Let's try to market this: media, articles and interviews

[LydiaMoon1]

On 2/28/2017 at 11:41 AM, fakeempress said:

I really became very good friends with that cast at a very young age for me

At a very young age?  He was 38 years old!  FOH.

[Hana Chan]

Chris' interview on the Stephen Colbert Show on 3/1 revealed some pretty ugly stuff that was going on behind the scenes.

Quote

"I guess I didn’t really think I had a good voice because I think—on the show [“Glee”], my character’s always made fun of for singing and always had to compete with, you know, really powerful female performers. So I guess I just got a little self-conscious, I thought, “Oh, well, I’m not that great of a singer if there’s always being a joke made out of it."

It was hardly a secret that RM played favorites and Chris had fallen out of favor after he won his Golden Globe, but he's hinting at a lot more than just his storylines and screen time drying up. And it doesn't reflect well on the supposed adults who were supposed to be running the show.

[fakeempress]

Quote

revealed some pretty ugly stuff that was going on behind the scenes

This goes too much into projection territory. Chris likes to exaggerate. He picks up an instance and blows it up for effect (typically in such talk show interviews). It's a comic's technique and impulse that he has, like when he said they always had to play happy on Glee or when he said his character always cries - both exaggerations that actually cancel each other out.  

Edited March 2, 2017 by fakeempress

[caracas1914]

What isn't speculation is that Chris' singing opportunities onscreen pretty much dried up by the end of the Glee run; I think in season 6 he didn't have a single solo for that last season.   

I would think that more than anything would have raised some havoc with his confidence, I mean who likes to be overlooked for a singing spotlight in a show that is all about singing, when you are ostensibly one of the leading characters.

Couple that with Ryan Murphy bascially spelling out he took things personal with cast members and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to "speculate" that Chris' marginalization in the show was due to falling out of Murphy's good graces.   Shunted aside from both singing and even acting focus, can't blame if Chris came out a bit jaded by the time Glee ended.

[dizzyizzy01]

Well, Chris also got to write an episode which seems to be a pretty decent show of confidence in his talent.  I think there probably is some hyperbole/colored interpretations from both sides.

[fakeempress]

I tend to believe Chris wasn't that heartbroken and his confidence wasn't that affected because he didn't get to sing much towards the end of the show. 

I remember it was him who insisted on Kurt singing with the girls on Summer Nights, because, in his opinion, that's where Kurt would be. This doesn't sound to me like Kurt having to "always" compete with powerful female performers. 

The falling out with Murphy is another matter. I doubt his singing time being reduced as the show went on played a key role in that. There could've been some instances of singing-related gripes (like the couple times he mentioned Tony and WSS) but generally, I'll be a contrarian here. I think it was precipitated by the Graduation-gate shenanigans, the grueling schedule complete with hectic tours that ate into their off time, the writers's disorganization as the show went on, and disagreement with the direction some of Kurt's storylines took -- not so much that he wanted more solos and such.

Edited March 3, 2017 by fakeempress

[fakeempress]

wrong link 

Edited March 5, 2017 by fakeempress

[caracas1914]

5 hours ago, fakeempress said:

The falling out with Murphy is another matter. I doubt his singing time being reduced as the show went on played a key role in that. There could've been some instances of singing-related gripes (like the couple times he mentioned Tony and WSS) but generally, I'll be a contrarian here. I think it was precipitated by the Graduation-gate shenanigans, the grueling schedule complete with hectic tours that ate into their off time, the writers's disorganization as the show went on, and disagreement with the direction some of Kurt's storylines took -- not so much that he wanted more solos and such.

It's debatable whether he wanted more singing or not, however the lack character focus and plot lines is harder to swallow didn't affect him as much.  As to falling out of Ryan's good graces didn't affect his screentime, well let's just say speculation goes both ways if that is considered irrelevant.

[fakeempress]

Quote

however the lack character focus and plot lines is harder to swallow didn't affect him as much.  As to falling out of Ryan's good graces didn't affect his screentime, well let's just say speculation goes both ways if that is considered irrelevant.

I never questioned the issue of character focus and plot lines, on the contrary. But these issues don't boil down to a few more solos, though there were notoriously missed opportunities, intentionally or not, as we well know.  

The quote discussed is about the singing in particular. So I responded to that. I also never said that falling out of Ryan's graces is irrelevant, I said it's another matter as in, other or more general issues, not the lack of singing, were more at play there imo.  Issues of screen time go way beyond singing time. 

I think we are talking at cross purposes on this. 

Edited March 3, 2017 by fakeempress

[marymon]

The talk of solos and glee always amuses me, by season 6 Ryan ended up giving the most solos to the awful VA lead.

[fakeempress]

True. And S6 is in a category of awfulness all its own. I have basically tuned it out as part of the show. None of it is salvageable except Brittana, and maybe the flashback episode. 

I liked some of the S6 newbies (vs zero interest in the old ones) but they ended nowhere fast.

Edited March 5, 2017 by fakeempress

[WhosThatGirl]

Season 6 really is insane. I was angry throughout most of it. Rachel's whole arc of getting back to Broadway and everyone acting as if her broadway dream was stolen from her, when the complete opposite happened actually. It was just bad. I loved the Brittana wedding episode until it became about Kurt and Blaine because heaven forbid that couple gets one episode of their own. I also did like the finale. The flashback and the ending episode, only because I can't deny the ending reminded me I did love the show once.

[spiritof76]

On 3/2/2017 at 8:38 AM, LydiaMoon1 said:

At a very young age?  He was 38 years old!  FOH.

That was the part that really jumped out at me and made me side eye. But hey, if Ryan has since "matured" good for him. 

[fakeempress]

Another podcast interview with Murphy, he talks briefly about Glee starting at 21:40, and then a bit at 34:34

https://art19.com/shows/i-think-youre-interesting/episodes/71819eb8-8b4d-486d-a184-3a63ade95b2c

He talks more about Feud and the anthologies. I have to say the whole thing is interesting whatever the opinion of him. 

He does sound like mea culpa how he effed up. Though what happened with Cory isn't just a "drug scandal", Ryan.

Edited March 5, 2017 by fakeempress

[marymon]

To paraphrase -  What happens when you have  cast of nobodies  that suddenly within a  week are on the covers of a magazines and getting involved in sex scandals and drugs scandals.

I thought the cast was pretty scandal free  for the most part sure a free stories here and there but nothing major.   Cory of course but that didn't feel scandalous to me,  Mark is the only real scandalous thing but that was after glee.

[shantown]

Darren and Lea did a short (30 min) livestream on Lea's facebook page last night. They talked a bit about their upcoming music/acting projects, but answered lots of Glee-related questions.

[Florinaldo]

Thanks for bringing that link here shantown.

They talk about a lot of things and at times I was almost wishing for a moderator to tell them to finish their thought before jumping off to the next topic. They mentioned that not only are they keeping up with each other but that they were with Chord Overstreet the day before; as expected, sub-groups of the cast, what was dubbed "Daleastreet" in this case, are keeping in touch, they just don't post every encounter all over the Web.

Amusingly, at one point they congratulate AR for her Olivier win and then tease her about not responding to their texts, only to realise they may have just unleashed the hounds of the Internet on their colleague.

[fakeempress]

Amusingly, Lea keeps in touch with people like Becca and posts a lot about it without waiting for all of them to have new music to promote to Glee fans. 

[marymon]

So what.

Edited April 14, 2017 by marymon

[Florinaldo]

More amusingly still, although LM posts frequently about BT who from all indications has become a very close friend of hers, she also posts about other people, including DC, without anyone necessarily having an album, play or book to promote. And if their meeting this week resulted in some self-promotion as as a side benefit, so what? PR and marketing are a respectable practice, and it's even a necessary one in their professions.

I do not think LM posts every single interaction, nor do other former members of the cast (especially those who are more reticent about social media). As Harry Shum replied when fans bemoaned the fact that not all former Gleeks wished others well on new projects or tweeted on birthdays and the likes, it's not because it does not show up on the Web that it does not happen. There's certainly a good deal of communication that the public does not see, including text messages as LM and DC mention during this chat. That being said, I do not think either that every one stays regularly in touch with all of their former colleagues, 

[tom87]

Damn I hate when friends help each other out.

Edited April 15, 2017 by tom87

[caracas1914]

Ah Glee fandom wars...

How I have missed you.

Not.

On a more positive note, my speculation is that that most of the Glee cast has probably tweeted or texted or emailed congratulatory messages to Amber Riley for her spectacular turn as Effie White on Dream Girls.  Amber also teased a couple of months ago with a tweet that her long anticipated album may be back on board.

[fakeempress]

On 4/15/2017 at 6:08 AM, tom87 said:

Damn I hate when friends help each other out.

I'm not attacking Lea or the guys at all. I'm just amused at the revival of the erstwhile fan narrative about "Daleastreet". 

Edited April 19, 2017 by fakeempress

[tom87]

3 hours ago, fakeempress said:

I'm not attacking Lea or the guys at all. I'm just amused at the revival of the erstwhile fan narrative about "Daleastreet". 

And I amused people still are amused about a few pictures they took 3 years ago.

Lea pretty much almost always she says she stays in touch with those two when asked though not just this week.  It also is not like Lea is hiding it she said in a interview they got together becasue they were both doing music and it was a way to connect with their old fans. 

Edited April 20, 2017 by tom87

[fakeempress]

1 hour ago, tom87 said:

And I amused people still are amused about a few pictures they took 3 years ago.

Lea pretty much almost always she says she stays in touch with those two when asked though not just this week.  It also is not like Lea is hiding it she said in a interview they got together becasue they were both doing music and it was a way to connect with their old fans. 

If only I said Lea, Darren and Chord keeping in touch or not in real life whenever and however they choose is the same thing as certain fans (and I don't mean you) redeploying the old Daleastreet narrative. 

Edited April 20, 2017 by fakeempress

[Florinaldo]

I think that the word "narrative" is an incorrect terminological choice. As I recall, the label Daleastreet was used by some of the actors involved on posts they made on social media reporting outings of this particular triad, like dinner, and it was picked up as a sign there were sub-groups of the cast who were seeing each other socially (as happens in most every workplace). Just LM posted something nearly 2 weeks ago when she went out with CO and DC one night. Which is not to be taken as a sign everyone sees each other every day.

Calling it "sketches for a synopsis" would therefore have been a more apt descriptor than "narrative".

Meanwhile, LM is still making the rounds of the media, as she should be with an album and a tour to promote. In the first one linked below she wisely deflects a question about a reported conflict with a Glee co-star, without denying it. Again, that is something which happens in many workplaces so it is not that exceptional.

http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=80960

http://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/lea-michele-keeps-in-touch-with-glee-cast#/.WPewnvDJAj8.twitter

Edited April 20, 2017 by Florinaldo

[shantown]

49 minutes ago, Florinaldo said:

http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=80960

Quote

Apparently, you and your co-star Naya Rivera were feuding on the show, according to her memoir. Do you have trouble watching episodes with you two in them?

(Laughs) Actually, I think we should - I don't like to talk about that. There are so many more fun things to talk about.

Do you listen to the "Glee" music?

I listen to the music all the time. Actually, I was just listening to me and Naya do "Brave" - that awesome Sara Bareilles song - the other day. That song is so good. I remember that day like it was yesterday because we were so tired, but it's funny, when I do my concerts I sing songs from "Glee" and I talk about what it was like in those moments and behind the scenes. That's my opportunity to get really close with people.

It wasn't the most eloquent re-direction, but it was good that Lea essentially said "I don't mind talking about Glee, but let's talk about the good things." She even somewhat complimented Naya on the next question. 

[Florinaldo]

4 hours ago, shantown said:

It wasn't the most eloquent re-direction, but it was good that Lea essentially said "I don't mind talking about Glee, but let's talk about the good things." She even somewhat complimented Naya on the next question. 

It was skillful of her not to try to deny, because you never know if someone else won't one day write something or give an interview relating what they witnessed between the two or if an email or video won't surface; fake denials often come back to bite you in the ass. This way, she leaves open the possiblity that whatever past unplesantness will eventually get resolved (which may have already happened) and that she does not cause the situation to aggravate.

This, way RM won't have material for a season 14 of Feud, titled "Lea and Naya".

[tom87]

A seemingly one sided Feud.  Lea has yet to do anything to fuel this so called feud.

5 hours ago, shantown said:

It wasn't the most eloquent re-direction, but it was good that Lea essentially said "I don't mind talking about Glee, but let's talk about the good things." She even somewhat complimented Naya on the next question. 

Not sure how easy it is ever to field a  stupid question.

[Florinaldo]

2 hours ago, tom87 said:

A seemingly one sided Feud.  Lea has yet to do anything to fuel this so called feud.

Not sure how easy it is ever to field a  stupid question.

We certainly do not know how much of this is a real feud, a simple disagreement or a manufactured story. It has had some legs at this point, but LM takes the high road, which is often the best course of action in terms of PR.

One skill actors, singers, politicians and other celebrities have got to master quickly, if it is not innate to them, is how to deal with an out-of-left-field silly or embarrassing question they get from some interviewers.

[tom87]

18 hours ago, Florinaldo said:

We certainly do not know how much of this is a real feud, a simple disagreement or a manufactured story. It has had some legs at this point, but LM takes the high road, which is often the best course of action in terms of PR.

One skill actors, singers, politicians and other celebrities have got to master quickly, if it is not innate to them, is how to deal with an out-of-left-field silly or embarrassing question they get from some interviewers.

I don't doubt they had their moments on set but that was over 2 years ago.   I meant Lea isn't fueling it in public at least  she rather not play that game it seems.

Edited April 21, 2017 by tom87

[Craphole Island]

I kind of love this Robyn cover by Lea and Ashley Tisdale. Also it's kinda funny having a Glee/High School Musical crossover.

 

[fakeempress]

Mark Salling pleads guilty to child pornography possession, faces up to 7 years in prison

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/mark-salling-pleads-guilty-child-pornography-possession-article-1.3541347

[marymon]

On 10/4/2017 at 3:43 PM, fakeempress said:

Mark Salling pleads guilty to child pornography possession, faces up to 7 years in prison

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/mark-salling-pleads-guilty-child-pornography-possession-article-1.3541347

hoping for 7.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Lea Michele talks about singing at Elsie Fest and why she stopped singing "Don't Rain on My Parade" during the Glee tour:

 

She discusses her new show The Mayor, Daveed Diggs, being on the debate team in high school, and visiting the White House with the Glee cast:

[Scarlett45]

I came to share this. I didn't know about Mark's conviction or plea deal. 7months for child porn?!! He would've gotten more time for jay-walking. What the hell?!!!!! I don't give a shit about his mental health; what about the mental health of all the children who suffered being forced to make the pornography in his possession?!

 

[marymon]

5 hours ago, Scarlett45 said:

I came to share this. I didn't know about Mark's conviction or plea deal. 7months for child porn?!! He would've gotten more time for jay-walking. What the hell?!!!!! I don't give a shit about his mental health; what about the mental health of all the children who suffered being forced to make the pornography in his possession?!

 

I do not think he has been sentenced yet it was suppose to be between 4 and 7 years.

[fakeempress]

Glee is on NBC this coming March, only it's called Rise and is about the school theatre kids.

"Rise is an upcoming American drama television series created by Jason Katims and Jeffrey Seller based on the book Drama High by Michael Sokolove. When dedicated teacher and family man Lou Mazzuchelli (Josh Radnor, "How I Met Your Mother") sheds his own self-doubt and takes over the school's lackluster theater department, he galvanizes not only the faculty and students, but the entire working-class town. Inspired by a true story.

Will Schuester, they're coming for you!

I know Katims from My So-Called Life and Friday Night Lights. Trailer for Rise here, it feels very FNL.

Edited November 19, 2017 by fakeempress

[marymon]

Seems why more FNL then glee.   The young female actress was asked what celebrity she wanted to guest star and she said Lea Michele and Jon Groff becasue the HS in the is doing the musical Spring Awakening.

I may watch for the SA element more then the notion it is glee like.

[buffy11bnl]

I find Josh Radnor insufferable, which it too bad because otherwise I'd be here for this.

[fakeempress]

10 hours ago, marymon said:

Seems why more FNL then glee.   The young female actress was asked what celebrity she wanted to guest star and she said Lea Michele and Jon Groff becasue the HS in the is doing the musical Spring Awakening.

I may watch for the SA element more then the notion it is glee like.

In case you thought I was saying it's literally Glee, I failed to be sufficiently tongue-in-cheek. I had in mind similar narrative elements from the trailer: Teacher takes over a lackluster theatre department. Football player(s) somehow join in. Teacher may clash with football coach / principal / parents / other teachers. Main girl may be involved with the jock. There may be a closeted / gay kid(s) and / or coming out stories.

The style and treatment is very FNL (good!) which isn't surprising with Katims at the helm. FNL was also based on a non-fiction book. But it seems to mine the same thematic field as Glee, small-town kids' dreams and arts in school. 

Edited November 19, 2017 by fakeempress

[marymon]

4 hours ago, fakeempress said:

In case you thought I was saying it's literally Glee, I failed to be sufficiently tongue-in-cheek. I had in mind similar narrative elements from the trailer: Teacher takes over a lackluster theatre department. Football player(s) somehow join in. Teacher may clash with football coach / principal / parents / other teachers. Main girl may be involved with the jock. There may be a closeted / gay kid(s) and / or coming out stories.

The style and treatment is very FNL (good!) which isn't surprising with Katims at the helm. FNL was also based on a non-fiction book. But it seems to mine the same thematic field as Glee, small-town kids' dreams and arts in school. 

No I didn't . Have seen glee refer in other places though. The set up is similar  to glee but the tone  is FNL.

[caracas1914]

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/glee-actor-takes-plea-deal-child-porn-charges-1045833

Quote

 

Mark Salling agreed to register as a sex offender as part of the deal.

Glee star Mark Salling is facing four to seven years behind bars after agreeing to plead guilty to charges arising from his possession of child pornography, according to a Tuesday court filing.

Under the plea deal, Salling will register as a sex offender and participate in counseling or psychiatric treatment.

Salling admitted to using the internet over several months in 2015 to download thousands of images of child pornography. Investigators executed a search warrant on Dec. 26, 2015, and found about 25,000 still images and 600 videos of child pornography and 29,000 images of child erotica.

Salling will pay $50,000 to each victim seeking restitution and also agreed not to have any communication with any person under the age of 18 unless the legal guardian is present or has been notified of this conviction. (This doesn't include waiters, cashiers or other vendors that he'd encounter in public.)

Under the plea agreement, prosecutors are recommending a sentence of 48 to 84 months imprisonment followed by 20 years of supervised release and a fine in an amount to be determined by the court.

 

Edited December 19, 2017 by caracas1914

[crashboom]

Darren Criss an Emmy winner and other 2018 pop culture predictions we hope come true

[Florinaldo]

On 02/01/2018 at 9:27 AM, crashboom said:

Darren Criss an Emmy winner and other 2018 pop culture predictions we hope come true

There have been a few other similar statements on Web publications. Predicting awards nominations months in advance is always a risky endeavour because awards are very much an unpredictable crapshoot; there are so many worthy potential nominees each year, many who are surprisingly passed over not to mention several head-scratching winners (and losers) over the years. The show looks very intense and strongly acted, including by DC, while production values appear to be quite high and the cinematography very lush, especially in the Versace mansion, but nothing is assured in the awards game. It is wiser to wait until we see the actual production in full, as well as the actual competition cast and crew will face from other shows come nominations season, before making more assured predictions.

On the other hand, the job of those columnists is to generate content and traffic. They probably do not mind making predictions that will not come through in the end because considering the short attention span of readers and the media in general, no one will remember their failed predictions in a few months time. They may also have been prodded by FX's marketing department since the series is being promoted very hard. Various clips and teasers have popped up all over the place, including on Fox, FX (of course) and even CNN to mention only those I have seen. They also managed to book their four leads (including DC) as presenters during next weekend's Golden Globes.

They have sent out screeners in a luxuriously designed package, which may act as an incentive to write such pieces, although I understand there was an embargo on actual reviews of the show but that full reviews will be coming out. Some of the people making Emmy predictions appear to have screened these advance copies and may thus be making relatively informed opinions.  

One thing for sure: considering how heavily DC is featured in the promotion material and the centrality of the role he plays in the story, this is certainly a major opportunity for him. It remains to be seen how much impact this series will have on his continued career.

We will all be able to judge for ourselves in a little over 2 weeks.

[crashboom]

Speaking of, Decider came out with its own glowing article about Darren:

 

Quote

While Edgar Ramirez is great as Versace and Penelope Cruz as Donatella will spur gifs wide across the internet, it’s Darren Criss who will send shivers up and down and back up your spine throughout the entire series. He’s creepy, he’s precise, and he’s absolutely impossible to take your eyes off of. As spree-killer Andrew Cunanan, he is giving a provocative performance that will have people talking and showering him with awards. Go ahead, just carve the Emmy for him now. It’s going to be hard for any other male actor to come close to what Criss is bringing this year.

[...]

It’s unlikely you thought to yourself, “2018 is the year I want to be supremely creeped the eff out by Darren Criss,” but that wish is about to come true for you anyway. His performance in the FX drama will give you a delightful and exciting whiplash in the way it switches from frantic to controlled, emotional to subtle, and straight up scary to intriguing. Criss will be catapulted to a household name, and one that we’re kind of freaked out by, but mostly in a good way, right?

[truthaboutluv]

23 minutes ago, crashboom said:

Speaking of, Decider came out with its own glowing article about Darren:

 

I read somewhere that early reviews were really good but then I read that they hadn't yet sent screeners out so I didn't know which to believe. Good for Darren. If nothing else, as long as the reviews are good, I imagine the goodwill from how well received The People vs. OJ Simpson was, will guarantee the show and the actors will be in Awards contention.

The only thing that could hurt them is coming out this early in the year, aside from the Primetime Emmys, it puts them in contention for next year's Golden Globes, SAG, etc. And there's the risk of getting forgotten with newer shows. But I'm sure there'll be a lot put in campaigning come award season to ensure that doesn't happen. 

Edited January 3, 2018 by truthaboutluv

[crashboom]

Quote

I read somewhere that early reviews were really good but then I read that they hadn't yet sent screeners out so I didn't know which to believe. 

They sent out screeners for 8/9 episodes, supposedly critics will get the finale ahead of airing as well, so the articles are based on critics having seen the majority of the series. Seems that reviews were embargoed until today, I've seen a few of them released.

[truthaboutluv]

Just now, crashboom said:

They sent out screeners for 8/9 episodes, supposedly critics will get the finale ahead of airing as well, so the articles are based on critics having seen the majority of the series. Seems that reviews were embargoed until today, I've seen a few of them released.

Okay, thanks. 

[Florinaldo]

35 minutes ago, crashboom said:

They sent out screeners for 8/9 episodes, supposedly critics will get the finale ahead of airing as well, so the articles are based on critics having seen the majority of the series. Seems that reviews were embargoed until today, I've seen a few of them released.

Yes, a number of people have received those screeners and have been dropping hints or capsule comments on Twitter for a few days, some of them saying they could not wait to receive the final episode. But as you say full reviews will be coming out now that the embargo is over, as is the case for this one in the Hollywood Reporter today. Their "bottom line" (actually at the top of the article): "Penelope Cruz and Edgar Ramirez take a backseat to Darren Criss in a juicy if uneven saga". That last description reminds me of RM's recent series on the Crawford/Davis feud; juicy if uneven indeed but up for a few Globes.

Here are pictures of the press kit which included the screeners; you can see in the second picture that they included only 8 of the 9 episodes.

 

1 hour ago, truthaboutluv said:

And there's the risk of getting forgotten with newer shows. But I'm sure there'll be a lot put in campaigning come award season to ensure that doesn't happen. 

The combined PR teams of  FX and RM seem very strong and active. They should put out the necessariy reminders when the respective nomination periods for various awards come around, especially if the show garners enough positive buzz and viewership on first broadcast.

Edited January 3, 2018 by Florinaldo