Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz Discuss Controversial ‘Glee’ Christmas Episode
While Glee is celebrated for its iconic musical numbers and cultural impact, some episodes haven’t aged as gracefully. One such example is the season 5 episode “Previously Unaired Christmas,” which was revisited by Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz on their podcast And That’s What You REALLY Missed on December 15. McHale and Ushkowitz, who played Artie Abrams and Tina Cohen-Chang on the show, didn’t hold back their thoughts, admitting it was far from their favorite episode.
The holiday-themed episode first aired in December 2013 and opened with a tongue-in-cheek introduction from Jane Lynch in her role as Sue Sylvester. Lynch jokingly claimed the episode had been “banned” by Fox before finally being allowed to air. Despite this attempt at humor, McHale and Ushkowitz explained that the episode’s comedic approach didn’t hit the mark.
“We knew it was very offensive,” Ushkowitz, now 38, recalled. She explained that the cast had to fully commit to the material, despite knowing how poorly it might be received. One particularly uncomfortable moment for her was the disco-inspired nativity scene featuring the song “Love Child.” Reflecting on it, she admitted, “I thought, ‘Wow, we’ve truly hit rock bottom with this.’”
McHale, 36, agreed, adding that the episode felt more like it was trying to provoke controversy than deliver meaningful humor. “It was supposed to be edgy in a way that’s funny, where ‘bad is good,’” he explained. “But this just felt like controversy for the sake of being controversial.”
The episode featured a series of scenes that the actors found difficult to defend in hindsight. Among them were Rachel (Lea Michele), Kurt (Chris Colfer), and Santana (Naya Rivera) dressed as elves in a bizarre storyline where they were conned, and Santana’s problematic portrayal of Mrs. Claus. Ushkowitz pointed out, “Santana as Mrs. Claus might have been the worst part of the whole thing.”
For McHale, it was impossible to pinpoint just one low moment. He listed several troubling scenes, including Becky Jackson (Lauren Potter) being cast as Baby Jesus, Kitty Wilde (Becca Tobin) making racially insensitive comments to Unique Adams (Alex Newell), and Santana fat-shaming and making anti-Semitic jokes to children. He also highlighted a subplot involving Kurt being sexually assaulted, describing the entire episode as overwhelming. “It was just so much,” he said. “Where do you even go from there?”
Despite the challenging material, McHale and Ushkowitz commended their co-stars for their dedication to the performances. “Good on you, Melissa [Benoist], Alex [Newell], and everyone else who had to pull off those scenes,” McHale remarked. Benoist, who played Marley Rose, was part of the newer cast members and had significant roles during that season.
Looking back on the series, McHale and Ushkowitz acknowledged the complexity of creating a show as ambitious as Glee. While the series achieved remarkable success and left a lasting legacy, episodes like “Previously Unaired Christmas” serve as a reminder that not every creative experiment works out.
Glee originally aired from May 2009 to March 2015, leaving behind a legacy of memorable music and groundbreaking moments, but also its fair share of missteps.
Read More Createsnews: –
Ree Drummond Becomes a Grandmother as Alex Welcomes Baby Sofia
Billie Eilish Opens Up About Personal Growth and Privacy
Chance the Rapper and Kirsten Corley File for Divorce After 8-Month Separation