The Glee Project (2011) s02e01 Episode Script
Individuality
1 Ryan Murphy--you know, the guy who made Glee, realized he needed to get some new talent in the McKinley high Glee club.
- 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, a competition unlike any other where the ultimate prize is a multi-episode role on Glee.
Last season he loved the contenders so much, he decided to have two winners, and gave two others smaller roles on Glee.
- Did we all just win a little bit? [Laughs.]
- Things went so well, Ryan wanted to do it all over again.
So Glee's casting director, Robert Ulrich, got to work.
He spent four months sifting through a bajillion video submissions, and saw another kajillion kids at open calls in Nashville, Chicago, and New York.
- I love Glee.
- In the end, 14 super-talented contenders And Tyler were chosen to come to The Glee Project campus.
Each week, there'll be a theme, a homework assignment, and a special guest from the actual Glee cast.
[Commotion.]
- Oh, my God! - The contenders will go through the same process that they would on Glee.
They'll record in a professional studio with vocal producer, Nikki Anders - let's just go for it and see what happens.
- And learn to dance from Glee's choreographer, Zach Woodlee.
- So that's-that's not right.
I-I'll tell you that now.
- All in preparation for their big group number, a music video directed by Erik white, inspired by the performances on Glee.
Each week, the mentors will pick the three contenders they think have struggled the most to do last-chance performances, and Ryan will decide who gets called back for another week, and who will be sent home.
This time, only one contender will win - The Glee project [School bell ringing.]
- [Laughing.]
Wow.
Oh, my God, this is so awesome.
- I want to win a role on Glee so bad.
I just feel like I belong on that show.
Oh, my God, is this real? I met 79 people at callbacks, and I'm so excited to see who else made it.
- [Laughing.]
Wow! Oh, man.
- [Laughs.]
- Yeah! [Laughs.]
- Dani! - [Grunts.]
What up? - Congratulations, man.
- I think being part of The Glee Project is gonna be the experience of a lifetime.
Mmm.
Mmm! I'm so pumped.
- Yeah! [Cheering.]
- [Laughs.]
- I'd like to think that I could make it pretty far in this competition.
Like, I'm pretty unique, pretty talented, not so bad on the eyes.
But I mean, you never know.
I'm always second-guessing myself in terms of whether that's enough.
It would just suck to be kicked off week one.
Hopefully, that doesn't happen.
- Hello, hello.
- Yeah! [Screaming.]
- Whoo! - What's up, baby girl? - I have wanted to be on Glee since the first time I saw that show.
If I won The Glee Project, it would absolutely change my life, because I, all of a sudden, could be the girl who sang and did shows, and I wouldn't have to be the girl in the wheelchair - [gasps.]
[Screaming.]
- Yay! - Yay! - I'm definitely a competitive person.
The motivation of wanting to beat somebody else definitely helps me, and I do not want to lose this competition.
I will seriously work the hardest I have ever worked to win this competition.
- Did you guys, like, try to guess who else got it in your heads? - Yeah.
- Mario.
[Cross-talk.]
- Mario - Mario.
Both: Mario, for sure.
[Screaming and laughter.]
- Ah! - Whoo! - Ye-e-es! - Hey! [Excited screaming.]
- I knew it! I knew it! [Screaming and laughter - since Glee came on the air and it celebrates the underdog, that show has always been me, and I like to think of it as-- that I'm a talented, cute, young dude that just happens to be blind, rather than being a blind guy that is talented, cute, and young.
[Laughs.]
- Mario-- - let's hug again.
Ah! [Cheering and laughter.]
- 14 people? We only thought there was gonna be 12.
That's just one more person I have to compete against-- actually, two more people I have to compete against.
- Through the front door to the right are our dining and sitting area - Okay.
- And then here's the stairs.
Watch your step.
- Oh, my God, skittles! [Laughs.]
And Starburst! - It's beautiful.
It's amazing.
I am so impressed and amazed by the group of people that are in this competition.
It's funny, because, like, I, in a group of people, am always the one who has a story, and in this situation, every single person has overcome something, and I was paralyzed when I was two, but Mario lost his sight when he was young.
- All right, now, right to your right.
Right here is the room.
- We have Tyler, who is transgender.
- [Laughs.]
- And then we have Maxfield, who just started singing, like, six months ago, and I just feel so lucky to be surrounded by these people.
- Fine, I'll sleep in this.
This is crazy, that I'm in this house with all these people.
I've never lived with strangers.
I've never been away from home or been on a plane, so for me, this is one of those things where you're excited, but then you have that little fear scratching at the back of your head.
- I like the-the color scheme.
I know that people might not like that I'm transgender, and they might disagree with that, but the people that I'm living with now, they're incredible, so I'm not too worried about conflict just yet.
- Oh, my God, I love the-the little squares.
I'm excited to have roommates, and I will say that they did a great job casting so many hot guys, and-and I-I personally love, like, being flirtatious and [Laughs.]
And sexy, which is totally not cool, um, [Laughs.]
For a Turkish Muslim.
[Laughs.]
- Dun dun duh-dun dun dun hey! Hello.
- Roberto! - Hey! - Hi, Robert! [General commotion.]
- Robert walks in, and I am so happy to see him.
It's still crazy to me that he picked me out of everyone to be in this house right now with all these talented people.
It's gonna be a really, really tough competition.
- Are you guys excited? [All agreeing.]
By now, you probably know that each week we have a theme.
This first week, we're gonna start with the theme, as we did last year, of individuality.
- Yes.
- I think to myself, "ugh, why the first week?" [Laughs.]
I'm 18 years old, I'm in high school, I'm kind of a math geek, but I haven't has a lot of time to figure out who I am.
- This week's homework song is Lady Gaga's Born This Way.
[Cheers and applause.]
- I've only been performing for about six months now, so, uh, Lady Gaga's Born This Way is so just out of my element.
It's cool being the only person here singing country music-- I'm able to bring something else to the table, but I was like, "born this way, I don't think I've listened to this song all the way through.
" [Laughs.]
- So I have lyric sheets here that we've broken down to 14 parts, so you guys are gonna have to decide amongst yourselves, who gets what part.
[General commotion.]
- I know that's gonna be chaos with 14 people, especially 14 singers--14 divas.
- And you also are gonna have to figure out your own choreography, movement, and again, decide as a group.
So tomorrow you'll be performing this live for myself, and this week's very, very special guest.
- Oh, my gosh.
- [Laughs.]
- So get to work, and I look forward to seeing your performance tomorrow.
I cannot wait.
- Once the first homework assignment starts, the ball's rolling and the game is in play.
- Um, all right, I think a fair way to decide, if two people want the same thing is rock, paper, scissors.
- I think that people are still playing nice at this point, with the whole rock, paper, scissors thing Who else wants "don't hide yourself and regret, just love yourself, and you're set?" Which is kind of weird, because this is a competition, and things aren't gonna be fair.
Both: Rock, paper, scissors, shoot.
- Dah! - [Laughing.]
Yes.
- Oh! - But I think that as we go along, it definitely won't come down to rock, paper, scissors, which would be nice.
[Chuckles.]
- Is everybody happy with your line? Is that-- all: Yeah.
- We have to choreograph still.
- Yeah, I know.
- Okay, we start in two parallel lines, so we're like a rectangle, right? And facing whatever judge is right there.
I was diagnosed at four with severe ADHD and with a low-level autism spectral disorder, so I have this mind that's always going with a million different ideas of how we can change things, and improve things, and adapt things, and make things more creative.
So then you spin out, right? So My mother told me when I was young Pop back.
- all born superstars [singing.]
Sorry.
- Tyler, that way.
- [Laughs.]
- I've always sort of been a little left of center, and, uh, but in so many ways, it's been a gift, because it was what got me into acting in the first place.
All: baby, I was born this way, hey - way, hey - sounded good.
- Yeah, I think if we all go out, that's really cute.
- Okay, I need my blind man stick back.
Where is it? [School bell ringing.]
- Are we doing our own thing, or are we all fist-pumping? - It's right track, baby, I was - born-- all right, it's your own thing, but you gotta get the arm up first.
- I'm just wondering, like, who the guest mentor is gonna be.
I don't know, I feel like they're gonna start really big this year.
I mean, it's season two.
You know, you gotta go big.
- Hey.
- Hey.
All: Hi.
- Whoa, hi.
[Laughs.]
[Shocked responses.]
- Oh, my God.
- Okay.
- I'm shocked, because I'm not prepared to perform in front of Ryan again, this soon.
The first thing we're doin', and we're performing in front of Ryan? What? - Well, obviously, you all know Ryan Murphy, the co-creator and executive producer of Glee, and the man who will eventually put one of you in a role on Glee.
- So we're really excited about the second season of The Glee Project.
I think it's gonna be harder than last year, because I fell in love with so many of the kids that I chose two, but this year is gonna be much, much, much harder, because we're only choosing one person, so you guys are really gonna have to bring it.
- Just one? That just makes everything so much harder, so much more competitive.
Uh, it-it changes everything, for sure.
- So our first mentor of the season is one of my great friends, - he's not the only guest mentor? What? - This person was the first person we cast on Glee.
[Indistinct murmur.]
Um - Oh, my God.
[Laughs.]
- They are a huge inspiration, and here they are.
[Excited reactions.]
- Who is it? - No way! It's lea Michele.
- I am just like Overcome with I don't know what emotion I feel right now.
You know, she's someone who I really look up to.
She's really influenced me as a singer.
[Excited reactions.]
- Oh, my God! This is not real.
- [Laughs.]
- This is not real.
Oh, my God.
- This is exciting.
- [Laughing.]
This is not real.
[Laughter.]
- What? Ryan Murphy, Robert Ulrich, and lea Michele in one room, watching me? Really? - I'm so excited to be here.
I'm such a fan of Glee project.
I watched it all last season.
- The thing about this show that I love, it's a very unusual show.
A lot of people, when it first started, thought it was a talent contest, but I think, more than that, what it really is is an inspiration contest, because we are looking for people to inspire young people, so be yourself, because the very thing that you think is the worst part about you is probably the thing that I will, as a writer, like the most, so bring it all.
Show it all this season.
- So much of the stuff that you see on Glee is stuff that we're doing, just--behind the scenes, that-- you know, stories that Ryan hears about our lives, and little, intricate things about our personalities, so let your geek flag fly, and let it all shine.
- [Laughs.]
You know, because that's really what makes Glee so special, is because none of us are afraid to show all the sides of us.
That's what makes Glee Glee.
So let's get up and see it.
- Oh! [Laughs.]
[Overlapping chatter.]
- Sorry.
[Whistle blowing.]
[Lady Gaga's Born This Way.]
- well, my mama told me when I was young - we are all born superstars, yeah - she rolled my hair and put my makeup on - in the glass of her boudoir - "there's nothing wrong with loving who you are" - she said, "'cause he made you perfect, baby" - "so hold your head up, girl, and you'll go far, - listen to me when I say" - I'm beautiful in my way, 'cause God makes no mistakes - I'm on the right track, baby I was born this way - don't hide yourself in regret just love yourself and you're set - I'm on the right track - I love her.
Baby.
I was born this way - ooh, there ain't no other way baby, I was born this way All: baby, I was born this way - yeah, yeah ooh, there ain't no other way baby, I was born this way All: I'm on the right track baby, I was born this way I was born this way, hey I was born this way, hey I'm on the right track, baby I was born this way, hey I was born this way, hey both: hey all: I was born this way, hey I'm on the right track, baby I was born this way, hey - Good job, you guys.
- Very good.
- So-- - so good.
- Great, so what did you think of the performance, overall? - I thought everyone was really, really great.
It seems like you guys have been working together for a while.
- Dani, you're so beautiful.
I'm--you're so striking, I just want to look at-- like, just stare at you, you're so gorgeous.
I know you know who you are.
I can tell, but I think as far as knowing who you are and performing as who you are, is something that you're just-- there's one step, I think, extra that you need to take.
- Yeah, yeah.
- Does that make sense? - Shanna, you're among the-- a group of people her right now that I want to watch.
Like, I feel like I want to know who you are.
You sounded amazing, and I'm-- I think you're gonna rip through this.
I really do.
- Thank you.
[Laughs.]
- Mario, I love you so much.
What I enjoyed the most about you is you gave it to me.
- Mm-hmm.
- I mean, you went for it.
[Laughter.]
You didn't let anything stop you.
You were like, "I am going for it.
" You just totally made my day.
- Jackpot! I get the exact feedback that I wanted from lea, which is interesting that, you know, me, as a blind person, I was able to go in there with a tactic, execute it, and I got the result, and then she said I made her day.
- Lily, oh, my gosh.
I mean, you're so striking.
You're so beautiful, and watching you perform, I mean, you really stood out for me so much, just because I wanted to watch you.
- I expect a lot of judgment when people look at me, because I am bigger, and then she called me "strikingly beautiful.
" It made me feel so good about myself.
[Sobs.]
And someone who I look up to so much, hearing that from them was the best.
- Lea and Ryan, who are you picking as the winner? - Our winner today is - Shanna.
[Laughs.]
So everybody give her a big round of applause.
- Whoo! [Applause.]
- I literally am feeling On cloud nine.
[Laughs.]
Excited.
[Applause.]
- It's super-frustrating to come so close to being the winner, and not getting it, because, you know, lea Michele, she's someone I've looked up to since she was on Broadway, and to have had those few moments alone with her would have just been amazing.
- So great job, Shanna, and that means you're gonna have a one-on-one mentoring session with lea Michele, herself.
- lea Michele! [Laughter.]
- As well as a stand-up moment in the first big group number, which is - Here I Go Again by Whitesnake.
All: Oh.
- All right.
Okay, yeah.
- I'm very excited because I love listening to '80s music, and I love the lyrics to that song.
On the other hand, I'm also a little bit nervous about performing this, because I don't feel like my voice fits with this song.
- The concept of this week's video is, you're all high school students preparing for an amateur Glee club performance.
Once the show begins, it all transitions into a dream-like rock concert in your mind.
Here's what's gonna happen.
You're gonna work on dance and movement with Glee's choreographer, Zack Woodlee, then you're gonna go to the recording studio with vocal producer, Nikki Anders, all in preparation for your big group number, a music video inspired by the performances on Glee.
Then at the end of the week, Zach, Nikki, and I will be picking three of you to do last-chance performances, and then Ryan will decide who's called back for next week, and who goes home.
- Thank you, guys.
Good luck.
- Thank you guys so much.
All: Thank you.
- And I'll see three of you at the end of the week.
- [Chuckles.]
- Bye.
- Bye.
- Great job, guys.
[School bell ringing.]
- Up next - What in the world? That was amazing! - Tyler, what's happening? - I have issues.
- I don't know why I can't get that second line.
Crap, man.
- Dum dum [Upbeat music.]
[School bell ringing.]
- All right, so I'm Zach.
This is Brooke.
- Hi.
- This is what I would like to do first.
Let's learn a little combo.
So spread out.
I really think the season two contenders of The Glee Project are - Buh! Buh! Bah! No, - [laughs.]
- We do, like, bah! Bah! Bah! - Trying? - Don't stack up on each other.
Fine.
[Laughter.]
Don't stand in one straight line.
[Laughter.]
Perfect! All right.
[Laughs.]
This week's theme is "individuality," so the real challenge is to be able to work as a group, but yet still hold their own as individual characters.
- Max, show us-- w-w-where are you from? Tennessee, or something.
- Nashville.
- How would y'all do it? How--what do you mean, "how do we do it?" Do what? - "Pow pow!" - [Whispering.]
Pow pow! [Shooting sound.]
- There you go! - Shoot 'em up.
[Laughter.]
- Ow! - How to shoot 'em up.
- Sure.
It should be something that's yours.
Just turn and put your-- seduce yourself.
- [Laughs.]
That's the weirdest seduction dance.
[Laughter.]
- I would--[Laughs.]
So that's-that's-that's not right.
I mean, I'll tell you that now.
Yikes.
How are y'all doing? - No, you're-- you're doing everything right.
- I don't have, like, professional dancing experience, but I can memorize whatever someone teaches me.
What I would do is touch the person's feet, or touch their legs, or touch their arms, so that I can get a mental picture in my head of what my body's supposed to be doing at a given part of the song.
So your arm is kind of like-- as if it's turning you.
- Yes, and my arm is going down, I'm going down.
- I'm hell-a talented.
I will sing and dance my blind way into Glee.
[Laughs.]
[Playback music.]
- Turn.
Back, back, back, back, and a "no.
" Yup.
- Whoo.
[Music ends.]
- Tyler, what's happening? - [Laughing.]
Um[Laughs.]
- [Laughs.]
- If you think I have any idea [Laughter.]
I'm the weakest dancer because I spent 20 years, prior to my transition, being trapped inside my own body, so now I'm adjusting to my new body, and I move very awkwardly.
- So you're good? - I'm very, like-- I need, like specific, like-- I have issues.
- [Laughs.]
I love Tyler, but I think if he doesn't relax, that it's gonna hinder him in this competition.
It's-it's looking good, I just-- y--it-- you're gonna have to, um-- - no, you need- you need to practice.
There's a lot of elements that are gonna triple when we get there, between your outfit, and knowing the lyrics, and the lights, and the staging, and all that stuff, so the last thing you want to be thinking about is choreography, 'cause the worst thing is to try and perform, and still be counting, so--yeah, practice.
- She said it, not me.
[Laughter.]
[School bell ringing.]
- It's the cheese lamp! - That's what Nellie said.
- From season one.
- Yeah.
[Laughs.]
- Hello! [Various greetings.]
- Look who's glowing [Singing.]
With her baby! [Laughter.]
- I'm Nikki Anders, your vocal producer for The Glee Project.
How many of you guys have been in a studio before? - All right, so mostly everybody, - I've been in a big band, performing since I was about 12, but I've never had to, like, record something in a studio environment, so it's actually pretty nerve-wracking.
- Well, I'll let you warm up, and we'll get started in there.
Okay.
All: Thanks.
- It's the first week, and we've got 14 contenders - Oh! - So it's gonna be really, really tough to show your individual style on such a short, little line, but that's the challenge.
All right, we'll just keep runnin' it till you feel comfortable.
- And I'm gonna hold on for the rest of my days, oh! - That-that "oh" has got some serious tude.
- [Laughs.]
- I love it.
- I know what it means oh-oh-oh - Good timing, no confidence.
- [Laughs.]
- Now do it with confidence.
- "No confidence?" [Chuckles.]
- That's what it sounds like.
- I'm just like, "what?" Because I do feel confident, but it may not be showing.
You know, I've got all these things goin' on in my head, all these nerves, so you got to take the criticism and learn from it, 'cause I want to show that I deserve to be here.
- Oh, lord, I pray you give me strength to carry on - I feel like the "oh, lord, I pray" is Just rushed and like you're a little nervous.
- Yeah.
- I just want to get those nerves out.
- Okay.
- Hi! - Hello.
[Laughs.]
How does it feel to be the homework winner? - Awesome.
- Yeah.
- Really good.
[Laughs.]
Yeah.
My first goal to be in this competition was to win a homework assignment, so winning it the first week really inspired me to kick some butt.
- And I made up my mind I ain't wastin' no more time - Yay! That was so good! - [Laughs.]
- That was great.
- Okay, so tell me how you feel about the high note in this song.
Are you--how do you feel about that? - I'm gonna work it.
- You're gonna work it? Already knowing that you can own it is half the battle.
- Mm-hmm.
- You know what I mean? - Yeah.
- The voice is interesting.
The vocal cords, you know, I couldn't sing-- like, for example, I couldn't sing defying gravity four years ago.
And then I told my vocal coach, "okay, I want to know how to sing defying gravity.
Get me to that note.
" And every day we sang-- we warmed up singing that note, the big note at the end of defying gravity, and then I was able to do it, so it's a muscle.
- How do you suggest-- do you think it should be mixed, or belted, or, um-- - no, you gotta go for that.
- Yeah.
- That's gotta be all the way up there like you are piercing something.
- Here I go-o-o let's do that note.
- [Clears throat.]
[Music starts.]
- Here I go-o-o- [note sustaining.]
- What the hell? What in the world? That was amazing! - [Laughs.]
Praise him.
[Laughs.]
- Now that's the highlight of the song right there.
Shanna is a powerhouse.
I just feel like I could give Shanna pretty much anything, and she could knock it out of the park.
- Though I keep searching for an answer - That sounded cool, but I felt like you were just singing it.
You weren't really, like - Okay.
- [Grunts.]
Aylin is not the Aylin that just had spunk for days that I saw in callbacks.
- Your family's very devout Muslim, aren't they? - Yeah.
I'm not even allowed to use tampons, because my mom thinks, "oh, it takes away your virginity.
" [Laughter.]
- She doesn't know that I've kissed a guy before.
- She will now.
- [Laughs.]
- I know.
- [Laughs.]
- I'm hoping that the real Aylin will come out.
- Hey, what's going on? - [Laughs.]
Hi.
Maxfield is so charming and sweet.
- Here I go again - but he is struggling in the booth so bad.
- Here I go again - here I go again - here I g-- [Laughs.]
- You want to hear the guide lead? - Yeah.
- Okay.
We'll turn the guide lead on.
- I don't know why I can't get the-- that second line.
I don't know who that was in there.
It wasn't me.
After I walked out, I sat down, and was just like, "crap, man.
" [School bell ringing.]
Up next - She seems just disconnected.
- It feels like she's watching the show.
She's not a part of it.
- Ahh.
I mean, the energy was really low.
- You need to do something with this.
Fake it till you make it.
[Bell rings.]
- Hey, good morning! All: Hey.
- Whoo! What's up, gang? How's everything? Good to meet all of you.
My name is Erik white.
I've worked with everyone from Lil Wayne, to Mary J.
Blige, to Christina Aguilera.
I mean, just everybody down the line.
And now I have the opportunity and privilege of working with all of you.
And I can't wait.
I'm very excited.
- I'm stoked to work with Erik white.
I mean, who wouldn't be? He's worked with everybody.
What an incredible opportunity.
- So, here's the deal.
You guys are students, you're putting on a show for your school, you're in the Glee club, you're handing out flyers, ending up on a kinda rinky-dink Glee club stage, but in your minds, you're picturing a huge rock show.
So we're gonna transition from that Glee club stage to an incredible rock show.
You only have a couple of lines each, so it's really important that you guys pop in a short amount of time.
- My strength for this competition is being an actor first.
I approach lyrics the same way I approach a script.
I will always, first and foremost, be telling the story.
And I think that's really gonna come across in this competition.
Where I'm goin' - take your time, Charlie, take your time.
- But I sure know where I've been - Cut, cut, cut.
- Cut.
- Every week, Zach, Nikki, and I will have to be on the set of the music video to give notes to the contenders as well as to discuss their progress, and decide who's gonna be in the bottom three.
- Suddenly? - Yeah.
On the "oh" - Pow.
- Yup.
- Just want me to slam it? - Okay, here we go.
Rolling.
[Music plays.]
- No, no, no, no, no Cut, cut, cut, cut.
[Music stops.]
- Taryn just seems a little less there.
A little less present.
- Yeah, it's like she's not even putting forth near the effort that the other contenders are.
- You know what, tell her to have life-- more life in her eyes.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- Tell her to get it together.
- Hey, Taryn.
Hey.
First of all, you sound absolutely incredible.
So, when you do things, just have a little bit more life, a little more fun with it, 'cause your smile's so beautiful, we just want to see it.
- Okay.
- One more time.
Let's get better, and better, and better.
- I'm feeling really confident about the music video.
I'm not scared at all, I'm ready to just tackle it, and just bring it down.
Because being an actor out in Los Angeles for over a year now, I've been thrown in the ropes, I've taken a bunch of "nos," I've taken a bunch of rejection, but I feel like this time I'm just gonna throw all that out the window, and just focus on the character and focus on having a good time.
[Playback running.]
- When Blake pops onto the screen, it's like a star has just come into the room.
- Cut! - And I think what's so great about him is he's obviously a good-looking guy, but there's kind of a-- a funny kind of Jim Carrey kind of goofy quality to him, which I think makes him more unique.
- And we're moving on.
Moving on, guys.
- So far, our new contenders are doing pretty well, but now we're moving to the group choreography, which is very telling.
On Glee, you're gonna need to be able to stand out in a group, yet at the same time be able to move with everyone.
- All right, all right, you ready? - And playback.
[Music starts.]
- Aylin seems just a little disconnected.
- It feels like she's watching the show, she's not a part of it.
- Cut! Cut! Cut! [Music stops.]
Cut, cut, cut.
Ah Lemme get one more.
I think the energy was really, really low.
I just need one more take.
- Aylin.
So you had so much fire when you came here.
We just want to see more of that, so, just have a little more fun with it.
- Okay.
- Okay, great.
- Thank you.
- Cool.
- All righty.
- And playback.
[Playback running.]
- Yeah, lotta energy, guys.
- Shanna is really owning the fact that she won the homework assignment, and making her the star of the video.
- Oh, yeah.
- The stakes are so high for me.
I know I can do this.
I can't go home.
If I go home, I'm going back to a life as a broke college student, which is just not for me.
So I have to win.
I have to win this week.
And I'm taking it week by week, and I'm going to win.
- All right, everybody, everybody.
I need you guys to get changed, and get ready for the rock star setup coming up, okay? I'll see you guys at the rock star stage, guys.
Excellent.
Great job.
[Group clapping.]
- Here I go again, on my own goin' down the only road I've ever known - Am I the only one who's slipn' on this? - No.
- I'm slipping.
- 'Cause I feel like I'm gonna die.
- You--you have to enjoy that energy onstage.
And get a lot looser, and a lot more freedom, and go, and-- like this is fun.
Like you like doing this stuff.
- And relax, Tyler.
- I'm tryin'.
- I know.
- I'm struggling most with relaxing while dancing, but even though I'm really crappy at it, I just want to be better at everything, and I just really wanna grow as a person while I'm here.
And I really, really, really wanna win.
- Max is a little bit of-- just, like - Deer in the headlights.
- Yeah.
I think Max has a low-key, kind of country vibe, and that's what makes him who he is, and that's what could make him go on and do great things, but in a big group number, which is a large part of what Glee is, he kind of seemed lost.
- You need to do something with this.
Fake it till you make it.
Act like him.
- Okay.
- Okay, guys, here we go.
And playback.
- This season's contenders is such a strong group that it's gonna be really tough to decide on three to do last chance performances for Ryan.
Ultimately, we're gonna have to scrutinize the video and see who really showed their individuality the best.
- And marker.
Here we go.
And cue playback, please.
[Whitesnake's Here I Go Again.]
- I don't know where I'm goin' but I sure know where I've been - hanging on the promises and the songs of yesterday - and I've made up my mind I ain't wastin' no more time - here I go again yeah, here I go again yeah - and thought I keep searching for an answer, ooh - I never seem to find what I'm looking for - oh, lord, I pray you give me strength to carry on - 'cause I know what it means oh - to walk along the lonely street of dreams - I'm just another heart in need of rescue - waiting on love's sweet charity - and I'm gonna hold on for the rest of my days oh - 'cause I know what it means - to walk along the lonely street of dreams - sha na here I go again on my own going down the only road I've ever known like a drifter I was born to walk alone and I've made up my mind I ain't wastin' no more time but here I go again - here I go - here I go again on my own goin' down the only road I've ever known like a drifter I was born to walk alone and I've made up my mind I ain't wastin' no more time so here I go again - oh, yeah - here I go again here we go again - give yourselves a round of applause, because that is a wrap.
All: [Cheer and applaud.]
- Yes! - Up next - You lost the personality that we were drawn to.
- When it was time to perform, there wasn't any performance.
- Mario, can I see this stick? - Sure.
- Mario gave me a quick lesson on what it's like to walk with the stick and sort of understand his perspective.
- When this leg steps forward, the cane goes to the left, and then when your left foot comes forward, the cane goes to the right.
Come to my voice.
- Mario's voice sounds closer than where his body is.
You think that he's there, but he's probably another five feet away.
It's very amazing.
- That's how it works.
Thank you, Zach.
- Thank you.
[Bell rings.]
- Are you getting nervous? - There's no reason to get nervous now.
There's nothing we can do about it.
- I think I'm just, like, anxious, is the better term.
- Yeah.
- The reason--you know, why they put us in this situation where we're gonna have to perform with an hour of practicing is because they want to see how we can handle the pressure.
- Right.
- Nerves is something that I struggle with a lot, and, you know, another thing that's so hard right now for me being here is missing my mom a lot.
My mom is very strong.
She knows me better than anybody, and she knows my flaws.
She knows that I get really, really shy and nervous.
And just to see that I'm trying to fight through it, she would be really proud of me.
I really miss her.
- Just smile, and, like, put it on your cheekbones.
- Are you nervous about today, or excited? - Yeah, totally.
Totally nervous.
- I just w-- I hate the suspense.
I have no idea who's gonna be in the bottom this week.
I feel like everybody did the best that they could, but still, nobody's ever really safe.
Three of us are gonna be in the bottom three, and one of us is gonna have to go home, and that's pretty hard to swallow.
- [Sighs.]
- As you know, today, we have to pick the three of you who we feel did the least well to do last chance performances for Ryan.
So let's start with the person we felt gave the strongest overall performance this week.
Shanna.
Shanna, from winning the homework assignment all the way through the video shoot, you did an excellent job.
And you also seem very clear about who you are, and that might be the most important part of the whole competition, so you are first on the callback list for next week, so, you can go.
Congratulations.
- Thank you.
[Applause.]
All the hard work paid off.
And that just put another spark into my fire to keep on going and working towards being on Glee.
- We spent a long time trying to figure out who we should put on the callback list for next week, and who should do last chance performances for Ryan.
Charlie.
Ali.
Michael.
Blake.
Abraham.
Nellie.
Dani.
Those of you whose names I just called you are all called back for next week.
Congratulations.
- You're stuck with me another week, baby, 'cause I'm steppin' it up.
Woot, woot.
[Laughs.]
- So, three of you will perform for Ryan tonight.
Mario, one of the things that you'll have to work on, since you can't convey emotions through your eyes, you have to do it through your body, and you have to figure out how that will work for you and for us, going forward.
- Lily, so I had really high expectations for you, but I felt like for some reason there was something that wasn't popping.
- So, Mario, lily, you have some work to do.
But you are on the callback list for next week.
- Safe for another week.
I've been struttin' my stuff, doing my thing, and I'm excited, 'cause I'm here to defy expectations, and I'm gonna keep trying to do that.
- Aylin, you lost the personality, the spitfire, that we were drawn to.
- It was almost like comparing you to this-- these top 14 people, it was like, well, maybe she doesn't really want this, or maybe there was just a bit of confusion.
It was just a little lost in the shuffle as far as communication and how we're gonna get further in the competition.
- Max, I love the sound of your voice, but when you came in for your line, we were all over the place.
- In the video shoot, in the group number, you seemed a little lost.
And a lot of Glee is doing group numbers.
- And when you actually-- when it was time to perform, there wasn't any performance.
Tyler, it's not that you need to be a great dancer, obviously.
This show isn't about perfection.
And I think as soon as you let go of whatever comes out of those feet of yours, it'll sort of release you in the competition and let you dive in.
- Taryn, you have this incredible voice, but for some reason, in the studio with me, I felt like you felt a little bit withdrawn, and maybe a little less confident in the studio than I would have predicted.
- Well, this is also, I think, for you, maybe almost more than anyone, just it's-- it's such a new experience.
I mean, you'd never been on a plane.
And I-I feel like that affected you at the beginning, and you have to just know that you're here for a reason, if you continue, and get the confidence.
- Taryn, you're also on the callback list.
We'll see you next week.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
- So the three of you will be performing for Ryan tonight.
So let's talk about the songs.
- Aylin, we chose a song for you that gives you the opportunity to show some fire and depth.
It's a ballad version of David Guetta's song Without You.
- Do you like that choice? - [Laughs.]
You give it to me, and I'll sing it.
[Laughter.]
- Amen, amen.
- That's the spirit.
- Max, we chose something that showed your country side.
It's a song called always on my mind.
Do you know it? - I do.
- Tyler, we wanted to give you an opportunity to show your fun, infectious personality that we all love.
- Mm-hmm.
- And we're giving you the song ABC.
- Oh, my God.
- By the Jackson 5.
[Laughter.]
- Oh, my God, okay.
I was like, a child sings that song.
How am I gonna sing that song in the correct octave? - So you have two hours to rehearse.
Good luck, guys.
- Go! - Break a leg.
- Go on.
- Get off of the stage.
- I mean, I guess doing a last chance performance could either be a blessing, or it could be the end of all of your dreams, so I don't really know how to look at it.
I hope that I don't go home, because I need more time to prove myself to Ryan and the mentors, and I just need to be here.
It's way too early to leave.
- Spell me you add the two I'm not excited about singing ABC.
It's the Jackson 5.
Like, how am I gonna, like, work this? How am I gonna live up to Michael Jackson? Like, come on, let's get real now.
- If I made you feel second best Right now, this is everything.
I want this so bad.
This is my chance to prove to the mentors that I'm supposed to be here, so, I'm gonna go up there, and, uh, I'm gonna give it my all, and show them that I'm here to stay.
- [Breathes deeply.]
- Up next - There are so many other people in the competition who are just more interesting to us.
So, I think it's between the two of them, and should we send both home? - The Glee project isn't just about finding the most talented performer.
It's also about finding somebody that Ryan can feel inspired to write for.
Tyler, Maxfield, and Aylin have to show us who they are, because they all faded away this week.
Aylin is first.
And Aylin is here because Remember how fun, and funny, and what a spitfire she was? That whole spitfire went completely away.
- Well, let's bring her out.
- Hello.
- Hey.
[Laughs.]
- Um, I'm Aylin, and I'm gonna be singing Without You by David Guetta.
I am lost, I am vain I will never be the same without you without you I can't erase, so I'll take blame but I can't accept that we're estranged without you without you I won't soar, I won't climb if you're not here, I'm paralyzed without you without you whoa you, you, you without you you, you without you I am lost, I am vain I will never be the same without you without you without you [applause.]
- Very nice.
Have you been singing in your car? - [Laughs.]
Little bit.
- I thought you did great.
- Keep me in the competition.
[Laughter.]
- So, like, why are you in the bottom three when you sounded so good? - I don't know, I didn't think that I wasn't being myself, I guess I gotta step it up.
- Thing about it is this, I think that we were interested in you because you really sold yourself as this flirt, and in my mind, that's the character that I would imagine us writing for you.
- Mm-hmm.
- But I think that's who you are.
- That is.
That's exactly who I--[Laughs.]
That's exactly who I am.
- If you're the flirt, who are the guys that you have your eye on? - Here? - Yeah.
- Blake.
Jesus, like [Laughter.]
- Well, you know what? You really brought it tonight, and I think you're very charming, and don't lose this.
- I love you.
[Laughter.]
- I love you.
Good-bye.
- Bye.
Great to see you, and you did so great.
- Thank you guys.
I'll be me forever and ever.
Bye.
- So Tyler is next.
He's so fun as a person.
Obviously, he's going through a transition in life, and the difficulty, and the reason he's here, is he's having a problem learning to let his personality be onstage.
- Interesting.
- Hi.
I'm Tyler, and I'll be singing ABC by the Jackson 5.
A-buh-buh buh buh-buh a-buh-buh buh buh-buh you went to school to learn, girl things you never, never knew before like "I" before "E" except after "C" and why two plus two makes four nah nah nah, I'm gonna teach you all about love, girl sit yourself down and take a seat all you gotta do is repeat after me a-b-c easy as one, two, three ah, simple as do, re, mi a-b-c, one, two, three baby, you and me, girl it's easy like counting just to three a simple melody and that's how easy love can be that's how easy love can be one, two, three do, re, mi, a-b-c one, two, three you and me one, two, three [applause.]
Thank you.
Thank you.
- Very nice, Tyler.
- Thank you.
- Well, you know, I'm very torn with you, I have to be honest, because the truth of the matter is I love you, and I love your story.
I'm very moved by your story, and I don't know that I'm that moved by your talent.
Vocally, you're not going to be able to compete with so many of these kids who, to be quite honest and blunt, are better singers than you.
But you have a spirit and a life force that is in so many ways bigger than theirs, and that's what you have to rely on and bring.
How did you feel vocally? - I mean, it's hard, 'cause my voice is changing.
So, that's, like - Well, I'm interested in that.
So, what's that about? - Well, I've been on testosterone for seven months now, so, along with my physical transition, my emotional, mental, spiritual, whatever transition is going with that, so, now that I'm okay with my body, it's--I'm coming into myself more, and coming out of myself more.
- And I could see your struggle, but now that you articulate it, I think you should just have more confidence that we support that.
- Thank you very much.
I'm gonna try my best.
You can take my word for it.
- Okay.
[Laughter.]
Thank you.
- So Maxfield is next.
- Thoughts here, about Maxfield? - I had higher hopes for him.
- Why? - Well, I think he's--he's got something cool in his voice, but then he got to the studio, and it was disastrous.
- Hi, Max.
- Hey, Ryan, what's going on? - How are you? - I'm good, considering.
I'm singing, um, Willie Nelson's, um, always on my mind.
Maybe I didn't love you quite as often as I could have maybe I didn't treat you quite as good as I should have little things I should've said and done I just never took the time you were always on my mind you were always on my mind you were always on my mind [applause.]
- Very nice.
- Thank you.
- I thought you did a really good job.
- How'd he compare to this week? - Much better here than in the studio.
For sure.
I mean, I would've wished you would've amped it up a little bit more at the end, but I think the feeling for me came across.
- I thought, you know, you were very comfortable with that song.
Like, I felt you were authentic, and I felt like girls would like you, and, you know, there was something very charming about your simplicity.
- This--my talent-- that I've just-- I've just discovered this.
So it's so new, it's such a fresh breath of air to me that I haven't really digested it all yet.
I mean, I'm learning something new every day.
- You're, like, a good talker.
You're like Mr.
charm.
The more you talk, the more I'm like, "okay.
" - [Laughs.]
- "He's good.
" Thank you.
- Thank you so much.
- Good job, Max.
- Well, I guess the main thing we have to decide is can we write a great role for them, are they original enough to be on the show, are we inspired by them? - What's up? - Oh - I think that she's very talented, but, you know, lea sang that song, and like, you can only help but compare them.
And I--she's not that kind of singer.
She's more of a personality.
- I just sang my-- my heart out today.
- I was very disappointed with Tyler.
- He gets very, very heady, and I think he just wants to be perfect at everything.
- I think Max came up, and Tyr went down.
- And Max, I thought, was sweet, but I think that there are so many other people in the competition who are just more interesting to us.
- Whatever happens, it was encouraging.
I think we all three left it on the stage, you know.
- So I think it's between the two of them, and should we send both home? - Please, no.
Please, no.
- Gotta happen sometime.
- He's really honest.
He doesn't hold anything back.
He's so unpredictable, though.
- Yeah.
- Which is why I'm, like, nervous, to, like, find out.
- So I think we've made our decision.
Okay, here we go.
- Hey, guys.
- Hey.
- Unfortunately, this is the first of what will be many, and I'm so sorry, but the list is up, soGo take a look.
- [Breathes deeply.]
Here we go.
- I love you.
- I love you too.
- Mm - Love you guys.
- Good luck, guys.
- I literally have no regrets.
I did everything that I could to stay here.
- I'm supposed to be doing this.
I know what I have to offer, and I really hope they can see it and give me another chance.
- I just don't wanna go home.
I don't wanna be anywhere but here.
I'm really, really hoping for a second chance.
- Oh, my God.
- I wanted to win this, I wanted to be the person that Ryan could write for.
Show the world what I have.
And show myself what I can do.
And to learn through this whole experience, and grow with my talent.
- [Sobbing.]
- Oh - We love you.
- I love you all.
- Love you so much, Max.
- Bye, bud.
- And it had just been such an amazing experience to do so You know, either way, God has a plan for me.
All: [Harmonizing.]
- nothin' you can say nothin' you can do there's no other way when it comes to the truth so keep holding on you know we'll make it through make it through - this season on The Glee Project - I'm anxious to see what you got.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah All: [Singing.]
- Okay, that was amazing.
- You just have to go for it.
- Cut! Cut! What the hell? - Oh, my God.
Does anyone remember anything? - What the hell happened? - Just so there's no confusion, not one of you is ready yet.
- I've heard a lot of "nos" in my life, and I'm not ready to hear another one.
- To say that I am shaking in my boots would be a complete understatement.
- I want to be in this competition more than anyone here.
- You give me a scene, and I will [Bleep.]
do it.
- It's not a collaboration anymore.
It's a competition.
I want to win this.
Just, just upper a little bit.
Bite for it.
Fuck you! Cut! Cut! Cut! Cut!
- 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, a competition unlike any other where the ultimate prize is a multi-episode role on Glee.
Last season he loved the contenders so much, he decided to have two winners, and gave two others smaller roles on Glee.
- Did we all just win a little bit? [Laughs.]
- Things went so well, Ryan wanted to do it all over again.
So Glee's casting director, Robert Ulrich, got to work.
He spent four months sifting through a bajillion video submissions, and saw another kajillion kids at open calls in Nashville, Chicago, and New York.
- I love Glee.
- In the end, 14 super-talented contenders And Tyler were chosen to come to The Glee Project campus.
Each week, there'll be a theme, a homework assignment, and a special guest from the actual Glee cast.
[Commotion.]
- Oh, my God! - The contenders will go through the same process that they would on Glee.
They'll record in a professional studio with vocal producer, Nikki Anders - let's just go for it and see what happens.
- And learn to dance from Glee's choreographer, Zach Woodlee.
- So that's-that's not right.
I-I'll tell you that now.
- All in preparation for their big group number, a music video directed by Erik white, inspired by the performances on Glee.
Each week, the mentors will pick the three contenders they think have struggled the most to do last-chance performances, and Ryan will decide who gets called back for another week, and who will be sent home.
This time, only one contender will win - The Glee project [School bell ringing.]
- [Laughing.]
Wow.
Oh, my God, this is so awesome.
- I want to win a role on Glee so bad.
I just feel like I belong on that show.
Oh, my God, is this real? I met 79 people at callbacks, and I'm so excited to see who else made it.
- [Laughing.]
Wow! Oh, man.
- [Laughs.]
- Yeah! [Laughs.]
- Dani! - [Grunts.]
What up? - Congratulations, man.
- I think being part of The Glee Project is gonna be the experience of a lifetime.
Mmm.
Mmm! I'm so pumped.
- Yeah! [Cheering.]
- [Laughs.]
- I'd like to think that I could make it pretty far in this competition.
Like, I'm pretty unique, pretty talented, not so bad on the eyes.
But I mean, you never know.
I'm always second-guessing myself in terms of whether that's enough.
It would just suck to be kicked off week one.
Hopefully, that doesn't happen.
- Hello, hello.
- Yeah! [Screaming.]
- Whoo! - What's up, baby girl? - I have wanted to be on Glee since the first time I saw that show.
If I won The Glee Project, it would absolutely change my life, because I, all of a sudden, could be the girl who sang and did shows, and I wouldn't have to be the girl in the wheelchair - [gasps.]
[Screaming.]
- Yay! - Yay! - I'm definitely a competitive person.
The motivation of wanting to beat somebody else definitely helps me, and I do not want to lose this competition.
I will seriously work the hardest I have ever worked to win this competition.
- Did you guys, like, try to guess who else got it in your heads? - Yeah.
- Mario.
[Cross-talk.]
- Mario - Mario.
Both: Mario, for sure.
[Screaming and laughter.]
- Ah! - Whoo! - Ye-e-es! - Hey! [Excited screaming.]
- I knew it! I knew it! [Screaming and laughter - since Glee came on the air and it celebrates the underdog, that show has always been me, and I like to think of it as-- that I'm a talented, cute, young dude that just happens to be blind, rather than being a blind guy that is talented, cute, and young.
[Laughs.]
- Mario-- - let's hug again.
Ah! [Cheering and laughter.]
- 14 people? We only thought there was gonna be 12.
That's just one more person I have to compete against-- actually, two more people I have to compete against.
- Through the front door to the right are our dining and sitting area - Okay.
- And then here's the stairs.
Watch your step.
- Oh, my God, skittles! [Laughs.]
And Starburst! - It's beautiful.
It's amazing.
I am so impressed and amazed by the group of people that are in this competition.
It's funny, because, like, I, in a group of people, am always the one who has a story, and in this situation, every single person has overcome something, and I was paralyzed when I was two, but Mario lost his sight when he was young.
- All right, now, right to your right.
Right here is the room.
- We have Tyler, who is transgender.
- [Laughs.]
- And then we have Maxfield, who just started singing, like, six months ago, and I just feel so lucky to be surrounded by these people.
- Fine, I'll sleep in this.
This is crazy, that I'm in this house with all these people.
I've never lived with strangers.
I've never been away from home or been on a plane, so for me, this is one of those things where you're excited, but then you have that little fear scratching at the back of your head.
- I like the-the color scheme.
I know that people might not like that I'm transgender, and they might disagree with that, but the people that I'm living with now, they're incredible, so I'm not too worried about conflict just yet.
- Oh, my God, I love the-the little squares.
I'm excited to have roommates, and I will say that they did a great job casting so many hot guys, and-and I-I personally love, like, being flirtatious and [Laughs.]
And sexy, which is totally not cool, um, [Laughs.]
For a Turkish Muslim.
[Laughs.]
- Dun dun duh-dun dun dun hey! Hello.
- Roberto! - Hey! - Hi, Robert! [General commotion.]
- Robert walks in, and I am so happy to see him.
It's still crazy to me that he picked me out of everyone to be in this house right now with all these talented people.
It's gonna be a really, really tough competition.
- Are you guys excited? [All agreeing.]
By now, you probably know that each week we have a theme.
This first week, we're gonna start with the theme, as we did last year, of individuality.
- Yes.
- I think to myself, "ugh, why the first week?" [Laughs.]
I'm 18 years old, I'm in high school, I'm kind of a math geek, but I haven't has a lot of time to figure out who I am.
- This week's homework song is Lady Gaga's Born This Way.
[Cheers and applause.]
- I've only been performing for about six months now, so, uh, Lady Gaga's Born This Way is so just out of my element.
It's cool being the only person here singing country music-- I'm able to bring something else to the table, but I was like, "born this way, I don't think I've listened to this song all the way through.
" [Laughs.]
- So I have lyric sheets here that we've broken down to 14 parts, so you guys are gonna have to decide amongst yourselves, who gets what part.
[General commotion.]
- I know that's gonna be chaos with 14 people, especially 14 singers--14 divas.
- And you also are gonna have to figure out your own choreography, movement, and again, decide as a group.
So tomorrow you'll be performing this live for myself, and this week's very, very special guest.
- Oh, my gosh.
- [Laughs.]
- So get to work, and I look forward to seeing your performance tomorrow.
I cannot wait.
- Once the first homework assignment starts, the ball's rolling and the game is in play.
- Um, all right, I think a fair way to decide, if two people want the same thing is rock, paper, scissors.
- I think that people are still playing nice at this point, with the whole rock, paper, scissors thing Who else wants "don't hide yourself and regret, just love yourself, and you're set?" Which is kind of weird, because this is a competition, and things aren't gonna be fair.
Both: Rock, paper, scissors, shoot.
- Dah! - [Laughing.]
Yes.
- Oh! - But I think that as we go along, it definitely won't come down to rock, paper, scissors, which would be nice.
[Chuckles.]
- Is everybody happy with your line? Is that-- all: Yeah.
- We have to choreograph still.
- Yeah, I know.
- Okay, we start in two parallel lines, so we're like a rectangle, right? And facing whatever judge is right there.
I was diagnosed at four with severe ADHD and with a low-level autism spectral disorder, so I have this mind that's always going with a million different ideas of how we can change things, and improve things, and adapt things, and make things more creative.
So then you spin out, right? So My mother told me when I was young Pop back.
- all born superstars [singing.]
Sorry.
- Tyler, that way.
- [Laughs.]
- I've always sort of been a little left of center, and, uh, but in so many ways, it's been a gift, because it was what got me into acting in the first place.
All: baby, I was born this way, hey - way, hey - sounded good.
- Yeah, I think if we all go out, that's really cute.
- Okay, I need my blind man stick back.
Where is it? [School bell ringing.]
- Are we doing our own thing, or are we all fist-pumping? - It's right track, baby, I was - born-- all right, it's your own thing, but you gotta get the arm up first.
- I'm just wondering, like, who the guest mentor is gonna be.
I don't know, I feel like they're gonna start really big this year.
I mean, it's season two.
You know, you gotta go big.
- Hey.
- Hey.
All: Hi.
- Whoa, hi.
[Laughs.]
[Shocked responses.]
- Oh, my God.
- Okay.
- I'm shocked, because I'm not prepared to perform in front of Ryan again, this soon.
The first thing we're doin', and we're performing in front of Ryan? What? - Well, obviously, you all know Ryan Murphy, the co-creator and executive producer of Glee, and the man who will eventually put one of you in a role on Glee.
- So we're really excited about the second season of The Glee Project.
I think it's gonna be harder than last year, because I fell in love with so many of the kids that I chose two, but this year is gonna be much, much, much harder, because we're only choosing one person, so you guys are really gonna have to bring it.
- Just one? That just makes everything so much harder, so much more competitive.
Uh, it-it changes everything, for sure.
- So our first mentor of the season is one of my great friends, - he's not the only guest mentor? What? - This person was the first person we cast on Glee.
[Indistinct murmur.]
Um - Oh, my God.
[Laughs.]
- They are a huge inspiration, and here they are.
[Excited reactions.]
- Who is it? - No way! It's lea Michele.
- I am just like Overcome with I don't know what emotion I feel right now.
You know, she's someone who I really look up to.
She's really influenced me as a singer.
[Excited reactions.]
- Oh, my God! This is not real.
- [Laughs.]
- This is not real.
Oh, my God.
- This is exciting.
- [Laughing.]
This is not real.
[Laughter.]
- What? Ryan Murphy, Robert Ulrich, and lea Michele in one room, watching me? Really? - I'm so excited to be here.
I'm such a fan of Glee project.
I watched it all last season.
- The thing about this show that I love, it's a very unusual show.
A lot of people, when it first started, thought it was a talent contest, but I think, more than that, what it really is is an inspiration contest, because we are looking for people to inspire young people, so be yourself, because the very thing that you think is the worst part about you is probably the thing that I will, as a writer, like the most, so bring it all.
Show it all this season.
- So much of the stuff that you see on Glee is stuff that we're doing, just--behind the scenes, that-- you know, stories that Ryan hears about our lives, and little, intricate things about our personalities, so let your geek flag fly, and let it all shine.
- [Laughs.]
You know, because that's really what makes Glee so special, is because none of us are afraid to show all the sides of us.
That's what makes Glee Glee.
So let's get up and see it.
- Oh! [Laughs.]
[Overlapping chatter.]
- Sorry.
[Whistle blowing.]
[Lady Gaga's Born This Way.]
- well, my mama told me when I was young - we are all born superstars, yeah - she rolled my hair and put my makeup on - in the glass of her boudoir - "there's nothing wrong with loving who you are" - she said, "'cause he made you perfect, baby" - "so hold your head up, girl, and you'll go far, - listen to me when I say" - I'm beautiful in my way, 'cause God makes no mistakes - I'm on the right track, baby I was born this way - don't hide yourself in regret just love yourself and you're set - I'm on the right track - I love her.
Baby.
I was born this way - ooh, there ain't no other way baby, I was born this way All: baby, I was born this way - yeah, yeah ooh, there ain't no other way baby, I was born this way All: I'm on the right track baby, I was born this way I was born this way, hey I was born this way, hey I'm on the right track, baby I was born this way, hey I was born this way, hey both: hey all: I was born this way, hey I'm on the right track, baby I was born this way, hey - Good job, you guys.
- Very good.
- So-- - so good.
- Great, so what did you think of the performance, overall? - I thought everyone was really, really great.
It seems like you guys have been working together for a while.
- Dani, you're so beautiful.
I'm--you're so striking, I just want to look at-- like, just stare at you, you're so gorgeous.
I know you know who you are.
I can tell, but I think as far as knowing who you are and performing as who you are, is something that you're just-- there's one step, I think, extra that you need to take.
- Yeah, yeah.
- Does that make sense? - Shanna, you're among the-- a group of people her right now that I want to watch.
Like, I feel like I want to know who you are.
You sounded amazing, and I'm-- I think you're gonna rip through this.
I really do.
- Thank you.
[Laughs.]
- Mario, I love you so much.
What I enjoyed the most about you is you gave it to me.
- Mm-hmm.
- I mean, you went for it.
[Laughter.]
You didn't let anything stop you.
You were like, "I am going for it.
" You just totally made my day.
- Jackpot! I get the exact feedback that I wanted from lea, which is interesting that, you know, me, as a blind person, I was able to go in there with a tactic, execute it, and I got the result, and then she said I made her day.
- Lily, oh, my gosh.
I mean, you're so striking.
You're so beautiful, and watching you perform, I mean, you really stood out for me so much, just because I wanted to watch you.
- I expect a lot of judgment when people look at me, because I am bigger, and then she called me "strikingly beautiful.
" It made me feel so good about myself.
[Sobs.]
And someone who I look up to so much, hearing that from them was the best.
- Lea and Ryan, who are you picking as the winner? - Our winner today is - Shanna.
[Laughs.]
So everybody give her a big round of applause.
- Whoo! [Applause.]
- I literally am feeling On cloud nine.
[Laughs.]
Excited.
[Applause.]
- It's super-frustrating to come so close to being the winner, and not getting it, because, you know, lea Michele, she's someone I've looked up to since she was on Broadway, and to have had those few moments alone with her would have just been amazing.
- So great job, Shanna, and that means you're gonna have a one-on-one mentoring session with lea Michele, herself.
- lea Michele! [Laughter.]
- As well as a stand-up moment in the first big group number, which is - Here I Go Again by Whitesnake.
All: Oh.
- All right.
Okay, yeah.
- I'm very excited because I love listening to '80s music, and I love the lyrics to that song.
On the other hand, I'm also a little bit nervous about performing this, because I don't feel like my voice fits with this song.
- The concept of this week's video is, you're all high school students preparing for an amateur Glee club performance.
Once the show begins, it all transitions into a dream-like rock concert in your mind.
Here's what's gonna happen.
You're gonna work on dance and movement with Glee's choreographer, Zack Woodlee, then you're gonna go to the recording studio with vocal producer, Nikki Anders, all in preparation for your big group number, a music video inspired by the performances on Glee.
Then at the end of the week, Zach, Nikki, and I will be picking three of you to do last-chance performances, and then Ryan will decide who's called back for next week, and who goes home.
- Thank you, guys.
Good luck.
- Thank you guys so much.
All: Thank you.
- And I'll see three of you at the end of the week.
- [Chuckles.]
- Bye.
- Bye.
- Great job, guys.
[School bell ringing.]
- Up next - What in the world? That was amazing! - Tyler, what's happening? - I have issues.
- I don't know why I can't get that second line.
Crap, man.
- Dum dum [Upbeat music.]
[School bell ringing.]
- All right, so I'm Zach.
This is Brooke.
- Hi.
- This is what I would like to do first.
Let's learn a little combo.
So spread out.
I really think the season two contenders of The Glee Project are - Buh! Buh! Bah! No, - [laughs.]
- We do, like, bah! Bah! Bah! - Trying? - Don't stack up on each other.
Fine.
[Laughter.]
Don't stand in one straight line.
[Laughter.]
Perfect! All right.
[Laughs.]
This week's theme is "individuality," so the real challenge is to be able to work as a group, but yet still hold their own as individual characters.
- Max, show us-- w-w-where are you from? Tennessee, or something.
- Nashville.
- How would y'all do it? How--what do you mean, "how do we do it?" Do what? - "Pow pow!" - [Whispering.]
Pow pow! [Shooting sound.]
- There you go! - Shoot 'em up.
[Laughter.]
- Ow! - How to shoot 'em up.
- Sure.
It should be something that's yours.
Just turn and put your-- seduce yourself.
- [Laughs.]
That's the weirdest seduction dance.
[Laughter.]
- I would--[Laughs.]
So that's-that's-that's not right.
I mean, I'll tell you that now.
Yikes.
How are y'all doing? - No, you're-- you're doing everything right.
- I don't have, like, professional dancing experience, but I can memorize whatever someone teaches me.
What I would do is touch the person's feet, or touch their legs, or touch their arms, so that I can get a mental picture in my head of what my body's supposed to be doing at a given part of the song.
So your arm is kind of like-- as if it's turning you.
- Yes, and my arm is going down, I'm going down.
- I'm hell-a talented.
I will sing and dance my blind way into Glee.
[Laughs.]
[Playback music.]
- Turn.
Back, back, back, back, and a "no.
" Yup.
- Whoo.
[Music ends.]
- Tyler, what's happening? - [Laughing.]
Um[Laughs.]
- [Laughs.]
- If you think I have any idea [Laughter.]
I'm the weakest dancer because I spent 20 years, prior to my transition, being trapped inside my own body, so now I'm adjusting to my new body, and I move very awkwardly.
- So you're good? - I'm very, like-- I need, like specific, like-- I have issues.
- [Laughs.]
I love Tyler, but I think if he doesn't relax, that it's gonna hinder him in this competition.
It's-it's looking good, I just-- y--it-- you're gonna have to, um-- - no, you need- you need to practice.
There's a lot of elements that are gonna triple when we get there, between your outfit, and knowing the lyrics, and the lights, and the staging, and all that stuff, so the last thing you want to be thinking about is choreography, 'cause the worst thing is to try and perform, and still be counting, so--yeah, practice.
- She said it, not me.
[Laughter.]
[School bell ringing.]
- It's the cheese lamp! - That's what Nellie said.
- From season one.
- Yeah.
[Laughs.]
- Hello! [Various greetings.]
- Look who's glowing [Singing.]
With her baby! [Laughter.]
- I'm Nikki Anders, your vocal producer for The Glee Project.
How many of you guys have been in a studio before? - All right, so mostly everybody, - I've been in a big band, performing since I was about 12, but I've never had to, like, record something in a studio environment, so it's actually pretty nerve-wracking.
- Well, I'll let you warm up, and we'll get started in there.
Okay.
All: Thanks.
- It's the first week, and we've got 14 contenders - Oh! - So it's gonna be really, really tough to show your individual style on such a short, little line, but that's the challenge.
All right, we'll just keep runnin' it till you feel comfortable.
- And I'm gonna hold on for the rest of my days, oh! - That-that "oh" has got some serious tude.
- [Laughs.]
- I love it.
- I know what it means oh-oh-oh - Good timing, no confidence.
- [Laughs.]
- Now do it with confidence.
- "No confidence?" [Chuckles.]
- That's what it sounds like.
- I'm just like, "what?" Because I do feel confident, but it may not be showing.
You know, I've got all these things goin' on in my head, all these nerves, so you got to take the criticism and learn from it, 'cause I want to show that I deserve to be here.
- Oh, lord, I pray you give me strength to carry on - I feel like the "oh, lord, I pray" is Just rushed and like you're a little nervous.
- Yeah.
- I just want to get those nerves out.
- Okay.
- Hi! - Hello.
[Laughs.]
How does it feel to be the homework winner? - Awesome.
- Yeah.
- Really good.
[Laughs.]
Yeah.
My first goal to be in this competition was to win a homework assignment, so winning it the first week really inspired me to kick some butt.
- And I made up my mind I ain't wastin' no more time - Yay! That was so good! - [Laughs.]
- That was great.
- Okay, so tell me how you feel about the high note in this song.
Are you--how do you feel about that? - I'm gonna work it.
- You're gonna work it? Already knowing that you can own it is half the battle.
- Mm-hmm.
- You know what I mean? - Yeah.
- The voice is interesting.
The vocal cords, you know, I couldn't sing-- like, for example, I couldn't sing defying gravity four years ago.
And then I told my vocal coach, "okay, I want to know how to sing defying gravity.
Get me to that note.
" And every day we sang-- we warmed up singing that note, the big note at the end of defying gravity, and then I was able to do it, so it's a muscle.
- How do you suggest-- do you think it should be mixed, or belted, or, um-- - no, you gotta go for that.
- Yeah.
- That's gotta be all the way up there like you are piercing something.
- Here I go-o-o let's do that note.
- [Clears throat.]
[Music starts.]
- Here I go-o-o- [note sustaining.]
- What the hell? What in the world? That was amazing! - [Laughs.]
Praise him.
[Laughs.]
- Now that's the highlight of the song right there.
Shanna is a powerhouse.
I just feel like I could give Shanna pretty much anything, and she could knock it out of the park.
- Though I keep searching for an answer - That sounded cool, but I felt like you were just singing it.
You weren't really, like - Okay.
- [Grunts.]
Aylin is not the Aylin that just had spunk for days that I saw in callbacks.
- Your family's very devout Muslim, aren't they? - Yeah.
I'm not even allowed to use tampons, because my mom thinks, "oh, it takes away your virginity.
" [Laughter.]
- She doesn't know that I've kissed a guy before.
- She will now.
- [Laughs.]
- I know.
- [Laughs.]
- I'm hoping that the real Aylin will come out.
- Hey, what's going on? - [Laughs.]
Hi.
Maxfield is so charming and sweet.
- Here I go again - but he is struggling in the booth so bad.
- Here I go again - here I go again - here I g-- [Laughs.]
- You want to hear the guide lead? - Yeah.
- Okay.
We'll turn the guide lead on.
- I don't know why I can't get the-- that second line.
I don't know who that was in there.
It wasn't me.
After I walked out, I sat down, and was just like, "crap, man.
" [School bell ringing.]
Up next - She seems just disconnected.
- It feels like she's watching the show.
She's not a part of it.
- Ahh.
I mean, the energy was really low.
- You need to do something with this.
Fake it till you make it.
[Bell rings.]
- Hey, good morning! All: Hey.
- Whoo! What's up, gang? How's everything? Good to meet all of you.
My name is Erik white.
I've worked with everyone from Lil Wayne, to Mary J.
Blige, to Christina Aguilera.
I mean, just everybody down the line.
And now I have the opportunity and privilege of working with all of you.
And I can't wait.
I'm very excited.
- I'm stoked to work with Erik white.
I mean, who wouldn't be? He's worked with everybody.
What an incredible opportunity.
- So, here's the deal.
You guys are students, you're putting on a show for your school, you're in the Glee club, you're handing out flyers, ending up on a kinda rinky-dink Glee club stage, but in your minds, you're picturing a huge rock show.
So we're gonna transition from that Glee club stage to an incredible rock show.
You only have a couple of lines each, so it's really important that you guys pop in a short amount of time.
- My strength for this competition is being an actor first.
I approach lyrics the same way I approach a script.
I will always, first and foremost, be telling the story.
And I think that's really gonna come across in this competition.
Where I'm goin' - take your time, Charlie, take your time.
- But I sure know where I've been - Cut, cut, cut.
- Cut.
- Every week, Zach, Nikki, and I will have to be on the set of the music video to give notes to the contenders as well as to discuss their progress, and decide who's gonna be in the bottom three.
- Suddenly? - Yeah.
On the "oh" - Pow.
- Yup.
- Just want me to slam it? - Okay, here we go.
Rolling.
[Music plays.]
- No, no, no, no, no Cut, cut, cut, cut.
[Music stops.]
- Taryn just seems a little less there.
A little less present.
- Yeah, it's like she's not even putting forth near the effort that the other contenders are.
- You know what, tell her to have life-- more life in her eyes.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- Tell her to get it together.
- Hey, Taryn.
Hey.
First of all, you sound absolutely incredible.
So, when you do things, just have a little bit more life, a little more fun with it, 'cause your smile's so beautiful, we just want to see it.
- Okay.
- One more time.
Let's get better, and better, and better.
- I'm feeling really confident about the music video.
I'm not scared at all, I'm ready to just tackle it, and just bring it down.
Because being an actor out in Los Angeles for over a year now, I've been thrown in the ropes, I've taken a bunch of "nos," I've taken a bunch of rejection, but I feel like this time I'm just gonna throw all that out the window, and just focus on the character and focus on having a good time.
[Playback running.]
- When Blake pops onto the screen, it's like a star has just come into the room.
- Cut! - And I think what's so great about him is he's obviously a good-looking guy, but there's kind of a-- a funny kind of Jim Carrey kind of goofy quality to him, which I think makes him more unique.
- And we're moving on.
Moving on, guys.
- So far, our new contenders are doing pretty well, but now we're moving to the group choreography, which is very telling.
On Glee, you're gonna need to be able to stand out in a group, yet at the same time be able to move with everyone.
- All right, all right, you ready? - And playback.
[Music starts.]
- Aylin seems just a little disconnected.
- It feels like she's watching the show, she's not a part of it.
- Cut! Cut! Cut! [Music stops.]
Cut, cut, cut.
Ah Lemme get one more.
I think the energy was really, really low.
I just need one more take.
- Aylin.
So you had so much fire when you came here.
We just want to see more of that, so, just have a little more fun with it.
- Okay.
- Okay, great.
- Thank you.
- Cool.
- All righty.
- And playback.
[Playback running.]
- Yeah, lotta energy, guys.
- Shanna is really owning the fact that she won the homework assignment, and making her the star of the video.
- Oh, yeah.
- The stakes are so high for me.
I know I can do this.
I can't go home.
If I go home, I'm going back to a life as a broke college student, which is just not for me.
So I have to win.
I have to win this week.
And I'm taking it week by week, and I'm going to win.
- All right, everybody, everybody.
I need you guys to get changed, and get ready for the rock star setup coming up, okay? I'll see you guys at the rock star stage, guys.
Excellent.
Great job.
[Group clapping.]
- Here I go again, on my own goin' down the only road I've ever known - Am I the only one who's slipn' on this? - No.
- I'm slipping.
- 'Cause I feel like I'm gonna die.
- You--you have to enjoy that energy onstage.
And get a lot looser, and a lot more freedom, and go, and-- like this is fun.
Like you like doing this stuff.
- And relax, Tyler.
- I'm tryin'.
- I know.
- I'm struggling most with relaxing while dancing, but even though I'm really crappy at it, I just want to be better at everything, and I just really wanna grow as a person while I'm here.
And I really, really, really wanna win.
- Max is a little bit of-- just, like - Deer in the headlights.
- Yeah.
I think Max has a low-key, kind of country vibe, and that's what makes him who he is, and that's what could make him go on and do great things, but in a big group number, which is a large part of what Glee is, he kind of seemed lost.
- You need to do something with this.
Fake it till you make it.
Act like him.
- Okay.
- Okay, guys, here we go.
And playback.
- This season's contenders is such a strong group that it's gonna be really tough to decide on three to do last chance performances for Ryan.
Ultimately, we're gonna have to scrutinize the video and see who really showed their individuality the best.
- And marker.
Here we go.
And cue playback, please.
[Whitesnake's Here I Go Again.]
- I don't know where I'm goin' but I sure know where I've been - hanging on the promises and the songs of yesterday - and I've made up my mind I ain't wastin' no more time - here I go again yeah, here I go again yeah - and thought I keep searching for an answer, ooh - I never seem to find what I'm looking for - oh, lord, I pray you give me strength to carry on - 'cause I know what it means oh - to walk along the lonely street of dreams - I'm just another heart in need of rescue - waiting on love's sweet charity - and I'm gonna hold on for the rest of my days oh - 'cause I know what it means - to walk along the lonely street of dreams - sha na here I go again on my own going down the only road I've ever known like a drifter I was born to walk alone and I've made up my mind I ain't wastin' no more time but here I go again - here I go - here I go again on my own goin' down the only road I've ever known like a drifter I was born to walk alone and I've made up my mind I ain't wastin' no more time so here I go again - oh, yeah - here I go again here we go again - give yourselves a round of applause, because that is a wrap.
All: [Cheer and applaud.]
- Yes! - Up next - You lost the personality that we were drawn to.
- When it was time to perform, there wasn't any performance.
- Mario, can I see this stick? - Sure.
- Mario gave me a quick lesson on what it's like to walk with the stick and sort of understand his perspective.
- When this leg steps forward, the cane goes to the left, and then when your left foot comes forward, the cane goes to the right.
Come to my voice.
- Mario's voice sounds closer than where his body is.
You think that he's there, but he's probably another five feet away.
It's very amazing.
- That's how it works.
Thank you, Zach.
- Thank you.
[Bell rings.]
- Are you getting nervous? - There's no reason to get nervous now.
There's nothing we can do about it.
- I think I'm just, like, anxious, is the better term.
- Yeah.
- The reason--you know, why they put us in this situation where we're gonna have to perform with an hour of practicing is because they want to see how we can handle the pressure.
- Right.
- Nerves is something that I struggle with a lot, and, you know, another thing that's so hard right now for me being here is missing my mom a lot.
My mom is very strong.
She knows me better than anybody, and she knows my flaws.
She knows that I get really, really shy and nervous.
And just to see that I'm trying to fight through it, she would be really proud of me.
I really miss her.
- Just smile, and, like, put it on your cheekbones.
- Are you nervous about today, or excited? - Yeah, totally.
Totally nervous.
- I just w-- I hate the suspense.
I have no idea who's gonna be in the bottom this week.
I feel like everybody did the best that they could, but still, nobody's ever really safe.
Three of us are gonna be in the bottom three, and one of us is gonna have to go home, and that's pretty hard to swallow.
- [Sighs.]
- As you know, today, we have to pick the three of you who we feel did the least well to do last chance performances for Ryan.
So let's start with the person we felt gave the strongest overall performance this week.
Shanna.
Shanna, from winning the homework assignment all the way through the video shoot, you did an excellent job.
And you also seem very clear about who you are, and that might be the most important part of the whole competition, so you are first on the callback list for next week, so, you can go.
Congratulations.
- Thank you.
[Applause.]
All the hard work paid off.
And that just put another spark into my fire to keep on going and working towards being on Glee.
- We spent a long time trying to figure out who we should put on the callback list for next week, and who should do last chance performances for Ryan.
Charlie.
Ali.
Michael.
Blake.
Abraham.
Nellie.
Dani.
Those of you whose names I just called you are all called back for next week.
Congratulations.
- You're stuck with me another week, baby, 'cause I'm steppin' it up.
Woot, woot.
[Laughs.]
- So, three of you will perform for Ryan tonight.
Mario, one of the things that you'll have to work on, since you can't convey emotions through your eyes, you have to do it through your body, and you have to figure out how that will work for you and for us, going forward.
- Lily, so I had really high expectations for you, but I felt like for some reason there was something that wasn't popping.
- So, Mario, lily, you have some work to do.
But you are on the callback list for next week.
- Safe for another week.
I've been struttin' my stuff, doing my thing, and I'm excited, 'cause I'm here to defy expectations, and I'm gonna keep trying to do that.
- Aylin, you lost the personality, the spitfire, that we were drawn to.
- It was almost like comparing you to this-- these top 14 people, it was like, well, maybe she doesn't really want this, or maybe there was just a bit of confusion.
It was just a little lost in the shuffle as far as communication and how we're gonna get further in the competition.
- Max, I love the sound of your voice, but when you came in for your line, we were all over the place.
- In the video shoot, in the group number, you seemed a little lost.
And a lot of Glee is doing group numbers.
- And when you actually-- when it was time to perform, there wasn't any performance.
Tyler, it's not that you need to be a great dancer, obviously.
This show isn't about perfection.
And I think as soon as you let go of whatever comes out of those feet of yours, it'll sort of release you in the competition and let you dive in.
- Taryn, you have this incredible voice, but for some reason, in the studio with me, I felt like you felt a little bit withdrawn, and maybe a little less confident in the studio than I would have predicted.
- Well, this is also, I think, for you, maybe almost more than anyone, just it's-- it's such a new experience.
I mean, you'd never been on a plane.
And I-I feel like that affected you at the beginning, and you have to just know that you're here for a reason, if you continue, and get the confidence.
- Taryn, you're also on the callback list.
We'll see you next week.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
- So the three of you will be performing for Ryan tonight.
So let's talk about the songs.
- Aylin, we chose a song for you that gives you the opportunity to show some fire and depth.
It's a ballad version of David Guetta's song Without You.
- Do you like that choice? - [Laughs.]
You give it to me, and I'll sing it.
[Laughter.]
- Amen, amen.
- That's the spirit.
- Max, we chose something that showed your country side.
It's a song called always on my mind.
Do you know it? - I do.
- Tyler, we wanted to give you an opportunity to show your fun, infectious personality that we all love.
- Mm-hmm.
- And we're giving you the song ABC.
- Oh, my God.
- By the Jackson 5.
[Laughter.]
- Oh, my God, okay.
I was like, a child sings that song.
How am I gonna sing that song in the correct octave? - So you have two hours to rehearse.
Good luck, guys.
- Go! - Break a leg.
- Go on.
- Get off of the stage.
- I mean, I guess doing a last chance performance could either be a blessing, or it could be the end of all of your dreams, so I don't really know how to look at it.
I hope that I don't go home, because I need more time to prove myself to Ryan and the mentors, and I just need to be here.
It's way too early to leave.
- Spell me you add the two I'm not excited about singing ABC.
It's the Jackson 5.
Like, how am I gonna, like, work this? How am I gonna live up to Michael Jackson? Like, come on, let's get real now.
- If I made you feel second best Right now, this is everything.
I want this so bad.
This is my chance to prove to the mentors that I'm supposed to be here, so, I'm gonna go up there, and, uh, I'm gonna give it my all, and show them that I'm here to stay.
- [Breathes deeply.]
- Up next - There are so many other people in the competition who are just more interesting to us.
So, I think it's between the two of them, and should we send both home? - The Glee project isn't just about finding the most talented performer.
It's also about finding somebody that Ryan can feel inspired to write for.
Tyler, Maxfield, and Aylin have to show us who they are, because they all faded away this week.
Aylin is first.
And Aylin is here because Remember how fun, and funny, and what a spitfire she was? That whole spitfire went completely away.
- Well, let's bring her out.
- Hello.
- Hey.
[Laughs.]
- Um, I'm Aylin, and I'm gonna be singing Without You by David Guetta.
I am lost, I am vain I will never be the same without you without you I can't erase, so I'll take blame but I can't accept that we're estranged without you without you I won't soar, I won't climb if you're not here, I'm paralyzed without you without you whoa you, you, you without you you, you without you I am lost, I am vain I will never be the same without you without you without you [applause.]
- Very nice.
Have you been singing in your car? - [Laughs.]
Little bit.
- I thought you did great.
- Keep me in the competition.
[Laughter.]
- So, like, why are you in the bottom three when you sounded so good? - I don't know, I didn't think that I wasn't being myself, I guess I gotta step it up.
- Thing about it is this, I think that we were interested in you because you really sold yourself as this flirt, and in my mind, that's the character that I would imagine us writing for you.
- Mm-hmm.
- But I think that's who you are.
- That is.
That's exactly who I--[Laughs.]
That's exactly who I am.
- If you're the flirt, who are the guys that you have your eye on? - Here? - Yeah.
- Blake.
Jesus, like [Laughter.]
- Well, you know what? You really brought it tonight, and I think you're very charming, and don't lose this.
- I love you.
[Laughter.]
- I love you.
Good-bye.
- Bye.
Great to see you, and you did so great.
- Thank you guys.
I'll be me forever and ever.
Bye.
- So Tyler is next.
He's so fun as a person.
Obviously, he's going through a transition in life, and the difficulty, and the reason he's here, is he's having a problem learning to let his personality be onstage.
- Interesting.
- Hi.
I'm Tyler, and I'll be singing ABC by the Jackson 5.
A-buh-buh buh buh-buh a-buh-buh buh buh-buh you went to school to learn, girl things you never, never knew before like "I" before "E" except after "C" and why two plus two makes four nah nah nah, I'm gonna teach you all about love, girl sit yourself down and take a seat all you gotta do is repeat after me a-b-c easy as one, two, three ah, simple as do, re, mi a-b-c, one, two, three baby, you and me, girl it's easy like counting just to three a simple melody and that's how easy love can be that's how easy love can be one, two, three do, re, mi, a-b-c one, two, three you and me one, two, three [applause.]
Thank you.
Thank you.
- Very nice, Tyler.
- Thank you.
- Well, you know, I'm very torn with you, I have to be honest, because the truth of the matter is I love you, and I love your story.
I'm very moved by your story, and I don't know that I'm that moved by your talent.
Vocally, you're not going to be able to compete with so many of these kids who, to be quite honest and blunt, are better singers than you.
But you have a spirit and a life force that is in so many ways bigger than theirs, and that's what you have to rely on and bring.
How did you feel vocally? - I mean, it's hard, 'cause my voice is changing.
So, that's, like - Well, I'm interested in that.
So, what's that about? - Well, I've been on testosterone for seven months now, so, along with my physical transition, my emotional, mental, spiritual, whatever transition is going with that, so, now that I'm okay with my body, it's--I'm coming into myself more, and coming out of myself more.
- And I could see your struggle, but now that you articulate it, I think you should just have more confidence that we support that.
- Thank you very much.
I'm gonna try my best.
You can take my word for it.
- Okay.
[Laughter.]
Thank you.
- So Maxfield is next.
- Thoughts here, about Maxfield? - I had higher hopes for him.
- Why? - Well, I think he's--he's got something cool in his voice, but then he got to the studio, and it was disastrous.
- Hi, Max.
- Hey, Ryan, what's going on? - How are you? - I'm good, considering.
I'm singing, um, Willie Nelson's, um, always on my mind.
Maybe I didn't love you quite as often as I could have maybe I didn't treat you quite as good as I should have little things I should've said and done I just never took the time you were always on my mind you were always on my mind you were always on my mind [applause.]
- Very nice.
- Thank you.
- I thought you did a really good job.
- How'd he compare to this week? - Much better here than in the studio.
For sure.
I mean, I would've wished you would've amped it up a little bit more at the end, but I think the feeling for me came across.
- I thought, you know, you were very comfortable with that song.
Like, I felt you were authentic, and I felt like girls would like you, and, you know, there was something very charming about your simplicity.
- This--my talent-- that I've just-- I've just discovered this.
So it's so new, it's such a fresh breath of air to me that I haven't really digested it all yet.
I mean, I'm learning something new every day.
- You're, like, a good talker.
You're like Mr.
charm.
The more you talk, the more I'm like, "okay.
" - [Laughs.]
- "He's good.
" Thank you.
- Thank you so much.
- Good job, Max.
- Well, I guess the main thing we have to decide is can we write a great role for them, are they original enough to be on the show, are we inspired by them? - What's up? - Oh - I think that she's very talented, but, you know, lea sang that song, and like, you can only help but compare them.
And I--she's not that kind of singer.
She's more of a personality.
- I just sang my-- my heart out today.
- I was very disappointed with Tyler.
- He gets very, very heady, and I think he just wants to be perfect at everything.
- I think Max came up, and Tyr went down.
- And Max, I thought, was sweet, but I think that there are so many other people in the competition who are just more interesting to us.
- Whatever happens, it was encouraging.
I think we all three left it on the stage, you know.
- So I think it's between the two of them, and should we send both home? - Please, no.
Please, no.
- Gotta happen sometime.
- He's really honest.
He doesn't hold anything back.
He's so unpredictable, though.
- Yeah.
- Which is why I'm, like, nervous, to, like, find out.
- So I think we've made our decision.
Okay, here we go.
- Hey, guys.
- Hey.
- Unfortunately, this is the first of what will be many, and I'm so sorry, but the list is up, soGo take a look.
- [Breathes deeply.]
Here we go.
- I love you.
- I love you too.
- Mm - Love you guys.
- Good luck, guys.
- I literally have no regrets.
I did everything that I could to stay here.
- I'm supposed to be doing this.
I know what I have to offer, and I really hope they can see it and give me another chance.
- I just don't wanna go home.
I don't wanna be anywhere but here.
I'm really, really hoping for a second chance.
- Oh, my God.
- I wanted to win this, I wanted to be the person that Ryan could write for.
Show the world what I have.
And show myself what I can do.
And to learn through this whole experience, and grow with my talent.
- [Sobbing.]
- Oh - We love you.
- I love you all.
- Love you so much, Max.
- Bye, bud.
- And it had just been such an amazing experience to do so You know, either way, God has a plan for me.
All: [Harmonizing.]
- nothin' you can say nothin' you can do there's no other way when it comes to the truth so keep holding on you know we'll make it through make it through - this season on The Glee Project - I'm anxious to see what you got.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah All: [Singing.]
- Okay, that was amazing.
- You just have to go for it.
- Cut! Cut! What the hell? - Oh, my God.
Does anyone remember anything? - What the hell happened? - Just so there's no confusion, not one of you is ready yet.
- I've heard a lot of "nos" in my life, and I'm not ready to hear another one.
- To say that I am shaking in my boots would be a complete understatement.
- I want to be in this competition more than anyone here.
- You give me a scene, and I will [Bleep.]
do it.
- It's not a collaboration anymore.
It's a competition.
I want to win this.
Just, just upper a little bit.
Bite for it.
Fuck you! Cut! Cut! Cut! Cut!