Stars Sings Showtunes At Marie's Crisis

Darren Criss was in and around town all week, spotted first at the Lady Gaga "rave" last Sunday, and then a couple days later in one of my favorite West Village haunts, old school piano bar Marie's Crisis. It was there that he took to the ivories and played "A Whole New World" from Disney's ALADIN as he sang along with Broadway star Lea Salonga. Quite a duet for a weeknight at Maries!

I have been there to witness other film/TV folks, singing (Heather Mattzarazzo, Parker Posey), but Darren Criss would have been amazing because he is so damn cute/talented. I'd seen him play guitar (famously) but didn't even know he plays piano too--and is pretty good at that. It's moments like these there should be some sort of gay bat signal to call me back to the Village for a bit of showtuning with the stars!

A Groundbreaking GLEE Goes All The Way

Tonight's episode of GLEE, titled "The First Time" is going to break a major network TV taboo when Chris Colfer's openly gay character has his first sexual experience with his boyfriend, played by breakout star Darren Criss.  There has already been a lot of pre-show hype that this is one of the best episodes of the season.  And in an interview with EW, Colfer talks candidly about expecting some major flack from the the usual TV watchdogs, like the Parents Council, about going all the way.

Personally, I have a feeling it's not going to be as raunchy or even risque as people expect.  I think the show's handling of the gay romance between these two characters has been so sweet and incredibly well done, to the point where their relationship has truly become the heart and soul of the show.

Also having their first time on tonight's episode will be Finn and Rachel, played by Cory Monteith and  Lea Michele .  I think it's smart to have both of these first occurring at the same time because it really sends home the message that love is love, no matter what the gender combo.  In fact, it's so smart that I employed the same device in my own teen novel, TALE OF TWO SUMMERS (now available as an eBook).   How's that for a plug!  Anyway, if the prom episode from last season is any indication, I think tonight's very special episode of GLEE is going to be a winner.

The Cast of GLEE Has Bested The Beatles

Fox's megahit show has broken an interesting record;  the cast of GLEE have topped the Beatles by having 90 songs in the Billboard Top 100.  And this week, they will surely be breaking some more with the release of the show's ninth album, a compilation of the acapella song-stylings of the all-male Warblers group featuring screamboat (and Billboard cover dude) Darren Criss.

Since Criss and Co. first appeared last fall doing a chart-topping cover of Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream", the Warblers have been arguably the best thing happening on the show's sophomore season.  So this album has been highly anticipated and is now out for your listening pleasure and downloadable on iTunes.

The secret to the Warblers success (besides Criss's good looks!) can be found at Tufts University.  That school's all-male acapella group The Beelzebubs has been doing arrangements and background vocals for the onscreen Warblers since last fall.  Interestingly enough, GLEE was originally conceived as a show focused on the acapella world which then expanded more into the show choir world.  So the producers knew of the 'Bubs long history and had listened to many of their 27 albums already.  Though they don't count the Warblers disc as their 28th, they are definitely key to its success.