Gleek speak

By ERIN MAXWELL

WARNING: Thar be spoilers below!

Fans of Fox's "Glee" came out in droves to see members of the cast and crew talk about the upcoming season of last year's surprise phenom. After an extended highlight reel of last season's best moments, Ryan Murphy & Co. talked candidly about the skein tuner and what to expect in the second season.

How was shooting the Madonna episode?
Ryan Murphy: Most shoots are eight or nine days, but this was twelve, and it went over budget in the first few days. It was hard, but I told the kids "Do it for Madonna."
The "Vogue" video was the funniest day because we were so exact. We even used props from the video found in the warehouse. The whole episode was done with a lot of love and care.

Can you give us a preview of the next season?
RM: I think people think we are going to get bigger, but we are going to go in a different direction. The characters pop so much, so the second season will be more intimate, based on the feedback of fans. We'll have more tribute episodes but do five musical numbers per episode rather than eight.

Will there be any more tribute episodes?

RM: We are writing an episode called "Britney Britney." Once on the red carpet, Mathew Morrison said we would never do a Britney Spears themed episode. So in this episode, he'll just be saying over and over again, "I don't want to do this." We are going to do it in a fun, hallucinogenic way.

Who was scarier to meet: President Obama or Oprah?
Cast: Oprah!

Do you have a song you want to sing on the show?
Heather Morris: Any song they give us we just love to sing.
Chris Cofler: I want to do "Time Warp."
RM: Funny enough, we are doing a "Rocky Horror Picture Show" episode.

Do you think Santana will remain a villain on the show?
Naya Rivera: I think she likes to sing and dance, but she's a bitch. It wouldn't be as fun if she was nice.

Kurt forced Finn to share a room with him and it created major conflict for the character’s, but don’t you think his behavior was creepy?
RM: I don’t look at it as creepy, but as a character in search of love and making mistakes. It will be revisited early in the season.
The show gives us a platform to talk about stuff you don’t usually talk about on TV.
I want Kurt to get to a place where he is incredibly comfortable. I want him to get a boyfriend and become prom king and king.

Are there similarities between you and Kurt?
CC: I had no idea who Marc Jacobs was until we shot the pilot.

Was anybody in the cast in glee club?
Jenna Ushkowtiz: I think I was the only one.
RM: Wasn’t Lea doing something before?
Cast: Broadway!

Will you be giving larger roles to Mike Chang and Matt Rutherford?
RM: We are writing an episode where Tina falls out of love with Artie and in love with Mike.

Will Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenowith return as regulars?
RM: They are both too busy to become regulars, but both will be back next season.

Do you have a favorite scene?
HM: When I got to wear a cone bra.
Kevin McHale: Getting to play Ryan directing the "Vogue" video.

Will we be exploring the home life of other characters?
RM: I think so. It’s strange because you want to stay safe, but yes. We want to introduce Artie’s mother and Rachel’s gay dads. I have a feeling Britney has a really smart older sister.
HM: I think her parents might actually work for NASA.

What was your favorite song?
HM: "Like a Vigin"
Amber Riley: "Someone to Love"
CC: "Bad Romance"

Will there be any more solos for Mercedes?
AR: I don’t know really.
RM: I’ll answer that. Yes. We will go to Amber’s church.
KM: Do we all go?
RM: Kurt does.

Will you explore the Golden Age of musicals?
RM: Of course we will. We are just getting started.

What is the impact of "Glee’?
RM: This is a show about why the arts are important. There are so many cuts do to the economy. I got a letter the other day that there was a glee club about to be cut, but because of the success of this show, they wouldn’t dare.
This show is about the importance of music programs in schools and our success is important to that message.