A Mother’s Glee

Nancy Falchuk talks about her son, Glee co-creator Brad Falchuk

Sarah Breger

Glee, the high school comedy-musical-bildungsroman that debuted on Fox last year, is that rare TV show that is both a critical and commercial success. Michelle Obama is a fan. So is Lady Gaga. With its Barbra Streisand-loving prima donna Rachel Berry and guitar-rocking jock Noah “Puck” Puckerman, whose annual Simchat Torah ritual consists of eating sweet and sour pork while watching Schindler’s List, the show is never short of notable Jewish moments. Its co-creator, Brad Falchuk, 39, a nice Jewish boy from Newton, Massachusetts, made his name in Hollywood as a writer and producer for Nip/Tuck, the salacious FX cable show about plastic surgeons. For the inside scoop on Falchuk, Moment went straight to the source: his mother, Nancy Falchuk, the national president of Hadassah. Falchuk spills the beans to Moment associate editor Sarah Breger about “Bradley’s” early years and what the family actually does on Simchat Torah.

Were there early signs that Brad was headed for Hollywood?
Bradley wanted to be a doctor like his father, but after getting a D in anatomy, he decided that medicine was not for him. Then he found writing, which he enjoyed even though he was dyslexic—something no one knew at the time. He actually came back and gave the commencement speech at his high school this summer. And he recalled how an English teacher who gave him a C- told him, “You’re never going to amount to anything; your writing is no good.” He held up that report card and called out to the teacher, “Mrs. So-and-So, kiss my ass!” and got a standing ovation.

Did you want him to go into “show biz”?
I wanted him to find something that made him happy. He struggled for a while. His wife was the creator of the Jim Belushi show, According to Jim, and when they first moved out to California, he worked as a personal trainer to make ends meet.

What did you think of Nip/Tuck?
Nip/Tuck was a cult kind of a show. Bradley would tell me that all the stars would call wanting to be on it. Joan Rivers called and said, “Look, no one has had more plastic surgeries than me; I have got to be on the show.” We got a kick out of it. My parents, his grandparents, couldn’t figure out where he got all the ideas for the show. But my husband, who’s a professor of medicine at Harvard, would get calls from Bradley in the middle of the night, asking questions like, “What kind of antibiotic do you give for breast implants?” I would be listening to these conversations and say to my husband, “What? Do you get royalties for this?”

What did you think when Brad first told you about the concept for Glee?
He said high school is the toughest time of your life even though everyone says it’s wonderful. He told me that he and his colleagues would address this in a way that would allow the audience to see themselves. I knew they would touch people.

What was it like to see your son’s name in the credits for the first time?
I just feel so good for him; it gives him affirmation. How many people get to this point? But then he always says to me, “Well Mom, you are the national president of Hadassah. How many people get to that point?”

Was his high school experience similar to that of students portrayed on Glee?
All the characters are his friends from high school. I can tell you who they are.

Have any of Brad’s personal experiences crept into the show?
Bradley had a life-threatening spine problem about two years ago. Before his surgery, he was told by doctors that he could end up paralyzed. I think he put Artie, a character on Glee, in a wheelchair to remind himself that he’s okay.

Is it true that Artie is named after one of his best friends?
Yeah, Artie!

What does the real Artie think of this?
He likes it; he’s out in LA, too, as an agent. Many of the friends Bradley grew up with went out to the West Coast with him.

Some call Glee a fundamentally Jewish show. Is that Brad’s influence?
Well, since he’s the one Jew among the writers, I would think so.

Could Brad have drawn inspiration from his youth for that famous scene in which Puck watches Schindler’s List and eats Chinese food on Simchat Torah?
That’s for sure. Well, no, I wouldn’t go that far, I’m not going to say that you’ll see me on Simchat Torah eating Chinese food. But I will be watching Schindler’s List.

How did his upbringing influence him?
He grew up in a house with very activist people involved in the organized Jewish community. Tikkun olam is very much in his blood. He has created his own nonprofit, The Young Storytellers Foundation, which brings storytelling and acting to children in underserved public schools.

How is Brad handling success?
Bradley’s very grounded. He says, “One day you can be up, the next day you’re not the hit. You are never, in California, beautiful enough, rich enough; there is always someone who has more.” So you do what you believe in and what you need to do to provide for your family. He and his wife have two kids. One is six and the little one is going to be three.
How often do you get to see him?
It’s hard; we do a lot of texting. He comes home, and we go there.

What do you make of the fact that Glee has received an unprecedented 19 Emmy nominations?
That’s pretty special. And I told him I am just getting my dress for the Emmys.

So you are expecting to be his date for the Awards?
Yes!

Editor’s Note: Glee won four Emmys at the 62nd Annual Awards ceremony. Brad Falchuk and his team were nominated for outstanding writing for a comedy series but didn’t win. Nancy Falchuk did not attend the Awards.