'Glee's' Darren Criss on Klaine's Future, Plus the Couple's Deleted Christmas Scene (Video)

FOX

"Glee's" Darren Criss

Glee's Darren Criss hasn't made it a secret that he's looking forward to some new conflict for Blaine and Kurt heading into Glees fourth season.

With Kurt (Chris Colfer) having graduated from McKinley and Criss' Blaine now a senior member at New Directions, the story line already has an inherent conflict built in, the actor tells The Hollywood Reporter.

"Challenge is good for any relationship," Criss says. "So whether or not it ultimately is staying together or staying apart, I think it's good for both of them to have some kind of medium factor in their lives."

STORY: 'Glee' Season 4: Rachel's Rude Roommate, Hope for Samcedes and More Spoilers from the Cast

While producers have said Kurt will open the season at McKinley High after failing to gain acceptance to his dream college NYADA, Criss says the inherent challenges that come with life after high school are not only realistic but also good for the fan favorite couple.

"They're kind of verging on an old married couple path right now," Criss says with a laugh of the couple, with Kurt sticking around McKinley to help Mr. Schuester (Matthew Morrison) repopulate New Directions.

With so many faces having graduated -- farewell Rachel (Lea Michele), Finn (Cory Monteith), Mercedes (Amber Riley) and Santana (Naya Rivera) -- Criss said his recent return to the choir room to begin production on Season 4 has been very different.

"Not having everybody in the choir room is strange; it's different energy, but we're just happy to still be there," said Criss, who joined Glee in its second season. "It's a different show now you're meeting the new people, the younger kids and it's very exciting to see how they fit in."

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Indeed, while several seniors moved on from McKinley -- all 15 of the series' Season 3 stars are expected to return in some capacity -- Glee has already added four fresh faces, including Puck's (Mark Salling) younger half-brother Jake Puckerman in Jacob Artist and Dean Geyer, who will play Brody Weston, a potential love interest for Rachel on the New York side of the series. Becca Tobin and Melissa Benoist will recur as new students at McKinley.

"I'm excited for their adventures and how they're going to play things out; I still consider myself the new guy," Criss said, noting part of the fun of Season 4's dual location story lines is seeing new locations for the cast to explore.

"I can see more of the world that these people live in," he said. "It's bigger, better, stronger and faster and I have a lot of cool stuff happening."

STORY: Three-Time Mentor Darren Criss Previews His 'Glee Project' Return

Among the "cool stuff," Criss teased that there will be some songs performed on the show that won't be a total shocker to fans of the show -- and summer music.

"There will be some songs that feel like this is not a surprise at all," he said with a laugh. "Just do the math, popular summer songs, and then you hear them and you're like oh yeah. This really isn't shocking." "Call Me Maybe," anyone?

Hit the comments with your thoughts what you'd like to see for Klaine's future and in the meantime, check out the deleted scene from Glee's Christmas episode featuring Blaine's holiday gift to Kurt.

Glee's fourth season returns Thursday, Sept. 13 at 9 p.m.on Fox.

Email:Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter:@Snoodit

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NBC's 'Hannibal' Sets 'Wonderfalls' Reunion: Caroline Dhavernas Joins as Series Regular

Caroline Dhavernas and Aaron Abrams

NBC's Hannibal has set the stage for a Wonderfalls reunion, tapping star Caroline Dhavernas as a series regular and adding L.A. Complex'sAaron Abrams for a recurring role.

Dhavernas will board the series as Dr. Alana Bloom, a psychology professor at the University of Chicago who also works as a consultant profiler for the FBI, while Abrams will play Brian Zeller, one of three crime scene investigators working with the agency.

Based the books by Thomas Harris,James Bond villainMads Mikkelsenwill play the psychiatrist-turned-serial killer in the 13-episode dramatic take fromPushing DaisiescreatorBryan Fuller.Hugh Dancy(The Big C) stars as Will Graham, the criminal profiler who is on the hunt for a serial killer with the FBI and enlists Dr. Lecter's help with the case.

Wonderfalls star Dhavernas' character is an academic who does her best to keep her work at a strict intellectual distance from her private life, who knows that Will is spectacularly gifted at this kind of work -- but believes he needs to keep many many firewalls between himself and the murderers he hunts. An honest, direct woman who would like to be Will'sfriend, she fears that Jack Crawford's recruitment of Will Graham might place Will in harm's way. She ends up coming to Langley to be Will's protector, and inadvertently falls for Jack

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Abrams' Brian is a medical school graduate and tech geek who uses forensic evidence and clues from victims' corpses to determine how they died and who could be responsible. He's astounded by the absurdity of the serial killer's tactics and amazed with Will's insight into the killer's mind.

They join a cast that also includesLaurence Fishburne, who will recur as Jack Crawford, the head of the FBI's behavioral science unit.

Dhavernas, whose credits also include ABC's Off the Map, is repped by Gersh.

Repped by Characters Talent Agency and David Dean Management, Abrams' credits include the Julia Roberts-produced feature Jesus Henry Christ and ABC's Rookie Blue.

Fuller will write and executive produce alongsideMartha De Laurentiis(Red Dragonand the big-screen featureHannibal),Sara Colleton(Showtime'sDexter),Jesse Alexander(Lost) andKatie O'Connell. David Sladewill direct and exec produce the NBC-Gaumont International Television co-production.

Fuller told fans at Comic-Con this month that he has seven seasons mapped out forHannibal. "Season 1 is the bromance, Season 2 the horrible breakup," he teased of the retelling ofHarris' 1981 novelRed Dragon.

Email:Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter:@Snoodit

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'Touch' Adds Daughter for Maria Bello, War Buddy for Kiefer Suthlerland (Exclusive)

Saxon Sharbino and Greg Ellis

Kiefer Sutherland and Maria Bello are going on the hunt together.

When the second season of Fox's Touch returns, Martin (Sutherland) will work with Lucy (Bello) as the pair -- with Jake (David Mazouz) -- search to find Amelia, Lucy's missing and especially gifted daughter.

Saxon Sharbino, who starred in Fox's untitled Karyn Usher pilot earlier this year, has joined the cast as a series regular to play Amelia, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.

In addition, Days of Our Lives alum Greg Ellis has also boarded the second-year drama from Heroes' Tim Kring for a multiple-episode arc playing Trevor Wilcox, Martin's old war correspondent buddy.

PHOTOS: Broadcast TV's Returning Shows 2012-13

Touch marks a reunion for Sharbino and Ellis. The young actress starred on the Usher drama, which Fox passed on in May, as the orphaned 14-year-old daughter of a CIA operative encounters a mysterious rogue agent/assassin (Julian McMahon) who serves as both her surrogate father and professional mentor in the spy world.Angela Bassett co-starred with Ellis recurring.

Sharbino is repped WME and ROAR; Ellis is with Pakula/King & Associates.

Touch's second season returns in its new night and time on Friday, Oct. 26 at 8 p.m. on Fox.

Email:Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter:@Snoodit

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'X Factor' Winner Melanie Amaro Premieres New Single (Audio)

Nino Munoz / FOX

Eight months after her victory on The X Factor, Melanie Amaro has released her first single, "Don't Fail Me Now."

The song, written by Livvi Franc (who's also written forBritney Spears, Michael Jackson) and produced by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins (a veteran ofLady Gaga andBritney Spears tracks), is the first song from her soon-to-be released debut on Epic Records. It is described as an uplifting account of Amaro's road to success, with the lyrics: "I've paid my dues, I've paid the price, I've prayed for you almost every night...I've walked the longest road so don't fail me now, feet don't fail me now."

The 20-year-old, who won the $5 million prize as well as a record deal with Epic Records/Syco, collaborated with several producers, including Tricky Stewart (Beyonce, Rihanna, Mariah Carey, and Justin Bieber), on the project.

"I am really proud to have Melanie Amaro on the Epic Records rosted," said L.A. Reid. "As the winner of the first season of The X Factor she is a proven champion who is destined for success."

Simon Cowell echoed Reid's sentiments, and predicted big things for the Virgin Islands vocalist.

"She's someone who can sell records all over the world, and I think she's got longevity," he said. "She's got that star ability, and she's tough."

Since winning the singing competition, Amaro appeared in a Pepsi commercial alongside Elton John as she belted Aretha Franklin's "Respect." Amaro was also nominated for a Teen Choice Award in the category "Choice Female Reality TV Star."

The X Factor returns Sept. 12 with new judges Spears and Demi Lovato.

Listen to the new track, an upbeat pop tune (with a bit of auto-tune) below:

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TV Ratings: Gymnasts, Swimmers Drive Olympic Audience to 37.5 Million

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

NBC's coverage of the 2012 London Olympics continues to drive stronger numbers than Beijing four years ago -- despite the controversial delays. Fast affiliate ratings give the broadcast an average audience of 37.5 million and a 12.2 rating among adults 18-49.

Five nights in, London is up six percent in adults 18-49 (11.2 rating) and 13 percent in total viewers (35.3 million) over Beijing.

PHOTOS: London 2012: Famous Faces at the Olympics

Univision nabbed a second place finish in the demo with a 1.4 rating among adults 18-49 for the night, topping CBS' encores -- which brought in a 1.0 rating among adults 18-49 and 5.4 million viewers.

Two encores of MasterChef brought in a 0.9 rating among 18-49-ers for Fox. The network also averaged 2.2 million viewers.

PHOTOS: London 2012: Inside the Olympics Opening Ceremonies

ABC stacked its night with repeats as well, with the exception of ABC News' NY Med. Against the Olympic competition, the series dropped 45 percent to a 0.6 rating among adults 18-49. The network averaged a 0.6 demo rating and 2.6 million viewers.

A new episode of The L.A. Complex earned a 0.2 rating among adults 18-49 on The CW.

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Samuel L. Jackson's Olympic Tweets Continue With More Colorful Commentary

Even as NBC continues to earn demerits for its tape-delayed coverage of the London games, Samuel L. Jackson is making it worthwhile to tune in -- even if you know the medal outcomes.

After all, how else will you be able to decipher -- and laugh along with -- the Twitter play-by-play of the Oscar nominee, who gives what is by far the most colorful commentary imaginable, especially when it comes to 140-character text messages?

PHOTOS: London 2012: Inside the Olympics Opening Ceremonies

Here's a brief guide: Jackson is unabashedly pro-Team USA; he has great admiration for women athletes; he hates referees and judges; and he's not afraid to get competitive with fans and critics of his nuanced discussion.

Check out his commentary from Monday and Tuesday below, and then click over to re-live his long run of weekend play-by-play.

Just remember, some of these are NSFW due to language.

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'The Glee Project': Sizing Up the Final Five

Oxygen

"The Glee Project's" Aylin and Lily

[Warning: This story contains spoilers from Tuesday's episode of The Glee Project.]

Only two episodes stand between five young contestants and a role on Fox's Glee as Oxygen's The Glee Project turned the competition on its ear this week, sending home the show's biggest voice.

During Tuesday's "Romanticality" theme, Shanna -- the front-runner from Day 1 -- was sent packing after missing the chemistry mark during the group video with partner Aylin.

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In a shocking development, the duo -- along with the male front-runner Blake -- were selected for the Bottom 3 on Tuesday as all three thus far were widely deemed likely to make it to the finals. Shanna thus far had widely been considered most likely to win the competition and was the only one of the remaining six who had yet to perform for Ryan Murphy in a last-chance performance.

Despite knocking nailed Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger" out of the park, ultimately it was Murphy's seeming inability to see a role for the talented singer on the series that likely could have sealed her fate. Though her confession that she felt Michael should have been performing in the Bottom 3 in her place probably didn't help her.

Heading into next week's semi-finals, here's a look at the remaining five contenders, ranked from least likely to the favored to win based on the judges' comments in the competition thus far.

STORY: 'The Glee Project': Who the Final Contenders Could Play on 'Glee'

5. Michael: He's super sweet but has struggled mentally and in the studio. Even guest mentor Darren Criss noticed and gave him one the notes he's been given repeatedly -- being too stiff and over-thinking everything.

4. Ali: She can thank Blake for keeping her safe this week as he has a way of bringing out amazing chemistry with whomever he's paired with (we miss you, Nellie). The judges biggest criticism of her thus far is that she's happy to always be happy -- even when she's not supposed to be happy, she's still happy.

3. Blake: Anders found his weakness this week -- harmony. After struggling in the studio, he was sent to the Bottom 3 where his take on R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion" was underwhelming. Our theory: Blake was safe this week because the show needed more than one guy in the final five since Shanna far outshined his Last Chance performance.

STORY: 'The Glee Project's' Nellie: 'I Was a Deer in Headlights'

2. Lily: Impressing vocal coach Nikki Anders in the studio is no small feat but she did just that this week, getting the tough judge to actually say as just as much to Murphy and company. She completely shifted the momentum in her favor this week when she killed in the studio and incorporated feedback from the judges when she worked with Michael and didn't try to outshine anyone during the group performance. Now that is adaptability.

1. Aylin: Murphy likes that she comes with a prepackaged story line. She's a strong Muslim woman who isn't afraid to buck her heritage -- and flirt with boys (or even girls after her performance with Shanna this week). Without Shanna in the picture, she's now got the best voice on the show. If she can keep her snippy feelings for Lily in check, she should continue to win the judges over.

Who's your favorite of the final five? Hit the comments with your thoughts. Next week, Glee's Dianna Agron pops in for the semi-finals, with Chris Colfer set for the finale. The Glee Project airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on Oxygen.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit

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