The Glee Project (2011) s01e01 Episode Script
Individuality
Once upon a time, there was a little tv show called Glee.
If you haven't heard of it, you totally deserve to get slushied.
Anyway, things were going really well, and then one of its creators, Ryan Murphy, came to a realization.
Kids that started out with the show will be graduating very soon.
So we need new blood.
We need new kids.
We need new talent.
So he created the Glee project.
It's like a Glee boot camp/ acting/singing/ dancing/everything master class.
Each week there'll be a different theme, a homework assignment, and a mystery guest from the actual Glee cast.
You're so hot.
The contenders will go through the same process as they would on Glee.
They'll record in a professional studio with vocal producer Nikki Anders Let's do a couple takes to get into it.
And learn to dance from Glee's choreographer Zach woodlee I want the boom, boom, boom, and I need it to be severe.
All in preparation for their big group number A music video inspired by the musical performances on Glee.
And overseeing it all will be Glee's casting director, Robert ulrich.
I feel connected and proud of each and every one of you.
He auditioned over 40,000 kids who showed up with their hearts on their sleeves and their jazz hands in the air.
And after hearing the same songs over and over and over again - What time is it? - Robert was able to narrow it down to 12 very talented contenders.
They will live on the Glee project campus and compete to inspire the creators of Glee to write a seven-episode guest-starring role just for them on the coolest show ever.
And that's all you need to know so far on We're going to meet our guest judge for the week, and I'm a little nervous.
Oh, my God, you're so hot.
Welcome to the Glee project! All right! So my name is Darren criss, and I play the character Blaine Anderson on Glee.
Oh, we know! So can you believe you're here? Out of 40,000 people, here you are The final 12.
And one of you is gonna win a seven-episode guest-starring role on Glee, and that's an incredible gift.
So you guys were given an assignment yesterday to sing Stevie wonder's signed, sealed, delivered.
They told you you have different lead lines in which you get to showcase your individuality.
And the person who we think did the most shining job Will win an advantage in a big group number, which means you get the starring role.
And Darren will work with you one-on-one to help you really nail it and get you one step closer to winning a role on Glee.
So it's your job To stand out.
So let's see what you got.
Let's rock and roll.
like a fool, I went and stayed too long and now I'm wondering if your love's too strong ooh, baby here I am, signed, sealed, delivered I'm yours mmm then that time you went and said good-bye now I'm back and not ashamed to cry ooh, baby well, here I am signed, sealed, delivered I'm yours oh, ooh seen a lot of things in this old world ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh when I touch them, ha, they did nothing, girl ooh, baby, here I am signed, sealed, delivered I'm yours whoo, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ah, ah, oh, yeah ooh, wee, baby, you set my soul on fire and that's why I know you're my only desire, baby here I am signed, sealed, delivered I'm yours, ah here I am, baby signed, sealed, delivered I'm yours here I am, baby signed, sealed, delivered I'm yours here I am, baby signed, sealed, delivered I'm yours - Whoo! Awesome! - Bravo! - That was great.
- You know what? Everybody's clearly a great singer, and it's interesting to see who is focusing more on the singing and who's focusing more on sort of attitude.
Uh, Ellis.
And how old are you, Ellis? I'm 18, I swear.
I promise I'm not ten.
I'm sick of being ten.
I really am.
I make jokes about it all the time, you know, "ha ha, yeah, it's funny.
" But it's not.
I hate being in a room with beautiful girls and just being a little frilly thing on the side.
So, Ellis, you say you're 18, and you're very kind of, like, making a joke about it, because you clearly look younger.
And that's something that can also be very empowering, I think, you know.
Things that make you who you are can really elevate you, so I would totally embrace that, and, um You sound great, girl.
Thanks.
I love the sass.
What's your name? Emily.
But you can call me whatever you want.
I'll call you Emily.
I'll stick to the original.
I'm an amazing flirt.
It's crazy.
My talent is this The way I flip my hair.
It's fun.
It makes me different.
So, Emily, clearly you exude this sass that I think everybody in this room feels.
I think everybody can feel that's exactly who you are.
And that's a wonderful trait to have, because it's very magnetic.
So that was really cool.
Oh, my God.
Thank you.
Can you say it again? Matheus, you're doing a lot of things vocally that I can tell you are a musician of sorts, and you know how to control things to your favor.
Glee is about hearing the unexpected and having that person really own it in ways that you would've never imagined.
And because of this week's theme, individuality, the winner for this challenge is Matheus.
- Yay! - Oh, my Oh, my gosh! Ah! The song might not be immediately relatable to your voice, but you nonetheless stepped up to the plate and really made it your own.
I need to breathe.
I need to breathe.
My mind is just racing everywhere.
I'm so happy right now.
This is a great way to start this.
So, matheus, what you're gonna win is you're gonna get a featured moment in the big group number that's coming up, as well as you're gonna spend some time in that one-on-one session with Darren.
Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh! So do you want to hear what this big group number is? Yes.
Drumroll, please.
All right, you guys are gonna be doing my girl Katy Perry's firework.
No way! - Yes! - Yeah, all right! That could not have been a more amazing choice.
It's definitely kind of like a belt-y kind of, like, fist in the air kind of anthem for People like me.
So the important thing about this particular performance is to really solidify a character that you would want to be in the world of Glee.
And the concept is that of a high school photo shoot.
And the job here is trying to showcase who you think you would be or could be most likely to So this is more character stuff and being that character for, like, the "photo shoot" as you sing the song.
So you're gonna record, perform, and shoot this as a big group number.
And you're gonna be working with a team of experts Mostly importantly Zach woodlee, Glee's choreographer, and vocal producer Nikki Anders.
But we will also be assessing you throughout the process, because that's the best way to judge how you'd fit into the Glee world.
And after the big group number is shot, unfortunately, Zach, Nikki, and I will be picking three of you to do the last-chance performance for Ryan Murphy.
Ryan Murphy, the creator and writer of Glee What? We have to perform in front of him if we don't do well? I think all of us have a heart attack about that information.
So you may be the most technically trained singer.
You may be the most technically trained dancer.
You may be the best actor.
Casting is completely subjective.
And, ultimately, Ryan will decide who stays and who goes.
Okay, guys, so good luck and have some fun.
- Break a leg.
- Break a leg, guys.
Hey, shut it.
I don't know if you know me.
I'm Zach.
I do the choreography.
This is Brooke.
Say it, Brooke.
- I'm Brooke.
- Hi, Brooke! All right, this is what's gonna happen.
Right now I need, uh, a little bit of your acting abilities.
I need a pose.
What are you doing? - This.
- Okay.
Thumbs.
- And then this.
- Face.
Okay.
So there you go.
You'll go thumb and face and hand and drop.
And thumb and face and hand and drop.
- Okay.
Thumb, face, and drop.
- This is amazing! Yeah.
Lock those into what your character is.
A-five, a-six, a-seven, go.
A-sharp.
A-sharp.
Keep 'em slow.
Slow.
Shh! Listen.
This is the part where, on the show, on Glee, we don't have any time.
You've got to start locking this stuff down for continuity.
A-hit, a-hit, a-hit, and-a one, bah, bah.
As you shoot and bah Oh! Wait.
Guys, every time you do something, you don't have to be like, "oh!" Just kind of get it, be like, "I messed up.
We got to keep going.
" A-two, a-three, a-four.
Less I don't know less of whatever it was you were doing.
I am really down on myself, because I feel like I did a terrible job in the first assignment.
And, honestly, it's gotten to me so much, I actually feel like Zach's picking on me a little bit when I do something stupid.
Lean to the right, and then we're just gonna start to turn over ourselves.
Bom, bom.
OKay.
Look, I can't treat you like three-year-olds.
That's it Like, I just can't.
You need to understand we have to get this done, and I know that it's like, "oh, fun, look at me," but it's not helping us at all.
- Baby - that's not your chest voice.
It's trying to be.
Just, like, ugh, this is the moment.
What are you waiting for? I'm sorry if I'm making it difficult, man.
I'm really not trying to.
Right now this ain't working.
No, I agree with you completely.
Look at this light! It's got holes in it like cheese.
This is my first time ever being in a professional recording studio.
It's my first time being within, like, 20 feet of a professional recording studio.
- Hello! - Hi.
Oh, my gosh, I'm so excited to see you guys.
I'm Nikki Anders.
I work on the music team that does all the music for Glee.
I help arrange the vocals, and the thing that is really important that may not get talked about a lot is the studio experience of Glee, because when you're a cast member on Glee, you have very little time.
Sometimes for a whole song, we'll have lea for, like, 45 minutes to an hour, and she's got to do the whole song.
So matheus, since you won the homework assignment, you can start us off.
Okay.
Oh, my God.
For this song, each of the contenders have been given lines that play to their strengths vocally.
Cool.
Let's try one.
I do expect them to push themselves.
As with a lot of people, they think they know their own limitations.
Just let's do a couple takes to get into it.
And I think that my goal for today is to try to show them that they're capable of a lot more.
Don't be nervous.
Just let loose.
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag drifting through the wind wanting to start again? It's really pretty, but I need you to emote.
Just what do you mean by these words? It just sounds like you're singing them.
Marissa, she's an amazing singer.
But I don't think that she's really connecting with the song, and I didn't feel any emotion when she was singing.
Just own the night Nice.
Like the fourth of July Whoo! I see what you got going on here.
Do you know that there's My first reaction to Nikki was, "whoa.
" Ending just needs to tidy up a little bit.
She's gonna tell you if you're flat, and she's gonna tell you if you're sharp, and that is a good thing, because it's the only way you're gonna improve.
Baby, you're a firework come on, let your colors burst Almost.
That was a great start.
'Cause, baby, you're a firework come on, show 'em what you're worth That was a good "come on.
" Nice! Great job.
Feeling pretty confident.
I'm a classically trained soprano.
I have one of the best voices here.
That's why I'm, like, nailing it.
Let's talk about your chest voice for a second.
It's virtually nonexistent to this point.
This is my chest voice.
Baby that's not your chest voice.
It's trying to be.
- Hmm - Sorry.
I'm I'm trying to find it right now.
I'm sick as a dog, and my throat is so raw and terrible, I can barely sing.
Can you reach baby, you're a baby, you're a firework - Okay.
So let's belt that out.
- Okay.
Baby, you're a firework - All right.
- come on, let your colo Just, like, ugh, this is the moment.
What are you waiting for? Okay.
You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine Um Okay, just remember that it doesn't need to just be loud.
You can start soft, just intense.
Okay.
You just gotta ignite the light and let - ah - it shine ah I think we can We can work with that.
Okay.
Nikki is looking very unimpressed, which is not a good thing at all.
I thought I was gonna go in and just bam! And I went in, like I know that I could have given it more energy, but it's just, like, I just couldn't get there.
But that doesn't mean that you would be, like It's your first time in a studio.
- Oh, God.
- And you will.
I don't want to be in the bottom three, dude.
I really don't want to Oh, that would suck.
Glee, Glee contenders, Glee project contenders, gather around.
I'd like to introduce myself.
I'm Erik white.
I'm a music video director.
And I have the privilege of directing music videos for you guys.
I've worked with everybody from diddy to Chris brown to lil Wayne to Mary j blige.
So now you guys got me for the duration.
I'm gonna make you look incredible, amazing.
So be ready to bring it, 'cause it's gonna be fun, but it's gonna be a lot of work.
The firework music video is designed to look like a yearbook photo shoot.
I'm really looking to see who expresses their individuality through their character while at the same time are able to take direction from our creative team.
The contenders that do well will make the callback list.
Those who don't will risk being in the bottom three and will have to do a last-chance performance to prove that they deserve to be called back.
Playback! You just gotta ignite the light My recording didn't go as well as I would like it to have gone, so I'm definitely nervous, and I think that I could possibly be one of the three last-chance performers.
- Cut, cut.
- Do have any, like, ideas or direction or anything I can I mean, it's such a short amount of time.
As long as you just give it up to camera Like, those little pieces is what makes you relatable.
Can you tighten it up and go Make this shoot? Make 'em go, oh, oh, oh as you shoot across the sky-y-y Alex Has an amazing sense of confidence.
As you shoot across the sky-y-y I mean, he knows he's good.
And then I'll be, like, posing, like Da da da Like Yeah! Winning the homework assignment, I got to have one-on-one time with Darren criss.
For any time you're doing any kind of poses, I think it's important to be as just grounded as possible.
Okay.
I'm close to the ground, so don't worry.
You know what? As we're talking, I think the really important thing here is just to, I would say, keep your head up.
If people see you comfortable in your skin, then they are rooting for you 100%, because they're like, "this is a guy I could get behind.
" Make 'em go, "oh, oh, oh" you're gonna leave 'em Darren gave me some great advice as far as dancing, as far as the emotion and kind of like portraying it in front of a camera, 'cause I'm not used to that at all.
Ha ha ha! Yeah, man! You know how to give those looks.
- Yeah.
I'm so good at that.
- Yeah.
- Okay, so - Wait.
This is your strength.
No, these are my strength.
So I go like that, and then, like, I go to this side to him? Yeah, but do it like a prom photo, so where you, like, you know, would have in front of yeah.
Let's pretend you're a boy.
Okay.
Yeah, let's pretend.
Well, no, stand here.
So be on this side of the thing.
Boom, boom, boom even brighter than the moon, moon And, like, get up We'll get the boys, so you'll be, like, right here on him.
Then you'll just come in, push her.
You'll be like, "ah, screw you," and walk out.
Sorry.
What does that have to do with my character, though? My most likely is to be the "heartbreaker.
" I don't feel like it would be Her walking away or It almost looks like the creeper instead.
It doesn't look like the creeper.
But what would you like to do? I was thinking she'd walk away because another girl walks up or something like that.
Completely.
We can get another girl.
It's just anotherGirl.
I'm sorry if I'm making it difficult, man.
I'm really not trying to.
baby, you're a firework For my part for firework, I'm most likely to be a child forever.
Ellis' thing like, she wants to be a child forever, whatever, whatever.
But I feel like it reads that she's trying to be She's acting like she's an eight-year-old baby.
She looks like a little baby.
But right now this ain't working.
No, I agree with you completely.
Yeah.
I'm gonna talk to her.
Am I in trouble? No.
You don't have to play young.
You look young - Yes.
- Which is awesome.
I think you just have to play it, because rather than try to be more than you are.
Okay! I will do what you ask.
Young.
So give a little bit of air A-five, a-six, baby you're a cat, a cat All of this has to be like we could take a still frame of all of it to sharpen everything up.
Yeah, slide.
I think Damian struggled a little bit in the main assignment.
He kind of faded into the background.
I'm not quite sure where Damian's fitting in.
I haven't seen him really bloom on anything just yet.
Start here.
you ever feel like a plastic bag - Just a little bit slower.
- walk backwards The main assignment was spectacular.
It's gonna be an incredibly tough decision to pick out three kids that have to be in the bottom three.
But, ultimately, it's about who popped in the music video.
Here we go.
And Cue playback, please.
do you ever feel like a plastic bag drifting through the wind wanting to start again? do you ever feel, feel so paper thin like a house of cards one blow from caving in? do you ever feel already buried deep? six feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing do you know that there's still a chance for you 'cause there's a spark in you you just gotta ignite the light and let it shine just own the night like the fourth of July 'cause, baby, you're a firework come on, show 'em what you're worth make 'em go, "oh, oh, oh" as you shoot across the sky-y-y baby, you're a firework come on, let your colors burst make them go, "oh, oh, oh" you're gonna leave them falling do-o-wn boom, boom, boom even brighter than the moon, moon, moon it's always been inside of you, you, you and now it's time you let it through through, through baby, you're a firework come on, show 'em what you're worth make 'em go, "oh, oh, oh" as you shoot across the sky baby, you're a firework come on, let your colors burst make 'em go, "oh, oh, oh" you're gonna leave 'em falling do-o-wn boom, boom, boom even brighter than the moon, moon, moon boom, boom, boom even brighter than the moon, moon, moon All right, everybody.
That's a wrap.
Excellent job.
Whoo! Hand for the Glee project.
Good job! The bad news is, as you know, we have to pick three of you to perform tonight in the last-chance performance.
Hey, dude, you're You almost got it, you almost got it.
We're similar in a way to the actual Glee cast.
Like, we have different cast members that are good at different things.
Like, one person's a way better dancer than the other, while that person's a way better singer than that person.
It's that backwards.
First of all, I'm not much of a dancer.
Yes! - You're doing it! - Ha ha ha ha! You know, I don't take lessons.
I don't do ballet.
I do Cameron.
If I want to, you know, break down and do some Stinky leg, then I'll do it.
Ha I think you just invented a new dance.
Peoples, here's the thing.
This is what I was thinking about.
Like, seriously, any of us could end up in the bottom three No, it's not like 'Cause we're all so good, like, there's no one that was bad.
No, 'cause I'm thinking about it, and, like, they might even put someone that they think is amazing and put them in the bottom three so they can see them do a solo just to see if they can handle the pressure.
It's all in the back of our minds that there's gonna be a last-chance performance.
And it's the bottom three that they think is struggling the most, and you realize that, you know, only one person out of this 12 is getting in the show.
Cameron, who do you think is the weakest out of everybody? And don't you dare say yourself, 'cause that's a cop-out, and you can't do it.
I won't say myself.
I'm not afraid.
If I had to pick someone that was weak, I might have to say Hannah.
Don't get me wrong.
I love you to death.
But the funny only goes so far.
I think Dude, it's totally at the point where, like, it could be any of us.
I definitely feel competitive.
I mean, everyone here's so great, and we're all getting along super well, and, you know, we're all being friendly, but at the end of the day, like, I can't get out of my head that it is a competition.
This week we asked you to focus on individuality to really show us what it is that makes you unique and, most importantly, a great fit for Glee.
The bad news is, as you know, we have to pick three of you to perform tonight in the last-chance performance.
Cameron Lindsay Matheus Alex Emily Samuel Great job this week, you guys.
Congratulations.
You've made the callback list.
This is not a game to me, you know.
I want this so bad, and it's just one step closer.
So I'm thrilled.
Good luck, guys.
I love you guys.
The rest of you all had some struggles this week, in our opinion.
Three of you are going to have to do last-chance performances for Ryan to convince him to put you on the callback list.
Mckynleigh Hannah Marissa You three all have some work to do.
But you're called back for the next round.
So you're safe, but I need you to step it up a bit.
Thank you.
Ellis The reason that you've made it this far is because of the contradictions you represent.
On one hand, you look like such a young girl, but your personality is more adult.
And that is what makes you so unique.
Unfortunately, you lost that this week.
So we're giving you a Broadway number right in your wheelhouse.
Your song is big spender from the musical sweet charity.
Bryce You know that you have what it takes to be Glee's next teen heartthrob.
But you definitely struggled with your attitude this week.
So, Bryce, show Ryan that you can be the McKinley high heartbreaker.
Your song is just the way you are by Bruno Mars.
Shoot.
Damian I love what you did with your line in the homework assignment.
When you kind of spoke it, it really made your personality pop.
But you have to figure out a way to show how unique you are in a group and especially when you're not singing in your Irish accent.
We need to know who you are.
Your song is Jessie's girl by Rick Springfield.
You guys have a few hours to rehearse and prepare.
Do your best, and you guys are gonna be great.
Jessie's girl I wish that I had jessie's girl how can I find I'm right now incredibly worried.
I have never heard the song once.
I don't know what it is.
I don't know who sings it.
I don't know how it goes.
I'm looking in the mirror all the time Jesus! Wondering what she don't see in me I'm in trouble.
I am just Crapping myself.
Real big spender hey, big spender I feel so unprepared and just scared out of my mind, and I've never felt in a worse place in my life.
Just the way you are when you ah! Just the way you are is a great song.
Only problem is, it's super-high, and I have a super-low voice.
And I feel like that's why they gave it to me, for the challenge.
But I don't know if I can pull it off.
What are you thinking about it? I'm not totally comfortable with it, 'cause honestly, like I don't know the song.
And the whole dancing part Like, I wouldn't be confident in my dancing at all, and that's the truth, you know? I'm not the kind of guy who kind of cracks under pressure.
But even for me, today has just been the biggest test of my character ever.
You know, we're in high school here.
- Yes.
- And, like, it should be There should be a little bit of vulnerability, which might help you, since you don't know the song.
Not everybody could learn a song in, say, two hours.
That's anything but easy.
You're wonderful, and what I don't want you to do by what we said out there is overthink the song.
Just do it.
Just do it.
You don't have to do anything except Like you would have normally done when you first auditioned for me in Chicago.
You're here today 'Cause you're amazing.
Just try to have fun.
I don't want to go home.
I don't have anything waiting for me there.
I, um, took a leave from school to come here.
I can't go back, and I don't want to go back.
It's boring.
If I go home tomorrow, then I go back to my parents.
You need to stop going to that place.
You just have to pull it together and try to enjoy it.
You sound amazing.
It's a great song for you.
- Can I come in? - Yeah, absolutely.
- How you doing? - Um Listen, what are you most upset about? I guess I get down on myself so often, and I always take everything that people say to heart.
People love you.
We want to give you another chance to show that you can deliver.
This is, like, a huge moment of it's a test.
Can you Get out of my own head? Yeah, get out of your own head, because that you can't be your own worst enemy.
It's hard.
I feel for them.
It's harder than I thought.
I can go back and forth with all of them, you know, why they should stay and why they should go.
I could tell that you were a little unsure of how to sell it.
Show us who you are, not who you think we want you to be.
When the contenders perform, they have to remember that the Glee project isn't solely about finding the best singer, the best dancer, or the best actor.
It is about finding someone who will inspire the writers to write for them.
I feel so unprepared and just scared out of my mind.
I've never had to perform anything like this on such a big scale.
So it's It's really intimidating.
I feel like talking with Nikki helped me a lot.
But I'm definitely extremely nervous to perform.
I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing being in the bottom three, because it's not every day you get to perform for the producer and creator of Glee.
We're ready for you onstage.
See, Damian, he was a little reserved, I think, at the beginning, which is, I think Which is why he's here.
Hi, guys.
I'm Damian mcginty.
And I'm gonna sing jessie's girl.
jessie is a friend and I know he's a good friend of mine but lately there's a change that ain't hard to define jessie's got himself a girl, and I want to make her mine and she's watchin' him with those eyes and she's lovin' that body of his I just know it and he's holding her in her arms late at night you know I wish I was jessie's girl I wish that I was jessie's girl how can I find a woman like that? jessie's girl I wish that I was jessie's girl how can I find a woman like that? how can I find a woman like that? jessie's girl I wish I was jessie's girl I wish I was jessie's girl ah So I thought it was an interesting interpretation, because, you know, the main lyric is "I wish I had jessie's girl," and you said it many times, "I wish I was jessie's girl.
" So it became a different sort of song for you.
But God bless you, I went with it.
And I thought, "well, I could write to that.
" And I have.
I take that back.
I don't wish I was her Um I felt you were nervous.
Yeah, I was Uncertain, because I'm kind of trying to remember the lyrics.
So, if you had to critique your performance, what would you say? Other than I wish I was jessie's girl, uh But see, right now you laughing and being funny about it Yeah.
That's what the show is about.
The show is, I think, about making mistakes and being young.
I realize I am young, so it is something I'm embracing and really enjoying, you know.
It's a challenge for me, which I like.
That's the hard thing about, I think, a show like this You never know what we're gonna give you every week.
Yeah.
But you're not allowed to sort of be nervous.
Yeah.
You have to embrace it, and you have to sell it, and even if you suck, part of the joy is seeing that you know It's not your forte, but you are embracing the spirit of it.
And I saw that with you talking about it, but I didn't see that in the number.
But you do get points for saying that you wish you were jessie's girl, so But you're very charming.
Thank you.
- Thanks.
- Thank you.
Thanks, Damian.
- Can he dance? - Not at all.
And that's part of the reason he's here, not because he can't dance, because he said he's so uncomfortable dancing that he just wanted to blend.
He is very musical.
He sang the most gorgeous Irish folk song a cappella.
I mean, he's very, very musical.
Well, you know I've always wanted to do a riverdance episode, so So Bryce is next, and he looked amazing on camera.
But the reason that he's in the bottom three is because when he was working with Zach, he had some kind of attitude problems.
My name is Bryce Ross-Johnson, and I'm going to be singing just the way you are.
ah oh, her eyes, her eyes make the stars sound like they're not shining her hair, her hair falls perfectly without her trying she's so beautiful and I tell her every day when I see your face there's not a thing that I would change 'cause you're amazing just the way you are oh, the way you are the way you are girl, you're amazing just the way you are just the way you are It's a hard song, because you have to do, I think, a lot of scales and sort of traverse a lot of keys, and I felt you sort of straining for that.
Having the low voice, I always have to work my way around the high parts.
Well, I thought you did great when you went up high.
I thought that was the part that you were actually the most comfortable.
I thought it was the beginning.
I could tell that you were a little unsure of how to sell it.
What do you have that these other two don't have? I've never heard anyone sing like me, and I've never seen anyone that looked like me.
You know, I like what you just said, because I think, you know, when we go on tour, the thing that's always amazing to me is that so many people come from all over the country because they've never Seen somebody like them on the show.
So I thought you were great.
- Thank you so much.
- You're welcome.
So next is Ellis.
She's been given a Broadway number and been told to not play it really broad, because her problem during the main challenge was that she became very animated, and she already looks like she's ten years old.
So it was kind of like Shirley temple.
I'm Ellis wiley.
I'm going to be singing big spender.
the minute you walked in the joint I could tell you were a man of distinction a real big spender good-looking, so refined wouldn't you like to know what's going on in my mind? so let me get right to the point I don't pop my cork for every guy I see hey, big spender spend a little time with me Very nice.
Thank you.
So tell me about your week.
Um I've been having a lot of vocal problems.
Like, I am so sick right now, and I know that this show is not about You know, all about singing, but I just felt like, "how am I going to put my best foot forward when it's hacked off at the knee?" Vocally, I thought you sounded great.
I didn't think you acted it great.
Show us who you are, not who you think we want you to be.
People will come in and audition, and they're so authentic in themselves that I'll say, "I will write for that.
" Okay.
What I'm struggling with right now is, like, what will I write to? - Bye, Ellis.
- Thank you.
It's hard.
I feel for them.
It's harder than I thought.
- Oh, my - Oh, my God! Hey! Hey.
I mean, what what is up? Like, seriously? We don't know.
I thought I would come in here and say immediately, "no.
" I can go back and forth with all of them, you know? Why they should stay and why they should go.
To me, the one who was a character was Damian.
I really like him, but I don't know.
His confidence level seemed very shaky to me.
Mm-hmm.
Bryce.
You have to think about, "okay, if you have to work with that person every day" I can see why, at this point, Bryce has been a little bit difficult in that way.
Ellis.
I thought she had great spunk, and I thought she was very good with her answers.
I don't know what character she could be.
I mean, I don't know what kind of person we would create.
- They're all so sweet.
- It's all so sad.
- They are.
- Yeah.
Any one of them is gonna be It's gonna be a huge knock, I think, just to the whole cast.
To me, it's definitely those two.
It's tough.
We have our work cut out for us, then.
Like, just hearing about what you guys' experience was like, I'm terrified to be in the bottom three, 'cause I don't think I could handle that pressure, honestly.
I started crying then and didn't stop for another 20 minutes.
All I can keep thinking about is just, like, "I wish I could've done better from Ryan Murphy.
" I mean, if there was a situation in life where I wish I could've owned it, it would've been right then.
I think it has now kicked in that this is a competition.
Somebody has to go home every week, and that's the truth.
It's a hard it's kind of It's a hard reality to accept, and it's a hard pill to swallow.
I don't know.
Just I'm pretty confident that I'm gonna be the one going home today.
I feel like I could've done so much better this week.
I know.
The time has come.
The list is up, so Go take a look.
Cheers, everyone.
Good luck with everything.
I want to stay here so badly.
I can't put it into words how much I want to be here.
I'm not surprised that I am where I am, 'cause I wasn't really me that much this week.
I could've done it a lot better.
I wish I had.
I want to be called back so badly.
I don't want to go home.
Yes! Come on! Yes! This has been one of the best weeks of my life.
I appreciate it.
I'm upset, though.
I'm upset I don't get to see what comes next.
I'm upset I didn't get to have a real shining moment.
This is not the end of the road for me and my music career.
If nothing else, I got a chance to meet a group of people that mean the world to me now that I probably never would've met under any other circumstance.
there's nothing you can say there's nothing you can do there's no other way when it comes to the truth so keep holding on keep holding on 'cause you know we'll make it through we'll make it through On the next Glee project Ah ha ha ha! Gaga, ooh la la If I don't win this week's challenge, something's wrong.
Bring him closer.
Like maybe kiss him.
I've never actually been kissed.
Ellis! Best first kiss? Just ruin my life, Lindsay.
Go ahead.
Nooo! Why would you do that to me? You shouldn't make me upset all the time.
What? I don't think Lindsay's very nice.
Honestly, I think she's kinda mean.
I'm just trying to help.
If you haven't heard of it, you totally deserve to get slushied.
Anyway, things were going really well, and then one of its creators, Ryan Murphy, came to a realization.
Kids that started out with the show will be graduating very soon.
So we need new blood.
We need new kids.
We need new talent.
So he created the Glee project.
It's like a Glee boot camp/ acting/singing/ dancing/everything master class.
Each week there'll be a different theme, a homework assignment, and a mystery guest from the actual Glee cast.
You're so hot.
The contenders will go through the same process as they would on Glee.
They'll record in a professional studio with vocal producer Nikki Anders Let's do a couple takes to get into it.
And learn to dance from Glee's choreographer Zach woodlee I want the boom, boom, boom, and I need it to be severe.
All in preparation for their big group number A music video inspired by the musical performances on Glee.
And overseeing it all will be Glee's casting director, Robert ulrich.
I feel connected and proud of each and every one of you.
He auditioned over 40,000 kids who showed up with their hearts on their sleeves and their jazz hands in the air.
And after hearing the same songs over and over and over again - What time is it? - Robert was able to narrow it down to 12 very talented contenders.
They will live on the Glee project campus and compete to inspire the creators of Glee to write a seven-episode guest-starring role just for them on the coolest show ever.
And that's all you need to know so far on We're going to meet our guest judge for the week, and I'm a little nervous.
Oh, my God, you're so hot.
Welcome to the Glee project! All right! So my name is Darren criss, and I play the character Blaine Anderson on Glee.
Oh, we know! So can you believe you're here? Out of 40,000 people, here you are The final 12.
And one of you is gonna win a seven-episode guest-starring role on Glee, and that's an incredible gift.
So you guys were given an assignment yesterday to sing Stevie wonder's signed, sealed, delivered.
They told you you have different lead lines in which you get to showcase your individuality.
And the person who we think did the most shining job Will win an advantage in a big group number, which means you get the starring role.
And Darren will work with you one-on-one to help you really nail it and get you one step closer to winning a role on Glee.
So it's your job To stand out.
So let's see what you got.
Let's rock and roll.
like a fool, I went and stayed too long and now I'm wondering if your love's too strong ooh, baby here I am, signed, sealed, delivered I'm yours mmm then that time you went and said good-bye now I'm back and not ashamed to cry ooh, baby well, here I am signed, sealed, delivered I'm yours oh, ooh seen a lot of things in this old world ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh when I touch them, ha, they did nothing, girl ooh, baby, here I am signed, sealed, delivered I'm yours whoo, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ah, ah, oh, yeah ooh, wee, baby, you set my soul on fire and that's why I know you're my only desire, baby here I am signed, sealed, delivered I'm yours, ah here I am, baby signed, sealed, delivered I'm yours here I am, baby signed, sealed, delivered I'm yours here I am, baby signed, sealed, delivered I'm yours - Whoo! Awesome! - Bravo! - That was great.
- You know what? Everybody's clearly a great singer, and it's interesting to see who is focusing more on the singing and who's focusing more on sort of attitude.
Uh, Ellis.
And how old are you, Ellis? I'm 18, I swear.
I promise I'm not ten.
I'm sick of being ten.
I really am.
I make jokes about it all the time, you know, "ha ha, yeah, it's funny.
" But it's not.
I hate being in a room with beautiful girls and just being a little frilly thing on the side.
So, Ellis, you say you're 18, and you're very kind of, like, making a joke about it, because you clearly look younger.
And that's something that can also be very empowering, I think, you know.
Things that make you who you are can really elevate you, so I would totally embrace that, and, um You sound great, girl.
Thanks.
I love the sass.
What's your name? Emily.
But you can call me whatever you want.
I'll call you Emily.
I'll stick to the original.
I'm an amazing flirt.
It's crazy.
My talent is this The way I flip my hair.
It's fun.
It makes me different.
So, Emily, clearly you exude this sass that I think everybody in this room feels.
I think everybody can feel that's exactly who you are.
And that's a wonderful trait to have, because it's very magnetic.
So that was really cool.
Oh, my God.
Thank you.
Can you say it again? Matheus, you're doing a lot of things vocally that I can tell you are a musician of sorts, and you know how to control things to your favor.
Glee is about hearing the unexpected and having that person really own it in ways that you would've never imagined.
And because of this week's theme, individuality, the winner for this challenge is Matheus.
- Yay! - Oh, my Oh, my gosh! Ah! The song might not be immediately relatable to your voice, but you nonetheless stepped up to the plate and really made it your own.
I need to breathe.
I need to breathe.
My mind is just racing everywhere.
I'm so happy right now.
This is a great way to start this.
So, matheus, what you're gonna win is you're gonna get a featured moment in the big group number that's coming up, as well as you're gonna spend some time in that one-on-one session with Darren.
Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh! So do you want to hear what this big group number is? Yes.
Drumroll, please.
All right, you guys are gonna be doing my girl Katy Perry's firework.
No way! - Yes! - Yeah, all right! That could not have been a more amazing choice.
It's definitely kind of like a belt-y kind of, like, fist in the air kind of anthem for People like me.
So the important thing about this particular performance is to really solidify a character that you would want to be in the world of Glee.
And the concept is that of a high school photo shoot.
And the job here is trying to showcase who you think you would be or could be most likely to So this is more character stuff and being that character for, like, the "photo shoot" as you sing the song.
So you're gonna record, perform, and shoot this as a big group number.
And you're gonna be working with a team of experts Mostly importantly Zach woodlee, Glee's choreographer, and vocal producer Nikki Anders.
But we will also be assessing you throughout the process, because that's the best way to judge how you'd fit into the Glee world.
And after the big group number is shot, unfortunately, Zach, Nikki, and I will be picking three of you to do the last-chance performance for Ryan Murphy.
Ryan Murphy, the creator and writer of Glee What? We have to perform in front of him if we don't do well? I think all of us have a heart attack about that information.
So you may be the most technically trained singer.
You may be the most technically trained dancer.
You may be the best actor.
Casting is completely subjective.
And, ultimately, Ryan will decide who stays and who goes.
Okay, guys, so good luck and have some fun.
- Break a leg.
- Break a leg, guys.
Hey, shut it.
I don't know if you know me.
I'm Zach.
I do the choreography.
This is Brooke.
Say it, Brooke.
- I'm Brooke.
- Hi, Brooke! All right, this is what's gonna happen.
Right now I need, uh, a little bit of your acting abilities.
I need a pose.
What are you doing? - This.
- Okay.
Thumbs.
- And then this.
- Face.
Okay.
So there you go.
You'll go thumb and face and hand and drop.
And thumb and face and hand and drop.
- Okay.
Thumb, face, and drop.
- This is amazing! Yeah.
Lock those into what your character is.
A-five, a-six, a-seven, go.
A-sharp.
A-sharp.
Keep 'em slow.
Slow.
Shh! Listen.
This is the part where, on the show, on Glee, we don't have any time.
You've got to start locking this stuff down for continuity.
A-hit, a-hit, a-hit, and-a one, bah, bah.
As you shoot and bah Oh! Wait.
Guys, every time you do something, you don't have to be like, "oh!" Just kind of get it, be like, "I messed up.
We got to keep going.
" A-two, a-three, a-four.
Less I don't know less of whatever it was you were doing.
I am really down on myself, because I feel like I did a terrible job in the first assignment.
And, honestly, it's gotten to me so much, I actually feel like Zach's picking on me a little bit when I do something stupid.
Lean to the right, and then we're just gonna start to turn over ourselves.
Bom, bom.
OKay.
Look, I can't treat you like three-year-olds.
That's it Like, I just can't.
You need to understand we have to get this done, and I know that it's like, "oh, fun, look at me," but it's not helping us at all.
- Baby - that's not your chest voice.
It's trying to be.
Just, like, ugh, this is the moment.
What are you waiting for? I'm sorry if I'm making it difficult, man.
I'm really not trying to.
Right now this ain't working.
No, I agree with you completely.
Look at this light! It's got holes in it like cheese.
This is my first time ever being in a professional recording studio.
It's my first time being within, like, 20 feet of a professional recording studio.
- Hello! - Hi.
Oh, my gosh, I'm so excited to see you guys.
I'm Nikki Anders.
I work on the music team that does all the music for Glee.
I help arrange the vocals, and the thing that is really important that may not get talked about a lot is the studio experience of Glee, because when you're a cast member on Glee, you have very little time.
Sometimes for a whole song, we'll have lea for, like, 45 minutes to an hour, and she's got to do the whole song.
So matheus, since you won the homework assignment, you can start us off.
Okay.
Oh, my God.
For this song, each of the contenders have been given lines that play to their strengths vocally.
Cool.
Let's try one.
I do expect them to push themselves.
As with a lot of people, they think they know their own limitations.
Just let's do a couple takes to get into it.
And I think that my goal for today is to try to show them that they're capable of a lot more.
Don't be nervous.
Just let loose.
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag drifting through the wind wanting to start again? It's really pretty, but I need you to emote.
Just what do you mean by these words? It just sounds like you're singing them.
Marissa, she's an amazing singer.
But I don't think that she's really connecting with the song, and I didn't feel any emotion when she was singing.
Just own the night Nice.
Like the fourth of July Whoo! I see what you got going on here.
Do you know that there's My first reaction to Nikki was, "whoa.
" Ending just needs to tidy up a little bit.
She's gonna tell you if you're flat, and she's gonna tell you if you're sharp, and that is a good thing, because it's the only way you're gonna improve.
Baby, you're a firework come on, let your colors burst Almost.
That was a great start.
'Cause, baby, you're a firework come on, show 'em what you're worth That was a good "come on.
" Nice! Great job.
Feeling pretty confident.
I'm a classically trained soprano.
I have one of the best voices here.
That's why I'm, like, nailing it.
Let's talk about your chest voice for a second.
It's virtually nonexistent to this point.
This is my chest voice.
Baby that's not your chest voice.
It's trying to be.
- Hmm - Sorry.
I'm I'm trying to find it right now.
I'm sick as a dog, and my throat is so raw and terrible, I can barely sing.
Can you reach baby, you're a baby, you're a firework - Okay.
So let's belt that out.
- Okay.
Baby, you're a firework - All right.
- come on, let your colo Just, like, ugh, this is the moment.
What are you waiting for? Okay.
You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine Um Okay, just remember that it doesn't need to just be loud.
You can start soft, just intense.
Okay.
You just gotta ignite the light and let - ah - it shine ah I think we can We can work with that.
Okay.
Nikki is looking very unimpressed, which is not a good thing at all.
I thought I was gonna go in and just bam! And I went in, like I know that I could have given it more energy, but it's just, like, I just couldn't get there.
But that doesn't mean that you would be, like It's your first time in a studio.
- Oh, God.
- And you will.
I don't want to be in the bottom three, dude.
I really don't want to Oh, that would suck.
Glee, Glee contenders, Glee project contenders, gather around.
I'd like to introduce myself.
I'm Erik white.
I'm a music video director.
And I have the privilege of directing music videos for you guys.
I've worked with everybody from diddy to Chris brown to lil Wayne to Mary j blige.
So now you guys got me for the duration.
I'm gonna make you look incredible, amazing.
So be ready to bring it, 'cause it's gonna be fun, but it's gonna be a lot of work.
The firework music video is designed to look like a yearbook photo shoot.
I'm really looking to see who expresses their individuality through their character while at the same time are able to take direction from our creative team.
The contenders that do well will make the callback list.
Those who don't will risk being in the bottom three and will have to do a last-chance performance to prove that they deserve to be called back.
Playback! You just gotta ignite the light My recording didn't go as well as I would like it to have gone, so I'm definitely nervous, and I think that I could possibly be one of the three last-chance performers.
- Cut, cut.
- Do have any, like, ideas or direction or anything I can I mean, it's such a short amount of time.
As long as you just give it up to camera Like, those little pieces is what makes you relatable.
Can you tighten it up and go Make this shoot? Make 'em go, oh, oh, oh as you shoot across the sky-y-y Alex Has an amazing sense of confidence.
As you shoot across the sky-y-y I mean, he knows he's good.
And then I'll be, like, posing, like Da da da Like Yeah! Winning the homework assignment, I got to have one-on-one time with Darren criss.
For any time you're doing any kind of poses, I think it's important to be as just grounded as possible.
Okay.
I'm close to the ground, so don't worry.
You know what? As we're talking, I think the really important thing here is just to, I would say, keep your head up.
If people see you comfortable in your skin, then they are rooting for you 100%, because they're like, "this is a guy I could get behind.
" Make 'em go, "oh, oh, oh" you're gonna leave 'em Darren gave me some great advice as far as dancing, as far as the emotion and kind of like portraying it in front of a camera, 'cause I'm not used to that at all.
Ha ha ha! Yeah, man! You know how to give those looks.
- Yeah.
I'm so good at that.
- Yeah.
- Okay, so - Wait.
This is your strength.
No, these are my strength.
So I go like that, and then, like, I go to this side to him? Yeah, but do it like a prom photo, so where you, like, you know, would have in front of yeah.
Let's pretend you're a boy.
Okay.
Yeah, let's pretend.
Well, no, stand here.
So be on this side of the thing.
Boom, boom, boom even brighter than the moon, moon And, like, get up We'll get the boys, so you'll be, like, right here on him.
Then you'll just come in, push her.
You'll be like, "ah, screw you," and walk out.
Sorry.
What does that have to do with my character, though? My most likely is to be the "heartbreaker.
" I don't feel like it would be Her walking away or It almost looks like the creeper instead.
It doesn't look like the creeper.
But what would you like to do? I was thinking she'd walk away because another girl walks up or something like that.
Completely.
We can get another girl.
It's just anotherGirl.
I'm sorry if I'm making it difficult, man.
I'm really not trying to.
baby, you're a firework For my part for firework, I'm most likely to be a child forever.
Ellis' thing like, she wants to be a child forever, whatever, whatever.
But I feel like it reads that she's trying to be She's acting like she's an eight-year-old baby.
She looks like a little baby.
But right now this ain't working.
No, I agree with you completely.
Yeah.
I'm gonna talk to her.
Am I in trouble? No.
You don't have to play young.
You look young - Yes.
- Which is awesome.
I think you just have to play it, because rather than try to be more than you are.
Okay! I will do what you ask.
Young.
So give a little bit of air A-five, a-six, baby you're a cat, a cat All of this has to be like we could take a still frame of all of it to sharpen everything up.
Yeah, slide.
I think Damian struggled a little bit in the main assignment.
He kind of faded into the background.
I'm not quite sure where Damian's fitting in.
I haven't seen him really bloom on anything just yet.
Start here.
you ever feel like a plastic bag - Just a little bit slower.
- walk backwards The main assignment was spectacular.
It's gonna be an incredibly tough decision to pick out three kids that have to be in the bottom three.
But, ultimately, it's about who popped in the music video.
Here we go.
And Cue playback, please.
do you ever feel like a plastic bag drifting through the wind wanting to start again? do you ever feel, feel so paper thin like a house of cards one blow from caving in? do you ever feel already buried deep? six feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing do you know that there's still a chance for you 'cause there's a spark in you you just gotta ignite the light and let it shine just own the night like the fourth of July 'cause, baby, you're a firework come on, show 'em what you're worth make 'em go, "oh, oh, oh" as you shoot across the sky-y-y baby, you're a firework come on, let your colors burst make them go, "oh, oh, oh" you're gonna leave them falling do-o-wn boom, boom, boom even brighter than the moon, moon, moon it's always been inside of you, you, you and now it's time you let it through through, through baby, you're a firework come on, show 'em what you're worth make 'em go, "oh, oh, oh" as you shoot across the sky baby, you're a firework come on, let your colors burst make 'em go, "oh, oh, oh" you're gonna leave 'em falling do-o-wn boom, boom, boom even brighter than the moon, moon, moon boom, boom, boom even brighter than the moon, moon, moon All right, everybody.
That's a wrap.
Excellent job.
Whoo! Hand for the Glee project.
Good job! The bad news is, as you know, we have to pick three of you to perform tonight in the last-chance performance.
Hey, dude, you're You almost got it, you almost got it.
We're similar in a way to the actual Glee cast.
Like, we have different cast members that are good at different things.
Like, one person's a way better dancer than the other, while that person's a way better singer than that person.
It's that backwards.
First of all, I'm not much of a dancer.
Yes! - You're doing it! - Ha ha ha ha! You know, I don't take lessons.
I don't do ballet.
I do Cameron.
If I want to, you know, break down and do some Stinky leg, then I'll do it.
Ha I think you just invented a new dance.
Peoples, here's the thing.
This is what I was thinking about.
Like, seriously, any of us could end up in the bottom three No, it's not like 'Cause we're all so good, like, there's no one that was bad.
No, 'cause I'm thinking about it, and, like, they might even put someone that they think is amazing and put them in the bottom three so they can see them do a solo just to see if they can handle the pressure.
It's all in the back of our minds that there's gonna be a last-chance performance.
And it's the bottom three that they think is struggling the most, and you realize that, you know, only one person out of this 12 is getting in the show.
Cameron, who do you think is the weakest out of everybody? And don't you dare say yourself, 'cause that's a cop-out, and you can't do it.
I won't say myself.
I'm not afraid.
If I had to pick someone that was weak, I might have to say Hannah.
Don't get me wrong.
I love you to death.
But the funny only goes so far.
I think Dude, it's totally at the point where, like, it could be any of us.
I definitely feel competitive.
I mean, everyone here's so great, and we're all getting along super well, and, you know, we're all being friendly, but at the end of the day, like, I can't get out of my head that it is a competition.
This week we asked you to focus on individuality to really show us what it is that makes you unique and, most importantly, a great fit for Glee.
The bad news is, as you know, we have to pick three of you to perform tonight in the last-chance performance.
Cameron Lindsay Matheus Alex Emily Samuel Great job this week, you guys.
Congratulations.
You've made the callback list.
This is not a game to me, you know.
I want this so bad, and it's just one step closer.
So I'm thrilled.
Good luck, guys.
I love you guys.
The rest of you all had some struggles this week, in our opinion.
Three of you are going to have to do last-chance performances for Ryan to convince him to put you on the callback list.
Mckynleigh Hannah Marissa You three all have some work to do.
But you're called back for the next round.
So you're safe, but I need you to step it up a bit.
Thank you.
Ellis The reason that you've made it this far is because of the contradictions you represent.
On one hand, you look like such a young girl, but your personality is more adult.
And that is what makes you so unique.
Unfortunately, you lost that this week.
So we're giving you a Broadway number right in your wheelhouse.
Your song is big spender from the musical sweet charity.
Bryce You know that you have what it takes to be Glee's next teen heartthrob.
But you definitely struggled with your attitude this week.
So, Bryce, show Ryan that you can be the McKinley high heartbreaker.
Your song is just the way you are by Bruno Mars.
Shoot.
Damian I love what you did with your line in the homework assignment.
When you kind of spoke it, it really made your personality pop.
But you have to figure out a way to show how unique you are in a group and especially when you're not singing in your Irish accent.
We need to know who you are.
Your song is Jessie's girl by Rick Springfield.
You guys have a few hours to rehearse and prepare.
Do your best, and you guys are gonna be great.
Jessie's girl I wish that I had jessie's girl how can I find I'm right now incredibly worried.
I have never heard the song once.
I don't know what it is.
I don't know who sings it.
I don't know how it goes.
I'm looking in the mirror all the time Jesus! Wondering what she don't see in me I'm in trouble.
I am just Crapping myself.
Real big spender hey, big spender I feel so unprepared and just scared out of my mind, and I've never felt in a worse place in my life.
Just the way you are when you ah! Just the way you are is a great song.
Only problem is, it's super-high, and I have a super-low voice.
And I feel like that's why they gave it to me, for the challenge.
But I don't know if I can pull it off.
What are you thinking about it? I'm not totally comfortable with it, 'cause honestly, like I don't know the song.
And the whole dancing part Like, I wouldn't be confident in my dancing at all, and that's the truth, you know? I'm not the kind of guy who kind of cracks under pressure.
But even for me, today has just been the biggest test of my character ever.
You know, we're in high school here.
- Yes.
- And, like, it should be There should be a little bit of vulnerability, which might help you, since you don't know the song.
Not everybody could learn a song in, say, two hours.
That's anything but easy.
You're wonderful, and what I don't want you to do by what we said out there is overthink the song.
Just do it.
Just do it.
You don't have to do anything except Like you would have normally done when you first auditioned for me in Chicago.
You're here today 'Cause you're amazing.
Just try to have fun.
I don't want to go home.
I don't have anything waiting for me there.
I, um, took a leave from school to come here.
I can't go back, and I don't want to go back.
It's boring.
If I go home tomorrow, then I go back to my parents.
You need to stop going to that place.
You just have to pull it together and try to enjoy it.
You sound amazing.
It's a great song for you.
- Can I come in? - Yeah, absolutely.
- How you doing? - Um Listen, what are you most upset about? I guess I get down on myself so often, and I always take everything that people say to heart.
People love you.
We want to give you another chance to show that you can deliver.
This is, like, a huge moment of it's a test.
Can you Get out of my own head? Yeah, get out of your own head, because that you can't be your own worst enemy.
It's hard.
I feel for them.
It's harder than I thought.
I can go back and forth with all of them, you know, why they should stay and why they should go.
I could tell that you were a little unsure of how to sell it.
Show us who you are, not who you think we want you to be.
When the contenders perform, they have to remember that the Glee project isn't solely about finding the best singer, the best dancer, or the best actor.
It is about finding someone who will inspire the writers to write for them.
I feel so unprepared and just scared out of my mind.
I've never had to perform anything like this on such a big scale.
So it's It's really intimidating.
I feel like talking with Nikki helped me a lot.
But I'm definitely extremely nervous to perform.
I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing being in the bottom three, because it's not every day you get to perform for the producer and creator of Glee.
We're ready for you onstage.
See, Damian, he was a little reserved, I think, at the beginning, which is, I think Which is why he's here.
Hi, guys.
I'm Damian mcginty.
And I'm gonna sing jessie's girl.
jessie is a friend and I know he's a good friend of mine but lately there's a change that ain't hard to define jessie's got himself a girl, and I want to make her mine and she's watchin' him with those eyes and she's lovin' that body of his I just know it and he's holding her in her arms late at night you know I wish I was jessie's girl I wish that I was jessie's girl how can I find a woman like that? jessie's girl I wish that I was jessie's girl how can I find a woman like that? how can I find a woman like that? jessie's girl I wish I was jessie's girl I wish I was jessie's girl ah So I thought it was an interesting interpretation, because, you know, the main lyric is "I wish I had jessie's girl," and you said it many times, "I wish I was jessie's girl.
" So it became a different sort of song for you.
But God bless you, I went with it.
And I thought, "well, I could write to that.
" And I have.
I take that back.
I don't wish I was her Um I felt you were nervous.
Yeah, I was Uncertain, because I'm kind of trying to remember the lyrics.
So, if you had to critique your performance, what would you say? Other than I wish I was jessie's girl, uh But see, right now you laughing and being funny about it Yeah.
That's what the show is about.
The show is, I think, about making mistakes and being young.
I realize I am young, so it is something I'm embracing and really enjoying, you know.
It's a challenge for me, which I like.
That's the hard thing about, I think, a show like this You never know what we're gonna give you every week.
Yeah.
But you're not allowed to sort of be nervous.
Yeah.
You have to embrace it, and you have to sell it, and even if you suck, part of the joy is seeing that you know It's not your forte, but you are embracing the spirit of it.
And I saw that with you talking about it, but I didn't see that in the number.
But you do get points for saying that you wish you were jessie's girl, so But you're very charming.
Thank you.
- Thanks.
- Thank you.
Thanks, Damian.
- Can he dance? - Not at all.
And that's part of the reason he's here, not because he can't dance, because he said he's so uncomfortable dancing that he just wanted to blend.
He is very musical.
He sang the most gorgeous Irish folk song a cappella.
I mean, he's very, very musical.
Well, you know I've always wanted to do a riverdance episode, so So Bryce is next, and he looked amazing on camera.
But the reason that he's in the bottom three is because when he was working with Zach, he had some kind of attitude problems.
My name is Bryce Ross-Johnson, and I'm going to be singing just the way you are.
ah oh, her eyes, her eyes make the stars sound like they're not shining her hair, her hair falls perfectly without her trying she's so beautiful and I tell her every day when I see your face there's not a thing that I would change 'cause you're amazing just the way you are oh, the way you are the way you are girl, you're amazing just the way you are just the way you are It's a hard song, because you have to do, I think, a lot of scales and sort of traverse a lot of keys, and I felt you sort of straining for that.
Having the low voice, I always have to work my way around the high parts.
Well, I thought you did great when you went up high.
I thought that was the part that you were actually the most comfortable.
I thought it was the beginning.
I could tell that you were a little unsure of how to sell it.
What do you have that these other two don't have? I've never heard anyone sing like me, and I've never seen anyone that looked like me.
You know, I like what you just said, because I think, you know, when we go on tour, the thing that's always amazing to me is that so many people come from all over the country because they've never Seen somebody like them on the show.
So I thought you were great.
- Thank you so much.
- You're welcome.
So next is Ellis.
She's been given a Broadway number and been told to not play it really broad, because her problem during the main challenge was that she became very animated, and she already looks like she's ten years old.
So it was kind of like Shirley temple.
I'm Ellis wiley.
I'm going to be singing big spender.
the minute you walked in the joint I could tell you were a man of distinction a real big spender good-looking, so refined wouldn't you like to know what's going on in my mind? so let me get right to the point I don't pop my cork for every guy I see hey, big spender spend a little time with me Very nice.
Thank you.
So tell me about your week.
Um I've been having a lot of vocal problems.
Like, I am so sick right now, and I know that this show is not about You know, all about singing, but I just felt like, "how am I going to put my best foot forward when it's hacked off at the knee?" Vocally, I thought you sounded great.
I didn't think you acted it great.
Show us who you are, not who you think we want you to be.
People will come in and audition, and they're so authentic in themselves that I'll say, "I will write for that.
" Okay.
What I'm struggling with right now is, like, what will I write to? - Bye, Ellis.
- Thank you.
It's hard.
I feel for them.
It's harder than I thought.
- Oh, my - Oh, my God! Hey! Hey.
I mean, what what is up? Like, seriously? We don't know.
I thought I would come in here and say immediately, "no.
" I can go back and forth with all of them, you know? Why they should stay and why they should go.
To me, the one who was a character was Damian.
I really like him, but I don't know.
His confidence level seemed very shaky to me.
Mm-hmm.
Bryce.
You have to think about, "okay, if you have to work with that person every day" I can see why, at this point, Bryce has been a little bit difficult in that way.
Ellis.
I thought she had great spunk, and I thought she was very good with her answers.
I don't know what character she could be.
I mean, I don't know what kind of person we would create.
- They're all so sweet.
- It's all so sad.
- They are.
- Yeah.
Any one of them is gonna be It's gonna be a huge knock, I think, just to the whole cast.
To me, it's definitely those two.
It's tough.
We have our work cut out for us, then.
Like, just hearing about what you guys' experience was like, I'm terrified to be in the bottom three, 'cause I don't think I could handle that pressure, honestly.
I started crying then and didn't stop for another 20 minutes.
All I can keep thinking about is just, like, "I wish I could've done better from Ryan Murphy.
" I mean, if there was a situation in life where I wish I could've owned it, it would've been right then.
I think it has now kicked in that this is a competition.
Somebody has to go home every week, and that's the truth.
It's a hard it's kind of It's a hard reality to accept, and it's a hard pill to swallow.
I don't know.
Just I'm pretty confident that I'm gonna be the one going home today.
I feel like I could've done so much better this week.
I know.
The time has come.
The list is up, so Go take a look.
Cheers, everyone.
Good luck with everything.
I want to stay here so badly.
I can't put it into words how much I want to be here.
I'm not surprised that I am where I am, 'cause I wasn't really me that much this week.
I could've done it a lot better.
I wish I had.
I want to be called back so badly.
I don't want to go home.
Yes! Come on! Yes! This has been one of the best weeks of my life.
I appreciate it.
I'm upset, though.
I'm upset I don't get to see what comes next.
I'm upset I didn't get to have a real shining moment.
This is not the end of the road for me and my music career.
If nothing else, I got a chance to meet a group of people that mean the world to me now that I probably never would've met under any other circumstance.
there's nothing you can say there's nothing you can do there's no other way when it comes to the truth so keep holding on keep holding on 'cause you know we'll make it through we'll make it through On the next Glee project Ah ha ha ha! Gaga, ooh la la If I don't win this week's challenge, something's wrong.
Bring him closer.
Like maybe kiss him.
I've never actually been kissed.
Ellis! Best first kiss? Just ruin my life, Lindsay.
Go ahead.
Nooo! Why would you do that to me? You shouldn't make me upset all the time.
What? I don't think Lindsay's very nice.
Honestly, I think she's kinda mean.
I'm just trying to help.