Happiness cast members Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz recently revisited the show's controversial Season 5 Christmas episode, “Previously Unaired Christmas,” which they admitted was a low point for the cast. The hit musical series, created by Ryan Murphy, followed the lives of a high school glee club and their tumultuous personal and musical journeys under the guidance of their teacher, Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison). Known for his edgy humor, heartfelt drama and flamboyant performances, Happiness was a ratings powerhouse and cultural phenomenon for Fox, winning multiple Emmy and Golden Globe awards during its six seasons.
However, not every moment in the show's history hit the right notes, as McHale and Ushkowitz recalled in their Happiness watch the podcast again, And that's what you REALLY missed. THE two delved behind the scenes of the chaotic filming process for the episode's odd humor and controversial musical numbers, such as the live nativity scene featuring Becky (Lauren Potter) as Baby Jesus, Santana's (Naya Rivera) abrasive Mrs. Claus performance, and Unique's birth of baby Jesus during a version by Diana Ross. “I love child.” Here's what the two had to say about being on set that fateful day:
Jenna: It was a Saturday morning. I will never forget that. We thought, why are we here? Poor Wendey.
Kevin: That's how I felt: Are you here to do this?
Jenna: Yes, that dress was so rough we were in that I had full scabs under my arms after it. I have this photo of him. I can't post it because it's simply not appropriate. But I just remember shooting that number and saying, wow, we've really reached the bottomlike giving birth to the baby, running with the baby, and it was like you had to commit so much because it was so bad. That's how I felt in this number. I'm like, I have to commit to this so much because we know it's bad. It was supposed to be bad. If I don't commit to this, it will actually make things worse.
Kevin: But that's it. I don't think it should be bad. It's supposed to be controversial. I mean, evil is good when it's funny. But I didn't think that was good. It's like I'm going to lose a friend, but I won't miss the joke. And this seemed to be controversial for controversial sake.
Jenna: And it was for Kittie to play that role, to offend her. I watched this with my hand over my mouth the entire time. I will say the music is good.
Kevin: The number is actually a good time, and I love watching the three of you.
Despite the Happiness Despite the cast's discomfort during filming and their struggle to take these performances seriously enough to act in them, McHale and Ushkowitz praised director Wendey Stanzler and his castmates for their dedication to making the episode happen:
Jenna: We didn't want to be there for several reasons, but the most obvious one was: I don't think this is right. And then she shows up, Lauren Potter shows up with that thing, and we're like, we really have to do this, we really have to do this now, we really have to do this.
Kevin: Poor Wendey. Because you're at Leme, you're tasked with doing this work, with doing this work, and then you have a bunch of — holes like us who were like, you know, 'we don't like this, I don't want to do it. that. I'm going to say all the best to you, Melissa and Alex because you had some crazy stuff to make and you sold it.
Jenna: I just have to commit.
THE Happiness The stars didn't hesitate to tell some of the most controversial and shocking moments from “Previously Unaired Christmas”, highlighting the following scene:
Jenna: Santana as Miss Claus was probably the worst of all.
Kevin: I don't even know. I think this is on the same level as Becky being turned into Baby Jesus. Kitty saying super racist and defensive things to Unique and Tina. And then Santana saying all these crazy things to kids, like, real kids. Being fat, shamed, anti-Semitic, talking about porn. And then Kurt was sexually assaulted. So, okay, where do we go from there?
Jenna: Just up.
What Kevin and Jenna's Response to “Previously Unaired Christmas” Means
Happiness Stars Talk About Baby Jesus and Chaotic Musical Numbers
McHale and Ushkowitz's reflections on “Previously Unaired Christmas” shed light on the history of Happinessnarrative approach and his willingness to push limits. Since its premiere in 2009, the show brazenly confronted social issues surrounding race, gender, and sexuality through its diverse set of characters, such as McHale's Artie, who has a physical disability, and Ushkowitz's Tina, who pretends to stutter. The episode, which aired as part of the Season 5 fall finale, began with an announcement from Sue (Jane Lynch) that the episode was “banned,” but was able to air on Fox after some severe cuts.
Despite that, Happiness still featured a mix of chaotic musical numbers and over-the-top antics in the spirit of Christmas, as Rachel, Kurt and Santana found work as mall elves, and the rest of New Directions put together a controversial living nativity scene. McHale and Ushkowitz's experience presents the challenge the cast faced in navigating the show's sincerity and boldness. While Tina, Marley and Unique play with a plastic baby Jesus, Kurt is found bound and gagged after “Christmas Don't Be Late”, the episode's attempt to mix comedy with the comments fall into a mix of awkwardness and discomfort.
Our Take on Kevin and Jenna's Perspective on “Previously Unaired Christmas”
Let's Understand Glee's Vacation Failure
McHale and Ushkowitz rewatching one of HappinessThe series' most controversial episodes are an entertaining glimpse into the risks and creative mistakes that defined the series. While the show has often thrived on its ability to challenge norms and conventions, “Previously Unaired Christmas” exemplifies how an innovative series can fail. The cast's commitment to their roles, despite the outrage, saves the episode from being an absolute burn in the show's history. Although, compared to other Happiness episodes, like 'The End of Twerk' where the kids' teacher makes them twerk at the National Championship or its bizarre puppet hallucination sequence, 'Previously Unaired Christmas' doesn't seem so bad.