Every year for the last decade, the UK’s Guardian ranks the 100 most powerful people in media (“media” here includes television, movies, “digital media”, even marketing and PR). In some bizarre meeting that must have taken place, MediaGuardian – the entertainment/media section of the Guardian – must have agonized over where exactly it should place Jane Lynch. At a higher or lower rank than Big Brother and Pat Younge? Decisions, decisions. As it turns out, Jane ended up one notch above the reality series that made us sad to own a television, and one notch below Younge: #99 (Wayne Gretzky’s jersey number, by the by). To be fair, the same list in a prior year awarded the #100 spot to a ghost; nonetheless – wow. Here’s MediaGuardian‘s reasoning:
The story of a group of teenage misfits who find redemption in the high school singing group – or glee club – Lynch is the star of the show as fearsome cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester. The gay actor had her big break when she was spotted by Spinal Tap’s Christopher Guest and starred in his next three films. Lynch has appeared in numerous TV shows and movies including Two And A Half Men, The L Word, the 40-Year-Old Virgin and cartoon hit Family Guy. Now [Jane Lynch] has hit the big time with Glee. Her inclusion in this year’s MediaGuardian 100 reflects both her own success and the impact of the show itself. … Glee’s musical pastiches – including Lynch’s memorable take on Madonna’s Vogue – were an instant online hit.
Just to give a little insight into the selection and judging process, here were the criteria:
A panel of experienced media watchers from the worlds of politics, journalism, advertising, television and the internet judged entrants using three criteria: cultural influence, economic clout and political power.
The panellists focused on candidates’ influence within the UK although they may, of course, be based anywhere in the world.
No list is ever definitive. The aim of the MediaGuardian 100 is to give a snapshot of the industry’s most important movers and shakers – some well known, others less so – and as a starting point for debate.
Unless Jane has as much economic and political power as Haim Saban, we think Jane landed on the list by winning all her points on the cultural influence criterion. Wowza. We don’t know why exactly, but we just find this whole thing just amazing. Emmy noms, Outfest Achivement Award, and now this. July is turning out to be one giant bearer of great news.
