PaleyFest 2011: Glee, Our Moment of Goodness, Scoops and More… 

For the second time in as many years, the cast and crew of FOX phenom, Glee, appeared at the William S. Paley Television Festival. I loved all the talk about the characters and we found out some scoop about the rest of the season.

The Screening

• We re-watched “Original Song” which is even more fun experiencing it on the big screen with a big audience. From the people I was sitting around, they were way more into Finn and Rachel than Finn and Quinn. I don’t know why but I was a little surprised by that.

• The original New Directions songs were awesome and the other song that was a big hit was Mercedes’ “Hell to the No.”

• Of course the Kurt/Blaine kiss went over big as well — screams of joy erupted at that very moment.

As for the panel: Lea Michele, Dianna Agron, Ashley Fink and Chord Overstreet were not in attendance. But there was a large crew on stage which was cool.

The Glee PaleyFest Panel Players:

Ryan Murphy, Creator
Brad Falchuk, Executive Producer
Ian Brennan, Creator
Dante Di Loreto, Executive Producer
Matthew Morrison, Will Schuester
Jane Lynch, Sue Sylvester
Cory Monteith, Finn Hudson
Chris Colfer, Kurt Hummel
Amber Riley, Mercedes Jones
Kevin McHale, Artie Abrams
Jenna Ushkowitz, Tina Cohen-Chang
Mark Salling, Puck
Naya Rivera, Santana Lopez
Heather Morris, Brittany Pierce
Darren Criss – Blaine Anderson

My personal Moment of Goodness came during the Audience Q&A. A guy basically asked when Mercedes would get a love interest and the entire audience went crazy, applauding and screaming their support for this question. It’s so funny that this was asked because, before the panel, I had been talking with my fellow TV Goodness writer, Kara Howland, about this very thing. Actually, it wasn’t whether she was going to get a love interest, it was wondering if the show was ever going to do something substantial with the Mercedes character at all. Because this needs to happen. Ryan Murphy’s answer was to say they were going to find her love interest in the Glee reality show that’s going to be happening this summer. And Amber Riley, hilariously said, she wanted to be part of the process. I’d like for something to happen with her before next season, however. But I do agree with — I can’t remember if it was Brad Falchuk or Ian Brennan that said this — but I do agree that’s it’s going to take someone with a big personality to hang with Mercedes. But it can be done so I really hope they do something with the character sooner rather than later.

Other cool moments and scoopage (WARNING: Spoiler Alerts aplenty):

• Stevie Nicks was present when Naya Rivera, Gwyneth Paltrow and Heather Morris sang “Landslide.” How cool is that?

• Spoiler Alert: And since Stevie’s such a close, personal friend of the show now, they are doing an episode based on the Fleetwood Mac album, Rumours. This is so huge to me. The songs on this album are legendary and so freakin’ amazing. I think the kids of Glee could do it justice. I need to see the Rumours episode like now, please.

• Matthew Morrison uttered this line: “I was kicked in the balls by Gwyneth Paltrow.” It accidentally happened during their great tango scene.

• Naya’s reaction to Brittana (or should I say “Santittany?” That’s what Ian Brennan wants Santana and Brittany’s supercouple name to be): It has been “overwhelming and really humbling.” People have been sending them support on Twitter. Unfortunately, Kevin McHale can’t say the same. He’s been getting tweets that say “Stay away from Brittany!” Poor Kevin. You guys know he’s not really Artie, right?

• Jenna was asked about Tina and Mike and if she’s really in love with him. She thinks Tina’s in love with the thought of Mike. Here’s my personal Speculate This: From what Jenna said, it doesn’t seem like Tina and Mike are long for this world of Glee. Ushkowitz at one point said: “I think they have had a lovely run.” You draw your own conclusions.

• Chris Colfer was asked about his separation from New Directions for much of this season. He jokingly said it’s been wonderful, “There’s been no estrogen.” But yes, he’s missed them a lot. Same as his character. And big SPOILER ALERT: He let it slip that he’s glad to be back. Which, in my book means, Kurt’s already back with New Directions which is where he belongs.

• Darren Criss hasn’t been in a Gap since the episode where he serenaded the Gap employee in the store, but he’s excited to go into one and scared at the same time. He doesn’t want to get anyone fired like what happened on the show. So funny.

• Heather loved doing Britney and Ke$ha but Ke$ha has the edge since she got to perform her song on her birthday. However, she met Britney Spears before becoming her on the show.

• More Scoopage: Jane Lynch talked about what she’s going to be up to when the episodes return (in FOUR WEEKS!!!). Sue Sylvester has assembled what she calls the “League of Doom” with the purpose of breaking up the Glee Club and ruining Will Schuester’s life. I believe this League of Doom includes Terri (Jessalyn Gilsig) and Sandy (Stephen Tobolowsky). I can’t wait for this although this whole bringing down the Glee club story does get tiresome.

• It turns out Morrison has become friends with Gwyneth Paltrow since she began guest-starring on Glee. Speaking of which, she will be back for one more episode and from what Ryan said, will probably be back next season as well.

• I love EW’s Tim Stack, the moderator of the evening, because he brought up Will and Emma and if they really want those two together. Because at this point, I’m over Will and Emma. However, Matthew’s still holding out hope for those two. He thinks they deserve to be together; people seem to really want them; and he hopes it’ll happen.

• Stack also asked Cory Monteith about Rachel and Finn. Cory thinks it makes for good TV when they’re apart. Not sure the audience agreed with him. They really want Finn and Rachel back together.

• There’s no chance of anyone from Ryan’s old show, Popular, popping up on Glee. Well, almost no chance. Murphy did say maybe Mary Cherry. The crowd loved this.

• More Ryan tidbits: Ryan apparently gets calls from the cast wanting to do Adele songs…he’d love to do an episode where the cast sings every line of the script…he’s afraid to get on Twitter…Blaine may have to try out for New Directions in Season 3, which makes sense since Darren Criss will be a series regular next season, right?

• Mark Salling wants a father for Puck.

• How Naya thinks Santana and Brittany should end? Loved that she joked she’d probably get her pregnant, but she definitely wants them to be together.

More scoop (warning: big spoiler alerts):

• Another popular guest star that will be back this season: Kristin Chenoweth. It seems like her all-white production of The Wiz doesn’t go over well and she needs Will’s help to launch her one-woman show called Crossroads (isn’t that the name of a Britney Spears movie?).
• There’s going to be a Lady Gaga “Born This Way” episode.
• The group will be heading toward Nationals.
• They’ll be dealing with Brittany and Santana — I think they’re going to be exploring a lot about Santana and who she really is now that she’s admitted she’s in love with Brittany.
• They’ll also be dealing with Kurt and Blaine (and being smart about their relationship)
• Charice is coming back.
• There’s going to be a prom episode (and who knows, the Warblers may have to perform at the prom).

All Photos Courtesy of Kara Howland/TV Goodness