Features : Glee Cast Interview by the Philippine Daily Inquirer [Second Panel]

LOS ANGELES - Who are Chris Colfer's fantasy choices to play his boyfriend and grandmother? Which "Glee" cast member wants Justin Timberlake to play her dad? When does Charice appear again on the show?

These were some of the topics we covered in interviews with the second panel of "Glee" actors: Chris, Dianna Agron, Mark Salling, Jenna Ushkowitz and Heather Morris.

In yesterday's column, we featured excerpts from our chat with the first panel: Amber Riley, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Matthew Morrison and Kevin McHale. As we previously mentioned, "Glee's" co-creator/executive producer/writer/director Ryan Murphy was at both interviews, setting a tone that ranged from funny to serious.

The "Glee" cast made news this week when they cinched the record for having more appearances on the Billboard Hot 100 chart than any other non-solo act, including The Beatles. The show’s soundtrack albums, which are distributed by Sony Music, will be joined by a much-awaited addition, "The Rocky Horror Glee Show" album in mid-October.

The cast discussed their parts in the coming tribute episode to the cult classic.

What can we expect from Charice?

Ryan: Charice was in the first episode and then she goes away for a while. She comes back in the [succeeding] episodes which is really the Vocal Adrenaline stuff. She kicks back in. I want her to do big ballads. I listen to a lot of the stuff she does. She will do stuff that she has already covered. Like she does a lot of Celine Dion songs which I really like. I think there's a great opportunity for her and Lea. Those two will really go at it but hopefully they become friends along the way.

Who do you want to play your family in the show?

Chris: I’m heavily campaigning for Julie Andrews to be my grandmother on the show. I hope after she sees my “Le Jazz Hot” (Julie’s number from “Victor/Victoria,” which Chris performed in a mini-show before this interview), I might get her attention. I am asked this question a lot—if I could think of anyone to play my boyfriend, who would I pick? We’re casting the boyfriend now. I always said, “Meryl Streep” because she can play anything.

Heather: I want my parents to be Kristen Wiig and Justin Timberlake so when I come home, we can have musical numbers together.

Jenna: I've been campaigning for Sandra Oh to come in and play my crazy aunt because she's brilliant at playing crazy.

Dianna: I keep envisioning Christopher Walken and Jane Lynch doing something fabulous together. The thing that’s great is, you never know who’s going to come to the show. If you told me earlier that Gwyneth Paltrow, Britney Spears, Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel and all the people that we’ve been so lucky to have were coming to the show, I would have said, “What are you talking about?”

Mark: I'm just going to throw it out there. It would be interesting to have Amy Winehouse on the show. Maybe something to do with my character. That would be a riot.

What inspired "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" tribute episode?

Ryan: One of the reasons we did “Rocky Horror” was because when we were doing the pilot, Chris said, “I want to do ‘Time Warp.’” We’re getting ready to do a “Singin’ in the Rain” episode because it’s Matt’s favorite musical. Things get planted in our heads and that’s how we pay tribute to a lot of stuff.

Which characters from "Rocky Horror" do you play?

Chris: I begged them to let me do Riff Raff. I had to be in the makeup chair for two hours every day to get the bald cap on the wig. I got a little carried away with the character so I have a huge bruise on my elbow, but it was so much fun. The best things we've done in the show so far.

Heather (looking at Jenna): We both played Columbia.

Jenna: I also get to play another party-goer so I wear lots of wigs. None of us were recognized.

Heather: It was weird. First, I looked like Britney and then I looked like Columbia.

Dianna: I got to play Magenta. I was so excited because I loved the film when I was growing up. It was so much fun. I just love dressing up. That was instilled in me as a kid. I never lost it.

Mark: I play the talking lips. I've never seen the show before. I watched it when I found out we were going to do it. It's pretty out there.

How has "Glee" changed your life?

Mark: I still live in the same apartment. I need to move. I pay $620 a month. I get so much joy out of hearing my mom say that all the teachers in the school she works at like a particular number in the show. I call her and I make her take my 92-year-old grandmother to about two feet from the TV screen every week and watch the show. My grandmother probably forgets, two minutes after the show is over, but it's still good to have your family and friends appreciate it as well.

Heather: I was at a church on Sunday. That’s one place that I would never guess I would be recognized. I have my hair up all the time but this time, I had my hair down. My mom went to the restroom after I did. She said that after I left the restroom, these two girls started screaming and banging their hands against the wall, saying, “That’s the girl from ‘Glee!’” And my mom was like, “I want to stay with you all week because I’m scared now.” I was like, “But that’s funny.

Jenna: Kevin and I were doing press in London over the summer. We thought we’d take a day trip to Paris. The show was just beginning to be aired there. We figured we’d be fine, not thinking we’re going to one of the biggest tourist spots in the world. We went to the Louvre and about 15 screaming girls came charging down the hall. We were like, “Oh, we have to go.”

Now that you've grown back your Mohawk, do you get recognized more, especially by your fans?

Mark: There’s definitely an increase in fan interaction when I have my hair like this. You know where you can go and can’t go. Believe it or not, where I live, I don’t get bothered too much, which is good. But people are very gracious. I don’t think I’ve had many people who were rude to me. The fans are really nice. The rule of thumb is, if you can have your picture taken, do it. It’s more than worth it.

What is the song that you sing just for the guilty pleasure of it, or something that you can't get out of your head?

Heather: “A Whole New World” from “Aladdin.”

Jenna: I love the song “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” I was like, “This is the best song ever!” I didn’t know that many people don’t like that song.

Chris: I got to do all my shower songs on the show—“Rose’s Turn,” “Defying Gravity.” But the one I haven’t done yet is “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina.” After that, I’ve done all the female powerhouse ballads.

What do you think are the factors that got you to this point, aside from talent?

Dianna: I think creativity, too, because you’ll see people who are YouTube successes. Charice and Justin Bieber and all these people—they took the opportunity on something unconventional and look at what it did for them. A large part of why we’re here is that along with drive and persistence, there was creativity. And I know from hearing everybody else’s stories, there were blood, sweat and tears, too. It makes it all so much worthwhile when you get there.

Does that apply to making records?

Mark: Anyone can make a record but it may not sell. You can do it yourself on a low budget. Four or five years ago, I made a record ("Smoke Signals") all by myself and I put it out. It actually went triple Styrofoam so I was really stoked on it.

We appreciate the show's push for diversity, which includes a cast with Asian-American actors. Who are you going to end up with, Artie (Kevin) or Mike (Harry Shum Jr.)?

Jenna: There’s a little love triangle going on right now. But it’s also a fight between Artie and Tina. Tina goes through issues that girls in high school go through—about being treated correctly and learning how they should be respected, what they deserve. Harry is wildly talented. We’re just so happy he’s getting more screen time this year. We get to sing and dance together. He’s wonderful.