Has anything like this been done before on television? “The Quarterback” was an hour-long episode of Glee where the characters mourn the death of the character Finn Hudson (friend, former classmate, teacher.) At the same time, the actors are in mourning for the actual death of a fellow actor, Cory Monteith, who played Finn Hudson on the show.  Monteith died of a toxic combination of heroin and alcohol in a Vancouver hotel room in July. He was 31.

Was this cruel to the cast, or necessary for them? Were those tears from the characters or from the actors? Was there too much sobbing? Did the commercial interruptions feel indecent?

And what of our tears? Were they earned? Was this exploitation, or a touching and appropriate tribute?

Seasons of Love, from Rent by Jonathan Larson

Make You Feel My Love, by Bob Dylan

I’ll Stand By You by The Pretenders

No Surrender, by Bruce Springsteen

Fire and Rain, by James Taylor

If I Die Young, by the Band Perry