Reed Kavner

‘Glee’ Should Explore, Exploit the Pianist

There is at least one moment in every episode of Glee during which my mind strays from the story and I think about the show’s most fascinating character, the pianist. He’s always there, with no stake in what’s happening around him, ready to please. “You want to sing ‘Only the Good Die Young?’ Right now? Sure. I can pound that out for you.” (That’s all in his head.) He’s probably been at this for years, having seen class after class of McKinley High students deal with the trials, tribulations, and hot tub pregnancies of high school. He sees and hears everything and nobody has any idea. He’s an untapped sage. And he should have a webshow.

Between his job at McKinley, volunteering as the accompanist at his progressive, rock-and-roll church, and his Tuesday/Thursday night piano lessons with the kid next door, how does he spend his time? Recording his video diary, of course. And uploading those videos to YouTube, acting as both a gossip source and a one-man Greek (Gleek? Ugh. Sorry.) chorus.

Fun supplementary content to fill the time between the fall finale and spring return? Yes. Fantastic multi-platform promotion opportunity with viral potential? Hellz yes.

As I was writing this, it dawned on me that Glee, being the moderately self-aware show that it is, probably has plans for a scene in which they use the pianist speaking up as a gag. Or maybe there’s some kind of whodunit, everyone pointing fingers at everyone else except for the culprit - the pianist!

Even though the show has a ton of entirely undeveloped characters who appear regularly, the pianist has the potential to make some real contributions to the Glee universe and could help ensure that the 7 million-ish folks who tuned in every week this fall, come back for their fix in 2010. And if nothing else, it would justify those gratuitous shots of his disembodied head and shoulders bobbing at the helm of his Steinway.

And that’s how Reed “C’s” it.

(BTW, The pianist’s name is Brad Ellis. He’s an accomplished musical director who serves as a music coach on the production.)