http://www.afterelton.com/people/2010/11/entertainment-weekly-chirs-colfer-heart-glee
by Michael Jensen
Entertainment Weekly Says Glee's Chris Colfer Is Unequivocally...The Heart of the Show
After watching next week's preview clip of Glee doing Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" and noting the myriad of expressions crossing Kurt Hummel's face, I turned to my partner and said "Chris Colfer has officially become one of the break-out stars of the show."
Either I'm prescient or the editor's over at Entertainment Weekly were eavesdropping on me as the Nov. 12 issue features a story called "Chris Colfer Makes Some Noise." These days, any noises besides belting out songs like "Bad Romance" or "Kurt's Song," the only sounds the Emmy-nominated Colfer must be making are ones of joy.
And articles like this are why.
About Colfer, EW says, "Whether taking the lead on Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" or coming to his mechanic father, Burt (Mike O'Malley), Colfer has turned into Glee's musical and emotional showstopper."
Given all of Kurt's great amazing numbers from Beyonce's "Single Ladies" to his version of "Rose's Turn" to his recent rendition of "Le Jazz Hot," its hard to argue that a poll of Glee's best musical numbers wouldn't have a fair bit of Colfer representation.
But EW notes that Kurt has become something much more important and significant as well:
Kurt has unequivocally become the heart of the series and, amid a recent flare-up in gay-teen bullying and suicides across the country, one of the most socially important characters on television. Says Colfer: "With all due respect to my castmates, they don't get the letters I get -- the letters that not only say 'I'm your biggest fan' but also 'Kurt saved my life' and 'Kurt doesn't make me feel alone' from 7-year-olds in Nebraska. When I was growing up, there wasn't a character like this. I think what makes Kurt so special is he's finding himself in front of our eyes.
Despite the ongoing anti-gay bullying and still too common suicides of gay youth, the fact that a character like Kurt even exists now shows how much gay visibility has progressed. After all, bullying and suicides are nothing new; the existence of a character like Kurt is groundbreaking.
Colfer also addresses what his own high school experience was like, referring to himself as an exotic animal. Says Colfer:
The best way I can describe myself in high school was that I was kind of like a social llama. Like where does the llama go? A llama's not a cow. It's not a horse. It might hang out with the duck once in a while, but it really has no place to belong. I was a social llama. But I didn't spit on things.
As for what he went through to get where he is now, Colfer says:
Had you told me when I was walking down the halls being picked on and harassed, in a matter of four years, I'd be put in a position where the character I'd be playing on TV would be inspiring so many people in that same situation, it would have been mind-blowing. Everything happens for a reason, so maybe it was good I went through all of that because now it all comes from a personal place.
End of article
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that I absolutely agree with this article. In fact, I'll be bold enough to pat myself on the shoulder and say, "That's exactly what I've been writing in this blog." :) Kurt IS the emotional center of this show, and Chris Colfer is the breakout star. And I do believe that everything happens for a reason. The bullying that Chris unfortunately had to endure in school does help to drive his performance in Glee. He is the kind of actor that is able to channel personal experience and combine it with natural talent to produce these unforgetable moments on television.
What the viewers of Glee are having the priviledge of witnessing is not only a character finding himself, but an actor finding himself as well. Kurt isn't the only one growing and changing week after week; Chris is evolving too. He's getting plenty of opportunity to display his dramatic acting skills, he's developing an even more impressive vocal range, he's given the freedom to ad lib some great comedic dialogue, the list goes on. Add to this a series creator who is combining his own life experiences with those of his young actor (and protoge) and the end results of this rare mix are heartfelt AND socially relevant storylines that have the capacity to alter mindsets, save lives, and hopefully ultimately, erradicate the stain of homophobia that continues to blanket our existence.
I feel I need to add here that I understand Chris Colfer is not creating this onscreen magic by himself. It is not my intention to ignore or underestimate the talents of Mike O'Malley and Cory Montieth in those key scenes with Chris. I also don't mean to disregard other storylines on the show, such as teen pregnancy, drug use, eating disorders, etc. All of the actors on Glee are immensely talented, and obviously many of the topics are socially important and have the ability to positively influence our everyday lives.
I explained from the beginning that Kurt and Artie are my favorite characters, their journeys are most relevant to my life, and therefore they would be the primary focus of this blog. Kurt has had a bigger storyline for awhile now, his, and Chris', names have been in the news much more often, so this has been the direction of my blog since its inception. And obviously my own life experiences have an effect on this journal. I witness what my friends who are gay endure on a daily basis, the internal and societal struggles they face. In many ways their journeys are not unlike my journey as a person with a disability, and that is at least one reason why I identify with them. I want life to be better for all of us. I want an end to inequality, discrimination, negativity, and of course violence.
One tv show, one character, one actor, one series creator can't change the world. But a tv show can have an effect on its viewers. A character can help to save a life. An actor can influence by example. A series creator can inform by sharing his vision. Change happens one event at a time, one step at a time, one voice at a time...over time. And that is why I hope Glee is around for a long time.
gleekette
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