'Glee' Creator Ryan Murphy Talks Masturbation, Says 'F You' Kings Of Leon

'Glee' is an idyllic look at a happy high school choir meant for children and their parents... except when the sex scenes kick in.

In a new profile in The Hollywood Reporter, 'Glee' creator and show runner Ryan Murphy opens up about his television musical juggernaut, including some of the not so PG moments in the show. He likes the risque, but sometimes, it gets a bit too much.

Talking about a Finn (Cory Monteith) masturbation scene (they may have meant the hot tub sex scene with him and then-girlfriend Quinn, or, instead, confused it with Jacob's library masturbation moment), Murphy said he may have gone a bit too far.

"I personally did not think it was too much, but I immediately heard from parents and even my gay friends who were like, 'I wasn't comfortable knowing that my 8-year-old niece in Maryland was watching that,'" Murphy told THR. "From now on, I will sweat every single word and how we're presenting it."

Potentially a good idea, according to recurring guest star Gwyneth Paltrow, who Murphy says warned him once the sexy GQ spread of the show's stars came out last fall.

"She said something like, 'Get ready.' It didn't cross my mind there would be this big controversy," Murphy said. "I think all parties involved learned a lesson about how parents look to the show as something inspirational and aspirational. We all realized that we have to be a little more careful when it comes to sexuality."

The one part of the show that irks the creator? When rock band Kings of Leon denied the show the right to use their songs.

"F--- you, Kings of Leon," Murphy relayed via the magazine. "They're self-centered assholes, and they missed the big picture. They missed that a 7-year-old kid can see someone close to their age singing a Kings of Leon song, which will maybe make them want to join a glee club or pick up a musical instrument. It's like, OK, hate on arts education. You can make fun of Glee all you want, but at its heart, what we really do is turn kids on to music."

For their part, the Kings of Leon didn't understand the controversy -- like some people just don't get Glee.

For so much more, including news on the show's Super Bowl episode and upcoming celebrity cameos, click over to The Hollywood Reporter.

Comments

[ppresa]

11:59 PM on 03/22/2011

what a joke!!!!!! how can you allow such a scene with 2 kids (male) kissing on national tv. I know we live in a free country however we need to follow the basic religion and ethical needs that we need to raise our childrean the way they can choose however in privet all can do what ever they please. If you have kids i recommed you put your money aside and think what is the right thing to do. Not sure how you got to be famous however think before you do such negotive things such as the seen you allowed. I for sure will never watch your show any longer. And not allow my childrean to watch it as well since they enjoyed it. I will make it a point to tell all my friends not to watch it as well.
Think before doing Ryan Murphy.
ciao

[DarkTruths]

07:27 PM on 01/28/2011

"Glee" may turn people on to music, but it's music watered down to "American Idol" standards. If I were in a rock band I wouldn't want my songs done like Broadway show tunes, which is pretty much what "Glee" does (or worse, elevator music). Despite the obvious talent of its cast, the presentation is so bland that real rock fans need difibrillation after hearing them whitewash a rock song.

[john6626]

01:57 PM on 01/28/2011

Ironic he used the f bomb to respond to being called out on using it with kids.

[sb250guy]

05:55 AM on 01/28/2011

Uh, I have never watched Glee and I don't know who the Kings Of Leon are (I'm in my 40's and live overseas). But I think any band certainly has the right to decide if they don't want their music used for any particular shaow (and for any reason). It's their music.

[gobamaaa]

10:42 PM on 01/27/2011

So very self-righteous.

[JustAnotherJohn]

08:35 PM on 01/27/2011

Murphy sounds a tad self-centered himself.

[AustinCynic]

07:46 PM on 01/27/2011

I say if it spared us a "Sex On Fire" set piece King of Leon did the nation a favor.

[South Side Chuy]

04:19 PM on 01/27/2011

GLEE brings out the bully in me. Wasn't a big fan of Kings of Leon before but I am now!!

[JustThisGuy]

05:30 PM on 01/27/2011

Why can't they say 'no thanks'? Perhaps they really like how their songs sound their way, and don't really want other people to cover it (and may have personal views about the voices of the cast), or don't want it mixed into the context of the show's story.

My sister works in indy-film, and has songs she would love to have in her movies, and many of them are just too expensive. It is not personal, but you don't always get to pick from every option you want.

[herewegoagain2]

03:25 PM on 01/27/2011

Who are these kings of what and why are they relevant? I don't get this so called controversy?

[Vixen Angel]

03:14 PM on 01/27/2011

Glee is way overrated!! Happy Kings of Leon said "no"!

[bessielil]

02:21 PM on 01/27/2011

Lately the problem with Glee? Too much music. It's getting waaay over produced. I'm missing the scenes with the other half of the school. You know. The alleged grownups? So many good story lines and talent being wasted or edited out. I'd hate to see Sue Sylvester's outrageous dialogue toned down to meet the level of a seven year old's understanding.

[dopamineboy]

01:58 PM on 01/27/2011

Some history:
August 2010- The Tennessee rockers recently told England’s NME that they said no to FOX’s singing juggernaut, having never watched the show.
"Apparently everybody loves it,” says bassist Jared Folowill. “We could have sold out so much more. We turn stuff down constantly,” says frontman Caleb.
Caleb previously turned down the offer to use their song "Closer" in one of the Twilight movies. The group also turned down requests from Ugly Betty.
Glee writer-producer Ryan Murphy recently claimed, only two artists had ever turned Glee down for song rights, and one of those did a turn-about. "My favorite rejection was Bryan Adams," Murphy said. "Coldplay and Bryan Adams were really the only rejections. But Coldplay called a week ago and said, 'We're sorry, you can have our catalog."

[jbh2009]

01:46 PM on 01/27/2011

**F** Glee, drama queen

[Ophie511]

11:06 AM on 01/27/2011

Am I misunderstanding this story? Or is the Glee creator really just mad at Kings of Leon for refusing to share their music? Every artist has the right to say no to Glee, and any artist that DOES say no is an artist that I applaud. Good for you, Kings of Leon.

[dopamineboy]

02:03 PM on 01/27/2011

No that I care about the band or the show, but how "shocking" for artists to turn down lucrative licensing offers. Maybe they don't want to have their tunes sung by a bunch of actors trying to play high school kids. And I'm still bummed about The Who selling out.

[Fredo777]

03:34 PM on 03/13/2011

Why should an artist be automatically applauded just for turning down a show when it could be for any arbitrary reason or even a bigoted one (in theory, that is)? Undeserved kudos, if you ask me.

[crossoverwriter]

10:02 AM on 01/27/2011

Glee's gone down the tubes with its lewdness. I deleted my tivo season pass.