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Teachers and Staff

Brad the Pianist

An accompanist for the glee club at rehearsals. It took him 4 seasons to speak. Played by Glee's actual musical director, Brad Ellis.

Face–Heel Turn: Is absolutely thrilled at New Directions being disbanded in "Swan Song" after their loss in Sectionals. He even hugs Sue for getting them shut down.
Invisible Backup Band: Brad sometimes falls upon this and this is hilariously lampshaded in "Theatricality".
Living Prop: Hilariously lampshaded in "Rumours".
Brittany: What about him?
Santana: He's just furniture. Sorry, no offense. (Brad shrugs)
No-Respect Guy: No-one in the club could perform without him, and they all treat him like an afterthought at best.
Only One Name: We don't know his last name.
The Danza: Named after his actor.
The Piano Player: His only function for the show.
Suddenly Voiced: After spending four seasons in the corner of the screen with no opportunity to get a line, he finally spoke in "Swan Song" for a gag.

Sandy Ryerson

No, William, I am not allowed within fifty feet of children.

The former teacher in charge of Glee Club, he was fired when Rachel pointed out his inappropriate behavior with male students. He then teamed up with Sue to help bring New Directions down, being rehired to the school as the new head of the art department. Played by Stephen Tobolowsky.

All Gays Love Theater: Played with, he loves music and singing, but uses it for his self-promotion.
All Gays Are Pedophiles: His Establishing Character Moment shows him inappropriately touching an underage teenage boy. How delightful. No wonder why the poor kid steered clear of the Glee Club for the rest of the series.
Camp Gay: After he embraces his sexuality.
Commuting on a Bus: He played a major role in the first five episodes, but ever since then, he's only dragged out about once or twice a season.
Creepy Blue Eyes: Slight case of the "light and watery" variety.
Depraved Homosexual: As conversed in "A Night of Neglect", he embodies pretty much every negative stereotype about gays.
Sandy: "I'm what they call a predatory gay."
Deus ex Machina: He volunteers to pay for The Brainiacs' and New Directions' trips using his drug money.
The Friend Nobody Likes: His repellent personality and attitude causes everyone he associates with to put him at arm's length.
Girlfriend in Canada: He claims his job-ending scandal cost him his long-distance girlfriend in Cleveland. Will looks unconvinced.
Rules Lawyer: When Will says he thought Sandy wasn't allowed in school because of a court order, Sandy counters that the court order only forbids him from being "within fifty feet of children."
Slime Ball: Let's face it, he is a jerk and a creep. Unabashedly so.
Stalker with a Crush: For Josh Groban in Acafellas. So bad that Josh Groban gave him a restraining order.
Transparent Closet: Though he seems to have come to terms with it as of "A Night of Neglect."

Ken Tanaka

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/150px-Ken_1831.png

The school's football coach who was engaged to Emma. His friendship with Will is strained by Emma's affections. Has shown himself to be a nice guy despite the way the plot is against him. He seems to honestly and deeply care for Emma and her wishes, despite them being more than a bit insane. Played by Patrick Gallagher. Only lasted one season.

All Love Is Unrequited: Poor Ken never stood a chance.
Betty and Veronica: An interesting case, as if we analyze the case closely he could be considered to be either the Betty or the Veronica to Will, who would become the opposing force depending on what you consider Ken to be, although among the Fandom he is universally considered the Veronica to Will's Betty
Demoted to Extra: In the back nine of Season 1.
Disposable Fiancé: The "Minor Flaws" type. Complete with the "quietly slipping away" part.
Limited Wardrobe: He said himself that he owns only one pair of regular pants.
Nice Guy: For all the crap that comes his way, he deeply loves Emma, despite her being more than a bit insane. Even after his fallout with Will, he was still respectful enough to give him a wise piece of advice about Emma with seemingly no bitterness.
Out of Focus: In The second half of Season 1.
Put on a Bus to Hell: For Season 2. He has a "nervous breakdown" which leads to him not coming back to McKinley, making way for Coach Beiste.
Romantic False Lead: A subversion actually since Emma was never really into him.
Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: Arguable, but Ken is considered to be the Manly Man to Will’s Sensitive Guy.
What the Hell, Hero?: Ken calls Will out on his flirtation with Emma, though it has little effect. Will tries to gently discourage Emma, but she only swoons over him all the more.

Grace Hitchens

The coach for the Jane Adams Academy Glee Club, and the competition for New Directions' first sectionals competition. Cares deeply for her girls and only wants to see them succeed. Stole half of the New Directions' setlist, along with Dalton Rumba. Played by Eve.

Put on a Bus: Neither she nor her club are seen after Sectionals.
Sassy Black Woman: The basis of her character.
Screw the Money, I Have Rules!: After stealing the New Directions' setlist during sectionals, she goes to tell the judges. Later, she informs Figgins of Sue's cheating.
What the Hell, Hero?: Emma tells her that by cheating she isn't helping her girls, just telling them that that's the only way they could win.

Dalton Rumba

The coach of the Haverbrook School for the Deaf glee club, and the competition for New Directions' first sectionals competition. He himself is deaf in one ear from scarlet fever. Stole half of the New Directions' setlist, along with Grace Hitchens. Played by Michael Hitchcock.

Catchphrase: "Scarlet fever!"
Creator Cameo: Though technically only counts in season four, as Michael had not yet joined the writing staff when he appeared in season one.
Everything Is Ableist: Accuses anybody who disagrees with him to be prejudiced against the deaf.
Put on a Bus: Neither he nor his glee club appeared after sectionals.
- The Bus Came Back: He made a brief appearance in season four to inform us that due to lack of funding to the arts, the Haverbrook glee club would have to be disbanded.

Dustin Goolsby

This hairline is 85% my own and my sperm count is off the charts.

The new coach of Vocal Adrenaline for season 2, replacing former coach Shelby Corcoran. Portrayed by Cheyenne Jackson.

Bad Boss: Openly despises his students. Judging how Sunshines comes to loathe his guts to the point of considering returning home, saying that is not the nicest coach is one big understatement.
Bad Samaritan: Offers Sunshine and her mother a green card, but only to get the extremely talented singer in his choir. See Bad Boss above...
Camp Straight: To the point that Depraved Homosexual Sandy hits on him.
Color-Coded for Your Convenience: He wears dark colors all the time, so he probably isn't on New Directions' side.
Department of Redundancy Department:
Dustin Goolsby: "Admit it. I'm handsome, I'm good looking and I'm easy on the eyes. Also, I'm gorgeous."
Drill Sergeant Nasty: Carmel High's dean is pathologically compiled to recruit those as coaches.
Evil Counterpart: To Will. He hates his Vocal Adrenaline kids because every time he sees them achieve something he's reminded of everything he missed out on. Will loves his kids, for almost the exact same reasons.
Jerkass: No redeeming quality whatsoever.
Long Bus Trip: We didn't see hide nor hair of him from "Audition" all the way up to "A Night of Neglect" (although he was supposed to be in a scene in "Special Education.")
Manipulative Bastard: Self-admitted in "A Night of Neglect". This seems more of a Informed Ability as we never see this come to fruition.
Put on a Bus: Since Vocal Adrenaline didn't win first place at Nationals, their sponsors fired him.
Real Men Wear Pink: Had no problem in carrying Sunshine's Hello Kitty backpack with him.
Smug Snake: He is very good at his job, but extremely arrogant and certain of his superiority.
Training from Hell: Submits his kids to this.
Jesse: Do you know what Vocal Adrenaline is doing right now? They're on their third week of twenty-four-hour-a-day rehearsals. They're on an IV drip.

Holly Holiday

These kids feel special; they have a voice, and if we don't listen to it, they just tune us out.

A perky substitute teacher who connects to the kids by being modern and mellow. She took over the Glee Club while Will was sick, and was even given the job after Sue fired him. However, she isn't the best at dealing with the kids' serious issues. Portrayed by Gwyneth Paltrow.

Alliterative Name: Holly Hollyday.
Betty and Veronica: The confindent and outgoing love interest to Will, by contrast to the demure, insecure Emma.
The Cast Showoff: Her Spanish is much better than Will's. Gwyneth Paltrow actually lived in Spain for awhile and speaks the language perfectly.
Catchphrase: "I thought you'd never ask."
Chekhov's Classroom: In the beginning of "A Night of Neglect," she teaches the kids about hermaphroditic Nazi sympathizers. Guess what the last question in the academic decathlon is?
Cool Teacher: Sings, dresses up, and gossips to help teach the kids various subjects. She also asked the glee kids specifically what they want to sing. Arguably a deconstruction, however, because she is so lax and mellow that she only cares about herself and can't properly discipline the students when necessary.
I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: In "A Night of Neglect," she leaves Will despite having feelings for him because she knows he still loves Emma.
Meaningful Name: Her last name is Hollyday, and she emphasizes heavily on the fun and relaxed way... Too heavily in fact.
Nerd Glasses: Had them in a flashback.
Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Holly mentions Sunshine putting in an appearance at their fundraiser to Dustin Goolsby, who then stops her and her followers from attending.
Romantic False Lead: Introduced as a love interest for Will, but everyone knows that she does not hold a candle to Emma, even with the latter being married.
Totally Radical: Zig-zagged.
Sexy Mentor: She's a Cool Teacher played by Gwyneth Paltrow, what else could be expected?
Unfortunate Names: "So, are you a stripper or a drag queen?"
You Need to Get Laid: Basically sums up her opinion of Emma Pillsbury. Even when Emma goes to her for marriage counselling, she cites their lack of sex as a big reason as to why it's failing - while this is true, Holly doesn't seem to care about Emma's crippling OCD being a big part of the problem, and doesn't seem to sympathize with her at all.

Roz Washington

A former Olympian who now works as McKinley's synchronized swimming coach, though recently she's begun vying for Sue's cheerleading position. She is brought back after "Shooting Star" after Sue is fired. Played by NeNe Leakes.

Cloud Cuckoolander: In charge of the Cheerios, her tenure is filled with such nonsense as getting everyone signed up for rib removal treatment.
Epic Fail: She thinks that Becky is Robin Sylvester, Sue's newborn daughter, who obviously grew up to be a teenager and is a co-captain of the Cheerios.
Even Evil Has Standards:
- She’s disgusted overhearing the ND girls^notesans Rachel and Quinn joke about Beiste being domestically abused^notewhich turned out to be true and along with Sue takes up teaching them about it very seriously.
- Her reaction to Bree's prank on Tina at prom.
Glory Days: She will not hesitate to brag about the bronze medal she won in 2008.
I won this bronze damn Olympic medal in Beijing, China! I had noodles with the president, and a threesome with Michael Phelps.
Informed Ability: You will probably never actually see Roz in the water, as NeNe Leakes can't swim in real life.
Large Ham: Over the top in manners and speech.
"The Reason You Suck" Speech: Gives one to Sue in "The Spanish Teacher."
The Rival: To Sue.
Sassy Black Woman: She is never afraid to speak her mind.
Serious Business: Swimming, and by extension the pool.
I'm gonna say one thing to you, Sam Evans, and I'm only gonna say it once. If you pee in my pool, I will kill you.
Small Name, Big Ego: Yes, winning a medal at the Olympics is a big deal. But even gold medal winners in solo events are unlikely to mention it twelve times a day and wear it everywhere they go. Especially 5 years later.

David Martinez

The night class Spanish teacher at McKinley, who helps New Directions (and Will) to learn some Spanish. Former teeth model and ridiculously attractive. Becomes the official Spanish teacher after Will resigns in season 3. Played by Ricky Martin.

Cool Teacher
Eternally Pearly-White Teeth: Justified, as he used to be a top tooth model.
Even the Guys Want Him: Several male members (That aren't Kurt who's gay) of New Directions are unwittingly attracted to him.
Rachel: Cutest
Sugar: Smile
Artie: Ever
Mr. Fanservice: He is very good looking and the series does not shies away from showing it.
Tall, Dark, and Handsome: His looks.

Other Students

William McKinley High School Jazz Band

Artie's friends who play back-up for New Directions, though not official members. However, two members temporarily join in "Hold On To Sixteen" in order to fill the membership requirements. There are several members who can all play an instrument or two. The most recognizable members are the Bassist, played by Scott Henson, and the drummer, played by John Lock.

Living Prop: They rarely interact with any of the other New Direction members.
11th-Hour Ranger: Bassist and Drummer join in "Hold On To Sixteen" so that New Directions has enough members to perform.
Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": None of the members have names; they are simply referred to as the instrument they usually play ("Bassist", "Drummer", etc).
Recurring Extras: They're indispensable to each and every glee club number, but never out of the background.
The Voiceless: Never utter a single line for six seasons.

Azimio Adams

I ain't singing no show tunes. That is the music of my oppressors.

A meathead football jock who, with Karofsky, took over as the school's chief bully once Puck stopped harassing the other members of New Directions. Played by James Earl III.

Barbaric Bully: The basis (and sole function) of his character.
Dumb Jock: Ignorant, stupid, a worthless student, and proud of it. He gleefully abuses the passes given to jocks and forces people to do his homework.
Even Evil Has Standards: According to him, picking on crippled people such as Artie is below them and Azimio even mentions his supposed moral code. Invalidated given he locked him in a port-a-potty early in the series and slushies him without remorse latter.
Flat Character: Only there to be a one-note, violent, and despicable nuisance, making everyone's life hell.
Future Loser: If anyone in the show is destined to be a no-life "Lima Loser" it's him. And let's face it, he deserves nothing nice.
Hate Sink: He solely exists to bully students, and is the meanest, nastiest of the bunch.
Jerk Jock: He even targets other jocks.
Joker Immunity: There's apparently nothing anyone can do about him. He and Dave assault students in the middle of the halls, in one instance with a teacher watching, and suffer no consequences.
Politically Incorrect Villain: He's extremely homophobic.
- His homophobia is implied to be directed at Karofsky as well. After Karofsky's suicide attempt, Karofsky tells Kurt:
Karofsky: ...My mom told me that [being gay] is a disease and my supposed best friend told me he never wants to talk to me again...
Popular Is Dumb: Dumb as a sack of bricks and popular nonetheless, this guy is a living advertisement for the sheer imbecility of the Popularity Food Chain.
Popular Is Evil: At the top of the Popularity Food Chain by virtue of being a jock, despite being a loathsome piece of work only liked by similarly-minded Jerk Jocks.
Satellite Character: To Karofsky, prior to his Character Development.
What Happened to the Mouse?: He wasn't nearly as developed as Karofsky, and disappeared after appearing sporadically in the second season. All we heard was Karofsky mentioning that his best friend cut contact after he was outed, and for all we know that could have been someone at his new school.

Jacob Ben Israel

Technology has allowed us to be brutally cruel without suffering any consequences. In the past, if I wanted to tell someone they sucked, I’d have to say it to their face.

The School Newspaper News Hound, with a blog. Played by Josh Sussman.

Abhorrent Admirer: For Rachel, obviously. Abhorrent more due to his repulsive actions than his nerdy looks though.
Caught with Your Pants Down: Actually caught naked, in the Library, by Sue.
Commuting on a Bus: He was a frequent presence in the first season, but only showed up in a few episodes in Season 2, and wasn't seen at all in Season 3 save for the first episode's opening sequence.
Cyber Bullying: One of his hobbies, better summed up by the quote above... As if he needed more reasons to be loathed.
Fan Disservice: Gah, we really did not need to see him naked in "Britney/Brittany".
- No, nor did we need to hear about him masturbating to Rachel.
- The sweaty butt mark... just the sweaty butt mark.
Funny Afro: This line sums it up best.
Brittany: It's like a Jewish cloud.
Geek Physiques: Pudgy, Jewish and Nerdy, with Nerd Glasses and the outfits to go with it.
Guilt by Coincidence: Being named Jacob makes him a target for the school's Twihards
Hated by All: Reviled by everyone. He's barely tolerated at best, and for a very good reason.
Hypocrite: This guy has the nerve to demean people and to tell them they suck, without any worthwhile accomplishments to his name.
Immoral Journalist: One in the making, with all the flaws coming with the package without even working for one. The only papers willing to hire him would be trashy tabloids, and he would thrive in it.
Jewish and Nerdy: Like you would not believe.
Nerdy Bully: A nerd through and through who relishes in cyber-bullying people.
Nerd Glasses: Wears those and is definitely a nerd.
Nerds Are Sexy: He views himself as such, but is a thorough aversion. Geek Physiques aside, he is not that bad looking, but his obnoxious, creepy personality would revulse even the most tolerant people.
Panty Thief: He blackmails Rachel into this.
School Newspaper News Hound: An exceptionally obnoxious one, only interested in gossip and rumor mongering, at best...
Screams Like a Little Girl: OH DEAR GOD!
Slime Ball: No redeeming trait whatsoever, he stalks people for "scoops" (i.e. petty, intrusive gossip), revels in Cyber Bullying, sexually harasses Rachel to restraining order levels, and does nothing that's not self-serving.
Small Name, Big Ego: Acts like a great journalist when running a dismal gossip blog.
Stalker with a Crush: To Rachel, to a really disturbing degree.
This Loser Is You: He seems to be a caricature of internet reviewers.

Sunshine Corazon

I'm such a better singer than everyone else so I know how it feels. I'm all alone at the top. Also, I'm really short, so even when I'm in a group of people I feel like I'm wandering alone in a forest.

A Filipina exchange-student with a voice to match Rachel's. Rachel doesn't take it too well, though, and she ends up transferring to Vocal Adrenaline instead. Introduced in Season 2. Played by Jake Zyrus ^note.

Break the Cutie: Seriously, even the biggest die-hard Rachel fans would agree that she crossed the line with her treatment of Sunshine. From their duet of "Telephone", where Rachel is trying her best to show Sunshine how talented she is, while Sunshine has the look of someone thinking, "This is really fun. She's nice to be singing this song with me." to Rachel's sending Sunshine to a crackhouse instead of auditions. Bad form, Berry, bad form.
- This trope continues on into "New York" and we discover her experience in Vocal Adrenaline was so horrible, she didn't even like singing anymore and was so desperate to get out, she was trying to get her visa revoked to get sent back to the Philippines.
Foil: To Rachel. All the talent without the ego. Also, while Rachel likes to think of herself as The Ingenue, Sunshine actually is. Although it appears that since her Long Bus Trip as the star of Vocal Adrenaline, she's acquired something of an ego.
Foreign Exchange Student: From the Philippines, where it's sunny every day!
Girlish Pigtails: In the bathroom scene.
The Ingenue: Really sees the best in people and cannot conceive animosity... At first.
Lonely at the Top: She says this to convince New Directions to let her sing at the benefit.
Long Bus Trip: Most of Season 2. The Bus Came Back in "A Night of Neglect."
Meaningful Name: Lampshaded by Rachel, who snarks that she is named so because she comes from the Philippines where it's sunny every day (except for the monsoons, of course). Additionally, "Corazon" is a Spanish given name common in the Philippines which means "heart."
Naïve Newcomer: Is nothing but well-meaning and friendly... If only she knew what's expecting her.
New Transfer Student: An exchange student from the Philippines.
Performance Anxiety: Before performing at Nationals, she admits to Rachel that she doesn't think she can do it because of all those people.
The Rival: To Rachel, though this is mainly how Rachel perceives her.
Sixth Ranger Traitor: She joins New Directions but then leaves to join Vocal Adrenaline. What makes this an unusual case is that her choice is given a perfectly valid motivation, and she does so with no malice.
Unknown Rival: Reversed, she is at first nothing but friendly to Rachel, and enjoys to find someone she can sing with, but Rachel is instantly threatened by her talent.

"Stoner" Brett Butkowski

Brett "Stoner Brett" Butkowski

A stoner kid who wanders around the halls. Played by Ryan Heinke.

His Name Really Is "Barkeep": When he auditions for New Directions in season four, he lists his name as Stoner Brett. Later it's revealed that he has a last name (Butkowski), though even school staff act as though his full name includes "Stoner".
J'accuse!: He shouts it at New Directions in Britney 2.0 when it's revealed that they're lip synching.
Recurring Extra: A few random appearances since his initial one, but nothing by way of plot or characterization.
- Ascended Extra: Though not very far, he's become more prominent and was even nominated for Prom King.
The Stoner: It's in his name. He signs the Glee Club sign-up sheet this way.
Tap on the Head: Gets hit with a falling bucket in "Tina in the Sky With Diamonds" after Tina gets slushied Carrie-style.

Shane Tinsley

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Shane_Glee_9582.png

Mercedes' new boyfriend in season 3 after Sam moves away, and also a linebacker for the football team. Unlike most of the other jocks, he is supportive of New Directions, or at least Mercedes.

Big Eater: He eats very unhealthily, and one episode shows him selecting two cheeseburgers, one hot dog, tater tots, nachos with cheese, milk and salsa all for one lunch.
Huge Guy, Tiny Girl: He's at least as tall as Finn, and twice as wide.
Manly Tears: After finding out about Sam and Mercedes' kiss.
Nice Guy: Quite different from the other jocks we've seen; Shane supports the glee club and even encourages Mercedes to compete against Rachel for the role of Maria. And while he is displeased with Mercedes leaving him, he accepts it and moves on, and shows no ill will towards her and Sam by the time Prom rolls around.
Lovable Jock: Doubtless the nicest jock in the series, aside from his love rival Sam.
Romantic False Lead: With Sam's triumphant return to McKinley (aka Chord's return to Glee), Shane became one of these for Samcedes.
Temporary Love Interest: For less than five episodes...
Token Shipping: Two black students going out.
Understanding Boyfriend: He does not discovers a flaw and Mercedes is proud of being in Glee Club, but he is nothing but supportive of her and genuinely likes watching her perform. Considering the scorn and hatred every other jock bears towards the unpopular gleeks, this speaks volumes.

Harmony

"I've been acting since I was a fetus. Literally. An ultrasound of me was featured on Murder, She Wrote."

A New York Academy Of Dramatic Arts hopeful who seems to be more than a match for Rachel. Portrayed by Lindsay Pearce, one of the runner-ups from The Glee Project.

The Ace: As talented and driven as Rachel, if not more.
Always Someone Better: Her musical number of "Anything Goes/Anything You Can Do" exemplifies this.
Graceful Loser: She shows an odd amount of joy over winning third place in "Hold Onto Sixteen," despite the fact that there were only three teams competing.
Meaningful Echo: Her quip about being in Murder She Wrote is quite similar to Rachel claiming she won her first dance competition at three months old.
Meaningful Name: A tremendously talented singer named after a musical effect.
Only One Name: Harmony's last name is never disclosed.
Promoted Fanboy: Her actress.
Raven Hair, Ivory Skin: How she looks.
The Rival: Teased as Rachel's rival, but ultimately subverted in "Hold Onto Sixteen" when we find out she's just a sophomore.

Chandler Kiehl

Chandler Kiehl.

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sans_titre_1.jpg

A Camp Gay boy who goes to Lima North High School. Just like Kurt, he enjoys fashion and plans to study theatre in New York. He crushes on Kurt and sends him over-the-top flirty texts, stirring trouble in paradise for him and Blaine in the episode Dance For Somebody. Played by Justin Castor.

All Gays Love Theater: This one does, wanting to audition to no less than the NYU theatre program, and with Rainbow High to boot. The guy's got ambition.
Bespectacled Cutie: He's good looking, nice, and his Nerd Glasses highlight his Endearingly Dorky aspect.
Birds of a Feather: He and Kurt bond through their similar tastes and their common wish to live in New York. Averted, as it never goes anywhere with Kurt being taken, but he does find him endearing. Whether there was some attraction in Kurt's part remains in the eye of the beholder.
Camp Gay: Chandler's fancy outfit, mannerism and speech pattern are quite stereotypical. And then, there is his obvious crush on Kurt.
Endearingly Dorky: He's overly dramatic but sweet, and Kurt finds his mannerisms quite charming.
Kurt: "You're just really enthusiastic. It's refreshing, infectious actually."
The Fashionista: Wears elaborate clothing, and his comments on Kurt's outfit hint an eye for fashion.
Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: Chandler is blond and could not be kinder. Unlike Stalker with a Crush Sebastian, Chandler tries his luck because Kurt never told him that he had someone.
Hopeless Suitor: Chandler crushes on Kurt, unaware that he is taken, but only because Kurt enjoys the validation his boyfriend no longer gives him due to a nasty case of Poor Communication Kills. Kurt has the good taste to realize it was wrong to lead him on, but still cuts contacts with him.
Keet: Overly energetic, fast-speaking, tends to squeal in delight often, and admits to yell when he gets excited about something.
Large Ham: The actor never bothered with subtlety for this role...
Nerd Glasses: Wears overly large ones.
One-Scene Wonder: Contrary to Sebastian, the drama Chandler causes is solved in the span of a single episode. He only has two minutes of screen-time and is never heard singing. All in all, it is obvious that the character only exists to create yet another temporary friction for Klaine.
Romantic Runner-Up: Tries to seduce Kurt, giving him the attention and praises he craves for in a low-point of his relationship with Blaine. This is enough to make them realize they need relationship counselling, but it is clear from start to finish that he stood no chance whatsoever.
Suddenly Shouting: By Chandler's own admission, the more excited he gets, the louder his voice gets..
Suspiciously Similar Substitute:
- Seriously, being another flamboyant gay boy with very similar tastes in clothing and music, sharing his knack for singing songs by female performers, he might as well have "Kurt 2.0" branded on his forehead.
- His role is closer to Sebastian's. After one gay suitor very similar to the guy he pursues has been dealt with, another one appears, this one crushing on the second half of the gay couple.
Terrible Pick-Up Lines: Sends lots of those to Kurt via texts, which Kurt denies being serious and Blaine naturally ends up discovering. Cue Rule of Drama...

Dottie Kazatori

A Japanese-American freshman who acts as Tina's personal assistant starting in season four. She is very jittery and usually messes up her tasks in some way. Portrayed by Pamela Chan.

Asian and Nerdy: Huge glasses, big bow ties - this trope for certain.
Butt-Monkey: Tina, Kitty, and Bree have all abused or belittled her in some way. For some reason she puts up with most of it.
Face–Heel Turn: Helps Bree and the cheerios give Tina the Carrie treatment in "Tina in the Sky with Diamonds". Though she is still working for Tina in the next episode.
Nerd Glasses: Wears them to complete the Asian and Nerdy trope.
You, Get Me Coffee: This for Tina.

Jordan Stern

More famously known as the Neckbrace Cheerio, after the neck brace she is always seen wearing. Appears in several background shots in season four, and in season 5 she is named and seemingly becomes one of Bree's minions. Portrayed by Chelsea.

Bunny-Ears Lawyer: She is somehow on the Cheerios despite being stuck in a neck brace which would, presumably, hamper her ability to cheer.
Only Known by Their Nickname: In season four, she was only known as "The Neckbrace Cheerio". Ryan Murphy actually suggested her name was Celeste, but it was confirmed as Jordan in "Tina in the Sky with Diamonds".
Recurring Extra: Appears in the background in most season 4 episodes. Manages to ascend in season five after being nominated for prom queen.
- Ascended Extra: Though like Brett, she hasn't ascended very far. Despite the prom queen nomination she's yet to receive a single line or any backstory.
- Apparently she was close enough to Brittany that she was a guest at Brittany and Santana's wedding.

Bree

The new head bitch of McKinley in season five. Absolutely ruthless when it comes to destroying the glee club. Portrayed by Erinn Westbrook.

Alpha Bitch: The last and the worst, who never turns out to be a Lovable Alpha Bitch like all those who came before her.
Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: In her first appearance, Artie calls her "nice" and Kitty calls her "a stone-cold bitch". Kitty turns out to be totally right.
Convenient Replacement Character: Is outright called the "new Santana Lopez" at one point.
Ice Queen: Cold, uncaring, and ruthless.
- She cracks a little in "Puppet Master" when she believes she's pregnant. She's visibly freaked out and even asks Jake to accompany her to the hospital.
In-Series Nickname: She's always called "Demon Hellspawn" during previous episode briefings.
Karma Houdini: The last five minutes of 5x02 practically shine a spotlight on how far the writers were stretching to justify keeping her at the school and create a new school villain. For all the shit she causes in the second episode of the fifth season, she's promoted to head cheerleader of the Cheerios by Sue - because Sue thinks that the New Directions needs someone to challenge them.
Prom Wrecker: Drops red goo on Tina after she gets voted Prom Queen, because she couldn't stand another Glee kid getting voted Prom Queen.
Remember the New Guy?: Averted, Sue has no idea who she is.
"The Reason You Suck" Speech: Gives one to Jake, calling him out on his slutty behaviour, pointing out how miserable he makes girls around him and what could be the harsh consequences that await him in the long term.
Token Minority: From previous looks at the Cheerios group as a whole, she's far from being the only non-white cheerleader on the squad (after the main characters, Brittany Parks is the main Cheerio and Mercedes was one for a while), but Sue literally doesn't remember ever having accepted a black cheerleader - which makes her cruel actions towards the New Directions even more memorable to Sue.

Parents and Other Family Members

Carole Hudson

Carole Hudson-Hummel

We don't need any more memories or ghosts. We need a family. A home.

Finn's mother, who raised her son alone after her husband's death. She agrees to take in Quinn early in the first season when it was believed that Finn was the father of Quinn's baby. Later, Kurt sets her up with his own father in a ploy to be able to live with Finn. The two of them tie the knot in "Furt." Played by Romy Rosemont.

Expository Hairstyle Change: Once she starts dating Burt, she changes her formerly Messy Hair into something sleeker.
- Kurt's actually the one that changed it.
Good Parents: The best mother figure of the show, no question asked. She is a delight to be raised and cared for by.
Happily Married: Burt and Carole.
Open-Minded Parent: Is incredibly supportive of her son and his interests, and is one of the few characters who does not completely freak out when Quinn gets pregnant.
Parental Substitute: For Kurt, who has apparently un-soured on his dad's romance with Carole and accepted her with open arms.
Parent with New Paramour: Kurt sets her up with his own dad. By the time he's soured on the idea, it's too late.
Second Love: With Kurt's father, Burt Hummel.
Struggling Single Mother: Carole is shown to have a hard time juggling Finn and her many jobs at the same time. Though it ends after she marries Burt.
Skip to the End: Burt and Carole cut the priest off while he says the vows and say their "I Do"s, but it's out of excitement as opposed to just rushing.

Kendra Giardi

You worry too much, Terri. Mom smoked and drank a bottle of Reunite on ice every night when she was pregnant with us and we're TOTALLY normal!

Terri's older sister and the one that come up with the idea of adopting a baby for Terri. Played by Jennifer Aspen.

Alcoholic Parent: She drinks with abandon, though never looks worse for wear.
Alpha Bitch: She's like one of these who never left high school, even pushing her sister to act the worst way possible.
Artistic License – Biology: Believing her kids being redheads and acting out-of-control was somehow caused by the pre-natal care she received. Or her line to Terri about not getting Quinn's baby vaccinated - possibly a Take That! to parents who actually believe that vaccines cause various maladies (mainly autism).
Big Brother Bully: Gender-flipped, as she is emotionally and sometimes outright verbally abusive to Terri. She keeps demeaning her in the guise of concerned advice and is one of the reasons why Terri is so screwed-up.
Child Hater: Shows no love towards kids, let alone her own.
Control Freak: Predicts disaster whenever Terri contemplates confessing the truth to Will, and manipulates both Quinn and her former obstetrician in the pregnancy scheme.
Gold Digger: It's briefly mentioned that she got married to her husband Phil because he's rich.
Hate Sink: Only there to show someone worse than Terri, who pressures her to make the worst possible choices with little regards to her.
Jerk with a Heart of Jerk: She's an unpleasant person in many, ways with no redeeming qualities shown, as she's lazy, selfish, arrogant, manipulative and controlling.
Manipulative Bitch: Even towards her own sister and husband!
Obnoxious Entitled Housewife: She acts like a spoiled teenage girl anytime she wants something, even verbally abusing others to get her way.
Parental Neglect: Could not give two sh*ts about her triplets, being the sole reason why they are such hellish, insufferable brats.
Put on a Bus: Starting in the back nine of season one.
Smug Snake: Has a considerably inflated opinion of herself, despite her only success being having married an upper-middle class man in a small, rural town. On top of being an atrocious parent, and a terrible human being altoghether...
Small Name, Big Ego: Minor example, she once said that Terri got the looks and she got "The brains AND the looks".

Jean Sylvester

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/300px-Jean_Glee_4342.jpg

Sue's older sister, who happens to have Down's Syndrome. Played by Robin Trocki.

Bury Your Disabled: "Funeral." She died of natural causes, though - she contracted pneumonia and passed away less than a week later.
Hope Spot: Sue was told Jean probably wouldn't pass thirty. And then she turned thirty-five, then forty, then fifty, so much that Sue thought they could grow old together. Unfortunately, Jean passes away in "Funeral."
Inspirationally Disadvantaged: Inspires the best out of her sister.
Morality Pet: For Sue. Her condition is the reason Sue has a soft spot for the disabled.
Tonight, Someone Dies: The titular "Funeral" was hers.

Russell & Judy Fabray

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/russelandjudyfabray_2360.jpg

Quinn's wealthy parents, who didn't take the news of her pregnancy very well. Played by Gregg Henry and NYPD Blue vet Charlotte Ross.

Alpha Bitch: It's implied Judy was one.
Hate Sink: Russel's only purpose is to make the viewer pity Quinn, and by extension Judy.
Heel–Face Turn: Judy eventually breaks with her husband's position and supports Quinn.
- Broken Aesop: The rationale for her doing this is that he cheated on her, not because she decided Quinn had been treated unfairly.

Obfuscating Stupidity: Judy most probably knew about Quinn's pregnancy, but didn't say anything.
Put on a Bus: Russell's off-screen infidelity that led to the breakup of their marriage.
Stepford Smiler: Both of them.
Straw Character: Both of them, particularly Russell, are shots at ultraconservative Evangelicals.
Straw Hypocrite: Russell, who throws her daughter on the streets without batting an eyelid for a drunken mistake, but blantanly and shamelessly cheats on his wife.
Strawman Political: "Honey, Glenn Beck is on!"
Take That!: The aforementioned Evangelicals; and Russell's infidelity was a parody of Jesse James' cheating on Sandra Bullock.
"Well Done, Son" Guy: Quinn has very very mild shades of this. The fact that her dad brings up her sister Frannie, who was apparently married to a good Christian man, helps reinforce this.

Beth Corcoran

Quinn and Puck's daughter, conceived during a one-night stand pre-season one. Quinn gives birth to her in "Journey," where she is then adopted by Shelby.

Born in an Elevator: Not really, but being born right after a regionals performance seems to have the same effect.
Morality Pet: For Quinn and Puck.
Put on a Bus: Along with Shelby.
- The Bus Came Back: In "I Am Unicorn."
Strong Family Resemblance: It's mentioned that she looks very much like Quinn ^note.

Doris Sylvester

Sue's Ex-Nazi-hunter of a mother. After finally catching the last one, she returns to Lima to be part of her duaghters' lives. Sue rebuffs her when she forces herself in after being absent for so many years. Portrayed by Carol Burnett.

Calling the Old Man Out: With the mother being the recieving end. Sue calls her out on leaving the two of them as children to hunt Nazis.
Deadpan Snarker: Sharp tongued that one.
Gotta Catch 'Em All: She hunted down every last Nazi in the world.
Missing Mom: Left to hunt down the Nazis while Sue and Jean were little girls. Sue did not take this well.
Sue [when asked if she would invite Doris to Jean's funeral]: As far as I'm concerned she said her goodbyes to us years ago.
My Beloved Smother: She has the nerve to come and comment on how her daughters should live their lives, after being absent for most of it.
Parental Abandonment: Sue had to practically raise her sister on her own because Doris was never there.
Sins of Our Fathers: It seems most of the "Nazis" she's been hunting as of late are the descendants of the original Party, who seem to be normal people in their 20's-40's, living normal lives and distancing themselves from the "family business". Doris hunting them down becomes Fridge Horror when you think about it.
Skewed Priorities: Hunting war criminals is well and good, but to the point of completely dumping her daughters, one being handicapped to make it worse, to fend off for themselves all their childhoods and lives, is just plain crazy. Especially considering the trope above.
Special Guest: Oh hi there, Carol Burnett.
When You Coming Home, Dad?: Mom, but same difference. Her absence left a heavy toll on both her daughters.

The Evans's

The Evans family, Sam’s mom, dad and younger siblings

Sam's family, composed of his parents, Dwight and Mary, and his younger siblings Stevie and Stacy. Played by John Schneider, Tanya Clarke, Cody Hamilton, and Ava Chelsea Ingram respectively.

Girlish Pigtails: Stacy.
Open-Minded Parent: Dwight and Mary approve of Sam going back to McKinley and staying with friends.
Parental Obliviousness: Yes, Mrs. Evans, Sam got all that glitter on his face from Dairy Queen. Good thing she and Mr. Evans never thought to ask why so much of Sam's pay was in fives...or in cash at all for that matter, given that most commercial establishments give paychecks or direct deposits.
Pottery Barn Poor: They sure have a pretty nice house for a family that was homeless just a few months prior to their introduction...
Theme Naming: Sam (nicknamed Sammy), Stevie, and Stacy. Adorable.
- Alphabetical Theme Naming: For the three siblings.

Mike & Julia Chang

Michael "Mike" Robert Chang, Sr. & Julia Chang

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mikejulia_9841.jpg

The parents of Mike Chang, Jr. Played by Keong Sim and Tamlyn Tomita.

Education Mama: Mike Sr. will settle for Harvard, Stanford, or bust.
Fantasy-Forbidding Father: Mike Sr.
Follow in My Footsteps: Mike Sr. wants his son to abandon his "unrealistic" dream and do something practical, like he did. Averted with Julia, who also abandoned her dream (to be a dancer, just like Mike Jr.), and wants her son to avoid doing what she did.
Heel–Face Turn: Mike Sr. looks like he's going for this after "Hold on to Sixteen."
Honor Before Reason: Mike Sr.
I Have No Son!: Mike Sr.'s reaction to learning that his son has taken a starring role in the school musical and refuses to go to medical school.
Jerkass: Mike Chang, Sr. is a Fantasy-Forbidding Father who has high standards for his son. Although, in "Hold On To Sixteen", it is obvious he's far more of a Jerk with a Heart of Gold.
Open-Minded Parent: Julia, after initially supporting her husband's position.
So Proud of You: Unlike her husband, this is Julia's reaction to learning about Mike's role in the musical. Mike Sr. himself looks like he's heading in this after the events of "Hold On To Sixteen."
Took a Level in Kindness: Mike Sr, after reconciling with his son.
Tragic Dream: Julia's dream of becoming a dancer.
Women Are Wiser: Julia is much, much more understanding of her son's career ambitions.

Alma Lopez

Alma "Abuela" Lopez

Santana's paternal grandmother. Played by Ivonne Coll.

Abusive Abuela: She's apparently so venomous that Santana thought her own name was Garbage Face until she was five, which is both deeply unsettling and explains why Santana (as a self-proclaimed bitch) admires her so much.
Cool Old Lady: Santana certainly thought so.
Ice Queen: Very much so. She is always collected, spewing barbs or outright venom without ever raising her voice.
I Have No Granddaughter: Pulls this on Santana when she comes out as a lesbian to her.
Only Known by Their Nickname: Everyone refers to her as if "Abuela" was her actual name.
Parental Substitute: She's implied to have been Santana's primary caretaker when she was a child (including putting her to bed at night), and it's suggested that her son and daughter-in-law practice Hands-Off Parenting.
Racist Grandma: Homophobic, but same difference. Plus, in Season Six, Santana reveals that Alma is racist too.
They're Called "Personal Issues" for a Reason: Believes in this. The problem isn't so much that Santana is a lesbian, but more on the scandal when people talk about it out loud.

Hiram & Leroy Berry

Hiram and Leroy Berry

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rachelsdads_4187.jpg

Rachel's fathers, who paid Shelby to be their surrogate. Their love for theater and performing rubbed off on their daughter in a big way. Played by Jeff Goldblum and Brian Stokes Mitchell.

Accent Upon The Wrong Syllable: Leroy prefers his name pronounced "Leh-ROY", rather than the more common "LEE-roy"
- Some people prefer this pronunciation to avoid certain stereotypes.
All Gays Love Theater: They even met while performing in a show together... A show that's an expy of "Naked Boys Singing".
But Not Too Gay: An early criticism of the show is that Rachel talked about her dads a lot but we never actually got to meet them. Their appearance in the third season finally put this to rest.
Camp Gay: Both of them.
Doting Parent: They are exceedingly proud of Rachel and wholeheartedly support her dreams. Deconstructed in that having spoiled her without putting limits drove her to become so self-centred and competitive.
The Ghosts: Rachel's dads were often mentioned but never appeared onscreen until the third season episode "Heart".
Stage Dad: A benevolent version. While they've certainly pushed Rachel towards performing and encourage her diva-like behavior, she has a very good relationship with them.
Twofer Token Minority: A gay, interracial, Jewish couple.

Cooper Anderson

Blaine's older brother, who does credit card commercials. Portrayed by Matt Bomer.

Aloof Big Brother: Blaine's, who notes how it seems like all he ever did was just pointing out everything Blaine does wrong.
Young Cooper: (after watching Blaine dance) Your balance is completely off.
Young Blaine: But I just learned to walk three years ago!
The Charmer: He's able to wrangle free Cokes out of the normally-grumpy Sandy.
Giving Someone the Pointer Finger
Cooper: I’m sorry, are you talking to me right now? Because I can’t tell if you’re talking to me if you don’t point your finger.
Informed Flaw: Blaine treats Cooper as though he was a real hard ass on Blaine. Cooper is annoying at worst but clearly thinks a lot of his brother.
It's All About Me: Tends to draw the spotlights at him.
Large Ham: He suggests SHOUTING ALL OF YOUR LINES because the character is REALLY INTENSE.
Metaphorgotten:
Cooper: Stanislavski says the fingers are the eyes of the body, but he never mentioned that the toes…are the ears.
Punny Name: It's a reversal of news Journalist Anderson Cooper.
Shout-Out: His name is one to Anderson Cooper.
Tall, Dark, and Snarky: Very much so.
Small Name, Big Ego: During his "master class" he gives out really nonsensical advice for someone who should know what he's doing. That, or he's just a Jerkass.
- Turns out he's actually struggling in LA and is only a star in Ohio, so he plays it up whenever he's back home.
- He actually thinks that he's a master actor because he advertises shoddy companies.

Maribel Lopez

Santana's mother. Played by Gloria Estefan.

Education Mama: Never got to go to college herself, and wants her daughter to.
Open-Minded Parent: Is ultimately fine with Santana not going to college and following her dreams.
Special Guest: Santana's mom is played by one of the biggest names in Latin pop music history.

Millie Rose

Marley's mother and the school lunch lady.

Alphabetical Theme Naming: Marley and Millie.
Amazingly Embarrassing Parent: Played with. She sees herself this way and distances herself from Marley because of it, but Marley doesn't think of her like this.
Beauty Equals Goodness: An inversion: she's ugly by societal standards, but is an absolute saint.
Good Parents: Carole's only competition for the Mother of the Year award.
Mama Bear: Inverted: Marley is ferociously (though not violently) protective of her, to the point of giving the New Directions a serious tounge-lashing when they join in on making fun of her with the popular kids.
No Name Given: Until Glee, Actually, when we learn that it's Millie.
Struggling Single Mother: She works at a looked down upon Minimum Wage job and no mention is ever made of Marley's father. She adores her daughter, and the feeling is mutual.

Lord Tubbington

Brittany's cat, who has a strange and wild life off-camera. Played by Aragorn.

Cloud Cuckoolander: His antics as narrated by Brittany.
Formally-Named Pet : Lord Tubbington
Sliding Scale of Anthropomorphism: The Animal scale. On-camera, Lord Tubbington behaves like a normal, lazy cat. Off camera, he's addicted to cigarettes and Ecstasy, runs in a gang, is a slumlord, and tries to have Brittany committed. He's also on Atkins.
Special Guest: In-Universe, frequently on Fondue For Two.

Other Adults

Josh Groban

Crowds of screaming teenagers don't do it for Josh Groban... No... Josh Groban likes a blousy alcoholic.

Josh Groban. Seriously.

Adam Westing: Obviously
As Himself: Plays his own role.
The Cameo: Appears only for two episodes.
Jerkass: Not so much in "Acafellas", but definitely in "Journey". Oddly enough, he's also arguably the only one of the four judges in that episode that judges the competition completely fairly.
Likes Older Women: "Josh Groban loves a blowsy alcoholic." Later, he propositions Sue.
Scary Black Man: His bodyguard.
Third-Person Person: Refers to himself as such.
Took a Level in Jerkass: Seems pretty personable in his first appearance, praising the Acafellas in earnest despite having more than enough reason to despise them. But his second cameo shows him as a raging, self-absorbed jerkass who only judges show choirs by the amount of sucking-up they do towards him.

Olivia Newton-John

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/olivia_4424.jpg

Brunettes have no place in show business.

Olivia Newton-John is offended that the brunette Josh Groban has his own TV Tropes entry, and she does not.

Adam Westing: Obviously.
As Herself: Plays her own role.
The Cameo: Appears for two episodes.
Deus ex Machina: For Sue in "Bad Reputation".
Diabolus ex Machina: For New Directions in "Journey".
Jerkass: Cares only about herself and makes it known. Averted in her first appearance though.
Shameless Self-Promotion: Brings up all her successes whenever the opportunity arises (there was at least some justification at first).
Took a Level in Jerkass: She might have been more that a little irritated that the best show biz thing she could do that night was judge some little school show choir contest in Ohio.

Rod Remington

Slammin'.

Lima's local news anchor, "Ohio legend", and frequent show choir competition judge.

Alliterative Name: Rod Remington.
Been There, Shaped History: "Saw that guy get stabbed" at Altamont, and was a regular on the club scene with Queen in the 1970s.
Catchphrase: "Slammin', [correspondent]."
I'm a Man; I Can't Help It: Rod says something similar to Sue after she catches him with Andrea.
It's All About Me: Seems unable to participate in any conversation without turning the topic to himself.
Large Ham: The actor appears to be doing his best William Shatner impression.
Really Gets Around: He likes to play the field. Even on getting married, he proudly proclaimed it an "open" situation.
Small Name, Big Ego: Has more than a little of this, though, interestingly, Olivia Newton-John and Josh Groban don't question his presence as a judge even when they turn on Sue as not being a real celebrity, so he may indeed have something going for him.

April Rhodes

I haven't had a drink in forty-five minutes!

The star of the McKinley glee club in Will's school days, now a washed-up drunk. Played by Kristin Chenoweth.

Hard-Drinking Party Girl: The main trio seem partial to a drink, but Ginger far outdoes the guys, to the extent that Ryan refers to her as a lush more than once.
The Mistress: Becomes this to a rich man, and ends up doing quite well from his death.
Mrs. Robinson: When told by Will to try and win over the rest of the glee club, she is shown, among other things, exiting the school showers with Puck and some other football players, everybody smiling.
Sexy Shirt Switch: April Rhodes is shown coming out of the locker room shower after a couple of football players wearing Puck's jersey.

Bryan Ryan

His dreams didn't come true, and neither. Will. Yours.

A former star of the McKinley High glee club and a rival of Will Schuester and now a bitter and jaded member of the school board. He tries to take down the arts program and with it, Glee Club. Played by Neil Patrick Harris.

Always Someone Better: In their younger years, Bryan was this to Will.
Breaking Speech: He gives a brutal one to New Directions about how dreams are nothing more than dreams and that they'll never come true. It leaves all of them badly shell-shocked and drives Tina to tears.
Broken Bird: In flashbacks he was a nicer and more optimistic person. He's bitter hurtful.
Chick Magnet: He was extremely popular with the ladies back in his time, as seen in Will’s memories; also a trait he shares with his actor, Neil Patrick Harris.
Color-Coded for Your Convenience: Bryan’s antagonistic role in “Dream On” is only more accentuated by the black leather and dark clothing he wears.
Deadpan Snarker: He is played by Neil Patrick Harris, so this comes as no surprise to anyone.
Does This Remind You of Anything??: Bryan Ryan lies to his wife that he's going on "business trips" when he's actually visiting New York to see Broadway plays. He has a secret stash of playbills in the basement.
Evil Plan: Destroy the Glee Club.
Irony: The one girl he always wanted got married to his rival and the man he mocked during his younger years.
Jerkass: A very nasty guy.
Mr. Fanservice: What part of Neil Patrick Harris was confusing? Bryan Ryan himself was one In–Series as well during his school days.
The One That Got Away: He describes Terri as this.
Two First Names: Bryan Ryan, played by the king of two (or is it three?) first names himself.

Isabelle Wright

Columbus! You're from Lima - I'm from Columbus.

The recently-appointed editor of Vogue.com, who gives Kurt an internship because she's impressed by his online resume and big dreams, and considers him a kindred spirit due to their shared Ohio origins and love of fashion. Played by Sarah Jessica Parker.

Benevolent Boss: A delight to work under.
Fairy Godmother: Kurt explicitly refers to Isabelle as this.
Intergenerational Friendship: Strikes a fast one with Kurt.

Other Glee Clubs

Vocal Adrenaline

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/VocalA_670.jpg

Hailing from Carmel High, they fill the spot of New Directions' rival glee club during the first season and end of the second season. As such, they seem very good, thanks in no small part to the training it seems they undergo (in addition, Tina says they dope their dancers).

Their key members seem to rotate every season.They were coached by Shelby in the first season, and their lead singer was Jesse. After Shelby was Put on a Bus after "Journey," she was replaced by Dustin in season 2, and their lead singer was Sunshine. In season 3 Jesse returns, this time as coach, and their lead singer is Unique.

Always Someone Better: For New Directions.
Badass Decay: From the end of the second season, where they lose Nationals for the first time in four (or eight) years. Continues when New Directions win Nationals in season 3, and cemented when they fail to even reach Nationals in season 5.
Card-Carrying Villain: This seems to be the case
Characterization Marches On: Their two appearances in the first thirteen episodes didn't show any sign of them being "the evil empire of show choir," just overworked professional performers who did covers of British pop songs. One of their performers even warned New Directions to stay away from Dakota Stanley. They also functioned as a choir, singing and dancing in one. Come the back 9 where the performances are built around Jesse (stating a tradition of every season having a new frontman) and they're perfectly willing to do dirty handed things to break the competitions' spirit.
Combat Pragmatist
Fake Band: Except for the soloists, the performers are professional dancers lip-syncing to a group of anonymous singers. A number of So You Think You Can Dance? finalists have appeared as Vocal Adrenaline "singers".
Hate Sink: The iteration featured in Season 6 are intolerant, arrogant, nasty and disrespectful bullies who only care about winning. Their lead singer Clint takes the cake.
Clint: I don't want to be decent or liked. I want to be a champion, and this is how it's done. The fact is Vocal Adrenaline is the last of a great dying breed of communities that is willing to risk being called bad guys and accept the hard truth, which is that every person on the planet knows winning is EVERYTHING!
Kick the Dog: Their egging Rachel in "Funk."
Opposing Show Choir: They're the "evil empire" of show choir.
Out of Focus: They were portrayed as the team to beat in the first season, and though they still are in later seasons their presence is rarely touched on until the last few episodes. They don't appear at all in season four, and in season five they're only part of the premier as part of Blaine's proposal - they never make it to Nationals.
The Rival
Serious Business: Their motto is rumored to be "murder or be murdered," they give their dancers human growth hormones, and one of their spotlights is so bright one needs to wear sunscreen onstage.
Jesse: Do you know what happens in Vocal Adrenaline if someone dies during a rehearsal? They use them as a prop. Like Weekend at Bernie's.
- When New Directions goes to Carmel to hire their choreographer, Rachel mentions that they practice every day from 2:30 pm until midnight.
Training from Hell: When you're taught and directed by the likes of Dakota Stanley, Shelby Corcoran, Dustin Goolsby and Jesse St. James, this is bound to happen.

Jane Addams Academy Glee Club

New Directions' competition for sectionals in season one. Composed entirely of female juvenile delinquents. Coached by Grace Hitchens.

Amazon Brigade: Consists only in tough girls with an attitude.
Put on a Bus: Never reappear after their defeat.
Sassy Black Woman: At least half of them.

Haverbrook School for the Deaf Glee Club

New Directions' other competition for sectionals in season one. All of the members are deaf, and sing mostly in ASL. Coached by Dalton Rumba. Were disbanded after Haverbrook lost funding for its arts programs.

Deadpan Snarker: In ASL, natch.
Dropped a Bridge on Him: Subverted. The club was disbanded off screen in season 4, but was managed to be put back together by the season 5 premiere.
Put on a Bus: Though The Bus Came Back in season 5.
Inspirationally Disadvantaged: Played with, they are but their coach is not.

The Dalton Academy Warblers

The Dalton Warblers

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Warblers_2211.png

This is a kangaroo court!

An A Cappella glee club from an all-boys prep school, the Dalton Warblers provide New Directions' main competition during the second season. They're run by a student council rather than a teacher; they later take on Kurt when he changes schools to get away from Karofsky. Like Vocal Adrenaline, their lead singers rotate every year: in season 2 Blaine sang lead until he transferred, making way for Sebastian in season 3, and in season 4 Hunter Clarington took over.

Acrofatic: Dominic Barnes, aka Trent, is adorably round-faced and chubby - and can really move.
Ambiguously Gay: A Running Gag has people assuming that they are gay. All of them. One of the judges at a Regionals competition asks if they are a school for gay boys. Even Blaine seems a little unsure about it, at one point in the sixth season asking if any of them are straight when they protest Jane trying to join. For added humor, whenever the question gets asked of one of them directly, the Warbler who answers is almost invariably Camp, yet denies the allegation vehemently.
Assimilation Academy: Played with. The Warblers frown upon Kurt's natural theatricality - and on singing anything that isn't a top-40 hit - but he and they learn to adjust somewhat.
Cast Full of Pretty Boys: Most of the guys in there are very pretty, and most of the ones that aren't are still good-looking.
The Comically Serious: "YOU MOCK US, SIR."
Dick Dastardly Stops to Cheat: They probably still would have won Sectionals, due to New Directions' disqualification, but since they took steroids, they were disqualified.
Elaborate University High: Elaborate High School but still. They come from a very posh one.
Fake Band: In Season 2, the non-lead part was performed by the Tufts University Beelzebubs, and the visible cast just lip-synced.
Friendly Rivalry: Has one with New Directions due to Kurt and Blaine being former members, and being generally Nice, Spirited Competitors. Averted when they are lead by Sebastian and Hunter though...
One-Gender School: All-male.
Put on a Bus: Wes graduates between seasons 2 and 3.
Recurring Extra: Unlike most of the other show choirs, they almost always consist of the same background characters without anything in the way of characterization. Every season but the last have included Trent, Jeff, Nick, and Thad.
School Uniforms are the New Black: Nobody except Blaine has been seen outside their uniforms. Mostly justified as most of their screentime is set in Dalton Academy, but they even wear them when singing in public and to competitions (which is also justified as they are representing the school at competitions and may be required to be in uniform by school rules).
Serious Business: Everything.
Shipper on Deck: They are outraged by Blaine's suggestion that they turn one of their Regionals numbers into a duet, until he specifies that he wants to sing it with Kurt - at which point they unanimously approve the idea. It's Wes's smirk that makes it.
Step Up to the Microphone: Although he has only had one line in the entire show, Nick sings the majority of "Uptown Girl" - very well indeed.
Team Pet: Pavarotti the canary.
Those Two Guys: Wes and David, the two most-seen non-Blaine, non-Kurt Warblers. After Kurt transfers to Dalton, it's revealed that they are two of the three-member Warblers' Council, and are frequently seen in company with a third guy, Thad.
- There's also Jeff and Nick, two Warblers even more in the background than the Council.
Token Minority: Hunter Clarington, their new captain as of Season 4, is "not even remotely bi-curious." Which gives the implication that the same cannot be said for the rest of the team...
- The way he says this seemed more like he was trying to distinguish himself from the previous two Warbler captains - Blaine and Sebastian - who, besides being gay, were ultimately unsuccessful in their attempts to bring the Warblers farther than Regionals.
Took a Level in Jerkass: In "Michael," although this is something of Sebastian's fault, and they get better by the end of it.
White Sheep: Trent refuses to take steroids with the rest of the Warblers during season 4 and is kicked out of the group. Later he agrees to testify against them in order to get them disqualified and allow the New Directions back into the competition.
Worthy Opponent: Unlike, say, Vocal Adrenaline, the Warblers wouldn't even think of using underhanded tactics to win. They and New Directions even cheer for each others' teams at Sectionals and Regionals (although, admittedly, Kurt leads them in that).
- When Sebastian throws a rock-salt-laced slushie in Blaine's face, lacerating his eye, the Warblers seem too stunned to react - this being Dalton, they're not really used to anything other than good-natured competition. This lasts until the end of the episode, when they stage an implied coup d'etat.
  - Three episodes later, however, Sebastian attempts to blackmail Rachel into dropping out of the competition.

The Troubletones

Another glee club in WMHS, founded by the Mottas after New Directions turned Sugar down. They're trained by Shelby Corcoran, who quit her New York job to teach them. The club consisted of Sugar, Mercedes, Santana, Brittany and a bunch of nameless cheerleaders. The club disbanded after placing 2nd at Sectionals, but went on to perform as part of New Directions at Regionals and Nationals. In Nationals, the Troubletones adopted Quinn and Tina into their ranks.

Amazon Brigade: Consists only in girls.
A House Divided: Mercedes, Santana, and Brittany end up quitting New Directions temporarily when they complain that they aren't getting enough attention within it, and join up with the Troubletones.
Defector from Decadence
Four-Temperament Ensemble: The four major characters in the group counts, with Mercedes being phlegmatic I, Santana being choleric, Brittany being supine and Sugar being sanguine.
Little Black Dress: The "Rumour Has It/Someone Like You" mashup has several, a different one for each member.
Living Prop: The members that aren't Santana, Mercedes, Brittany, and Sugar are this. No dialog and are barely treated as actual members of the team outside of performances. When Finn has the two teams temporarily merge, the extra girls are nowhere to be seen. And they disappear after the Troubletones lose Sectionals and permanently merge with New Directions, only to then briefly reappear at Regionals for the Troubletones performance. Nationals as well, which is even more amazing considering they didn't even ride the bus with New Directions.
The Rival: To New Directions, obviously. Their name stems from the fact that they're around to stir up trouble.
Start My Own: Made of disgruntled New Direction girls fed up with being systematically sidelined.

Aural Intensity

A Glee club from West Hill High School that has faced New Directions twice at Regionals. The second time, they get coached by Sue.

The Generic Guy: All we know about them is that their former coach was Camp Gay.
Hufflepuff House: Treated as such in and out of universe.
Pals with Jesus: They sing about this.
Pandering to the Base: An In-universe example, they seem to plan their setlists for Regionals specifically to appeal the judges.
The Problem with Pen Island: ORAL Intensity. Then again
Punch-Clock Villain: They may use low tricks during competitions, but they don't mess with other clubs as would do, say, Vocal Adrenaline.
Yes-Man: Do whatever they can to please the jury.

The Golden Goblets

A Glee club from Our Lady of Perpetual Sorrow that faces New Directions at Regionals in Season 3.

The Generic Guy: No special traits whatsoever...
Pals with Jesus: Mostly sing religious songs.

The Rosedale Mennonites

Competed against The Warblers and New Directions in Season 4. Should have won by default when The Warblers cheated and ND were disqualified.

The Portland Scale Blazers

A nationally ranked Glee club. Won the 2011 National Show Choir Championships, and competes against Vocal Adrenaline and New Directions on the 2012 Nationals, placing third.

The Generic Guy: Yet again.
Informed Ability: Having won the previous National Championship, one would expect them to be quite good, but their only number shown (Starlight Express) isn't anything special, and they get third place.

Characters / Glee Other Minor Characters

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