Are you one of the millions of GLEEKs still reeling from Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly’s recent announcement that seniors Rachel, Finn and Kurt will officially be graduating from McKinley High at the end of the season? Curious as to what exactly that means for Kurt and Blaine’s future? If so, you’re most definitely not going to want to miss out on this exclusive one-on-one with star Chris Colfer, who dishes on his reaction to the graduation news and offers his take on how that might affect his on screen alter-ego’s love life. See for yourself, after the jump.

Firstly, what was your reaction to the news that your character will not be getting a spin-off but rather return to the series in some magical capacity that creator Ryan Murphy has shrouded in secrecy?
Chris Colfer: Well I’m really excited about. I of course can’t explain it right now but I think everyone is going to be really happy about it. With alluding to anything, not doing the spinoff anymore is kind of going to be the best of both worlds.

What affect, if any, do you think Kurt graduating is going to have on his relationship with Blaine?
I really don’t know. I think that they’re going to maybe separate eventually. But I mean I say that and I get a lump in my throat because I think people are going to kill me for even mentioning that. But I don’t know. I’m anxious to see how that works too. Realistically these character would be together for a good amount of time and then separate, that’s just how life is, but we’ll see, I don’t know.

In terms of Kurt’s final semester, what can you tease about what his journey will entail?
Well I was talking to Ryan [Murphy] and I think they’re going to have something pretty epic planned for him. He actually pulled me aside on set two days ago and was like we’re planning on doing something pretty great with Kurt and kind of filled me in and I’m really really excited about it. I think it’s going to turn out pretty great.

Does that “something pretty epic” refer to more of a school thing for Kurt or is it one more personal in nature?
I think it’s going to be epic in general. For him as a character, but probably more so for the character and less about school.

And finally, having parlayed your role on GLEE into a slew of different projects including movies and books would a small part of you been okay had Ryan Murphy simply decided to graduate your character, and in doing so free you up to focus on your ever-expanding empire?
No because it’s been so much of my life I almost don’t know how my life would be without it. That crew is really like our second family. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t get to see the hair and makeup people everyday and the sound people and the wardrobe people. I feel like I get my best ideas for other things when I’m on set so I wouldn’t want to leave.

GLEE returns with new episodes on Tuesday January 17th at 8PM FOX (Global TV in Canada) and stars Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Jane Lynch, Jayma Mays, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Matthew Morrison, Amber Riley, Mark Salling, Jenna Ushkowitz, Naya Rivera, Heather Morris, Harry Shum Jr. and Darren Criss. Catch up with past episodes you may have missed for free online at clicktowatch.tv

Chris Colfer has a dream.

That dream — revealed in a recent interview with theTVaddict.com — was for the fictional TV boyfriend that creator Ryan Murphy promised he’d be getting when GLEE returns for its second season this Fall to be less attractive than him, because Lord knows he doesn’t want to be, as he put it, “the bad end of the couple.”

With that in mind, we humbly ask Colfer to refrain from shooting the messenger as we welcome the newest addition to the cast: Relative unknown Chord Overstreet, who according to the official FOX press release will join the ranks of McKinley High as Sam, a high school athlete who starts off as Finn’s protégé but becomes his competition. And according to us, will more than likely be the football playing boyfriend the actor better known as Kurt Hummel was promised.

Agree, disagree, still scratching your head over how on earth two parents could name their child “Chord?” Post away in the comments below!

Chris Colfer has a lot to be gleeful about today. Not only did his hit FOX show garner an astounding nineteen Emmy nominations, what some (okay we) have called the real breakout star of the hit FOX show got singled out for his heartbreaking and hilarious work, nabbing a nomination of his very own in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy. Just how surprised was Colfer to get the call? What is he wearing? And most most importantly who is he taking to television’s biggest night? Having just got off the phone with the actor himself, all these answers and more can be found after the jump.

First off, congratulations on your nomination.
Chris Colfer: Thank you so much! I think it has to be one of the best days of my short life.

Where were you when you heard the news?
I was in bed. I heard the phone ring, picked it up and it was my publicist who told me the good news. And right away I just started calling family members and friends, old teachers, the lunch lady I was friends with in high school. Everyone!

You’ve had quite the roller-coaster of a year. Did you ever seriously imagine an Emmy nomination was a possibility?
We’ve been so fortunate this year and I couldn’t have asked for more. But because there was such a huge buzz and people were including me in their predictions a lot, I had an inkling… But I would never want to get my hopes up. I really am in shock that it actually happened.

WIth the show itself getting 19 nominations, it total must make it all the sweeter knowing that you’re not the only nominee?
It makes it so much more special. Especially because Lou [Eyrich] our costume designer and Eryn [Krueger Mekash] our makeup artist — and huge parts of what makes GLEE so special — to know that they’re recognized as well is great.

Have you had the chance to talk to Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison and the rest of your castmates?
Pretty much all of them and we’re all through the moon, or over the moon — not through the moon excuse me — just ecstatic. Hell, we’re through the moon too!

Moving onto the biggest question on everybody’s mind: Who are you wearing!?
You know, I’m not even thinking about that. Whatever suit I think looks best I guess!

Do you know who you’re taking?
Probably my mom. [Insert obligatory "Awwww" here] I might be dead if I didn’t take my mom!

Do you have a lucky charm?
Honestly, I just want to go and have fun. I’m definitely not expecting anything. Well, except to be in the room with all the people that I grew up watching is going to be great.

Despite probably having met every celebrity on the planet this year, do you have a particular actor who you’re dying to meet?
The cast of NURSE JACKIE. I plan on stalking them because I love that show, it’s my favorite. Eve Best, Merritt Wever, Edie Falco, everyone on it, be forewarned: I’m coming.

Has there been any talk of the cast of GLEE performing at the Emmys?
There’s been rumors, but we haven’t’ been approached or anything. I’m really happy just to go to the show.

Again, such an amazing year. But America does love its flavor of the month and has a nasty habit of putting shows up on a pedestal only to tear them down. Do you at all worry about the inevitable backlash?
I think we’d be idiots not to know everything comes to an end eventually. Everything that is a fad, eventually dies down so I would hope we are all aware of that. I think our biggest objective is to live in the moment and enjoy it while it’s here.

And finally, we’d be remiss if we didn’t ask when you start shooting on the second season and is there anything you can tease for the fans?
We don’t start season two until mid-to-late July and the only thing I really know is that Kurt’s getting a boyfriend.

Not content with having a hit TV show — not to mention a sold-out concert tour and being on the receiving end of more job offers than a five-dollar hooker at the Republican convention — the cast of GLEE is taking their act on the road. Or should we say to the skies. With a cry of, “Next stop… Europe!”, those singin’, dancin’ kids (and the FOX execs who know a cash cow when they see one waiting to be milked) have set their sights on world domination, beginning with England. Thanks to the miracles of modern technology, we had a chance to chat with Chris Colfer (aka Kurt) — who remains as congenial and down-to-earth as ever despite being part of the most in-demand cast since LOST  — about the tour, as well as his efforts to get Julie Andrews on the show, the upcoming Emmy nominations and why GaGa heels can be hazardous to your health!

There’s been a lot of Emmy talk surrounding your character Kurt. Have you thought about the possibility that you could be nominated?
Chris Colfer: I don’t know what I would do with that. I don’t want to think about it because I’d probably go crazy. It has been such an incredible, incredible year, and I couldn’t ask for more, but I think that’s a dream of any actor.

Do you know what episode was submitted for consideration?  
No. I definitely have a PR team, personally and with Fox, and they take care of things like that, and I know that Ryan [Murphy] has submitted things on our behalf. 

Is there anything you can share with us that’s in store for Kurt in Season 2?  
Well, I know he’s getting a boyfriend, but I’m not sure what’s going on with that story line. Recently, Ryan has said – but things could change at any minute, because Ryan likes to change things a lot – but he’s going to be a normal, every day guy that is kind of struggling with his sexuality. Kurt kind of helps him out with it, and they end up falling for each other. I, personally, am heavily campaigning to get Julie Andrews to play my grandmother. 

That would be fantastic. 
Wouldn’t that be great? Ryan loves the idea, and apparently, somebody actually asked her at some benefit would she be interested in doing this, and she said absolutely. So I guess all the cards have to play together. 

I’m sure that would be a surreal experience for you. So far, what has been the most surreal experience that you’ve had being a part of GLEE?  
I think probably performing at the White House was definitely the most surreal because I’m a huge history buff, so to be in one of the most historical places on earth, and just to be in the most important place on earth was just incredible, and it’s something that you can’t forget.  

I hear the tour went fantastically well. What was that experience like for the cast, taking the performances from a studio to a stage in front of an audience filled with fans?  
It was a lot of work and I injured myself quite a bit. I tore tissue in my right leg from the Lady Gaga heels and jumping on the trampolines in the show. And I actually started sleepwalking on tour because I guess my body kind of freaked out with a new environment every day. Honestly, it just reminded me how much I love and how much I miss performing in front of audiences. With audiences, there’s instant gratification, and you can’t get better audiences than our audience. They all screamed whenever we did anything. It was a great, great experience and I really miss it. 

Did you get to interact with any of the fans?  
Occasionally, we did get to do signings and stuff before and after the show when fans were waiting behind the barricades, but sometimes it got so scary and there were so many of them that it became a security threat and the police department wouldn’t let us in those cities. It was so crazy. I did get to interact a little bit, I wish I could have done more, as Kurt, because Kurt and Brittany did this skit in the middle of the show, and if a fan would shout out, “I love you Kurt!” and they were in the front rows, I would talk back to them.  

Oh, that’s so cool! So, I’ve heard that a lot of families are watching GLEE together and it’s encouraging conversation on topics that they may not discuss otherwise. What are your thoughts on being part of a show that opens up these conversations between parents and children?  
It’s great to be a part of that. It’s sad that some of these conversations haven’t happened before, or that there hasn’t been representation of these subject on television, like the relationship with Kurt and his father. It’s the first time a relationship like theirs has been seen on television, and that’s so sad. Maybe if something like this happened in the 70s, we’d be in a different place right now. And that goes for all the issues. If a show wasn’t afraid to talk about teenage pregnancy, and obesity, all these subjects, maybe we would be living in a different world. 

I know you have an insanely hectic schedule. When you finally get some time off, do you think you’re going to sit back and relax, or will you be itching to find another project to occupy your time?  
I think I might go stir crazy! I have a couple weeks coming up and I’m almost nervous because I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself. I’ve been going non-stop since January of 2009. I know I have a project where I’m going to get a fish tank and get some fish,  because I think that would be something to do. I kind of want a pet, but I don’t want a cat or dog because I don’t want to neglect them and I think fish are the next best thing, and it’s kind of therapeutic to watch them. It’s kind of sad. People think we have these amazing lives, and my biggest concern is getting a fish tank and getting some fish. 

This is more of a hypothetical question for you. If you were told that there was only going to be 1 more episode of GLEE, and you could pick only one song to perform, which song would you choose?  
Oh, good question! I think it’s a tie. It would have to be in the lines of Kurt, because he’s done so many great songs already, I’d love to add “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” to the list of his female powerhouse ballads, with “Rosa’s Turn” and “Defying Gravity”, and “A House is Not a Home”, I can’t forget about that one. And also, I would love to do “The Sound of Music”, just because without The Sound of Music, there would have never been a Kurt, because of my whole casting story, I think it’d be more than appropriate for him to do that one.
 
Could that be a potential future episode of GLEE, a Sound of Music episode? 
That would be great. I’d love to do a Rodgers and Hammerstein episode or an Andrew Lloyd Webber episode because I’m just a big theatre nerd. 

Missed Chris’ memorable performance as Kurt over the past year? You can catch up when GLEE: The Complete First Season arrives on DVD September 14th. And tune in to the 2010 Emmy Nominations on July 8th to see if this bright young star gets a nod.

Melissa is a Toronto-based TV blogger and music journalist. A TV fan since birth, it was only in recent years that she discovered her love for writing about what she was watching. After contributing to several online and print magazines as a freelance writer, she started her own TV blog, The Televixen, in 2008.

He has never been to Europe.
“As soon as we’re done shooting we go straight to working on the tour so we don’t really have much of a hiatus. But if we do get a hiatus, it will probably be about a month and I’m actually hoping to take the time of and go to Europe,” said Chris Colfer on a recent call with theTVaddict.com when asked how he’d be spending his hiatus. “I’ve been wanting to go to Europe since I was probably two and a half and learned that’s where all the castles were. Plus, if I do it for the show, I could have someone else pay for the trip, which would be great!”

His dream guest star is…
“Julie Andrews would be my dream guest star. Anyone that is basically a living legend, I’d love to have on the show so I could be a sponge and suck up all of their knowledge” revealed Colfer, who also singled out a certain popular actress as his favorite guest star thus far. “Kristin Chenoweth was probably my favorite guest star just because I was such a huge fan of her and everything that she did with Wicked I cannot express just how much of a sweet person she is. She’s just as nice as she is talented.”

Which is why his favorite musical is not a surprise.
“Oh gosh, I think I have to say Wicked just because it’s the first show I ever saw and really had an emotional connection to the music.”

He’s not worried about these back nine episodes living up to the hype.
“I have absolutely no fear whatsoever because the next episodes are above and beyond anything we did in the first thirteen,” said a very confident Colfer on whether or not he’s feeling any added pressure after months and months of gleeful anticipation on the part of the fans. “The ratings will speak for themselves, but I think as far as the material, it just gets better and better.”

He is a history buff.
“Every other weekend from now on is just going to be terrible compared to it. Who meets Oprah on Saturday and the President of the United States on Sunday? It just doesn’t happen,” said Colfer of his recent weekend in Chicago and Washington D.C. “I took A.P. European and American History in high school and am a huge history buff. So to be there [The White House], touching the same ground and breathing the same air as so many historical figures have… I can’t describe it in words, it was incredible. Amber [Riley] sang the national anthem on the balcony of the White House right before the opening ceremony and all of us [the cast] were breaking down and crying seeing one of our best friends singing for the president. It was amazing.”

In anticipation of GLEE’s much-anticipated return tonight (9:28PM FOX, Global in Canada), say HELL-O to star Chris Colfer, with whom we recently had the pleasure of posing a few questions to.

With all the build-up surrounding these back nine episodes, can they possibly live up to the hype?
Chris Colfer: Because maybe they’re tired of us? [Laughs] Actually, I have absolutely no fear whatsoever because the next episodes are above and beyond anything we did in the first thirteen. The ratings will speak for themselves, but as far as the material, it just gets better and better.

What’s in store for Kurt, specifically?
We are in a heavy battle with Vocal Adrenaline, our competing Glee Club which is starting to see the New Directions as a threat. But in terms of Kurt, he has a diabolical plan of getting Finn’s mom and his Dad to get married so that he can be close to Finn always. Kurt tries setting them up so that he can be Finn’s roommate.

Will Kurt ever move on from Finn?
I think he’ll always has a soft spot for Finn, but I’m pretty sure Kurt will get a real boyfriend in the first couple episodes of the second season. One that I’m hoping is less attractive than me because I don’t want to be the bad end of the couple. Of course knowing the producers, they’re probably going to get some adonis of some kind which will really suck for me, but that’s okay.

How similar are you to that of your character?
Like Kurt, I was kind of an outcast and was bullied in high school. We’re both very different people, but the fact that we’ve had so many similar experiences, it makes the character so much more relatable because the emotion is coming from a real place.

Do you think gay teens can identify with your character?
I definitely hope so. One of the reasons why I decided to play him like I portray him on the show is that there are a lot of very over-the-top flamboyant loud characters like Kurt on television. I grew up in a very small conservative town and I didn’t know too many people like that. But I did know a lot of people that were very quiet, internal and thought themselves very superior to everybody around them and that’s how I play Kurt — like the real people that I knew and I think that has what people have been responded to.

Do you hear from a lot of fans responding to Kurt?
Thousand. I get so many letters and messages. I think fan mail lis written all digitally now. On facebook, there are so many letters from so many people just so relieved to see someone being honest with who they are in high school. It’s so important to them, I’ve gotten so many messages it’s impossible to read it all, there’s just so many yet every time I’m a little down I open up my facebook and read them.

Is there a downside to fame?
I think fame does have its ups and downs. There’s a lot you have to sacrifice, like being able to go outside without someone stopping you on the street. There’s been a couple of incidents when fans have stopped me and I kind of wish they hadn’t. Embarrassing places like the pharmacy, or the grocery store when I’m buying prunes! But it’s a give and take.

Knowing how your life has turned out, what would you tell your nine-year old self?
Oh gosh. I would tell him not to be afraid to be out of the box. I would love to tell him, ‘Hey, you’re going to be on a hit TV show so don’t worry about anything!’ But yeah, I think I would just say hang in there, it definitely will get better.

What’s it like working with Ryan Murphy?
It’s great. He’s one of the few people that can make me laugh really hard. It’s really great to watch him get inspired by something because you can see in his eyes, the wheels start turning in his head and all his creative juices start flowing. He’ll meet someone or hear a song and decide to right to it, it’s a cool sight to see.

Is there any added pressure on you now to be a role model offscreen.
There are a lot of people that look up to Kurt and personally I think that my biggest responsibility is making sure the character is handled with the respect and that it needs because he means the world to so many people. In terms of off-camera, we’re always so busy we don’t really have to worry about making fools of ourselves because we’re always working and never go anywhere. But I do think there is pressure to be the best we can both on screen and off.

GLEE returns Tuesday April 13th at a special time, 9:28PM (est) on FOX (Global in Canada)

Simply put, our life sucks without GLEE. Which is why, in an effort to help fans keep holding on until the show’s much anticipated April 13 return — we at thetvaddict.com, in lieu of uploading a killer shower rendition of ‘Can’t Help Fight This Feeling,’ which let’s face it nobody needs to see — will be spending the next few Wednesdays sharing interviews with some of your favorite stars from the show. Today’s interviewees are short but sweet ones with stars Chris Colfer (Kurt) and Kevin McHale (Artie) who were kind enough to take some time at the recent Television Critics Association Press Tour to discuss what’s in store for their characters when GLEE finally returns in 55 days, 4 hours, and 42 minutes. But who’s counting?

Last April, before anyone had seen more than snippet of footage, we had the pleasure of chatting on the set of GLEE back when you two were nobodies. Now, almost a year later with a Golden Globe for Best Television Comedy under your belts, not to mention millions of downloads on iTunes,and a second season renewal later, just how much has life changed? And has the success sunk in?
Kevin McHale: We’re big on twitter!
Chris Colfer: It’s been one heck of a roller coaster ride. Has it sunk it? Umm.. no. But I’m glad it hasn’t because if it had, I’d go crazy.
Kevin McHale: Because we were done shooting our first thirteen episodes before anyone even saw the second episode we had no idea how things would work out. The fact that people watch the show, know the show and that it has done so great so far, it’s just incredible.

I can’t help but notice that both of you are now standing next to publicists! Has the atmosphere on set changed now that you’re all big stars? Which one of you two can’t I look directly in the eye?!
Kevin McHale: [Laughs] Luckily it’s the exact same show and I don’t think any of us would change that for the world. We were all like, “We can’t wait until we get back to work.” It’s where we first met, it’s like home and definitely great to be back.

I know you’re not going to be able to spill much, but what can you tell us about the first few episodes back.
Chris Colfer: The first few episodes dig pretty deep on a lot of different levels. I really think we keep topping ourselves. Every production number, every character back-and-forth, the show keeps getting better and better.
Kevin McHale: More songs per episode and bigger dance numbers, there’s just more of everything. Plus the Madonna episode is going to be amazing.
Chris Colfer: Kurt has very good episode coming up.

Not vague at all, but since you brought it up… Would Kurt’s ‘very good’ upcoming episode happen to coincide with the start of a much-buzzed-about relationship?
Chris Colfer: I can’t say. But let’s just say it’s a very very very very good episode. (Chimes in Colfer’s publicist, “For the record, that was four “very’s!”)

Since you guys understandably don’t want to spoil what’s going to happen, perhaps you’d care to share what you’d like to see happen. Where would you take your characters if you had the power of the pen?
Chris Colfer: Eventually, I’d like to see Kurt as the editor of ‘Kurtain’ magazine, a fashion magazine spelled with a ‘K’ of course that trumps Vogue. And I guess since it’s upcoming, maybe a love interest. That’s something I would want to do but really anything I could come up with would never be as good as what they come up with and continue to come up with on the show.
Kevin McHale: I couldn’t think of anything that would come close to what the writers would think of. It’s amazing. The best part is getting those scripts and finding out what they’re going to have us do next.

Related
• Defying GLEE’s Hiatus: We Catch Up with Star Jane Lynch
• Defying GLEE’s Hiatus: We Catch Up with Star Dianna Agron
• Defying GLEE’s Hiatus: We Catch Up with Star Cory Monteith

For the latest GLEE Scoop, follow theTVaddict on:
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Photo Credit: Chris Cuffaro/FOX

As much as it may be in-vogue to snicker about the death of broadcast television thank-you-very-much-Emmy-telecast, we sometimes forget what a powerful medium it is.

In the blink of an eye, the small screen in your living room has the ability to get presidents elected, turn unknowns into idols and, perhaps most importantly, alter people’s perceptions.

Just ask DAWSON’S CREEK alum Kerr Smith, whose portrayal of openly-gay high schooler Jack McPhee quite literally changed lives.

“I remember this one kid, he watched that one episode where Jack comes out of the closet to his father, and he told me right after that he walked in the next room and told his parents that he was gay.  I don’t know how to feel about that, you know what I mean?” Smith told journalists recently. ”That character was quite influential on a lot of kids that were going through the same kinds of issues as Jack. I remember some of the letters I used to get that just made me cry.”

Flash-forward a decade to actor Chris Colfer, who, having never watched DAWSON’S CREEK (“I was too young!”) is in a strikingly similar situation. Playing fashion-conscious triple threat Kurt Hummel, who critics and fans alike have praised as one of GLEE’s break-out characters, Colfer is finding out exactly what it’s like to be a role model for gay teens around the world. And it turns out he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I think Kurt is one of the first characters that isn’t a constant punching bag or punchline,” said the charming actor during an exclusive chat with the TV Addict. “He’s his own character, and one that I haven’t seen anything like on TV. The gay character is aways the one in the background making jokes, they’re never taken seriously. But you’ll see in [tonight's episode] it’s taken very seriously.”

Titled “Preggers”, the episode — which airs tonight at 9PM on FOX (Global TV in Canada) — serves as Kurt’s official coming out party, complete with choreography, costumes, back-up dancers and an unforgettable performance of Beyonce’s hit “Single Ladies.” For while Kurt has confessed his sexuality to gal pal (and devastated-woulda-been love interest) Mercedes last week, tonight he faces a much bigger hurdle: Saying the words “I’m gay” to his father and dealing with the unexpected fallout.
 
“Naturally, as an actor I was hoping that Kurt would get kicked out, so that it would be more dramatic. I mean that’s just candy for actors,” joked the actor. “But actually, I am completely happy the way it turned out.” And while he’s not about to spill the details on what happens after the big confession — or whether Kurt might give up his crush on straight-boy Finn in favor of someone able to return his feelings — he did offer up a preview of what’s in store for his alter ego in the weeks to come. 
 
“Kurt will give Rachel a makeover,” Colfer shares, ”which as you might imagine, will be a challenge. And he’ll want to sing a song that I don’t want to give away, but they won’t let him because he’s a boy.” In other words, Kurt will face the exact same challenges, triumphs and traumas as his fellow glee clubbers. And like his portrayer, we wouldn’t have it any other way. 

GLEE airs Wednesdays at 9PM on FOX (Global TV in Canada)