Photo: Mark Sullivan/WireImageJenna Ushkowitzis remembering her lateGleecostarNaya Rivera.The 36-year-old actress shared her emotional reaction to rewatching Rivera’s performance of “I Say A Little Prayer” — which also featuredHeather MorrisandDianna Agron—while cohosting the latest episode of the recap podcastAnd That’s What You REALLY MissedwithKevin McHale.“This is the first time I felt we really saw Naya in the show and I fully burst into tears,” she shared. “I fully burst into tears.“She admitted that watching the Fox musical series following Rivera’sdeath in 2020was going to be “an interesting, hard time” but added, “It’s also like watching her in her element also, [which] is joyous too.““She and Heather were just dancing their little hearts out,” McHale, 34, added.However, McHale — who played Artie Abrams on the beloved series — revealed that he has yet to shed tears while rewatching Rivera portray Santana Lopez on screen.“You had warned me about that, the crying, so I was prepared but I think because there hasn’t been too much yet of Santana, I’m sorta keeping it at bay,” he explained. “I know it’s going to get bad.“Frazer Harrison/GettyRiverawas pronounceddead in July 2020 after being reported missing amid her boating trip with son Josey at Lake Piru in Ventura County, California. Her body was recovered days later, and the Ventura County Medical Examiner later ruledher cause of death as an accidental drowning. She was 33.Earlier this month, Ushkowitz and McHale opened up to PEOPLE about howthe sudden passing of Rivera influenced their decisionto end their former podcastShowmanceand start a new fresh with a new one.“Jenna and I initially had started a podcast that was just about co-workers who became best friends, and we met a lot of interesting people like that,” McHale said. “But we quickly realized people just wanted to know aboutGlee.““It was at the very beginning of the [rise of] rewatch podcasts,” he continued. “We started doing it, but it wasn’t necessarily a well-thought-out, well-intentioned, well-researched take on it. We were just like, ‘Let’s just do it.’ And then after Naya’s passing, we decided we don’t want to do this anymore.““I think once Naya passed,” said Ushkowitz, who played Tina Cohen-Chang, “there was a reckoning of sorts for all of us in many, many ways.“Naya Rivera.David Livingston/Getty ImagesNearly one month later, McHaleshared on TwitterthatShowmancewould release episodes “that were pre-recorded” in June 2020. He also indicated that they’d be taking a break thereafter. Thelast episodepremiered on Aug. 6, 2020.But iHeartRadio eventually approached McHale and Ushkowitz about doing an all-new podcast. According to McHale, the two former costars “had long conversations about it.““I think maybe we sort of found each other at a perfect time,” he added. “It just seemed to work out.“Ushkowitz added: “We were in a different place with [co-creator]Ryan [Murphy], different place with the show. iHeart came and it was like, ‘Yes, absolutely.’ So I feel like the stars aligned in a way, and we were like, ‘We’re going to do it right this time.’ We’re really, really excited about this one.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.iHeartRadio is dropping new episodes ofAnd That’s What You REALLY Missedweekly across multiple podcast platforms.
Photo: Mark Sullivan/WireImage
Jenna Ushkowitzis remembering her lateGleecostarNaya Rivera.The 36-year-old actress shared her emotional reaction to rewatching Rivera’s performance of “I Say A Little Prayer” — which also featuredHeather MorrisandDianna Agron—while cohosting the latest episode of the recap podcastAnd That’s What You REALLY MissedwithKevin McHale.“This is the first time I felt we really saw Naya in the show and I fully burst into tears,” she shared. “I fully burst into tears.“She admitted that watching the Fox musical series following Rivera’sdeath in 2020was going to be “an interesting, hard time” but added, “It’s also like watching her in her element also, [which] is joyous too.““She and Heather were just dancing their little hearts out,” McHale, 34, added.However, McHale — who played Artie Abrams on the beloved series — revealed that he has yet to shed tears while rewatching Rivera portray Santana Lopez on screen.“You had warned me about that, the crying, so I was prepared but I think because there hasn’t been too much yet of Santana, I’m sorta keeping it at bay,” he explained. “I know it’s going to get bad.“Frazer Harrison/GettyRiverawas pronounceddead in July 2020 after being reported missing amid her boating trip with son Josey at Lake Piru in Ventura County, California. Her body was recovered days later, and the Ventura County Medical Examiner later ruledher cause of death as an accidental drowning. She was 33.Earlier this month, Ushkowitz and McHale opened up to PEOPLE about howthe sudden passing of Rivera influenced their decisionto end their former podcastShowmanceand start a new fresh with a new one.“Jenna and I initially had started a podcast that was just about co-workers who became best friends, and we met a lot of interesting people like that,” McHale said. “But we quickly realized people just wanted to know aboutGlee.““It was at the very beginning of the [rise of] rewatch podcasts,” he continued. “We started doing it, but it wasn’t necessarily a well-thought-out, well-intentioned, well-researched take on it. We were just like, ‘Let’s just do it.’ And then after Naya’s passing, we decided we don’t want to do this anymore.““I think once Naya passed,” said Ushkowitz, who played Tina Cohen-Chang, “there was a reckoning of sorts for all of us in many, many ways.“Naya Rivera.David Livingston/Getty ImagesNearly one month later, McHaleshared on TwitterthatShowmancewould release episodes “that were pre-recorded” in June 2020. He also indicated that they’d be taking a break thereafter. Thelast episodepremiered on Aug. 6, 2020.But iHeartRadio eventually approached McHale and Ushkowitz about doing an all-new podcast. According to McHale, the two former costars “had long conversations about it.““I think maybe we sort of found each other at a perfect time,” he added. “It just seemed to work out.“Ushkowitz added: “We were in a different place with [co-creator]Ryan [Murphy], different place with the show. iHeart came and it was like, ‘Yes, absolutely.’ So I feel like the stars aligned in a way, and we were like, ‘We’re going to do it right this time.’ We’re really, really excited about this one.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.iHeartRadio is dropping new episodes ofAnd That’s What You REALLY Missedweekly across multiple podcast platforms.
Jenna Ushkowitzis remembering her lateGleecostarNaya Rivera.
The 36-year-old actress shared her emotional reaction to rewatching Rivera’s performance of “I Say A Little Prayer” — which also featuredHeather MorrisandDianna Agron—while cohosting the latest episode of the recap podcastAnd That’s What You REALLY MissedwithKevin McHale.
“This is the first time I felt we really saw Naya in the show and I fully burst into tears,” she shared. “I fully burst into tears.”
She admitted that watching the Fox musical series following Rivera’sdeath in 2020was going to be “an interesting, hard time” but added, “It’s also like watching her in her element also, [which] is joyous too.”
“She and Heather were just dancing their little hearts out,” McHale, 34, added.
However, McHale — who played Artie Abrams on the beloved series — revealed that he has yet to shed tears while rewatching Rivera portray Santana Lopez on screen.
“You had warned me about that, the crying, so I was prepared but I think because there hasn’t been too much yet of Santana, I’m sorta keeping it at bay,” he explained. “I know it’s going to get bad.”
Frazer Harrison/Getty
Riverawas pronounceddead in July 2020 after being reported missing amid her boating trip with son Josey at Lake Piru in Ventura County, California. Her body was recovered days later, and the Ventura County Medical Examiner later ruledher cause of death as an accidental drowning. She was 33.
Earlier this month, Ushkowitz and McHale opened up to PEOPLE about howthe sudden passing of Rivera influenced their decisionto end their former podcastShowmanceand start a new fresh with a new one.
“Jenna and I initially had started a podcast that was just about co-workers who became best friends, and we met a lot of interesting people like that,” McHale said. “But we quickly realized people just wanted to know aboutGlee.”
“It was at the very beginning of the [rise of] rewatch podcasts,” he continued. “We started doing it, but it wasn’t necessarily a well-thought-out, well-intentioned, well-researched take on it. We were just like, ‘Let’s just do it.’ And then after Naya’s passing, we decided we don’t want to do this anymore.”
“I think once Naya passed,” said Ushkowitz, who played Tina Cohen-Chang, “there was a reckoning of sorts for all of us in many, many ways.”
Naya Rivera.David Livingston/Getty Images
Nearly one month later, McHaleshared on TwitterthatShowmancewould release episodes “that were pre-recorded” in June 2020. He also indicated that they’d be taking a break thereafter. Thelast episodepremiered on Aug. 6, 2020.
But iHeartRadio eventually approached McHale and Ushkowitz about doing an all-new podcast. According to McHale, the two former costars “had long conversations about it.”
“I think maybe we sort of found each other at a perfect time,” he added. “It just seemed to work out.”
Ushkowitz added: “We were in a different place with [co-creator]Ryan [Murphy], different place with the show. iHeart came and it was like, ‘Yes, absolutely.’ So I feel like the stars aligned in a way, and we were like, ‘We’re going to do it right this time.’ We’re really, really excited about this one.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
iHeartRadio is dropping new episodes ofAnd That’s What You REALLY Missedweekly across multiple podcast platforms.
source: people.com
