Charice: Yes, I'm 'Glee-ful!'

“Glee-ful!” is the adjective that best describes Charice’s state of mind, after she confirmed in her Twitter account that (yes!) she passed an audition for the second season of Glee, the smash-hit US TV musical-comedy-drama that has drawn over 13.7 million viewers in a recent episode.

“Yes, Ninong Ricky, I’m ‘Glee-ful!’” confirmed Charice in an exclusive phone interview with Funfare Update yesterday. (She calls me ninong because I stood as one of the sponsors at her and her brother Carl’s baptism/confirmation as Catholic converts [from Iglesia ni Kristo] at a cathedral in Pasig City last May 22, with no less than Oprah Winfrey and David Foster [who were represented at the event], Boy Abunda, Kris Aquino, Charo Santos-Concio, Karen Davila, Büm Tenorio and Julius Babao among the other sponsors.)

Charice was in Munich promoting her eponymous debut US album. It was Millie Gurfinkel, wife of celebrity immigration lawyer and STAR columnist Michael Gurfinkel, who arranged the interview. Millie was in L.A. It was she and Michael who helped Charice (now minus her surname Pempengco) and her mom Raquel expedite the issuance of their US visa in December when they flew to the States for Charice’s guesting on Ellen, the show hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, followed by those on Oprah and other shows. The Gurfinkel couple has been supporting Charice since then.

On June 22, the US mag Entertainment Weekly posted this entry on its website: Charice is signed, sealed and delivered to recur next season as a foreign-exchange student whose killer vocals get Rachel (played by Lea Michele) contemplating murder.”

In FilipinOnline by freelance writer Yong Chavez based in California, Charice’s press agent Karen Moss was quoted as saying, “Charice will have a recurring role. Multiple episodes.”

On her own Twitter account, Charice, who was prematurely reported several weeks ago to be joining Glee, posted this confirmation: It’s official. I’m on Glee (next season) but (there is) a story behind it. When d rumor came out, it wasn’t true. But then after that, I tried to audition. And I made it! Let’s party!  

When did Charice learn that she has passed the audition?

“Noong time na nag-twit ako,” Charice said. “We were not formally told about it; nakita ko na lang po sa news na nilabas nila. Then, they sent me an e-mail, congratulating me.”

What did they tell her to do during the audition?

“Sorry po, Ninong Ricky, hindi ako puwede mag-kuwento about the audition. Baka magalit sila.”

And how many of them auditioned?

“I don’t know, kasi hiwa-hiwalay po kaming nag-audition. I was the only one there during my turn.”

When will Glee’s second season start?

“Wait,” Charice said (I could hear her asking somebody nearby). “Sa fall daw po.”

What about the shoot, when will it start?

“I don’t know yet, baka sa susunod na buwan po.

How is she preparing for her role as a foreign-exchange student?

“Sa ngayon po hindi ko pa po alam kung ano ang gagawin ko,” she laughed. “But there will be rehearsals for sure, but they haven’t started yet.”

Busy as she is, Charice admitted that, even if she wants to, she cannot watch all of Glee regularly but only some episodes. Who among the actors is her favorite?

“’Yung naka-wheelchair po,” she said, referring to Kevin McHale who plays Artie Abrams. “Mukha po siyang mabait.”

Glee debuted on the Fox channel in September 2009. The story, set in a fictional high school in Ohio, revolves around a show choir called New Directions. The show features new actors. So far, five Glee soundtrack albums have been produced, three of them chart-busters. Glee: The Music, Journey to Regionals (featured in Baby Gil’s Sounds Familiar column yesterday) was No. l on the Billboard 200 after its release this month.

Did her debut album being a hit help her get into Glee?

“Hmmmm...sa tingin ko po, hindi naman po siguro. I don’t think they have time to listen to my album.”

Earlier this year, Charice appeared in the Hollywood movie Alvin and the Chipmunks as a contestant in a campus singing contest.

Which made her more nervous, the Chipmunks flick or Glee?

“Siempre po itong Glee, kasi in Alvin and the Chipmunks I didn’t do any acting at all.”

From Munich, Charice and her mom Raquel were set to fly to Berlin to continue the album-promo tour. Then she will go back to the States before she flies home to sing the National Anthem at the inauguration of President-elect Noynoy Aquino on June 30. Tiring, isn’t it?

“Not at all,” said Charice, “kasi nag-i-enjoy naman po ako, eh.”

By the way, has she met the two Justins (Timberlake and Bieber), her crushes?

“Ay, hindi ko po crush si Justin Bieber,” she corrected me. “Si Justin Timberlake lang po ang crush ko.”

She and Timberlake met last year. Asked if Timberlake knew that he’s her crush, Charice said, “Siguro po. But I was too shy to tell him.”

After only three days in the Philippines, she will rush back to the States for more of the album-promo.

Having turned 18 last May 10, isn’t Charice old enough to entertain suitors?

“Ayoko muna,” she giggled. “Makakasira lang po sa work.” 

That’s Charice, “Glee-fully” yours!

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