Posts with tag "Glee"

One of the big reasons 'Glee' works so well, is that the producers and cast members aren't just throwing the tunes in at random spots. They're thinking about how they fit into the story's context, what song is going to work best and how to transform it so it doesn't come off sounding cheesy. Because let's be honest: while 'Glee' is all about guilty pleasure fun in both the story lines and the pop tunes, if done incorrectly everything would just become a bad version of a once great song.

When the 'Glee' cast stopped by our studios, we talked to them about working on the show, how music is incorporated and taking contemporary spins on classic tracks. Watch the video below for this, as well, as to find out who is considered the 'Wizard of Glee.'

Exclusive: Just how good was 'Glee''s version of the Journey classic 'Don't Stop Believin''? That was the question that castmember Corey Monteith asked Popeater last week, wondering if Journey lead-singer Steve Perry felt that they "crapped" on the iconic anthem. 'Glee' asked and PopEater answered, tracking down Perry even as he recovered from a nasty flu ("I don't think it was the pig thing. But it was definitely bad," he says.) Perry's verdict on the "Glee" version? Find Out After the Jump!

The Journey of 'Don't Stop Believin'''

'Glee'		Original		'Sopranos'

It's no secret that everyone loves the music in 'Glee' -- and 'Glee, The Music, Volume 1' has been quite a popular fall release. And how could it not be? It runs the gamut from the Supremes' 'You Keep Me Hangin' On' and Young MC's eternal club hit 'Bust a Move' to REO Speedwagon's 'Can't Fight This Feeling.' But what's made the soundtrack even more successful -- besides the way that the music incorporates itself into the plot lines -- is that it poaches from the last forty years of pop music, giving a little bit for everyone.

It might have been the pilot episode of the smash series but performing 'Don't Stop Believin'' is still the high point and a "dream come true" for 'Glee' actor Cory Monteith. "It's just such an iconic song," Monteith tells PopEater. "It's such an anthem. Everyone knows it. Everyone has heard it. It's much more than a nice tune. The song speaks a lot to everyone kind of finding their own place, and searching for somewhere in the night. Just like the lyrics."

Kevin McHale isn't disabled, but he plays a wheelchair-bound High School kid in the hit series, 'Glee.' In Wednesday's episode, members of the glee club twirl their wheelchairs to 'Proud Mary' in solidarity with Artie, played by McHale. It's a scene meant to be uplifting, but it is just another blow to those in the industry with disabilities and their advocates, who believe it should have gone to an actual paraplegic performer.

McHale tells PopEater that while he understands where critics are coming from, the situation wasn't black and white when producers were looking for their Artie. "The point wasn't to get somebody who was in a wheelchair," he explains. "It was the actor. It's the part that you're playing. It's not about whatever else goes on."

With the arrival of 'Glee: The Music, Volume 1' last week, fans got a chance to get their hands on the entire cast recordings of the hit series music in one handy dandy place. And by iTunes sales alone, we know that their rendition of Journey's 'Don't Stop Believin',' 'Defying Gravity' from the Wicked Score and Queen's 'Somebody to Love' are resonating quite well with Gleek Nation. But what are the Glee stars themselves in to these days? We'll give you some hints: someone's a huge Britney Spears fan, there's a love for Beyonce, Michael Jackson was a cast member's childhood alias and one cast member cites Bob Dylan as a recent favorite. If that's not enough, you'll definitely want to know whose favorite concert was metal act Pantera, of which it was described to us as "Satan's gift to earth."

Watch our exclusive video for the answers to these questions and more details on the musical influences from the entire Glee cast after the jump.

Harry Shum, Jr. isn't one of the main characters on 'Glee.' He hasn't yet had a solo. But if you've been watching FOX's prime time musical, we guarantee you haven't missed Shum's pop and lock dance moves. We spoke to TV's most unmissable background player about snagging the role of Mike Chang on 'Glee' and what's coming up on the show.

Kevin McHale has a brief but prestigious television resume - the former boy band singer switched gears to acting just a few years ago, but has already appeared in high profile shows like 'The Office,' 'Zoey 101' and 'True Blood.' Now Kevin is starring in FOX's runaway musical hit 'Glee' as wheelchair-bound misfit Artie Abrams, and the actor tells PopEater in an exclusive interview that fans continue to be shocked by his real-life ability to walk. Their confusion is understandable, says Kevin: "I'm really good at not moving my legs."

Watch the video for Kevin's thoughts on choosing an able-bodied actor to portray his character, trying to think outside the box in high school, and snagging the role of Artie "Wheels" Abrams.

We at PopEater love our DVRs, but FOX's new prime-time musical 'Glee' is on a short list of shows we skip plans to watch at its actual broadcast time. Among the reasons for our devotion: Artie "Wheels" Abrams, with his golden throat and smooth wheelchair dance moves.

We were thrilled when the actor who portrays him, Kevin McHale, came in for a chat and photo shoot. Not only did we pick up some fun tidbits about 'Glee,' we learned a few interesting things about Kevin himself. Watch the video below to hear about Kevin's boy band past, what the 'Glee' kids do when the cameras are off - and check out the photos to see how Kevin and Artie truly differ. (Spoiler alert: the wheelchair's a prop!)

Each week, the 'Glee' club of McKinley High put on amazing productions as they rehearse, perform and prepare for their sectional competitions. With genres ranging from musical theater to country to hip-hop, the group has had as much success with energetic, classic rock songs as they have with sweet and soulful ballads. Here's 10 picks we think make great choices for Will Schuester to assign to his talented, if somewhat troubled, group of students.

Get ready 'Glee' fans -- the Queen of Pop is coming. Madonna has given 'Glee' the rights to her entire catalog and an all-Madonna-music episode is in the works for early next year, Entertainment Weekly reports. No news has been released about what tracks will be included, but we're sure the cast would do 'Like A Virgin' or 'Material Girl' justice. The musical comedy-drama TV series has been gaining momentum, and the Queen of Pop is only the beginning of artists hoping to collaborate with the show.

While critics and fans alike may be drooling over Ryan Murphy's new hit 'Glee,' his sexy show 'Nip/Tuck' is wrapping up, with the season premiere on Oct. 14 kicking off the sixth and final season. PopEater caught up with actresses Kelly Carlson and Roma Maffia to get the scoop on what's in store.

When the 'Glee' creator Ryan Murphy found out that NBC pulled the plug on the cast's appearance on the 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, he decided to take a verbal swipe at NBC... and the network's most famous comedian. "I completely understand NBC's position, and look forward to seeing a Jay Leno float," he told EW.com.

Looks like our favorite chorus members from 'Glee' have been dumped from Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this year. While there is still speculation, TMZ reports that Macy's invited the FOX cast, but when rival NBC (who airs the parade) found out, they told the department store to pull the plug. TMZ reached out to a rep for FOX who declined to comment.

The upcoming episode of 'Glee' pits the boys against the girls and PopEater has an exclusive clip of the guys singing Bon Jovi's 'It's My Life' as part of their intra-squad competition. Watch It