The Price of Glee: New ID Doc Explores the Harsh Reality of Fame

Was Glee cursed? With so much death and misfortune befalling the show’s cast and crew, it’s easy to see how some could feel it was somehow jinxed. Will ID’s new three-part limited series, The Price of Glee, explore that?

We’ll find out when it premieres on ID on Monday, January 16, from 9 pm – 12 am ET/PT. It will also be available to stream the same day on discovery+.

Naya Rivera’s death was shocking, as was Mark Salling’s, but the one I remember most was the first one, Cory Monteith’s. For one, because it was so unexpected. I was a fan of the show and couldn’t fathom it without him.

Two, because we’d been on an Alaskan cruise when it happened. A week later, our cruise ended in Vancouver, where we stayed for a night before flying home. During our one day there, we took a Hop On Hop Off tour. It passed by the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel, where Monteith had died. That’s when we spotted the memorial for him out front.

We hopped off at the next stop and walked back. I felt funny doing it, but I snapped a few pics and even took a video. Interestingly enough, someone working on a Glee series recently reached out to me. They asked for permission to use my video in their project. I don’t know if it’s for ID’s forthcoming series, The Price of Glee, or not, but that’s kind of a wild synchronicity.

It could be for something else entirely, though. 2023 will mark 10 years since Monteith’s death. There may be more Glee lookbacks coming.

But for now, let’s take a look at what we can expect from The Price of Glee.

The Price of Glee

The cultural phenomenon and hit musical series, Glee, catapulted a cast of relative unknowns into international superstardom and literally rocked pop culture. But, the show that sparked a new era of acceptance was also saddled with extreme devastation on the inside. Endless scandals, tabloid gossip, and fatal tragedies plagued the rising stars on what was supposed to be the most joyful show on television.

“Glee was a once-in-a-generation cultural phenomenon that bravely pushed up against social norms and generated groundbreaking discussions around sexuality, race, disability and family. Each music-filled week brought joy to so many people, but sadly, even one of the happiest shows on television couldn’t escape the dark underbelly of Hollywood and the frenzy of burgeoning social media,” said Jason Sarlanis, President of Crime and Investigative Content, Linear and Streaming. “While celebrating the show’s indelible mark on pop culture and its unprecedented success, The Price of Glee takes a hard look at the intense pressure that results from being catapulted into superstardom and sheds new light on the terrible tragedies that befell the cast and crew of Glee.”

Who’s Talking

The Price of Glee unpacks the cast members’ lives on and off set through never-before-seen interviews. They discuss the demands of being on a hit TV series and the dark behind-the-scenes drama.

With unbiased filters, viewers will hear directly from those outside of the cast bubble who can provide no-strings-attached perspectives. This includes:

1. Relatives and friends of Glee cast members
2. Those who were on the set and close to it, such as set decorators, hairdressers, stylists, and publicists
3. Entertainment reporters who covered the phenomenon.

Interviews from those close to the late Cory Monteith shed light on the actor’s journey to international acclaim and the demons that haunted him. Demons that led to his overdose at just 31 in a hotel room in British Columbia.

Those who worked on set and alongside Mark Salling provide commentary into their working relationship and shock of the dark and disturbing discovery of child pornography in Salling’s possession that led to his death by suicide at 35.

George Rivera lost his daughter, Naya Rivera, in a chilling and mysterious death by accidental drowning in a lake. He gives a personal and intimate tribute to her. He looks back into Naya’s life as a young actress and how her career took off, showcasing her journey from child actor to cheerleader.

For More Info

ID will share exclusive content online, along with working with pop culture influencers, to explore the tragedy and mystery around this iconic series.

Exclusive clips and live social chats, along with in-depth videos and articles, will give users full insights into the special and explore the many facets of the Gleek phenomenon. Fans can follow along and engage on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook with ID using #PriceofGlee.

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Were you a Gleek too?