Q.  Let me ask you, from the start of the competition,

did you feel like you were ready for Glee or did that evolve?

Blake Jenner:  I mean, it definitely evolved. I mean, I think

from the beginning we all felt like amateurs, you know, I

definitely did, you know, and I learned a lot through singing

as the competition went on. So I definitely feel like it evolved.

Like, once I hit, I think, the middle of the second half of

competition, I think then, like, we all felt like we were,

like, getting to that point where we all felt ready for Glee.

Q.  Well, how much of a risk did you feel you were taking by reading

the poem at the end?

Blake Jenner:  I mean, it was a - I think it was a risk because it was either a hit or miss.

Like, that was the last chance I had to show Ryan who I was and that there were

different levels of me. Not just through the poem but just, like, in general. Like, that

poem is just the start of the levels of me that he could see eventually. And it was

either hit or miss, I think. It was either the poem was going to work or the was

going to flop so, I mean, I definitely thought it was a risk going in but it was the

last chance that I had and I was totally going to take it.

Q.  And just one last question for you, now that it’s over, what do you feel is your

biggest breakthrough moment on the show?

Blake Jenner:  I think my biggest breakthrough moment on the show I think was - I think “Actability”. I think,

you know, for myself because that’s my favorite episode of everything, “Actability” because we all did, like,

a - I think we all did a great job as, like, a unit, you know, getting the right emotions, like, displayed and all

that stuff. But, I think that “Actability” is definitely a standout moment for me because I got to show, you

know, my roots. I got to show, like, what, you know - because everybody else had studies music

throughout their whole lives but I’d studied acting. So I got to show what I’ve been showing. So, yes, I

definitely think “Actability”.

Q.  Can you describe for me that moment when Ryan said you were the winner? Like, what was going through your minds?

Blake Jenner:  Oh, man. It was honestly - I couldn’t even think. I couldn’t breathe. My mind was racing. I honestly did not think

I was going to win. I thought that I had - fought until the end but I honestly thought that the two girls next to me - they had stories

that you could see right when you look at them. Like, you know, just by looking at them you’ll see their stories and you’ll see

how their storylines could play out. Mine, you’d really, like, have to get in depth but I honestly thought they were going to win.

And when I said my - I was getting ready to turn to them and, like, hug them because I thought for sure they were going to

win and when he said my name, I couldn’t even, like, think because it was just like a dream come true. Like, this is something

that I’ve been working towards since my first acting class when I was really, really young.

I mean, I just can’t explain it. It was better - the best feeling that I’ve ever had. I mean, when I jumped I think I almost flew out

of happiness because I got really, really high. But, I was just amazing and the best moment of my life, honestly.

Q.  Do you know anything about the character you’re playing? Is there anything you can tell us?

Blake Jenner:  I have no idea at all and I think that it’s going to be a surprise to everyone including myself because I have no idea at

all. The only thing that I know is that Ryan tweeted the night of the finale it said, “Oh, who will The Glee Project 2 winner be?

Writing such a great role for the winner and just wait until you see who they are dating.” And when I saw it, I was like whoa,

who am I going to be dating. So the only thing that I know is that I’m possibly dating someone, so that’s really, really exciting,

but I know nothing else.

Q.  What song would you like to song on the show?

Blake Jenner:  I’d love to sing, like, “The Way You Make Me Feel” by Michael Jackson. I’d love to, like, dance out that song

because that’s the type of dancing that I grew up with, is watching Michael Jackson and loving his music. And also, like a Gavin

DeGraw song. I’d love to do “Not Over You” or a song by my favorite band, The Cab. So those top - those three choices for

sure. Hopefully (unintelligible) a song by one of those guys.

Q.  You guys all seemed to get really close during the show, do you still keep in touch with the other contestants.

Blake Jenner:  Oh, yes, yes, yes, I talk to Michael a lot. I talk to Abraham a lot. I talk to Nellie a lot. Everybody, I think is -

for the most part, everyone’s living in Los Angeles, so we’re right by each other now. So, Lily just moved out, like yesterday

she officially got here. And, yes, we’re all keeping in touch, for sure.

Q.  What’s the most important thing that you took away from the whole experience?

Blake Jenner:  I think the most important thing that I took away from the whole experience, and this is something that I always

told myself to keep in mind, but throughout this experience I actually used it was, definitely never to get negative and always

stay - like, just go with the positive because every week, I mean, I just had faith. And no matter how bad things were getting

or no matter how, like, bad I was at certain points or something if I was going through a hard time, I just had to stay focused

and just stay positive, you know.

And, like, believe in your mind that, you know, and trust yourself as you’re doing, like, each activity, like the homework

assignment or the music video or even the last chance performance. Like, just trust yourself, trust your moves and just

allow yourself to break through. Definitely, that’s what I took from this experience.

Q.  You talked a little bit about the poem you read and how you thought it was a risk, did you think that reading that poem

put you over the top and gave you the win?

Blake Jenner:  I mean, I think didn’t anything in that moment. I mean, watching it, I’m just glad that I did it because win or

lose I feel like it showed me, you know. It finally gave me a chance, you know, not just to perform but it also gave me a

chance to just be me in front of them and gave me a chance. You know, because most of the time, you’re getting questions,

you know, when you just finished a song. You’re getting some questions before they say okay, thank you.

But this time I actually got a chance to speak my mind and, you know, they asked me if I had any last minute words and I

was like, yes and I wrote something. So, I’m really glad that I did it because I do feel like it helped, but I think win or lose,

it just showed me for the world to see and to just know exactly who I am and what I’ve been through. So...

Q.  Right. And I know you don’t know what you’re Glee part is going to be but do you have sort of a dream character that

you’d like to play on Glee?

Blake Jenner:  I mean, I’d love to be, like, a, you know, like, a leader for the choir room and just to - I’d love to be on the

football team, that’d be amazing. But, I’d love to be in the choir room and I’d love to be that go to guy for everyone. But

I’d also be that - love to be that guy that, you know, he’s there for everyone but he’s also got some stuff - some skeletons

in his closet, you know.

He’s also got some stuff in his life going on that he just doesn’t want to open up because he’s so used to being there for

everyone but he’s not used to having someone - have to vent to someone. So I’d love to have - be that guy who’s there

 for everyone but he’s got something going on in his life that secretly, you know, you don’t know what’s going on but

eventually they boil up and then people just have to accept - like, to help him - to final help him after he’s helped everyone.

Q.  Right. That’d be great. What do you think it is that Ryan Murphy saw in you that made him pick you?

Blake Jenner:  I mean, I think in me, Ryan Murphy just saw - I don’t know. I mean, he had told me, you know, obviously,

they’d say oh, they said oh, I enjoyed - I appreciate you leading man quality and your leadership. So I think Ryan saw

that in me. I think he saw that Finn is leaving and he needs - he doesn’t need Finn. Like, he doesn’t need a Finn number

two, but he - but I think he thought that might need someone of that, like a branch of that. You know, like, maybe

someone who has the same type of feel. Like, you know he’s there for everyone.

But, I mean, he might’ve seen that I would be able to do my best to adapt to anything, like, if they were to give me a script

with a really heave thing. Like, if someone would have died or something like - or something really heavy is going on in my

life, I think he saw - especially through “Actability” (unintelligible) - I think he saw that I would want to do that. Like, I wouldn’t

be afraid to embody any character that they would give me. So, I think he saw that.

Q.  So, which challenge was your - was the hardest challenge for you and which one was your favorite?

Blake Jenner:   Oh, which challenge was hardest for me? I would say slushies because - I’m going to say two things. Two things

were the hardest, slushies because it felt like you were getting slapped by a snowman in the face and it was crazy. I mean, it was

so cold. When we’re getting slushied, I couldn’t feel, like the left side of my body. Like, it was like the more I got slushied, the

more I went numb and it was crazy and it hurt.

But also, what was a little bit harder that I would take slushies over this is the obstacle course. And I think to some people it don’t

look like much but the more we did it and with the sweat - these sweat suits we were wearing and all that stuff, like, you know, it

was intense. And I lost so much energy and by the time it was over I really felt like I was going to, like, faint because I had to,

like, chug waters and just, like relax. I couldn’t even move. So, definitely those two.

Q.  And then which one was your favorite?

Blake Jenner:  Oh, my favorite? It’s definitely “Actability”, but I also loved the homework assignment during “Fearlessness” with

the rap song. I really, really loved that and I had a lot of fun with that. That was probably the most fun homework assignment that

we ever got to do. But...

Q.  Oh, that was...

Blake Jenner:  ...”Actability” for sure because - oh (unintelligible) “Actability” for sure as well because, I mean, I just love acting.

My passion is acting. When I got to do what I love to do most and it was a great time - best time.

Q.  Well, it seemed like you had a lot of fun with those challenges.

Blake Jenner:  Oh, say that one more time.

Q.  It seemed like you had a lot of fun with those challenges.

Blake Jenner:  Oh, yes, they were so fun. I think all of us had a great time. Like, it was - this is what it was like, it was hard because

we were away from our family and stuff but it was the best time of our lives, hands down. Like, I’ll never forget this (unintelligible)

and I’ll never want to trade it for anything.

Q.  So what was it like seeing yourself on TV?

Blake Jenner:  Oh, it was so weird. Each time I popped up I was like all right, don’t be a douche bag, don’t be a douche bag,

don’t be a douche bad, don’t be a douche bag because I’m just so afraid -- because, I mean, there’s interviews there that I

don’t - because we had done so many interviews that I didn’t even remember. And I’d come up and I’d just say these things

and I’m just, like, ooh, okay, okay. I was, like, you didn’t say anything that makes you look like a douche, all right, cool.

I’m like, I don’t want people to think I’m a douche. And then I’d see myself, you know, I’d see - you know, just looking at

myself, it’s just weird. It’s so weird and I think we ran into a fan in New York the other day and it’s funny because I used to

think the same things about people that I would watch on TV and she was like, oh my gosh, they’re actually real people. Like,

they’re real in person.

She was talking, like, the top five because we were in New York and I was just, like, I looked and Lily and I was like, that’s

exactly what I would say about people, like, if I ever saw them. I’d be like, I cannot believe they’re real. Like, I think - out in

Los Angeles I’ve seen like I walk past or I’ve seen them in the car, like, a few, like, actors and it’s just, like, whoa. I mean,

I’ve watched your TV shows, I’ve watched your movies and you’re actually real. That’s - they did not create you, that’s

insane. So it was really funny to have that woman say that.

Q.  That’s so funny. So, what made you audition in the first place?

Blake Jenner:  Oh, I mean, what made me audition in the first place, first of all, I mean, I was auditioning a lot here in Los

Angeles but nothing was happening. It wasn’t - I guess it wasn’t - it just wasn’t my time and I was just eating Ramen noodles

and, like, fighting to survive because Ramen, it doesn’t - it’s not - I don’t think it’s very, like, it’s not something you want to east off

of. But I was living off it...

Q.  Likewise.

Blake Jenner:  ...and it was - yes - and it was - I mean, I was losing weight and I was fighting to survive and, you know, I -

sometimes I had, like, $5 to my name, so I’d use $2 for food at the dollar store and use $3 for gas and vice versa. Maybe I’ll use...

Q.  Oh, my God.

Blake Jenner:  $3 for food and $2 for gas, it was insane. But, when The Glee Project auditions came around, I thought it was so -

such, like, a lucky, like a great thing because, I mean, I’d have to go in this audition and give it a short. And what really made we

want to audition was, you know, I - obviously, I had the biggest passion for acting. I love acting and it’s been my one true since

I was a kid. But also the fact that the second that I watched Glee with my brother, you know, right when it came out years ago,

I loved it. I fell in love with it and I saw myself there.

I mean, I really wanted to be there with those guys and just tackle some issues that happened in high schools and I could relate to

everyone in (unintelligible). And especially, like Finn and Artie and, like, Blaine, all the - with all their faults and everything. I mean,

I just loved every character, so it was definitely my love for Glee and my passion for acting that definitely, like, drove me to

audition for The Glee Project for sure.

Q.  I was just wondering what you think of people saying that you’ll be kind of the replacement Finn next season?

Blake Jenner:  Well, I don’t think that that’s the truth at all. I mean, I think that, you know, I’ll be there and I hope that I can be,

like, you know, the go to guy in the choir room. But, I don’t think I’ll be - nobody could ever replace any character on Glee, I

don’t think. I don’t think anybody could replace anybody. I think everybody’s their own and that character is there to stay,

whether they’re on the episode or not or if their spirit’s just in the choir room or anything.

So I don’t think anybody could ever replace Finn. But, I don’t think that - I mean, I hope - at least I hope that I can be that go

to guy in the choir room that everybody can, like, lean on if they’re feeling sad or if they could vent to. But also, a guy that would

fight for their friends and, you know, really look out for them and also who - he has emptions too. Like, he’s not perfect. Like,

he’s got skeletons in his closet that, you know, that he’s just so used to now, you know, getting into his self that he doesn’t

have anyone to vent to.

He just allows - he just loves for people to vent to him but he has his own stuff going on. So you don’t know what he’s

going on at home, what his personal life is like and then eventually it comes out and you see that he is someone with faults

and vulnerabilities and sometimes he just, you know, wants to be alone because he, you know, he has things in his life that

bother him.

So I definitely would love to be that go to guy but with different levels but different from Finn. You know, not the same guy

and I don’t think anybody could replace Finn.

Q.  Sounds pretty deep. But what if Ryan writes you a character that’s totally different from that? What if he writes you someone

that you think is really just the opposite of that kind of go to guy in the choir?

Blake Jenner:  Oh, well I think it’d be amazing as well because I think the best part of acting is being able to play different characters.

Like, it - that’s the juice right there. I think that’s what everybody loves to do. I don’t think anybody goes into acting only wanting to

play someone who’s like themselves.

I think actors love to play other characters and explore that character, explore that person that they’re not like and study that person

and research that person and just embody that person on set. So, I would totally love it. I would love it if Ryan made me anybody.

I mean, if he gave me a completely different type of person, I would love it and I would do my best.

Q.  Have you had a chance to meet any of the other actors yet?

Blake Jenner:  Oh, on Glee?

Q.  Yes.

Blake Jenner:  I mean, I think the only people that - I mean, we all met them on the finale but I’ve spoken to a little bit - I’ve

spoken a little bit to Samuel and Damian just because we’ve been at the same events for, like, The Glee Project a couple times.

Q.  Yes.

Blake Jenner:  And they have nothing but great advice and great tips. You know, they’re the nicest guys and all they just say is just go

have fun, don’t worry too much and just stay yourself. That’s definitely one they said. They said, don’t change and just go and be

yourself and have fun with everyone. And just have a good time and get everything done in an awesome way. So, I can’t wait.

Q.  Oh, cool. That’s great to hear. Well, my question is kind of Broadway related because you’ve been saying how acting is

really your true love and I know that there’s such a strong connection between Glee and Broadway. I was wondering if that’s

something that you aspire to as some point in your future, appearing either in live on stage, not necessarily Broadway but,

possibly Broadway.

Blake Jenner:  Oh, well, I mean, I did high school plays in, like, high school and middle school, so I love theatre. I love acting, I

love all aspects of acting but I think, you know, theatre and film and television they’re all completely different beasts and I think

theatres amazing. So, I mean, I would never fight it. If I had an opportunity to be in a play in the future, oh, for sure or in

a musical, that’s even better because musicals are so fun. So I would definitely so that. I definitely see myself possibly, you

know, dipping my feet in those waters. I’d love to do that.

Q.  That’s great. And, do you feel that’s going to be hard to bring the signing aspect into your acting career for Glee? Will

that be challenging for you?

Blake Jenner:  No, I don’t think I’ll be challenging now, because I mean, you know, the competition’s done and everybody’s

able to just be themselves and just to feel at ease and to feel calm, you know, the hard part’s over. And...

Q.  Right.

Blake Jenner:  ...I think that now it’s, you know, it’s going to be comforting being - there’s going to be people that are just willing to

work with me and when you get the right (unintelligible) and, you know, I’m going to be doing my absolute best. I’m going to be

fighting (unintelligible) get exactly what they want and exactly what they need. And I just feel like it’s going to be very easy going

and I’m really, really excited about it. And I’m going to look into getting some - I’m going to look into some vocal lesson probably

just to get some breathing exercising down. But, for Glee, I’m so excited and I think it’s all going to - just going to be good fun.

Q.  So, you said that we didn’t see a lot of your personal story as easily as Ali and Aylin. So what is one of the things that we

should know about your personal story that we didn’t get to see on the show.

Blake Jenner:  I’ve definitely gone through a lot. I mean, by looking at Ali, you know what she’s gone through and by looking at

Aylin you know what she’s gone through. But, with me, I mean, I’ve gone through a lot of hard times. You know, sometimes that

were tough on the family, sometimes there were tough in school. You know, I was bullied a lot in junior high and you wouldn’t

know that by just looking at me and I’ve shed a lot of tears in my life. And I don’t think you get to see my vulnerable side. So

I’ve had a lot of vulnerability - I’ve had a lot of vulnerable moments in my life, for use. Like, that’s number one.

Q.  Okay, great. I really love the perfect trailer, your actability piece. And I’m wondering has there been any...

Blake Jenner:  Oh, that’s my favorite one.

Q.  Has there been any talk about turning that into a full-fledged movie, because I would be first in line.

Blake Jenner:  Oh, well, me too. I would be there with you, we’d probably go together. I’d be first in line with you. But, I

wish, I mean, that would be amazing. I know that a lot of fans have demanded that we create an actually move and that

would be amazing. I mean, I don’t know if that’s going to happen, but that would a dream come true, I think, for all of us.

We would love to shoot a move about perfect - about that trailer. Oh, that’d be amazing.

Q.  Yes, I’m telling you, I would definitely be there. And I don’t think...

Blake Jenner:  I’ll be there too. I’ll get the popcorn and you get the Icees and we’ll totally do it.

Q.  Okay, definitely. And I won’t throw any at you. And I don’t think you could ask...

Blake Jenner:  Okay, please don’t.

Q.  ...for a better 20th birthday gift, since you birthday’s coming up in a couple of weeks. So how do you plan to

celebrate turning 20?

Blake Jenner:  Well, I’m going to be visiting home from the 21st to the 26th. I’m going to be visiting Miami, so I’m going to be

there for - and then I’m going to come back to LA for the 27th for my birthday. But, it’s going to be nice to, like, see my family.

So I’m definitely, definitely using that free time to go see my family , go see - go cut a cake maybe, just have fun with my family,

see my parents, see my brothers, see my dogs, everybody. And yes, I just can’t wait. I think that’s definitely how I’m going to

celebrate my birthday, just being with the people that I love, for sure.

Q.  So, what was it like keeping it on the down low when you were tweeting everybody but you knew what was happening

in the episodes?

Blake Jenner:  Oh, I mean - you mean, like the secret of the show, like, that I won?

Q.  Yes.

Blake Jenner:  Oh, it was insane. I mean, it was crazy. I’d tell everybody it looks like in Harry Potter when they don’t say Voldemort,

that’s exactly how it was. And I think that it was just the biggest secret but I think we all knew - we all knew, it wasn’t hard for us to

keep it a secret because we all knew how much we loved the show and how important it was for the show.

And we all knew it was just - it was taboo to, like, say anything. So we were all really, really good in that aspect.

But I think also, that it was really tough. It was tough for me not to tell my brothers. It was hard for me not to tell all of my family. It

was crazy and everybody - one of my best friends, (Russell), he was always calling me up. He’s in Virginia but he was always calling

me up saying, oh tell me, you won didn’t you. Wait, you didn’t. No, you didn’t. Oh, man I’m sorry you didn’t. Wait, did you. And he

was always, like, asking me question over question over question over question and it was just hard. I mean, I wish I could’ve told

everyone but also I just wanted to keep it a surprise for everyone because it was easy in some ways and then it’s definitely hard in

most ways.

Q.  That sounds crazy to have to hold it to yourself.

Blake Jenner:  Oh, yes, it’s crazy.

Q.  And then, what have you learned about yourself throughout the competition?

Blake Jenner:  About myself I’ve learned that - I definitely learned to always - like I said before - just to always stay positive, definitely.

But, never second guess yourself, I think I learned that. And I also learned about myself that I don’t - I definitely don’t see myself as the

best singer at all.

I mean, I think Aylin and Ali were amazing but, I think, you definitely just have to have that confidence and I think I did my best to stay

confident, the most I’ve ever been, on The Glee Project. So I think confidence is really important and I think positivity’s really, really

important. So, those are the two things that I learned definitely throughout this experience.

Q.  Yes, they are very important. What other contestant did you connect the most with?

Blake Jenner:   Oh, what other contestant did I - say that one more time?

Q.  What other contestant did you connect the - have the most relationship with?

Blake Jenner:  Oh, I think - oh, my gosh, it’s such a hard decision but I definitely think I connected with Nellie and Michael and I talked to

Abraham a lot, so definitely Abraham, those three. I mean, I can talk to them about anything, you know, and they’ll give me their honest

opinions and they really do care and I love that about them.

CONFERENCE CALL