huffingtonpost.comIt’s been approximately one year, 128 days and 19 hours (please don’t check my math) since the last episode of Glee made me ugly laugh/cry in front of my impressionable young son. Some would say that it’s been more than enough time to get over my obsession with the uplifting musical comedy, and I would say that they couldn’t be more wrong. I have been adrift trying to find a lasting show that has the same important messages of dreaming, determination and overcoming adversity (not to mention killer musical numbers), so I find myself, more often than not, dusting off my DVDs and re-watching my favorite show.
Am I stuck in a rut? Am I giving more credence to Glee than it deserves? Well, honestly, there’s maybe a smidge of both but I can’t deny the oodles (did I just say oodles?) of joy it generates . The little show that outgrew its body still resonates with me. I still wish for a world where I can bust out in song and dance (in a work setting). I still wish for a world where I might walk into a small little guitar shop and happen upon a killer Adam Lambert/Chris Colfer duet. I still wish that I could be young enough to be at the crossroads of adulthood and trying to determine my future. I wish that Glee was still on…
kpopstarz.comThe little show that could had its glories and its disappointments, but it never failed to entertain and lift the spirits of its faithful followers. And it has been hard for me to let it go. My heart still plummets whenever I hear or see Cory Monteith on screen. I giggle like a schoolgirl when I see Darren Criss pop up on my Twitter feed. I even started hiking up mountains when I saw how much Lea Michele enjoyed the activity. Let me be clear: I’m a 43 year old woman, and this is what the show has done to me.
Even though my head mostly knows that Glee will never air again (although I am officially begging for a five year reunion television movie) my heart won’t accept the truth of the situation. And it turns out that it doesn’t have to, because Glee isn’t really gone. My love for the actual show has grown into love and respect for all of the actors who were on the show, and they seem to be excellent at keeping themselves very busy in the entertainment world . Long story short (too late!), I came for the Glee but I stay for the kids. They literally seem to be taking over the entertainment world.
giphy.comDarren Criss (Blaine) has just announced the lineup for his second annual Elsie Fest at the Coney Island Boardwalk and, in October, will perform opposite Tony winner Lena Hall in San Francisco to kick off the first national tour of Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
adweek.comChris Colfer (Kurt) is a nationally bestselling children’s author of The Land of Stories series (the fifth part, An Author’s Odyssey, was released two weeks ago) and is just finishing off a successful book tour across the country. He’s also in the new Absolutely Fabulous movie!
giphy.comLea Michele (Rachel) is currently filming the second season of Scream Queens and is also recording her second album.
ew.comJenna Ushkowitz (Tina) just came on to play Dawn in the Broadway production of Waitress.
Kevin McHale (Artie) is currently at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia as a member of The Creative Coalition, and Harry Shum Jr. (Mike) is Magnus Bane in Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments.
giphy.comAmber Riley (Mercedes), after winning the mirror ball on Dancing With the Stars and playing Addaperle in the live television production of The Wiz, is currently rehearsing for her role as Effie in the West End production of Dreamgirls.
justjared.comNaya Rivera has written a book, Sorry Not Sorry: Dreams, Mistakes and Growing Up and has a young son, and Heather Morris is soon to be in a new show, LA LA Living, and is a mother of two.
comingsoon.netHowever, it hasn’t just been success for the older members of Glee because Melissa Benoist (Marley) thrills on television as Supergirl, Grant Gustin (Sebastian) is The Flash, Blake Jenner (Ryder) can be seen in the movie Everybody Wants Some!! and is married to Melissa Benoist, Damian McGinty (Rory) is touring with Celtic Thunder and Alex Newell (Wade/Unique) dropped his first album, Power, in February.
It’s almost as if I couldn’t forget about Glee if I tried! (Which I haven’t.) The talent and success of these singers, actors, and writers just can’t seem to be stopped. Sure there are those from the cast that are not living their best life right now (I’m looking at you, Mark Salling), but to have so many great things happen for so many talented, and I like to think, very nice people really shows how great a show Glee was. I know that I’m missing some names, but that’s what happens when there is just so much talent to write about. I’m just so happy that a show like Glee even ever had a chance to exist.
So, I’ll keep on believing in my favorite show and I’ll follow all of the actors on social media as long as I possibly can. I’ll continue to follow their success, and I will continue to live in the world that they created for me and people like me for years to come. The dreamers, the misfits, the…everyone.
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