writer, director) (2009-10-07). "Vitamin D". Glee. Season 1. Episode 6. Fox. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Brad Falchuk (writer, director) (2009-10-14). "Throwdown". Glee. Season 1. Episode 7. Fox. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Ian Brennan (writer), Elodie Keene (director) (2009-10-21). "Mash-Up". Glee. Season 1. Episode 8. Fox. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ Ryan Murphy (writer), Paris Barclay (director) (2009-11-11). "Wheels". Glee. Season 1. Episode 9. Fox. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Ian Brennan (writer), Bill D'Elia (director) (2009-11-25). "Hairography". Glee. Season 1. Episode 11. Fox. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ Brad Falchuk (writer, director) (2009-12-09). "Sectionals". Glee. Season 1. Episode 13. Fox. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ Hetrick, Adam (August 4, 2010). ""Glee" Nabs Carol Burnett as Sue Sylvester's Mom". Playbill.com. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  14. ^ "The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards Nominations" (Press release). Hollywood Foreign Press Association. December 15, 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  15. ^ "Complete List of 2010 Golden Globe Nominations". E! Online. December 15, 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  16. ^ McNamara, Mary (May 19, 2009). "'Glee' on Fox". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  17. ^ Mitchell, Wendy (October 15, 2009). "'Glee' recap: Minority Rules". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
  18. ^ a b Goldman, Eric (October 15, 2009). "IGN: "Throwdown" Review". IGN. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
  19. ^ Malcom, Shawna (October 8, 2009). "'Glee': A dose of (not entirely) friendly competition". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  20. ^ Flandez, Raymund (October 15, 2009). ""Glee" Season 1, Episode 7: TV Recap". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
  21. ^ Pardue, Liz (October 14, 2009). "'Glee': Jane Lynch had better get an Emmy for this". Zap2it. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
  22. ^ Tucker, Ken (October 14, 2009). "'Glee': Unwanted pregnancy?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
  23. ^ Lowry, Brian (May 14, 2009). "Glee". Variety. Retrieved 2009-06-03.
  24. ^ Lowry, Brian (September 5, 2009). "Glee". Variety. Retrieved 2009-09-06.
  25. ^ Lloyd, Robert (September 9, 2009). "Review: 'Glee'". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
  26. ^ Hale, Mike (September 24, 2009). "'Glee' Watch: Put a Ring On It". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
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