by Gina Scarpa

 

Just one week before the finale of The Glee Project, show creator Ryan Murphy decided that they could and should eliminate more than one contestant if the writing staff didn't feel inspired by them. Only three (Aylin, Blake, and Ali) made to next week's finale while Michael and Lily found themselves not called back. We talked to the pair today in an exclusive interview about their untimely exit from the competition, their toughest week there, and how they felt about their performance in the Actability challenge.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What made you decide to try out for season 2 of The Glee Project?
A. Lily: My mom watched season 1 and was like, "You'd be perfect for this show!" Finally, auditions came out and she said that I should audition. I was like, "I don't really want to because I'll never get seen." I started watching the show and was like, "Okay, I can do this!" I sent out a video and went to an open casting call. That's where I met Robert and he had already seen my audition tape, and remembered me. That just felt great!
A. Michael: You know what? I actually bumped into Robert Ulrich on a plane! I stumbled into The Glee Project. I did watch all of season 1 and loved the show and really wanted to go for it.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Michael, did you always view Blake as your biggest competition from the beginning and Lily, who did you have your eye on?
A. Michael: Yeah, I really did view Blake as my biggest competition, especially towards the end. He just doesn't mess up! He's an incredible performer. I was trying to beat him.
A. Lily: Here's the thing. I always felt a little competitive with Ali because we were both musical theater. The whole time though, I felt like I constantly was being compared to Aylin. She would have an incredible storyline. I knew that they were interested in her story and I definitely looked at her as competition. I definitely underestimated her voice but she exceeded all my expectations.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: The two of you found yourselves in the bottom a few times this season. Which week was the hardest for you?
A. Michael: Ooh, the hardest week... I think this last week was the hardest. They gave me a great song but a very challenging song. It was a little bit slower and sensitive. I had to perform it for all the writers and that was a big challenge for me.
A. Lily: Definitely week 3, which was Vulnerability. I had a great song for my last chance performance, but I was expecting a musical theater song. I sang every genre on this show. Definitely week 3 was the hardest.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Did you like that you got to improv for this week's video shoot or would you have preferred to work with a script?
A. Lily: I would've rather worked off of a script but I got really lucky with Ali as my scene partner. I had an amazing time. It was just amazing working with her in general because we're such close friends.
A. Michael: I absolutely loved improving on set! I like improvisation and I've taken a couple of classes. I think I would've been more up in my head if we had a script. It wouldn't have been as organic.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: When you heard that everyone would be performing for Ryan and the writers, were you happy that it was an even playing field for everyone or worried?
A. Lily: No, I was ecstatic. We're all going to be compared to each other at that point. I was pumped!
A. Michael: I realized that it made total sense for all of us to do a last chance performance. It was an incredible opportunity to put our faces and sound in front

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: It must be so tough to get eliminated right before the finale. How did you handle it?
A. Lily: To be honest, I was completely shocked. I had kind of a strange reaction because I was in a little bit of disbelief. I feel like I had done everything I could have and took every note they gave me. At that point in the competition, I felt really good. I had convinced myself I could win and at that moment, it was heartbreaking. It had nothing to do with my talent. It was who was right for the show right now. All three remaining contestants are completely amazing. At the end of the day, it just came down to who they can write for right now. I can look at those top three and feel absolutely no resentment. I feel really lucky.
A. Michael: You know what? I think I handled it pretty well. Like I said on the show, I'm really proud of myself for how far I got and how much I grew. That's really what I was taking away from it this whole time. It was a learning experience for me. I was happy with my time there because I learned so much as a performer and an individual. It's kind of bad timing right before the finale but I couldn't be happier!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What do you want to pursue from here?
A. Michael: Music is where my heart lies. That's what my true passion is and that's what got me into The Glee Project.
A. Lily: Well, I'm moving to L.A. and I'll be there a week from today! For now, I want to pursue the television connections in this window of time. Eventually, I do think I belong on the stage. Because of my body type, I thought I would be more accepted on the stage. Things are changing and you don't just see that 115 pound blonde anymore and hopefully, I can be a part of that change.

 

The Glee Project airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on Oxygen.

 

(Image courtesy of Oxygen)

 

Find Gina @ginascarpa