Glee
Interviews

As Glee sings and jokes its way to its first season halfway point, viewers are in for a lot more than heartfelt ballads and catchy group music.

On the December 9 mid-season finale, look for the show's baby drama to finally be resolved: Will will discover Terri's fake pregnancy, while Puck will be exposed as the father of Quinn's unborn child.

What will this mean for various relationships? We can't say. That's why it's called a cliff-hanger, people.

But Lea Michele can say a lot about what's to come for her character.

She told Entertainment Weekly that tension will soon arise between Rachel and Mercedes.

“They have been setting up a competitive thing between those two, and we deal with it. Rachel can’t always get the best part.”

Nor can she get Puck. Michele said there's no future plans for Rachel and the show's Jewish crooner to hook up again, much to her chagrin.

"I pushed and fought for a Puck-Rachel storyline because I love Mark so much and I wanted to work with him more. I thought Rachel should get some action. She has needs. She can’t be waiting all season for Finn. I thought it could be really different and not a pairing that people would expect... I don’t know of it coming up in the near future, but fingers crossed.”

We'll give Rachel some action! Oops. Did we just write that out loud?

Glee is one of the highest-rated new shows on TV. It's a critical favorite and has garnered talk of Emmy nominations.

Still, in an interview this week with The Los Angeles Times, creator Ryan Murphy hinted that major changes might be on the way.

Referencing "Wheels" - the most recent episode that took on a serious tone and dealt with issues such as handicap access and Down Syndrome - Murphy said:

"After this, it remains a comedy, and it’s fun. But writing this made me feel the responsibility of showing the truth of the pain that outcasts go through. It’s not all razzle-dazzle show business. It’s tough, and it’s painful, and it was for me growing up, and it is for most people. I think this made me realize that amid the fun and the glamour, it’s really great now and again to show the underbelly of what people who are different feel.”

We just hope Glee doesn't take on the judgmental, preaching tone of an after-school special.

There's room for heart and humor, as the Kurt-centric episode "Preggers" proved.

Fortunately, it sounds like Murphy recognizes this. He concluded the newspaper article by saying:

“This is a comedy first and foremost. But we see the obligation to go deeper. This isn’t just a genre show to me. It’s about the desperate need for a place in the world and how we all fit in and how hard it is for some people to get by."

As Tina on Glee, Jenna Ushkowitz doesn't get the most songs or lines.

That has a lot to do with the fact that the character stutters more often than that.

But the actress tells the latest issue of Seventeen that viewers will soon learn more about this troublesome trait of Tina's. Tomorrow night, in fact. Ushkowitz said:

"I don't want to give away too much, but it comes out from her shyness, her being so introverted and not wanting to talk at all. But, when they cast it, they wanted somebody with a stutter and Tourette's [syndrome].

"So when I auditioned, I had full-on Tourette's. The audition tapes are starting to come out now, and I'm kind of scared. It was hard because you don't want to make fun of that, that's not a joke. So the stutter, it got better [over time], and now I find myself actually stuttering sometimes in real life."

The actress also played a fun question and answer game with the magazine. She dished on a few cast superlatives:

Q: Who's the most talented?
A: Amber Riley is the best singer.

Q: Who's the hottest?
A: Kevin McHale.

Q: Who's the funniest?
A: Chris Colfer.

Q: Who's the most likely to flub a line?
A: I have to give it to Lea Michele. She never flubs lines, but she has probably the longest paragraphs in the whole world.

Q: Who's the most serious?
A: Can I do the opposite? Cory Monteith, he's a dufus, I love it.

As the character of Puck on Glee, Mark Salling has gone from a stereotypical jock to a (mostly) enthusastic member of the singing group.

We're forever jealous of the actor for getting to make out with Lea Michele a couple weeks ago, but we're willing to let that slide in exchange for insight into future storylines.

That's exactly what Salling delivered in a recent TV Guide interview. A few excerpts from it...

How will Finn react when he learns Puck knocked up Quinn?
I think he'll be devastated. He's invested a lot already into the idea of fathering this child. Hopefully, Puck will step up to the plate and practice what he preaches and walk the walk.

Will the baby drama affect the glee club?
It can't be good for us. Some people can't be around each other anymore. It might throw the dynamic off; it's not a good thing. That's what happens when you dip your pen in the company ink.

Can you give us a second half season preview?
The writers are seeing what worked and what didn't with the first 13 [episodes]. I know we'll have more themed episodes, like the Madonna one. There are a lot of surprises to come.

Glee (finally!) returns with a new episode next week.

She may have starred in Spring Awakening, a Tony Award-winning play on Broadway, but nothing coud have prepared Lea Michele for Glee.

The show is the most buzzed-about, critically-praised, fun-loving hour on television - and Michele's Rachel Berry is at the center of almost every episode.

The adorable young star has handled the attention well, however, and she gave TV Guide Magazine a preview of what's to come for her character in an interview this week:

On Rachel's future: What I have learned is just how much this is Rachel’s journey to becoming a team player and learning who she is within this group. You look at Rachel and realize that she is not someone who needs help speaking her mind. This Glee club allows all of the kids to use their voice and let the voice inside of them come out.

On upcoming scenes/duets: I have wonderful scenes and storylines with Chris Colfer. I beg them to write stuff between me and Kurt because I think he is so talented. When you are acting opposite someone who is really good, it’s like you’re eating the best meal or playing an incredible tennis match. I love working with him.

And Amber Riley, I have gotten to sing some incredible songs with her. She gives me the chills. I praise the ground she walks on, she is so gifted. We did “Halo” together, and we actually did a Barbra Streisand-Celine Dion song that they didn’t end up using on the show.

That's very sad to hear. But take a look at our Glee music section to see which singles were used on the show and to purchase them off iTunes!

For weeks, it's all most Glee fans have been hoping: a relationship between Finn and Rachel.

But the show took a surprising turn last episode, as Rachel actually made out with Puck and many viewers grew enamored by this all-Jewish combination.

Suddenly, a battle between Team Finn and Team Puck has broken out. At whom do you wanna see Rachel bat her lovely eyes?

According to Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina), Puck will help out his (secret) baby mama on the next new episode, which airs on November 11. He even comes close to kissing Quinn, which leaves the following tease for Rinn (Fachel?) supporters:

"All I can say is Finn definitely has some major decisions to make, and Finn and Quinn aren't exactly on the best of terms. So you may see some more of that [between Finn and Rachel]."

Which side are you on, Gleeks? Team Finn or Team Puck?

In a set of interviews with E! News this week, Glee cast members spoke on what Madonna songs they'd love to see featured on thew Fox hit.

These wishes aren't like a prayer, however: they may actually come true!

The show has received permission from the Material Girl to use any single in her catalog, and producers are seriously pondering an all-Madonna episode some time in 2010.

"I really think it would be awesome if Kurt did 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina' from Evita," said Kevin McHale, who plays Artie, and is featured prominently on the November 11 episode. "He could go on top of the school with his arms outstretched. That would be hilarious."

McHale, pictured, added: "I just can't wait to see Amber [Riley, who plays Mercedes] do a Madonna song. I know she's going to rip it apart."

Without stuttering like her character Tina, Jenna Ushkowitz said:

"I'm really excited to see what everybody sings and how they'll tie into the storyline... I would love to do 'Frozen' in a cape in the middle of the desert."

What Madonna songs do you think belong in the Glee music section?

We adore Glee, but our only criticism of the show is the character of Terri Schuester.

That criticism, however, is not directed at actress Jessalyn Gilsig; who we loved on Friday Night Lights and who is simply doing the best with the material she's been given.

In a recent interview with TV Guide, Gilsig spoke on the motivations of her character (who is pretending to be pregnant), along with a possible showdown with Emma...

On why Terri lies: In so many ways, she's still in high school. You know how in high school you have those ridiculously hair-brained plans, like if I wear his sweater home, he'll have to call me because I have his sweater. I think Terri still lives in that world, where I can move the pieces in such a way to create a picture, and that will make it real.

I don't think she's learned that you can actually just have open conversations and talk about your fears and ask for your needs to be met in a direct, compassionate way. I think she's still in high school and thinking whatever you do, just don't let anybody know that you don't know what you're doing.

On a confrontation with Emma: It's coming, it's totally coming. There's a great episode where all of Will's worlds collide, and it's fun because there is a work self and a home self. Sometimes when your work and your home collide, it's really unsettling because you're not always the same person in both environments. He's really caught off guard, which of course [makes Terri feel] like she has the upper hand in the moment and [she] just relishes in making him as uncomfortable as possible.

Last week, we gave fans two extra reasons to watch Glee tonight.

Earlier today, the first of those reasons spoke to TV Guide. Her name is Kristin Chenoweth; she's an incredibly talented Emmy winner and she guest stars on the latest episode as April Rhodes, a boozy former member of the singing club.

A few excerpts from her interview:

On April Rhodes: April is a woman who was kind of "the deal" in glee in high school with Matthew Morrison's character. Let's just say he calls on April for some "help.

On playing April: This part is like nothing I've had the chance to do on TV. She's very happy when drinking to ease her pain. I also sing in three very different styles, which is always fun and challenging.

On returning to Glee: I'd love to come back to this show. The cast is superb and the writing is dead-on. I truly had a blast playing this character.

Remember to return to TV Fanatic soon after the episode ends for a detailed recap of events, quotes and music from it. We love this show!

As of the end of this week's episode of Glee, Kurt Hummel is out of the closet.

This isn't exactly a shock to viewers of the Fox show, as Chris Colfer's character often wore corsets to class, among other less-than-straight tendencies.

In an interview with E! News, Colfer said the revelation that Kurt is gay was far from a surprise; but he didn't expect it to be revealed so early in the show.

"In one of the scripts, there was a line where he said something about Liza Minnelli and then got all quiet, so I kind of knew it was coming," the actor said. "But I didn't think it was going to be that fast."

Hummel won't be able to open up to his father as quickly, however. The focus of next week's episode, titled "Preggers," is on Kurt's try-out for the football team. We laugh out loud just imagining that concept.

Kurt will also channel Beyonce on the new installment, photos from which are posted below. Click on each to enlarge...