Sugar Motta on "Glee" (FOX)

NAME OF CHARACTER: Sugar Motta

PLAYED BY: Vanessa Lengies

SHOW (NETWORK / RUNTIME / GENRE):  "Glee" (FOX / 44 Minutes / Comedy, Musical)

GENERAL SYNOPSIS: "When a High School Spanish teacher, Will Schuester [Matthew Morrison], becomes the director of the school's failing Glee club, New Directions, he hopes to be able to rejuvenate it. The club competes in the choir competition circuit. […] [T]he series follows the club and its mixture of oddball members as they try and restore it to its former glory. It is a musical comedy in which the eager and ambitious students not only compete to win the Nationals, but also have to deal with the tough and cruel realities of their school, McKinley High. At the same time, Will is trying to rejuvenate his failing love life whilst preventing the school's cheer leading coach Sue Sylvester [Jane Lynch] from sabotaging the choir." (IMDB).

TITLE OF EPISODE WATCHED (ORIGINAL AIR DATE): "The Purple Piano Project" (September 20, 2011)

SUPPORTING/ MAIN: Supporting (Recurring)

AGE: 17

GENDER: Female

OCCUPATION: Junior high school student

ASD IGNORED / MENTIONED ON AIR: Mentioned. She describes herself as having "self-diagnosed Asperger's," and often uses it as an excuse for her behavior.

IN MOTION / VISUAL DIAGNOSTICS:

(Although the following is a YouTube clip of "Sugar's Best Moments," I reiterate the fact that, in formulating this response, I considered only the first episode of the show's first season. The video is nonetheless entertaining and provides a good sense of "who Sugar is.")

WOULD S/HE LIKELY MEET DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR AUTISM (DSM-IV)*: NO

In the first set of diagnostic quota (I), she demonstrates one items (of the required six) from (A), (B), and (C). She does not demonstrate a (IA) qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by any of the given options (IA1) (IA2) (IA3) (IA4). She demonstrates (IB) qualitative impairments in communication as manifested by any of the options (IB1) (IB2) (IB3) stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language (e.g., "Tomato, Ta-Motta. Loca-Motta!") (IB4); also, she does not fill the quota for the third set (requiring two) (IC), having only (IC1) an encompassing preoccupation with a stereotyped and restricted pattern of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus (e.g., her own aspirations for 'celebrity'), (IC2) (IC3) (IC4). Also, there appears to be no sign of (II) current or past delays or abnormal functioning in the target areas (IIA) (IIB) (IIC), despite the fact that (III) the disturbance is not better accounted for by Rett's Disorder or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.

. . . DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR ASPERGER'S SYNDROME (DSM-IV)*: NO

She does not show (I) qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by any of the given options (IA) (IB) (IC) (ID). She does demonstrate (II) restricted repetitive & stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities, as manifested by (IIA) an encompassing preoccupation with a stereotyped and restricted pattern of interest that is abnormal in intensity (i.e., her own aspiring 'celebrity'), (IIB) (IIC) (IID). (III) This disturbance does not cause clinically significant impairments in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning, although (IV) there is no (apparent) clinically significant general delay in language or (V) cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self help skills, adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction) and curiosity about the environment in childhood. Finally, (VI) criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia.

WHAT'S REALLY RIGHT:

• The show, which focuses on bridging gaps between supposed "teen misfit" types through music, seems like it would be the perfect format for the use of a character on the ASD. What a way to increase awareness! However . . . 

WHAT'S REALLY WRONG:

• This character is not on the ASD, and she only mocks those who are on it with her catchphrase "Sorry, Asperger's." Viewer response: "No, Asperger's is sorry. You  understand, right? It just couldn't accept someone so ignorant under its diagnostic umbrella."

• Lines like this (the first that she speaks onscreen): "I'm Sugar Motta. I have self-diagnosed Aspergers so I can pretty much say whatever I want. I'm so much better than you. Sorry, Aspergers."

GENERAL RATING: ★☆☆☆ ("Bad")

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING: FOX faced a lot of backlash over the character, and she was dropped to a recurring player after only a few episodes before leaving at the end of the season on which she was first introduced.

*For explanations, it is necessary to click on the link and see the corresponding numerals being referenced. Letters/ Numbers crossed out do not apply.