Harry Shum Jr. Reflects on Re-watching "Glee" after Co-Star Deaths - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 02-26-2025, 01:07 AM

Harry Shum Jr. Reflects on Re-watching "Glee" after Deaths of his Co-Stars
by Raechal Shewfelt
February 24, 2025

The cast of "Glee" has infamously seen several deaths in the years since it was a breakout hit on Fox. But actor Harry Shum Jr., who played Mike Chang on the musical comedy about a high school glee club, said he, for one, doesn't let that take away the joy he gets when he sees the series, which ran for six seasons, from 2009 to 2015.

"I'm able to watch and celebrate," Shum said on the latest episode of the Call It What It Is podcast hosted by "Grey's Anatomy" actresses Jessica Capshaw and Camilla Luddington.

"I look at like Naya [Rivera], Cory [Monteith], and Mark [Salling], and look at the beautiful work that they put in, and the humor that they brought to so many.

You can look at what could have been and, unfortunately, the past is the way it is, and you can't really do much to change that outside of right now, and to celebrate how many lives that they affected, how many people that got some joy from their performances and songs that will live on forever."

Shum takes a deliberate approach to dealing with his grief.

"I had to deal with a recent death as well, of a family member, and my thought process in that is...now, you mourn them, grieve, and I think also part of the grieving process is to celebrate them as well," he said. "Not to say that that sadness is gonna go away, ’cause I don't think it really should. I think it should stay, ’cause you do care about [them].

It needs to stay, but it's a matter of how you kind of do the back and forth — the dance — with the joy [from]...the memories you did have."

Shum also noted that he continues to appreciate the show's signature new takes on songs, because it often leads to viewers discovering completely new music or a version of a tune they can appreciate. They might learn more about the original because they heard it from the New Directions.

"Whether it's better or not better than the original, I think what happens, it's more of what emotional attachment you had to that, which makes it better, right?" Shum said.

https://ew.com/harry-shum-jr-reflect...eaths-11685765

02-26-2025, 01:07 AM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 56,985	Harry Shum Jr. Reflects on Re-watching "Glee" after Co-Star Deaths *Harry Shum Jr. Reflects on Re-watching "Glee" after Deaths of his Co-Stars* by Raechal Shewfelt February 24, 2025 The cast of "Glee" has infamously seen several deaths in the years since it was a breakout hit on Fox. But actor Harry Shum Jr., who played Mike Chang on the musical comedy about a high school glee club, said he, for one, doesn't let that take away the joy he gets when he sees the series, which ran for six seasons, from 2009 to 2015. "I'm able to watch and celebrate," Shum said on the latest episode of the Call It What It Is podcast hosted by "Grey's Anatomy" actresses Jessica Capshaw and Camilla Luddington. "I look at like Naya [Rivera], Cory [Monteith], and Mark [Salling], and look at the beautiful work that they put in, and the humor that they brought to so many. You can look at what could have been and, unfortunately, the past is the way it is, and you can't really do much to change that outside of right now, and to celebrate how many lives that they affected, how many people that got some joy from their performances and songs that will live on forever." Shum takes a deliberate approach to dealing with his grief. "I had to deal with a recent death as well, of a family member, and my thought process in that is...now, you mourn them, grieve, and I think also part of the grieving process is to celebrate them as well," he said. "Not to say that that sadness is gonna go away, ’cause I don't think it really should. I think it should stay, ’cause you do care about [them]. It needs to stay, but it's a matter of how you kind of do the back and forth — the dance — with the joy [from]...the memories you did have." Shum also noted that he continues to appreciate the show's signature new takes on songs, because it often leads to viewers discovering completely new music or a version of a tune they can appreciate. They might learn more about the original because they heard it from the New Directions. "Whether it's better or not better than the original, I think what happens, it's more of what emotional attachment you had to that, which makes it better, right?" Shum said. https://ew.com/harry-shum-jr-reflect...eaths-11685765 Attached Images