Fox chief needed to 'teach' viewers to embrace Glee
Former Fox TV chief Dana Walden has recalled navigating the early days of Glee, and making sure audiences gave Ryan Murphy's drama a chance.
Former Fox TV chief Dana Walden had to "teach" fans to embrace Glee.
The current Disney Entertainment co-chairman was presented with the International Emmy Founders Award by show creator Ryan Murphy on Monday (24.11.25), and she opened up on how she helped develop his musical drama, which aired from 2009 to 2015.
During her acceptance speech, she told the audience: “It wasn’t the worst testing pilot in history – trust me — but it also didn’t get the reaction it deserved.
"I learned two lessons that changed the way I work with creators. First, through Ryan’s eyes, I got to understand how harsh criticism feels to a creator — particularly if the story is personal.
"And, second, the feedback wasn’t really for him – it was for the executives.
"It was going to be our job to protect Glee and teach an audience how to understand something different and original.”
During her early stint at 20th Century Fox TV, Dana oversaw the likes of Ally McBeal, 24, The Simpsons and The X-Files.
She said: “Those shows all have two things in common – they were creatively ambitious and excellent.
“And, though they were made in the US, they were also huge hits around the world. Because great storytelling is truly universal.
"And that belief – that great stories can come from anywhere and belong to everyone – is at the heart of The Walt Disney Company. "It’s also a guiding principle of my mentor and friend, Bob Iger. Bob’s always championed the simple, yet powerful idea that if you get the storytelling right, everything else will follow.
"No matter how much the world changes, people will always want to feel connected, and they will always need to be entertained.”
Dana noted that the award is "typically given to the people who create the stories", but that she accepted the prize in "recognition of a vital partnership".
She said: "One that exists between the creator who dreams the dream, and the team that believes in it enough to clear the path.
"My approach has never been complicated: Find singular voices… and help them do their best work. And most importantly — build a culture of creative risk-taking.”
