Force Ruby to build an array of of an array-like string

force-ruby-to-make-it-an-array.erb

<%

        # define things
        orig="item0"
        orig='["item1", "item2"]'
        orig=["item3", "item4"]

        # force ruby to make it an array
        if ! orig.respond_to?('each')
                var=orig.gsub(/(^\[|\]$)/, "").gsub(/\"/, "").gsub(/\ */, "").split(",")
        else
                var=orig
        end
%>
Foo bar:

<%
        var.each do |value|

        %>Value: <%= value %> SOMETHING
<%

        end
%>