The TV Chick

Glee returns tonight! Are you as excited as I am? I recently had the chance to catch up with Jessalyn Gilsig (Terri Schuester). In case you missed Part 1 of my interview, check it out here. In this next installment, she talks about Emma and her husband stealing ways, her dream guest stars and Glee’s incredible ensemble cast. She also addresses the Will and Terri fans when I asked her if there is still hope for the couple. She even shares a little bit about season 2.

I watched a little behind-the-scenes video where you came in wearing the same outfit as Jayma, during the kissing scene.
(laughs) Yeah. That’s a perfect example. Okay. Let’s talk about that beret. When I saw her in that white beret, I was like Lou, are you kidding me? You literally dressed her like an angel. She literally has a halo on her head. This is ridiculous. So then I had to find a beret, and come on set. I was thinking that Terri should just cut her hair into a bob and dye it red. Because I think that’s how simple Terri is. I think Terri really thinks, If I just look like Emma, then he would love me again. But that beret, I mean that’s where Lou is such a genius. Because obviously, Jayma looks so adorable in it, so perfect and yet it made it impossible for any character to have sympathy for my character.

Have there been any other pranks that you’ve pulled like that or any other pranks that have been pulled on set?
Let me think. I feel like there have been some things. I mean, everybody gets kind of goofy from time to time that’s for sure.

Did you show up during the next kissing scene? I know there is a Will/Emma kiss from the promo.
I was on set, actually. Because if we’re shooting in the apartment then usually we’ll spend the whole day there. So they shot that and then the following scene was actually a scene between Emma and myself in the apartment. It was a really fun scene.

Oooh interesting.
Did you get to see the next episode at the Paley Festival?

I wasn’t there. I couldn’t make it out there, I wanted to go so badly.
Yeah, because we aired the next episode.

I know!
Did people like it?

People did like it! I think there was some interesting reactions to Idina Menzel’s character.
Really? What did they say?

Well there might be something between her and Will.
Yeeees. Exactly.

So I think that people who are crazy about Emma and Will…
Ohhhhh! It’s so good! [The show] is so smart, you see! Isn’t that so good? Because everybody thinks it’s going in one — oh it gets so good!

I am so excited!
It gets so good, because it’s exactly what you don’t expect, but it’s actually probably truer to life, what would really happen. You know, because people don’t just ride off into the sunset very often.

Right, the world’s not perfect.
Yeah. Oh yeah, it gets really, really good. I was on set that day that they kissed, and I thought it was disgusting.

(laughs) Is there going to be any future showdowns between you and Emma?
Between Emma and myself? Yeah.

And what about between you and anyone else? Maybe Will?
Will and I, we have another one. And then we have some sad things.

Aw.
And then kind of like a — at least for Terri — it’s good growth. And she kind of sheds a lot of her resentment, which I think is really healthy.

And you’ve had some really great guest stars. Did you film anything with Idina Menzel or Neil Patrick Harris or anybody else?
I did not. But I tend to think that maybe they’re like “Keep Jessalyn away from the famous people.” I didn’t. But I did get to spend some time with Idina, which was really fun, because I’m a big fan of hers. And she just had a little baby actually, and I have a little girl, so it’s kind of fun to talk about that…what it’s like to work and have a little one waiting for you at home. It was nice.

Maybe a future play date?
Yeah, that would be great. Hers is tiny, mine would probably destroy it. I think she had a boy.

I know I read that you would like to see Justin Timberlake guest star. Are there any other dream guest stars that you have?
You know, it’s funny so many people are a good fit in a sense . What I love about the show, is that the show is this celebration of self expression and I think that there are a lot of artists, a lot of musicians who have said over the years, don’t put me in a box. Jennifer Lopez is a good example. She says, I’m an actor, and I’m also a singer, and I’m a dancer. You know, I express myself in a lot of different ways. Someone was just showing me how Jeff Bridges — he’s a singer, he’s an actor, but he’s also an amazing artist, it turns out. I was looking at his website. And so I feel like there are a lot of people who — I was just at something the other day and Moby was there. And I was thinking Moby’s probably a really good actor. He just has an amazing presence. And I thought Moby could be on our show, because it’s really about creativity and self expression more than it is about necessarily like I said at the beginning, doing something that’s so polished, it’s more about people just wanting to express themselves. And I feel like if we could open up the definition of what that is, and people don’t have to be put into a box, that would be a really great accomplishment of the show.

Yeah, I think it’s doing a great job of that so far. There are a lot of characters transcending their boxes.
Exactly, yeah, exactly. And that’s kind of what — I think that’s what the show’s advocating. I mean, to me, I love performers such as Bette Midler, or even Cher. These women who came up in that era, who they’re real entertainers, and they’ll do anything to entertain. You know, it’s not about being precious, and it’s not about being mysterious. It’s not about yourself, it’s about I’m here to put on a show, and you’re going to have a great time, and I’m going to pull out all my tricks so you can have a great night. And I love that kind of performance. To me, that’s so refreshing and it’s so generous. So I’d love to see people like that on the show.

Absolutely. And I know you can’t spoil too much, but can you give us a little teaser of what’s coming up in the back 9. I hear Terri might be moving in with her sister.
We haven’t seen my sister, at least not so far. It’s so good. It’s so good and it’s so unexpected, and I love our writers because it’s completely plausible, but I never would have thought of it, is what I’ll say.

Huh.
I know it’s horrible, I’m just making it more painful.

(laughs) I know, is the hiatus over yet?
I know, it took a long time to get to April.

I can safely assume since you were talking about season 2, that you will be in season 2.
You know what, I’ve decided, that I’ll just show up. I really have. (laughs) I’m just going to show up and I’ll find — I’ll just walk on in that beret if they don’t write for me (laughs). Where else am I going to go in life? Where am I going to go? I’m not going to go anywhere else, I’m just going to be like I remember when I was on Glee. If they don’t write for me, I’ll just be there. But, it’s looking good.

Oh great. I’m really glad about that!
I have you to thank, for heaven’s sake!

Aw thank you. And do you know anything about it? Have you heard any tidbits about season 2?
We’re in such an interesting place, because we’re only doing nine now. So what we’re doing now is really setting us up for season 2. I think that we’re still a young show. And I was saying the other day about that rumor about there being a Broadway show, and they said we’re really careful about what we do with the branding of the show, and I think it’s just going to be an extension of what we’ve done so far. At least that’s what I’m hoping.

Yeah, I’m not sure how I feel about the whole Broadway thing. I’m intrigued…
Yeah, don’t you think some day? I think some day, it will be appropriate. But I think it’s premature. I mean, people would just be over-saturated.

Yeah, I think a long time from now when the show might not be on the air…
Exactly. Yeah, someday. Someday, it’s an amazing idea. Or even maybe just more something inspired by Glee. But to have the actual characters in a musical on Broadway and also have them on TV, I think that would be overkill at this point.

Right, I think the genre of the show would make sense on Broadway.
Absolutely.

But right now, I want to see it on my TV.
Exactly, I think everybody feels that way. So, I think, I mean I don’t know because clearly I’m not in charge, I think that the feeling is that we just kind of keep building on what we have so far. And what is really fun about Ryan and the rest of the writers, and I know that you feel this way too is that the last thing we want to do is put ourselves in a box. Every week has to be a bit of a re-invention, and that’s why the focus of the show, for some days will be on Rachel, but other days the focus of the show is on Puck or the focus of the show is on Sue, and it kind of drifts around so that it’s almost an experience just re-inventing itself.

Right. That makes sense. And I think that’s necessary because there are stars but there’s not really stars because it’s such an ensemble cast.
Yeah, and I think that that’s smart because it just — well, it means there’s something for everyone. It means that the whole show isn’t sitting on one person’s back. You know when this woman was yelling at me in the store…wow! This is not the demographic that they thought. That’s the second time it’s happened. There was another woman in Beverly Hills, she was a similar age, and I was like wow! Everybody’s watching! This is amazing (laughs).

You were like, I’m going to run away now.
“You know what I don’t understand? Why is he so stupid?” (laughs) I don’t know!

You’re like I have no idea!
And really, not even Are you on Glee? Do you play [Terri]? Hello. Nothing. Let’s just cut to the chase.

Let’s just get right in there.
Yeah, exactly. “Wouldn’t he touch your stomach?” I don’t know, honey!

I asked for some fan questions. Do you think there is still hope for Will and Terri or has that ship sailed?
No, I think there’s definitely hope for them. We just shot a scene that really suggests that and I think yeah, I think that these are two people who they just didn’t pay attention and they didn’t take care, and they started with something real. And I think that they both feel a deep sense of loss. I don’t think it’s really clear cut, so I think there’s always a chance that that can be revived.

Oh well that’s good, I’m glad to hear that. And Jennifer Aspen recently joined twitter. And I wondered if you ever thought about joining twitter of it that’s something you wouldn’t ever really want to do?
I can’t figure out what I would write. I really can’t. I mean what do you say, like, I’m pumping gas now?

The way I think of it or explain it to people, is that I consider it to be kind of a tiny status update. Like, I’m not going to post — I don’t think I’m interesting enough to post that I’m going for a walk or something, but I think it’s always fun to see tidbits from Glee or pictures…
I have to say, I think the kids — I know I call them kids, just because they play kids on the show — when we’re at the awards shows and they’re twittering to their fans, and giving them access to the experience, I think that’s amazing. I think that is so cool. And I think especially for a show like ours, where we’re only at the awards show because of the fans. For such a young show, it’s really because of twitter and facebook and all the fans who really believed in the show before we’d really even proven ourselves, I think it’s really cool the way everyone has kind of picked up on that and brought the fans forward with us. I just don’t know how to do it. I think I’d need a coach. I think I’d need a tutorial. I literally just don’t know what I would say. (laughs)

Well if you ever need me to talk you through it, I am more than willing.
Really?

Absolutely!
Thank you! I just get so scared, nobody would follow me.

Oh my gosh, I am sure you would have so many followers.
Like your mother, and…yourself. If you actually followed yourself, which would be really embarrassing.

I’m sure that wouldn’t be the case.
I may take you up on that, you never know.

Well if you ever decide to start one, you just let me know.
Okay! Thank you!

And what are your plans once the back 9 are done filming? Do you have any other projects coming up?
Well, I have two possibilities. Both are films, so I’m hoping. It’s a little window, but I’m hoping one is an independent, and one is a bigger movie — I’d really be excited about either one. So I’m hoping that it works out. And then beyond that, I know everybody says this, but I’m just kind of excited to hang out with my daughter in my downtime. But hopefully these will come into fruition, but we’ll see.

Be sure to tune in tonight at 9:28 pm (special time) for the return of Glee!

Tweet