And That's What You REALLY Missed

It’s May 19, 2009 you just watched the first episode of a new TV show called Glee. You can’t sit still, you feel alive, like you want to sing everything instead of speaking. But how did we get here? What’s the real story behind the show? Well for starters…The original script was much darker, an iconic character…not included and Justin Timberlake, was in the mix?! Creator Ryan Murphy joins Kevin and Jenna and takes us through the show's brightest of lights and the darkest of days, including the loss of Glee family members. It’s time to start believin’ as we go behind the curtain, in part 1 of a very special 2-part opening number of “And That’s What You REALLY Missed!”

Glee creator Ryan Murphy is back with more of ATWYRM! Details on the A-Listers that lined up for the mic and those that didn’t make the cut. The tour, the phenomenon and the difficult decisions surrounding the loss of Cory Monteith. Ryan Murphy explains his desire for the legacy, why he did what he did and what he’d have done differently.

It’s your first day at McKinley High and you’re being thrust right into elite status as Jenna and Kevin have agreed to take you behind the scenes to share all the school's deepest darkest secrets. The songs, the wardrobe, the on-the-fly dance moves, the hidden Easter eggs left over from the original NSFW script, why Cory Monteith was absent from rehearsals and tons more. And we answer the biggest rumor in GLEE history!

We know him as Kurt Hummel…but what do we really know about Chris Colfer and how he became Kurt? More importantly, how did becoming Kurt affect Chris?! Luckily for us (in case you haven’t guessed it yet) Chris joins Kevin and Jenna on the pod to discuss exactly those things and more! The impact of landing the role at 18, being forced to come out and the public response to all of it. Plus…stories of auditions, canceling going to the Grammys to go on a date and he weighs in on Turkey Lurkey Time number ... did he like it or not? There’s a lot to unpack here…better grab a snack!

Sure we all remember the assembly, the Cheerios’ ulterior motives, Rachel and Finn growing closer, not to mention Mr. Schue’s after hours job and who could forget the truth about Terri’s pregnancy but…what don’t we know about all of this?! Well you’re about to find out, including…the “Push-It” performance (and who grew closer with each other due to its…nature)…Kevin’s favorite moment of the episode…and what made Jenna cry in the rewatch. Plus was Terri’s character based on someone? All that plus… Kevin calls one of the cast to set the record straight. If time travel isn’t possible…this recap is the closest thing to it!

Long before Kendra was helping her sister Terri fake her pregnancy, Jennifer Aspen was on the brink of Glee-dom. Jennifer joins Kevin and Jenna as she shares the story of being turned down from the show and how she ultimately, literally became Kendra. Plus does Glee fame make you a cool parent? And Jennifer's big regret from the show.

While the Acafellas were being born (and disbanding) the phenomenon that was Glee was continuing its meteoric rise. Kevin and Jenna explain the warm welcome and wild experience they had while in Australia for the airing of this episode (which may or may not have entailed a hangover hike.) Find out who was star struck meeting Josh Groban, some never shared before casting tales and how episode 3 broke barriers for network TV.

If things seemed calm surrounding Heather and her storylines, then you missed a lot! From having to re-audition for Beyoncé, to being confronted by Naya Rivera, to having an IBS attack on the way to set (and rolling with it!)…Brittany S. Pierce a whirlwind. But with all the stress, there was a lot of fun too and Heather is here to reveal everything you REALLY missed with Kevin and Jenna!

While this episode was certainly time to shine for some, there was some serious BTS drama going on that Kevin and Jenna are ready to let us know about. Including; Beyoncé induced anxiety, an Australian dust storm and how a red spider almost derailed a scene.

Kevin and Jenna are joined by their friend and the winner of The Masked Singer, Amber Riley. Amber takes Kevin and Jenna behind the scenes of the show. Plus, she reveals the fallout from a famous scene from Glee and gives details on the alternate Glee intro that never aired.

This episode had it all…Kristin Chenoweth as the show’s first guest star, the first performance with all 12 cast members and it set the groundwork for the next 6 seasons. Perfection right?! Well, apparently there was a lot more than met the eye. Kevin and Jenna take us down the roads of “The Rhodes Not Taken.”

Everybody has someone in their lives who they look at and think, “if it weren't for them I wouldn’t be here.” Generally that person is different for everyone, except when it comes to the cast of Glee…then that person is casting director Robert Ulrich! Robert joins Jenna and Kevin to dish on how they whittled 50 thousand auditioners to 30, share never-before-heard stories from those auditions and what roles were the hardest to cast. It's a behind-the-scenes from before there were scenes.

Jenna and Kevin discuss the first ever Glee boys vs. girls mash-up! They weigh in on who had the better mash-up and how Jenna still has not recovered physically from this episode. Plus, for the first time they start to realize the effects of the show growing in popularity as the cast travels to perform the National Anthem at the 2009 World Series!

Jenna and Kevin are coming to you LIVE from the iHeart Theater for this very special Snixxmas episode in loving memory of Naya Rivera to benefit the Alexandria House. Don’t miss this holiday episode filled with special guests, games, fireside chats with the cast and crew of “Glee,” performances and more as they keep the Snixxmas spirit alive!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year as Jenna and Kevin are joined by Darren Criss singing your favorite holiday songs. Plus they share their favorite holiday traditions, food, music and memories from “Glee!”

Howard Bambooooo is here! Kent Avenido joins Jenna and Kevin and shares how Howard Bamboo was not the role he auditioned for, what it was like meeting Glee special guest (and “angel sent from heaven”) Josh Groban and how one fan on Twitter honors his character in a very special “Sheets-N-Things” way!

From having to change the title of the episode to breaking the fourth wall to Baby-Gate, this episode had it all. Jenna and Kevin discuss why they think this was one of the funniest and politically incorrect episodes of the season. Plus, they reveal the secret to Mr. Schue’s curly hair and if “Ride With Me” performance was really unscripted!

We unlock the vault with the Queen Supremes from RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race! Brooke Lynn Hytes, Monét X Change and Jujubee reunite with Jenna and Kevin. Find out what came first, the Glee or the Drag…plus all the details on Jenna’s secret within the secret! There’s a lot to share and lucky for us, this group is ready to sing!

Kevin and Jenna recap the Mash-Up episode including the truth behind the slushies and why things suddenly got very real. Plus a ‘Friends’ comparison, a piece of Glee history and find out what a music superstar said to a cast member after seeing them perform their song.

Kevin and Jenna break out the director’s chair for one of television's most successful and honored directors, Paris Barclay! Paris was at the helm for 9 episodes of Glee and has got plenty to dish! Not only on Glee but from some of his other high profile projects that included Elizabeth Taylor, LL Cool J and the Netflix hit show Dahmer! Quiet on the set! We’re rolling…

You know it was a good episode when watching the recap brings all the same feels! As difficult as the performances were, there was plenty to keep their spirits up (not to mention to dish about.) And not to be missed…this episode included Jenna and Kevin’s first kiss! Awkward…(but not really)!

800 songs in 6 years. That’s what Tim Davis accomplished as the vocal arranger on Glee! Find out how he did it, what the day to day was like behind-the-scenes, which song took him 27 hours to do... and what he’s currently doing with Jane Lynch!

Find out what about this episode Kevin and Jenna described as “cringe” and left Kevin feeling queasy. But despite those feelings there were admittedly some heartfelt moments to fill the void. And, some tea is spilled as to why Kevin was pulled from performing a certain song!

The first "Ask Us Anything” episode! Kevin and Jenna answer fan questions and address the current rumors of past on-set drama and reveal what really happened behind the scenes! Plus, find out what they have to say about some of the guest stars...and Q&A with the Snixxmas contest winner which includes, hardest songs, favorite storylines and so much more!

Kevin and Jenna recap the Hairography episode and discover some completely cringe moments that maybe didn’t age so well. See if you agree. Speaking of discovering things...Kevin has a surprising TikTok find -- that they didn’t know existed! Plus, stories from their first ever movie premiere and the red carpet experiences.

Jayma Mays (aka Emma Pillsbury) joins Kevin and Jenna with stories of stealing success from the jaws of defeat! Including how she felt she absolutely bombed her audition…and then (spoiler alert) got the part! Kevin and Jenna reminisce about her famous one-liners. She shares tales of Emma and Will. And, wait until you hear what part of the show caused her massive anxiety and who she looked up to to get her through it.

The difficulties of filming this episode (and there were many) seemed to be worth it as the show reached over 8 million viewers and launched into the hit that it was destined to be. Kevin and Jenna recap all the highs and lows of the episode, the behind the scenes difficulties and reveal how this episode ties into the beginning of both their careers!

We all adored Jane Lynch on Glee. But did you know there was a decade worth of drama that almost prevented us from ever knowing the joy of watching her breathe life into Sue Sylvester?! (I feel nauseous). Find out how much of Sue was improvised…plus, as much as Jane gave to Sue, apparently she received a pretty big gift in return.

If the “Sectionals” episode of Glee had a finale feel to you, you weren’t alone. That's because the cast didn’t know if they were coming back. So for all they knew…it was! Find out what parts of the show were purposefully constructed to adjust for that possibility…what celebrity left the cast feeling uneasy and…did someone say ”unscripted kiss?!” It happened and Kevin and Jenna discuss the details!

Jane Lynch is back and she’s starring in the “Ask Me Anything” episode of ATWYRM!!! That means no question is off limits!

It’s no secret this episode was packed with memorable events, but what you may not have known is all the stuff that was happening for Kevin and Jenna IRL…including wild rides of red carpets, award shows, after parties, a visit to Oprah and The White House! All that plus, find out how half the cast of “Frozen” ended up in the episode. And, this episode was also the birthplace of some of the show’s most iconic lines! Can you guess which ones?!

The honorary 13th member of the GLEE Club, steadicam operator Andrew Mitchell joins Jenna and Kevin. Andrew gives all the details on what it was like shooting over 730 performances and the origins of a very iconic GLEE staple on the show!

Like a Virgin touched for the very first time…it’s fitting that Glee’s first tribute episode ever was Madonna. With 9 of her songs throughout the episode it was like one big party. There were the incredible moments you remember like Sue in a cone bra, stilts and Naya’s amazing performances. But there was so much you don’t know, such as the impression Kevin did of Ryan Murphy in front of Ryan! How the cast was caught off guard on the final night of their tour.  Plus, find out what scene was rewritten on the spot and why! This episode is Like a Prayer, that has been answered! 

Fresh off winning his Lifetime Achievement Award, Ryan Murphy is here to answer our prayers and our questions! Wait until you hear the story behind how he came up with the Madonna episode and how she reacted to it. Plus, where does Glee rank in all of his projects? What would he change if he could do it all again? And what are the chances of us getting a Glee-boot?!

Kirstin Chenoweth, people dressed as food, and Mercedes’ first big storyline meets…Jenna’s 24th birthday (and why Kevin can’t remember it,) Jenna feeling overwhelmed while on a live panel and a super cringe-worthy moment they’d like to have back. It’s what you knew vs. what you really missed!

Iqbal Theba (aka Principal Figgins) shares his inspirational life story with Kevin and Jenna. From an engineering degree to an acting career and wait until you hear how Glee turned his life upside down. Plus, they share their thoughts about the show’s impact all over the world.

The episode was titled “Bad Reputation” and it turns out it was more fitting than imagined. Find out why both Kevin and Jenna were dreading the rewatch and if they felt differently the second time around. Plus, why they take credit for Olivia Newton-John’s guest appearance. And some interesting things you may have missed regarding the musical performances!

Ask and you shall receive…so much you didn’t know gets revealed! Find out why Leah got mad at Kevin, why Kevin and Jenna have lingering anger towards Ryan and why Jenna was accused of catfishing…her husband?!

For every groundbreaking moment on the show like shaving Puck’s mohawk, there were others that we never knew were happening behind the scenes. Inside jokes the cast had with each other, tales from the cast’s tour to Radio City Music Hall and details on an evening in Phoenix that Kevin will never forget.

Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please! There is an 8-time Emmy winner on the pod today. Make-up artist, producer and special effects artist Eryn Kruger Mekash joins ATWYRM to tell us literally what we really missed! It's no secret that actors often spend hours in the make-up chair so it can’t help but turn into a mini therapy/dish/b*tch session! Find out what Eryn knows, what she didn’t enjoy and what caused her down right Glee PTSD.

While we were all blinded (rightfully so!) by the light of the guest star appearance of Neil Patrick Harris, there was a lot we probably missed! Worry not because Kevin and Jenna are here with tons of BTS details about the episode, including Kevin’s dance fail. Plus, find out what they say the fans keep missing about the show and…there’s a “Glee Night” happening this year! …Details await!

Theatricality featured some of Gaga’s greatest hits, this much we know. But wait until you find out Gaga’s reaction to it. Plus, wardrobe horrors, Kevin’s KISS, police escorts, private planes and something diabolical! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Glee creator Ian Brennan joins Kevin and Jenna and takes it…from the beginning. Did you know Glee was supposed to be a movie?! Find out how he came up with the idea, the pitch, the promise, the breaking of the promise, the birth of Sue Sylvester and so much more! Once you hear all that Ian has to say, you’ll start to wonder if you ever knew anything at all!

Kevin and Jenna themselves are blown away by parts of this episode! Find out what part Jenna had to rewind 3 times just to confirm it really happened! Plus, one of the weirdest scenes in Glee history and Jenna’s worst nightmare comes true…all in one episode! And why the cast’s first Beatles type experience was so close to tragedy!

We’re back with Ian! In part one we heard how we got here, now it’s time to hear what was happening that we didn’t know about…and even stuff that Kevin and Jenna didn’t know about until now! The excitement, the regrets, the further regrets, the stress blackouts and even something that bothers Ian to this day that he would like to apologize for. Find out why Madonna changed the course of the show and why some of the cast feared Ryan Murphy. There‘a so much more that we didn’t know…but we’re about to find out!

When Glee started, they didn't know if it would last. So when the season finale became the highest rated ever at the time, they were nominated for 19 Emmys and their album hit #1 on the Billboard chart…emotions ran high. And as Kevin and Jenna recap the episode, emotions are still running high. But are they for the same reasons? Find out what they were going through at the time, some of their most favorite memories and what Kevin and Jenna wish they had done…that they will never get a chance to do. Grab your headphones and a box of tissues. It’s go time!

Korey Kuhl and Tyler Oakley join Kevin and Jenna to discuss the beauty of Glee and how it helped so many people through difficult times. Plus, wait until you hear what Kevin almost did the first time he met Tyler! And Tyler faces the music on some heat he took for a Glee related Tweet. Plus, they discuss an actual reboot idea!

Season 1…nearly 100 songs, 22 episodes and a year and a half to film. The rewatch is in the books and now it’s time to look back and compare favorites. Top episodes, top songs and top moments! You the listener wrote in and now Kevin and Jenna share your thoughts and…their thoughts…on your thoughts…which really got us to thinking. (Spoiler: The input gets a little harsh at times!)