Where my Gleeks at? Remember that post I did on Harry Potter and the Totally Awesome Musical? Upon reading it, you might have caught just a little squee (okay, a lot) about the musical’s lead, Darren Criss. I kept watching A Very Potter Musical and his solo pieces and wondering why this incredibly talented (and incredibly cute) guy wasn’t a nationally known name.
Well, he is now.
If you’ve missed it (or live under a lichen-covered rock, whichever), Darren was added to the cast of Glee for a three-episode run. And it was an important run – Kurt was being bullied for being gay, and in steps Blaine (Darren Criss), an out and proud teenager, to hold his hand through the bullying, reminding him to take courage. (It’s a beautiful thing to see on American television – someone who’s LGBT, presented as a simply normal guy whose sexuality is an important part of him, but doesn’t define him. Glee not only broke that barrier, they ran through it with a monster truck.)
In his first episode, he covered Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream”, and did it so well that it instantly outsold Glee’s first season “Don’t Stop Believin’”.
It made such a splash that – hold on to your hats – he’s been added as a series regular for the already greenlit third season!
He seems to be a really great guy; he’s straight, but is thrilled to pieces to get the chance to play Blaine. He’s a brilliant musician – you ought to see the things he can do with a guitar – and his iTunes 5-song EP, “Human”, is beautiful. And he’s got a great sense of humor.
From a Vanity Fair interview:
Brett Berk: Darren! Great to talk to you. And congrats on earning the role of Blaine. All the kids on the show seem to have crazy stories about their auditions so why don’t you tell me yours?
Darren Criss: It’s not that crazy. Lea’s takes the cake. I heard that she was in an accident and had glass in her hair. I can make one up for you. I was fighting a bear in Canada. I was on the verge of death and looked him straight in the eye, and the bear took pity on me before I took my last breath. “Is there anything you want before you die I’m a bear of honor,” he asked. And I said, “I really want to go out for Glee.” And he said, “it just so happens I know the casting director, I’ll get you over there right now. But I’m going to kill you if you don’t get it.” So I went into the casting office, and I said, “I really want to do this part, and if I don’t get it, the bear’s going to kill me.” So they gave me this part. And the bear let me live. And now he’s a good friend of mine and a big fan of the show.
How can you not love that?
Next episode, Darren and his show choir do Train’s “Hey, Soul Sister”, a song that I hated on several levels – until he did it. And I’m not the only one saying it, either.
Yeah, this article’s about Darren and his accomplishments, but I have two other Glee-related tidbits to toss in.
I have a small Glee connection. I went to high school with the choreographer and co-producer of the show, Zach Woodlee. Lemme tell y’all about Zach: for starters, he was a Cheerio. You heard that right. He was also the Big Man on Campus – and the rare type who got there by being nice to every single person. There was no girl at that school, no matter what her age, who didn’t want him, and no guy that – well, they didn’t want the cheerleader part, but they sure as hell wanted the rest of it.
The reason I remember him so well is not that I was truly friends with him, per se, but – and this goes with the Glee bullying arc – I was being bullied like you wouldn’t believe, and he was one of only three people in the school that I can remember treating me like a human. I kept getting stuck in lines, or seeing him at drama auditions, and we’d talk a little, or he’d see me and wave in the halls – on days where I was getting spat on in the hallways.
So there. Glee’s choreographer is an awesome guy. Not exactly explosive, but there you go.
(And Darren? If you actually read this – tell Zach some chick he won’t remember from high school says hi.)
Now THIS is pure gossip. I believe it’s true, because I believe the person who told me – but in the end, it’s hearsay.
Apparently, Cory Monteith was not the original Finn, and Mark Salling was not the original Puck. They let the original Finn go and hired Cory, but found themselves with a problem – the guy they hired for Puck looked way too much like Cory Monteith, so they had to let HIM go too. Poor Original Puck! Not that I don’t like Mark Salling – I do – but you gotta feel for the guy.
Anyhow, Darren – congrats on being a series regular, and you’re totally awesome. And readers? I’d march out and snap up that EP, “Human”. A taste:
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