Grilled Cheesus

"Grilled Cheesus" is the third episode of the second season of the American television series ''Glee'', and the twenty-fifth episode overall. It was written by Brad Falchuk, directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, and premiered on the Fox network on October 5, 2010. Prior to its broadcast, series co-creator Ryan Murphy predicted the episode would be ''Glee'' most controversial, as it focuses on religion and what God means to the members of the glee club. When Burt Hummel (Mike O'Malley) has a heart attack, the glee club rally around his son Kurt (Chris Colfer), attempting to support the Hummels through their various faiths. Meanwhile, club co-captain Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith) believes he has found the face of Jesus in a grilled cheese sandwich.

Murphy hoped to produce a balanced depiction of religion, and he, Falchuk and series co-creator Ian Brennan worked to ensure that there was an equality between pro and anti-religious sentiments expressed. The episode features seven cover versions of songs, each of which charted on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, marking the series' one-week debut high in the US. Critics disagreed over the appropriateness of the musical performances, with some complaining of the tangential relationship between the numbers and religion, and others appreciating that the ''Glee'' versions brought new meaning to the songs.

"Grilled Cheesus" was watched by 11.20 million US viewers, and was the second most watched scripted show of the week among adults aged 18–49. It received mixed reviews, with Colfer and O'Malley receiving critical acclaim, and several reviewers praising ''Glee'' for successfully balancing opposing viewpoints. However, other reviewers criticized the episode for its lack of subtlety, and Lisa Respers France of CNN denounced "Grilled Cheesus" as an Emmy-submission showpiece for Colfer.

Plot

Glee club co-captain Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith) believes he has found the face of Jesus in a grilled cheese sandwich and asks for three prayers to be granted: for the school football team to win a game, for his girlfriend Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) to let him touch her breasts, and for him to be reinstated as quarterback. When his first prayer comes true, he asks the glee club to join him in honoring Jesus through song.

Club member Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer) is devastated when his father Burt Hummel (Mike O'Malley) suffers a heart attack. His best friend Mercedes Jones (Amber Riley) sings Whitney Houston's " I Look to You" to him, hoping he will find strength in faith. However, Kurt reveals that he is an atheist. Cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch), also an atheist, takes umbrage at the glee club singing religious songs in a public school setting, and has Kurt make a formal complaint. When confronted by guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury (Jayma Mays), Sue admits that as a child, she prayed that God would cure her sister Jean (Robin Trocki), who has Down syndrome. Her prayers went unanswered, leading her to conclude that God simply does not exist.

Mercedes, Rachel and Quinn Fabray (Dianna Agron) pray for Burt, with Rachel singing "Papa, Can You Hear Me?" from '' Yentl'' at his bedside. Kurt is resistant, and later at glee club rehearsal sings The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand", stating that his faith takes the form of love for his father. He accepts an invitation from Mercedes to attend her church, where the choir sing "Bridge over Troubled Water". At the church service, Mercedes asks the congregation to pray for the Hummels.

Finn's remaining prayers also come true. Rachel comes to Finn's house one evening, and in his bedroom she admits that she would prefer to raise her children in the Jewish faith; she would not be able to have a future with him if he puts his faith in Jesus. Finn agrees that their children would be raised as she chooses, so to confirm her trust and appreciation of him, she allows him to touch the side of her breast as they make out. Later, Finn is also reinstated as quarterback, but it occurs because his replacement Sam Evans (Chord Overstreet) is injured during a game, dislocating his shoulder. Finn feels responsible and confesses his guilt to Emma, who tells him it is unlikely God is communicating specifically with him through a grilled cheese sandwich. A despondent Finn doubts his new-found faith, singing R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion".

At Burt's bedside, Kurt tells his still unconscious father that he feels he should have accepted his friends' prayers. As Kurt cries, Burt begins to regain consciousness and is able to squeeze his son's hand. Meanwhile, Sue visits Jean in her residential home and discusses God with her sister. Jean asks Sue if she may pray for her, and Sue accepts. Later, the glee club comes together to sing Joan Osborne's " One of Us". Sue watches the performance, but tells Will she will not report him for allowing a religious song. At home, Finn eats the remainder of the grilled cheese sandwich.

Production

"Grilled Cheesus" is intended to begin a season arc depicting the glee club members rallying around those who are subject to bullying and persecution. For ''Glee'' second season, Murphy confirmed plans to cast a Christian character on the show, expressing desires to keep ''Glee'' a "show about inclusiveness". In an interview with ''TV Guide'', Murphy said on Christianity, "If we're trying to form a world of inclusiveness, we've got to include that point of view as well." He predicted "Grilled Cheesus" would be the most controversial episode of the series to date, as it depicts the spiritual and emotional importance of God to the characters. Murphy aimed to address religion in a "socially responsible" way, and compared "Grilled Cheesus" to topical Norman Lear shows of the 1970s. He hoped to produce a balanced depiction of the subject matter, and he, along with co-writers Brennan and Falchuk, checked the script to ensure that for every anti-religious sentiment conveyed, there was a pro-religious one to counterbalance it. The episode references several religions apart from Christianity; Puck and Rachel are both Jewish, Kurt hires an acupuncturist who is a Sikh, and makes a reference to the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

Sue's philosophical argument with Emma about religion is the scene that Murphy is "most proud to have been involved with in isentire career." Explaining Sue's stance on religion, he stated: "Sue's an atheist, but I love that she doesn't want to be. She and urt

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