Kevin McHale on Glee's Wheelchair Controversy, His Dream TV Role and Celebrity Gleeks

Although Glee's ensemble cast sometimes prevents characters from getting their fair share of Ryan Murphy's spotlight, every now and then an episode airs that manages to tenderly chronicle the plight of one glee club member. In tonight's episode, "Dream On," Artie -- the white-rapping, wheelchair-bound character played by Kevin McHale -- supports one of the most emotionally gratifying storylines of the season. In anticipation of tonight's episode, which was directed by Joss Whedon and guest stars Neil Patrick Harris, McHale phoned Movieline to discuss his questionable guitar skills, his boy band days and the one fan anecdote that made him appreciate Glee even more than he already did.

Hey Kevin. Congratulations on the season. It seems like anyone with a heart and a remote control loves your show.

Thank you.

I've heard buzz that because of the success of the Madonna episode, producers are considering building another episode around a single artist's catalogue. Is there one artist you would like the show to honor?

I was hoping for a Michael Jackson episode but we have kind of given up on trying to suggest too much because [the writers] pick songs that complement each storyline. I think that is what makes each episode so cool -- it's not just that they pick songs that they like. So we just leave that up to [the writers].

Right, that formula has been hugely successful. Just this year you've been on the Oprah Winfrey Show, met the president and won a SAG award. What has been the highlight so far?

Definitely visiting the White House. That whole [Easter Egg Roll] experience was the most out-of-body experience I can imagine. When Amber sang the national anthem from the White House balcony -- that was easily one of the best moments of my entire life. It was surreal.

Did you talk to the President? Has he seen the show?

I don't know if he told anyone he had seen the show. I don't think his kids are allowed to watch it -- that's what I heard. He was super, super nice. He talked to all of us together and said, "You guys have had a great year, haven't you?"

What would make this year even greater? Is there someone you would still like to meet or something you would still like to do?

I am up for anything, but my favorite show in the whole world is this English series, Skins. It would be awesome to be able to go on that somehow. I would love to do film someday, but I think we are all so happily in tune with Glee that we are sticking with that right now.

I read that you had to learn how to play the guitar since your character plays. Have you mastered it yet?

No, not at all. I have had such great guitar players come and teach me. They are so good. And I know how to make it look like I'm playing but God forbid the guitar was actually plugged in... I am terrible.

And you guys play Mafia in between takes.

We haven't in awhile actually. For some reason, the back nine episodes have been a little crazier and we don't have time for it. But I'm sure when we go on tour, we'll get back into it.

Which cast member gets picked to be Mafia the most?

For some reason, Chris Colfer. He is just very suspect.

I imagine you get a ton of feedback from fans because Glee is one of those shows that people really relate to. Everyone seems to have an "I didn't fit in at high school" story. Has there been one fan anecdote that really resonated with you?

Actually, a few weeks ago a mom came up to me and she said that her son was in a wheelchair, and after our pilot first aired, he would watch the show every day. And she said she felt dumb because she could not figure out why he liked the show so much. Then she realized that the show was the first time in 16 years that her son had ever seen a character portrayed on TV in a wheelchair. So that really affected me -- to know that we are actually doing something that is touching people in a real way.

Most ensemble television series, especially when they are about high school students, fall into the trap of having token characters. And Glee definitely has the jocks, the cheerleaders and the nerds but each character gets a few episodes to really be fleshed out. I love that even though Artie looks like this nerd, with the glasses, he is talented, funny and confident -- especially around women.

Yeah, Artie is more confident than I am.

Really?

Oh yeah, I could learn a thing or two from him.

So you're saying that when your character told Tina to "get up on this" a few weeks ago --

I would never say that in real life.

Was it hard to be convincing in that moment then?

No, I mean, it's fun to play someone who is not really who you are. It's always very therapeutic.

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