Each character’s story deftly unfolded, even as the women balance the outrageousness of wrestling with their own gut-wrenching realities. Characters contend with poverty and sexism and they battle insidious racism and gender identity politics.
At each turn, “GLOW” managed to uplift and tear our hearts open all at once. With Alison Brie and Betty Gilpin as ensemble leads, the show received six Emmy nominations but was sadly canceled all too soon after four wonderful seasons. In honor of this gem, here are some incredible facts about “GLOW” outside of the ring.
Alison Brie Almost Didn’t Make the Cut
Although we can’t imagine a show without Alison Brie, the producers initially felt she wasn’t the right fit. They were looking for someone unknown. Like Ruth in the series, Brie endured a string of rejections before landing the role.
She went through a grueling casting process and shared how she broke down after each audition. “I would sit in my car like Ruth and sob. And we were both listening to the same Ultimate ‘80s mix while [we] audition[ed], so Flock of Seagulls was playing.”
Kia Stevens Wrestles in Real-Life
Kia Stevens AKA Tammé, the fabulous “Welfare Queen,” is a wrestler in real life. This explains how she makes those spine-busting moves on the show look so easy! Stevens has wrestled professionally for decades. She’s a five-time Women’s Champion who’s fought under the names Awesome Kong and Amazing Kong. She’s even made an appearance in the WWE as Kharma.
When Real Life and Fantasy Collides
Chavo Guerrero Jr., the cast’s trainer, is the nephew of Armando “Mando” Guerrero, who trained the real Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling in 1985. Armando’s training was famously intense – complete with headlocks that made at least one woman cry on the first day of training. Who knew that years later, his nephew would be training the fictional wrestlers of “GLOW.” Chavo also choreographed the acting and fights in two episodes.
Betty Gilpin Says the Show Changed How She Looked at Herself
“GLOW” stands out for its storyline and concepts. The show is also uncommon for having mostly women as cast and crew. It’s rare for television. The actors believe this was why shooting for the show was exceptional. Betty Gilpin (who plays Debbie) even reconsidered how she viewed herself. She expressed how being around female bosses enabled new levels of bravery and comfort.
It made her reflect on times in her career when she unconsciously shut herself down creatively in a male-dominated environment. What’s more, she learned her own moves on the show – which she says made her less self-conscious about her own body.