Filipino-Irish Darren Criss Tops EW’s Best Guest Stars of ‘Glee’, Charice Ranks 7th
Criss portrays the role of Blaine on Glee. His character is a gay student at a rival school. Glee creator Ryan Murphy stated, “Darren has a major, major arc…He sort of becomes Kurt’s mentor and then maybe love–he had to leave his own school because of bullying and goes to an all-boys academy and finds acceptance because that school has a no-bullying, zero-tolerance policy. So Kurt really admires him and respects him. He plays someone who’s one year older than Chris’ character, so he’s the old pro.”
Darren performed the Katy Perry hit “Teenage Dream” and it became the best-selling Glee track ever on iTunes.
This is what EW has to say about Darren’s performance on Glee:
Perhaps the most anticipated guest star with the shortest résumé? A Very Potter Musical YouTube sensation Darren Criss joined the cast this season as Dalton Academy heartthrob Blaine, seamlessly entering the fold with his charm and great voice. An openly gay student, he serves as both a mentor and possible love interest for Kurt, but his rendition of Katy Perry’s ”Teenage Dream” — which is currently smashing sales records — would make anyone weak in the knees.
Watch his “Teenage Dream” performance here:
Meanwhile, our very own Charice who was introduced as Filipina exchange student Sunshine Corazon on season 2 episode 1, was ranked the 7th “Best Guest Star.” She bested the more popular Britney Spears (9th), Josh Groban (11th), Eve (13th) and Olivia Newton-John (15th).
EW said the following about the 18-year old singing sensation:
“The tiny powerhouse is perhaps the one age-appropriate rival who makes Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) nervous (which is why Dame Berry sent her to a crack house instead of the choir room). As exchange student Sunshine Corazon, she added another ballad to the New Directions repertoire with a powerful version of ‘Listen’ that was so impressive, it caused Vocal Adrenaline to snatch her up before her first McKinley practice.”
Charice covered the Beyonce song “Listen”:
Aside from Listen, she also performed the Lady Gaga/Beyonce pop hit “Telephone” with Lea Michele.
Here is the full list of EW’s Best Guest Stars of Glee:
1. Darren Criss
2. Neil Patrick Harris
3. Gwyneth Paltrow
4. Kristin Chenoweth
5. Jonathan Groff
6. Idina Menzel
7. Charice
8. John Stamos
9. Britney Spears
10. Molly Shanon
11. Josh Groban
12. John Lloyd Young
13. Eve
14. Cheyenne Jackson
15. Olivia Newton John