Rachel Berry might not always be the most likable character on Glee.
But the Toronto-based authors of Don't Stop Believin': The Unofficial Guide to Glee (ECW Press) say she's the character they most identify with.
"I was totally a Rachel Berry in high school," says Erin Balser, 26. "I was so obnoxious and driven and dedicated and over the top, and I didn't have a lot of friends."
Co-author Suzanne Gardner, 25, says she also relates to Rachel, as well as fellow Glee-clubber Tina.
"My high school me has a lot of Rachel and Tina in me. There's the shy side of Tina, but there's also a lot of Rachel's go-get-it-ness — even when that's completely ridiculous, and maybe a little big headed," says Gardner.
The show's relatable characters are partially what inspired Balser and Gardner to pen the Glee guide, which includes cast biographies, episode synopses, behind-the-scenes tidbits and explanations of the pop culture references that pepper the show.
The book also includes star ratings for each episode in categories of drama, comedy and music, "so people know if it's going to be a fun episode or an emotionally heavy one," says Balser.
It also examines similarities between Glee and Popular, another show from Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy.
"Ryan Murphy is such an interesting guy," notes Balser. "Popular is so dark and twisted. Nip/Tuck (which Murphy also created) was even more darker and more twisted. I was just really intrigued to see this guy, who's known for such complicated, grotesque thoughts . . . come back to high school to do something that he kept claiming was going to be happy and joyous and a celebration. And he succeeded, definitely."
Balser, an associate producer at CBC, and Gardner, a web writer for Toronto mayoral candidate Joe Pantalone, did not know each other before writing the book.
Both had Glee fan blogs (Balser runs Glee Dork, while Suzanne writes one called Gleeks United) and initially submitted separate proposals for Glee-themed books. Their publisher suggested they team up.
"They saw a lot of different strengths (in terms) of what we could bring to the table," says Balser. "(Suzanne) had quite a big fan base with her blog and had proven that she could write really detailed, thorough and enthusiastic recaps. I hadn't established myself because my blog was much newer than (Suzanne's) and didn't have as big an audience."
As part of their research, they set up RSS feeds for every person on Glee. Twitter also proved a handy research tool.
"We got a surprising amount of information from Twitter, especially for some of the smaller stars who didn't get a lot of interviews," says Balser. "For example, Josh Sussman (who plays Jacob Israel) reveals quite a bit online, but he doesn't do that many interviews, because he's such a minor character."
While Gardner and Balser are fans of the show, they also acknowledge its weaknesses.
"I was really worried Glee was going to hit a sophomore slump and have a really terrible second season and lose its fan base," says Balser.
"It hasn't done that, (but) it hasn't blown me away. I've been enjoying it, don't get me wrong. It's been hitting all the notes it needs to hit to be Glee and to resonate with its audience."
"(But) while the Britney episode was a lot of fun, it was just a recreation of a music video, after recreation of a music video, after recreation of a music video," says Balser of the recent episode that featured a number of Britney Spears dream sequences.
"And what I love so much about Glee is the creative reinterpretations of the songs that they're doing. And at least with that episode, that was missing."
Gardner and Balser also have opinions on the musical numbers they'd like to see the characters do.
Balser wants Vancouver-raised Cory Monteith, who plays quarterback Finn Hudson, to sing a Bruce Springsteen song.
And she'd also like to see teacher Will Schuester do a Broadway number, since actor Matthew Morrison’s background is in the theatre.
"They just keep making him do a lot of rap," says Balser. "Don't get me wrong, I secretly love the rapping, but I'd want to see him something a bit bigger."
source thestar.com
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