Kevin McHale Roots for the Underdog
Glee’s Kevin McHale in Consideration to Co-Host The X Factor
They may have won Nationals, but now one of McKinley High’s own could be heading to a bigger stage! Sources confirm to TV Guide Magazine that Glee star Kevin McHale, who’s portrayed wheelchair-bound Artie on the musical Fox series for the past three seasons, is under consideration to co-host The X Factor this fall.
The 24-year-old actor has a history with the Fox reality competition, having hosted a Pepsi-sponsored, behind-the-scenes featurette during last year’s premiere. In what could also be viewed as a trial run, he co-hosted this year’s Teen Choice Awards on July 22 alongside new X Factor judge Demi Lovato. If McHale does land the hosting gig, Gleeks can rest assured that it will not affect his role on Glee when it returns for a fourth season on Thursday, September 13.
The search for new X Factor hosts has been a lengthy one since Steve Jones was fired at the end of Season 1. Simon Cowell has said he’s interested in hiring a male-female duo comprised of personalities who do not have previous hosting experience. Other names up for consideration include Khloe Kardashian, Erin Andrews and Kelly Osbourne.
Fox had no comment. The X Factor premieres Wednesday, September 12 at 8/7c.
Would you be excited to see McHale host The X Factor?
Glee Scoop: Kevin McHale Hints at Season Four’s Dynamic
Who knew the sweet boy in the wheelchair would turn out to be one of the harshest mentors on The Glee Project?!
We sat down with Kevin McHale about appearing on tomorrow night’s episode of The Glee Project to help the kids deal with “adaptability,” plus he has some theories about Glee‘s mysterious fourth season.
Slowly but surely, we’re getting a feel for Glee‘s next season, but fans are still wondering what exactly the hell their show will look like next year. Why don’t we know yet? One of the reasons is that not even the cast knows what’s going on. Not that Kevin is sweating it. “I have no idea [what's happening next season], which I kind of love because it’s terrifying,” he tells us. “I’m assuming Kate Hudson and…Sarah Jessica Parker? I’m assuming they will be with the New York crowd in some aspects, but hopefully I’ll bump into them.”
In the meantime, Kevin is spending his summer keeping in touch with his Glee buddies and mentoring on The Glee Project. And he takes his duties very, very seriously.
“In theory I wanted to pull a Simon Cowell and be very harsh and what I thought was truthful,” he says. “And then the assignment for the week was so hard! Like the whole twist they threw into it, and even I was like, ‘I don’t think I could do that.’”
So what exactly does “adaptability” mean to him? “Every week is adaptability, but my character obviously has a close connection with adaptability,” Kevin tells us. “But everybody’s characters do, only because we are playing those kind of characters and we’re doing different songs every week, so even just doing the work you have to adapt every single day.”
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Kevin McHale and Harry Shum Jr. Glee Finale Q&A
TWELV Magazine: Kevin McHale, Triple Threat
Look out Hollywood, he may play an affable teenager on TV, but Kevin McHale’s talents don’t stop at acting.
Unless you just recently returned from a mission to Mars, you’ve heard of Glee, the seemingly omnipresent, proudly campy TV show about a high school glee club. TWELV caught up with Kevin McHale, the 23-year old actor who stars as Artie on the megahit series. Before joining the cast of Glee, McHale grew up in Texas and belonged to the boy band, NLT, which toured with and opened for the Pussycat Dolls. We spoke to him about his most memorable experiences with fans, his admiration for Kanye West, and his adoration for the British band, McFly.
If you were fifteen years old, how would you feel about Glee?
I would be pissed I wasn’t on it! Simply because growing up, people always said I had to pick between acting and singing, and that was never an option for me. I like both equally for different reasons, and here Glee comes along. It’s such a unique situation, where we really can do everything we love and sing songs we never thought we could or would.
What was your most interesting fan encounter on Glee?
I’ll never forget when we went around the U.S. on our first promotional tour to different malls all around the country. At that point, only the pilot had aired. [At] one of the first signings, a group of high school friends came up—who were probably only a year or two younger than me at the time—and said, “Thank you for playing he losers. Thank you for playing us. You have no idea how much it means to us that we will get to watch you guys every week representing us.” From then on, I think we all felt the gravity of how the show really could touch people, in addition to making them laugh.
Do you have any current pop culture or celebrity obsessions?
Kanye West. I have the utmost respect for the guy. I think he’s infinitely talented and he connects through rap in a way that no else has before. Your grandma probably knows his music. Music, fashion, tours. He’s an entertainer. There aren’t may all-around entertainers like that anymore.
I read that you’re a fan of the British band, McFly. Tell us about them. McFly!
They’re a British pop band I stumbled across when I was fourteen, and their first single had just come out in the U.K. I became obsessed. I’d order all their singles and CDs. I got all my friends into them. I even made my family watch their tour DVDs. They’re super-taented dudes and are still cranking out great tunes. Love those guys.
Glee’s made a difference in a number of people’s lives. Has this changed your awareness of certain issues?
Glee’s opened up my awareness for everything! The obvious one is people with disabilities, for me. I realized how naive I was and how unobservant I was in terms of people with disabilities. When I got cast as Artie, it was night and day. I suddenly noticed the challenges in everyday life for certain people and how resilient people are. The best part about being Artie is that being in a wheelchair doesn’t define who he is.
From the show, I’ve gotten to meet so many great kids and adults in wheelchairs, and everyone has been incredibly inspiring and makes me so proud I can be a part of something like this.
Artie isn’t a fashionista. How do you differ from him in that regard?
This is our biggest difference. Since the show started I’ve become more and more into fashion. I’ve really grown to love it and that’s all thanks to our amazing costume designer, Lou Eyrich. Lou would bring a huge grandpa sweater for me to try on, and she’d ask, “Is this OK with you?” and I’d always say, “Whatever you want!” She’s a genius and created such distinct characters with the clothes, along with Ryan Murphy.
Make up your own ending for Artie. What do you see happening to him in the future after the show ends?
I think he becomes the next George Lucas/Steven Spielberg.
The theme of this issue is LOVE. What comes to mind when you think of the word love?
It’s like five shots of expresso back to back and never lets up. It’s what makes you happiest. It can be a person, a song, a place.
source: kevinmchale-news
