Artie Abrams

Artie is introduced in "Pilot" as a guitar-playing member of the William McKinley High School glee club. He uses a wheelchair. He is constantly bullied by members of the school football team.{{cite episode |title=Pilot |episode-link=Pilot (Glee) |series=Glee |series-link=Glee (TV series) |credits=Ryan Murphy (director, writer), Brad Falchuk (writer), Ian Brennan (writer) |network=Fox |airdate=May 19, 2009|season=1 |number=1}} He is also in the school's jazz ensemble, and it is later revealed that he is in the A.V. Club and a member of the Academic Decathlon team as well.{{cite episode |title=A Night of Neglect|episode-link=A Night of Neglect|series=Glee |series-link=Glee (TV series) |credits=Carol Banker (director), Ian Brennan (writer)|network=Fox |airdate=April 19, 2011 |season=2 |number=17}} During preparations for the Sectionals round of show choir competition, Principal Figgins (Iqbal Theba) decrees that there is no money in the school budget to hire a handicap-accessible bus to transport the glee club. The other students hold a fund-raising bake sale, but although they make enough money to hire a bus, Artie requests that they donate it to the school to pay for more wheelchair ramps in order to benefit future students. He goes on a date with club member Tina Cohen-Chang (Jenna Ushkowitz), who stutters, and explains that he was left paralyzed following a car crash when he was eight years old. The two share a kiss, but Artie is hurt when Tina confesses she has been faking her speech impediment since the sixth grade.{{cite episode |title=Wheels |episode-link=Wheels (Glee)|series=Glee |series-link=Glee (TV series) |credits=Paris Barclay (director), Ryan Murphy (writer)|network=Fox |airdate=November 11, 2009 |season=1 |number=9}} He later forgives Tina, but makes sexist remarks about her fashion sense, demanding that she begin wearing skimpier clothes if she wants to be with him. Tina publicly confronts him for this behavior, and Artie apologizes; they kiss and become a couple.{{cite episode |title=The Power of Madonna|episode-link=The Power of Madonna|series=Glee |series-link=Glee (TV series) |credits=Ryan Murphy (director, writer)|network=Fox |airdate=April 20, 2010 |season=1 |number=15}}

When Tina learns that Artie's dream is to become a dancer, she asks him to perform in a tap dancing routine with her despite his paralysis, but their attempt fails miserably, and Artie asks Tina to leave. She later presents him with research on the progress of spinal cord injury treatments, raising Artie's hopes that he may soon be able to walk again, but guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury (Jayma Mays) reminds him that testing for these treatments will take many years. Artie comes to accept that he may never be a dancer, and tells Tina to choose another dance partner.{{cite episode |title=Dream On|episode-link=Dream On (Glee)|series=Glee |series-link=Glee (TV series) |credits=Joss Whedon (director), Brad Falchuk (writer)|network=Fox |airdate=May 18, 2010 |season=1 |number=19}} Artie is dismayed when New Directions lose at Regionals, but thankful for having been a member of the glee club, admitting that Tina was his first kiss.{{cite episode |title=Journey|episode-link=Journey (Glee)|series=Glee |series-link=Glee (TV series) |credits=Brad Falchuk (director, writer) |network=Fox |airdate=June 8, 2010 |season=1 |number=22}}

At the beginning of the second season, Artie asks Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith) to help him join the football team. He hopes to win back Tina, who has broken up with him to date Mike Chang (Harry Shum Jr.). The new football coach, Shannon Beiste (Dot-Marie Jones), believes that Finn is colluding against her by forcing her to reject a wheelchair-reliant student, and drops Finn from the team. After re-considering she accepts them both. Brittany Pierce (Heather Morris) pairs with Artie for the duets assignment and competition, and they start dating. Artie loses his virginity to Brittany, but before they compete Santana Lopez (Naya Rivera) tells him that Brittany only wanted him for his voice so she could win the competition. He is deeply upset that his first sexual experience was the consequence of such motivations, so he breaks up with Brittany and dissolves their partnership. Artie later realizes he wants her back, and with encouragement from Puck, they start a real relationship. Later, Artie confronts Brittany: he becomes upset that Brittany cannot recognize that she is cheating on him with Santana, and calls her stupid. Artie deeply regrets his words and tries to salvage their relationship, but she refuses.

At the beginning of the third season, Artie, now a junior, is asked to direct the school musical, West Side Story. Though assailed by self-doubt at the last minute, he is thanked by the cast, and he thanks them for trusting him. At the end of the school year, Artie and the others lead New Directions to victory at the Nationals competition. In the first episode of the fourth season, Artie chooses the new lead singer of New Directions, Blaine. Brittany runs for senior class president and picks Artie as her vice president, though they lose to Blaine and Sam. Finn returns to McKinley, and Artie visits him at work and asks him to help direct Grease, which Finn accepts. In the episode "Glee, Actually", after Artie injures himself on an icy ramp, he is angry and humiliated, and wishes he'd never had to be in a wheelchair. A subsequent dream, in which he imagines himself walking, but where New Directions failed to get off the ground without his presence, makes him realize his importance to the club. He began dating his underclassman and fellow glee club member Kitty Wilde (Becca Tobin) at the beginning of the fifth season, but broke up with her after he graduated in the mid season, right after the glee club was disbanded. He goes to a film school in New York.

In the final season, Artie, still at the film school, comes back to McKinley to help Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) recruit new members for the newly rebooted glee club. He occasionally returns to help the glee club during the season, and also attending Santana and Brittany's wedding. In "2009", the parallel episode to the "Pilot", it is revealed that he auditions for the glee club with the song "Pony", and that he (along with Tina) auditions because they were dared by their goth friends to do so. Artie is a successful film director as of the series finale, "Dreams Come True". His film, which stars Tina (who is also revealed to be his girlfriend), was accepted into Slamdance Film Festival in 2020. He returns to McKinley to attend a rededication to McKinley's auditorium to the late Finn Hudson and performs "I Lived" with former members of the New Directions for the final time and then takes a bow with the rest of the Glee cast.

File:Kevin McHale by Gage Skidmore.jpg

McHale auditioned for Glee coming from a boy-band background, having previously been a member of the quartet group NLT (Not Like Them) as one of two lead singers, with the song "Let It Be" by The Beatles.{{cite news| url= http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-gleestage26-2009apr26,0,1653470.story |title=Video: 'Glee' team rewrites the school musical |first=Denise |last=Martin |work= Los Angeles Times |date=April 26, 2009 |access-date=May 19, 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090501145233/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-gleestage26-2009apr26%2C0%2C1653470.story |archive-date=1 May 2009 |url-status=live }} He found it challenging to adapt to using a wheelchair, having to overcome the instinctive urge to dance along or tap his foot during musical performances. He found it difficult to watch his colleagues dancing while he used a wheelchair,{{cite web |url= http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/844/29/ |title=The Glee Geeks Poud of Their Gleekiness |last=Barron |first=Margie |date=September 17, 2009 |work= Entertainment Today |access-date=June 1, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091025235646/http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/844/29/ |archive-date=October 25, 2009 }} but still learned the same dance routines as the other cast members, and was able to stand in during rehearsals in the event of absences.{{cite web| url= http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/spinning_their_wheels_zv81BkmLdjAuHX1e5GQ7SK|title=Spinning their wheels|last=Albiniak|first= Paige |date= November 8, 2009 |work= New York Post |access-date=June 1, 2010}}

McHale performed in the 2010 Glee Live! In Concert! tour in character as Artie, remaining in a wheelchair during live performances. He used a wireless microphone headset instead of a regular wireless handheld microphone, as his hands were needed to control his wheelchair.{{cite web| url= https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2010-05-16-gleeonline17_N.htm|title='Glee' fans keep the faith as tour kicks off| last= Masley| first=Ed|date=May 16, 2010 |work= USA Today |access-date=May 16, 2010}} He performed in a wheelchair when the Glee cast were invited to perform at the White House for the Obama family and guests in April 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2010/04/gleeking-out-with-kevin-mchale.html|title=Yes, Glee's Kevin McHale Will Be White-Boy Rapping This Season| last=Berk|first=Brett|date=April 13, 2010|work=Vanity Fair| access-date=June 1, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100528052029/http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2010/04/gleeking-out-with-kevin-mchale.html| archive-date= 28 May 2010 | url-status= live}} McHale was able to utilize his dancing background in the episode "Dream On", in which Artie dances in a shopping mall during a fantasy flash mob sequence.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnewyork.com/blogs/popcornbiz/Its-a-Miracle-Kevin-McHale-Dances-on-Glee-94260509.html |title=It's a Miracle! Kevin McHale Dances on "Glee"|last=Alexander|first=Bryan| date= May 19, 2010 |website= nbcnewyork.com |publisher=WNBC| access-date= June 1, 2010}} He enjoyed the performance, but took time to pick up the choreography having spent so long working in a wheelchair.{{cite web |url= http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/popwrap/kevin_mchale_fJxjoKYGB7k1HuFD58KmcJ |title=Kevin McHale talks Glee finale, summer tour and ArTina |last=Wieselman |first= Jarett |date=May 18, 2010 |work= New York Post |access-date=June 1, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100523130908/http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/popwrap/kevin_mchale_fJxjoKYGB7k1HuFD58KmcJ |archive-date=May 23, 2010 }} Although McHale prefers contact lenses, he auditioned for the part wearing glasses to enhance the "nerd" element of Artie's personality, and thick glasses are became a part of his costume.

McHale describes Artie as a "nerd" who loves the glee club whole–heartedly and uses it as a form of escapism.{{cite web| url= http://starrymag.com/content.asp?ID=4319&CATEGORY=INTERVIEWS |title=Kevin McHale - Getting Glee |last=Steinberg |first=Jamie |date=May 2009 |work=Starry Constellation Magazine |access-date=June 2, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090908162812/http://starrymag.com/content.asp?ID=4319&CATEGORY=INTERVIEWS |archive-date=September 8, 2009 }} He believes that Artie has more confidence than he himself possesses, explaining: "I think he knows who he is and he doesn't care what anyone thinks."{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/s57/glee/news/a218779/kevin-mchale-praises-glee-character.html |title=Kevin McHale praises 'Glee' character|last=Wightman|first=Catriona|date=May 7, 2010|work=Digital Spy|access-date=June 1, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100612175856/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/s57/glee/news/a218779/kevin-mchale-praises-glee-character.html| archive-date= 12 June 2010 | url-status= live}} He enjoyed Artie's character development in the episode "Wheels," explaining that when he was cast in the role, he did not know Artie's background and thus made up his own backstory for him. He believed that Artie became paralyzed later in life, rather than being born that way, which is confirmed in "Wheels".{{cite web| url= http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/popwrap/glee_kevin_mchale_want_artie_tina_94ILevONymW3CqZnYxXVON|title='Glee's' Kevin McHale: I want Artie & Tina to be a couple! |last= Wieselman |first= Jarett |date=November 12, 2009|work= New York Post |access-date=16 February 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100204075057/http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/popwrap/glee_kevin_mchale_want_artie_tina_94ILevONymW3CqZnYxXVON| archive-date= 4 February 2010 | url-status= live}} Of the burgeoning romance between Artie and Tina, McHale opined: "I think Tina and Artie will be together. I think they will be a couple for a long time."{{cite web| url= http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b153052_glee_boss_gets_on_board_with_puck_rachel.html|title=Glee Boss Gets on Board With Puck and Rachel! |last=Dos Santos |first=Kristin|date=November 11, 2009|work=E! Online|publisher=E!|access-date=November 12, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091114090113/http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b153052_glee_boss_gets_on_board_with_puck_rachel.html| archive-date= 14 November 2009 | url-status= live}} He explained that from the beginning of the show's production, creator Ryan Murphy expressed the belief that Artie and Tina should be together, and so he and Jenna Ushkowitz deliberately sat close to one another during filming, assuming that it would eventually happen. McHale was shocked by Artie's reaction to Tina's faked stutter. He was initially unsure "why he was being so dramatic". He concluded however: "I really think Artie fell for Tina because they were set apart by their disabilities. They're already kind of outcasts being in glee, but within that group they shared a connection. So he based their whole relationship on that and when it went away, Artie didn't know what to do." McHale is close to his co–star Jenna Ushkowitz, and the two of them are in support of the relationship between their characters, referred to by the portmanteau "Artina", for Artie and Tina.{{cite web| url= http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/who_fakes_stutter_ask_tina_gyh4RXgz5HWtzCyQH9aAJP|title={{-'}}Gleek' goddess|last=Shen|first=Maxine|date=November 23, 2009| work= New York Post |access-date=June 1, 2010}} McHale described Artie and Tina's relationship as being similar to the one between Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) in the ABC comedy–drama Boy Meets World, and he believes they will always be together.

Artie, like a number of the students at McKinley High, is the "namesake" of one of Brad Falchuk's high school friends at Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The character was named for Arthur Stroyman, who helped Falchuk make horror films when they were teens. Stroyman was not much like Artie, however: he was an athlete who "never fully understood the artsy kids" in high school.{{cite news| url= http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2009/08/30/for_glee_brad_falchuk_draws_on_his_days_at_beaver_country_day_school/|title=Welcome to the club |last= Weiss |first= Joanna |date= August 30, 2009|work=The Boston Globe| via= boston.com |access-date=November 12, 2011}}

As Artie, McHale features in many musical performances, which have been released as singles, available for download. In the episode "Wheels" he has his first solo performance on the show "Dancing With Myself". Murphy commented that the performance is Artie's chance to "break away from being misunderstood by everyone" and express himself, explaining that although Artie is usually "a very secure guy" who does not care about others' opinions of him, "Wheels" sees his friends take his disability for granted: "So this performance is all about him saying, 'Look, this is who I am, and this is who I want to be.{{' "}}{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/11/exclusive-ryan-murphy-calls-tonights-episode-of-glee-a-game-changer.html|title=Exclusive: Ryan Murphy calls tonight's episode of 'Glee' a 'game changer'|last=Fernandez|first=Maria Elena|author2=Martin, Denise |date= November 11, 2009|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=12 November 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091114053424/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/11/exclusive-ryan-murphy-calls-tonights-episode-of-glee-a-game-changer.html | archive-date= 14 November 2009 | url-status= live}} McHale has stated that performing as Artie has made him more aware of the challenges that people with disabilities face: "It's a completely different side of life. More than ever, I realize how grateful I am to be able to get up between each take and walk around. I'm glad that I can represent that kind of life on television so millions of people see it every week. And the whole point of it is to show that Artie can still do everything everyone else can that matters."

In the episode "Dream On", Artie performs "The Safety Dance" and "Dream a Little Dream of Me", which received generally positive reviews. Aly Semigran of MTV noted that McHale's songs "proved he was a force to be reckoned with", and called the "I Dreamed a Dream" duet "goosebump-inducing", observing: "Pretty sure that's what musical theater lovers' dreams are made of."{{cite web|url=http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2010/05/19/glee-recap-dream-on/|title='Glee' Recap: Episode 19, 'Dream On'|first=Aly|last=Semigran|publisher=MTV|date=May 19, 2010|access-date=May 22, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100523193516/http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2010/05/19/glee-recap-dream-on/| archive-date= 23 May 2010 | url-status= dead}} Entertainment Weekly{{'s}} Tim Stack called "Safety Dance" one of his favorite moments of the episode, deeming it a "joyous, huge performance—definitely one of the most elaborate numbers the show has done before."{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20386288,00.html |title='Glee' recap: Dream a Little Dream |first=Tim |last=Stack |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=May 19, 2010 |access-date=May 22, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100522101107/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C20386288%2C00.html |archive-date=22 May 2010 |url-status=dead }}

In the episode, "Britney/Brittany", Artie performs the Britney Spears song "Stronger". Tim Stack of Entertainment Weekly deemed it his favorite performance of the episode, as well as the best incorporation of Spears' music, as the song served Artie's storyline. He praised the increased use of McHale as a vocalist in the second season, enjoying his soulful voice.{{cite magazine|url=http://tvrecaps.ew.com/recap/glee-season-2-episode-2-britney/ |title='Glee' recap: Britney, Baby, One More Time|first=Tim|last=Stack|magazine= Entertainment Weekly |date=September 29, 2010|access-date=September 29, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101001192603/http://tvrecaps.ew.com/recap/glee-season-2-episode-2-britney/| archive-date= 1 October 2010 | url-status= live}} Raymund Flandez of The Wall Street Journal also enjoyed it, appreciating the twist of having males sing a feminist empowerment song.{{cite web|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/09/28/glee-season-2-episode-2-britneybrittany-tv-recap/|title='Glee,' Season 2, Episode 2, 'Britney/Brittany': TV Recap|first=Raymund|last=Flandez|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=September 28, 2010|access-date=September 29, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100929175743/https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/09/28/glee-season-2-episode-2-britneybrittany-tv-recap/| archive-date= 29 September 2010 | url-status= live}} In "Never Been Kissed", Artie performs "One Love"/"People Get Ready" as a duet with Puck (Mark Salling), which received generally positive reviews. BuddyTV's Jen Harper enjoyed the harmonies and simple arrangement of "One Love/People Get Ready",{{cite web|url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/glee/glee-recap-well-bully-for-you-38605.aspx|title='Glee' Recap: Well, Bully for You ... and You ... and You Too |date=November 9, 2010|first=Jen|last=Harper| publisher= Aprospectus LLC| website= BuddyTV.com |access-date=November 10, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101112130122/http://www.buddytv.com/articles/glee/glee-recap-well-bully-for-you-38605.aspx| archive-date= 12 November 2010 | url-status= live}} and Anthony Benigno of the Daily News gave it an "A", with praise for the vocals.{{cite web |url= http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2010/11/10/2010-11-10_glee_recap_never_been_kissed_introduces_darren_criss_and_gives_dot_jones_her_fir.html|title='Glee' recap: 'Never Been Kissed' introduces Darren Criss and gives Dot Jones her first kiss|date=November 10, 2010|first=Anthony|last=Benigno| work=Daily News |access-date=November 10, 2010|location=New York City| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101114160059/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2010/11/10/2010-11-10_glee_recap_never_been_kissed_introduces_darren_criss_and_gives_dot_jones_her_fir.html| archive-date= 14 November 2010 | url-status= live}} Tim Stack of Entertainment Weekly graded it "B−". He called it a "nice performance", but incongruous in context,{{cite magazine |url= http://tvrecaps.ew.com/recap/glee-season-2-episode-6-kurt-kiss/|title='Glee' recap: Then He Kissed Him|date=November 9, 2010|first=Tim|last=Stack|magazine=Entertainment Weekly |publisher=Time Inc|access-date=November 10, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101111151830/http://tvrecaps.ew.com/recap/glee-season-2-episode-6-kurt-kiss/| archive-date= 11 November 2010 | url-status= live}} a concern shared by Erica Futterman of Rolling Stone.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/51942/232450|title='Glee' Playback: Chris Colfer Outshines the Music in 'Never Been Kissed' |date= November 10, 2010|first=Erica|last=Futterman|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=November 10, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101113165616/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/51942/232450| archive-date= 13 November 2010 | url-status= dead}}

File:Kevin McHale.jpg" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and was said to outshine "even Mike and Will who dance beside him".]]

In "Rumours", Artie performs "Never Going Back", which was very well received. Futterman said it was "better than Artie's post-Tina 'Stronger{{' "}}, and John Kubicek of BuddyTV declared it "proof that he's quite good at hitting emotional notes", while Semigran said she was "blown away".{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/on-glee-the-rumours-have-it-20110504|title=Rumour Has It: 'Glee' Takes on Fleetwood Mac|date=May 4, 2011 |first=Erica|last=Futterman|magazine= Rolling Stone |access-date=May 9, 2011}}{{cite web |url= http://www.buddytv.com/articles/glee/glee-recap-no-money-mo-problem-40178.aspx|title= 'Glee' Recap: No Money, Mo' Problems |date=May 4, 2011| first= John| last= Kubicek | publisher= Aprospectus LLC| website= BuddyTV.com |access-date=September 15, 2011}}{{cite web| url= http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2011/05/04/glee-recap-rumours/ | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110507070600/http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2011/05/04/glee-recap-rumours | url-status= dead | archive-date= May 7, 2011 |title= 'Glee' Recap: 'Rumours' |date=May 4, 2011|first=Aly|last=Semigran| work= HollywoodCrush.MTV.com |publisher=MTV Networks |access-date=September 15, 2011}} Entertainment Weekly{{'s}} Sandra Gonzalez and Anthony Benigno of The Faster Times both gave it an "A−", while Brett Berk's of Vanity Fair gave it all five stars.{{cite web|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2011/05/the-gay-guide-to-glee-season-2-episode-19-rumors-1|title=The Gay Guide to Glee: Season 2, Episode 19, "Rumors{{"-}}|date=May 4, 2011|access-date=September 13, 2011|work=Vanity Fair|last=Berk|first=Brett}} In the episode "Prom Queen", Artie performs "Isn't She Lovely", which was as enthusiastically received—it was Meghan Brown's of The Atlantic "favorite number", and she added that Artie's "voice sounded great".{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/05/glee-captures-the-glorious-awfulness-of-prom/238685/|title= 'Glee' Captures the Glorious Awfulness of Prom|first1=Kevin| last1= Fallon| last2= Brown| first2= Meghan| work= The Atlantic |date=May 11, 2011|access-date=August 27, 2011}} It was also Berk's favorite; he commented, "I still melt at Artie's serenade", and gave it four stars out of five.{{cite magazine |url= http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2011/05/the-gay-guide-to-glee-season-2-episode-20-prom-queen|title=The Gay Guide to Glee: Season 2, Episode 20, 'Prom Queen' |date=May 11, 2011|access-date=August 27, 2011|magazine= Vanity Fair |last=Berk|first=Brett}} Both Gonzalez and Benigno gave it an "A", and the latter explained: "the arrangement ... gives the track a wonderful, spontaneous feel", and "this nerdy white boy has himself some soul."{{Cite web| url= http://www.thefastertimes.com/tvrecapsandnews/2011/05/11/glee-recap-season-2-episode-20-johnny-i-hardly-knew-ya/|title={{-'}}Glee' Recap (Season 2, Episode 20): 'Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya' |date=May 11, 2011| first= Anthony| last= Benigno |work= The Faster Times |publisher= Sam Apple| access-date= August 27, 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111008005915/http://www.thefastertimes.com/tvrecapsandnews/2011/05/11/glee-recap-season-2-episode-20-johnny-i-hardly-knew-ya/|archive-date=October 8, 2011|url-status=usurped}}{{cite magazine|url=http://tvrecaps.ew.com/recap/glee-prom-jonathan-groff/ |title= 'Glee' recap: Queen He |last= Gonzalez|first=Sandra|date=May 11, 2011|magazine= Entertainment Weekly |access-date=August 27, 2011}} Kubicek dissented, and explained that Artie getting emotional in song two weeks in a row "is a tad boring".{{Cite web|url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/glee/glee-prom-recap-its-bad-to-be-40256.aspx|title= 'Glee' Prom Recap: It's Bad to Be the Queen |date=May 11, 2011|first=John|last=Kubicek| publisher= Aprospectus LLC| website= BuddyTV.com |access-date=August 27, 2011}}

In "Yes/No", Artie performs a mash-up of "Moves Like Jagger" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash". Flandez called it one of the episode's "highlights", and Billboard{{'s}} Rae Votta lauded Ariey's "Jagger moves while sitting in a chair" and said he "outshines even Mike and Will who dance beside him".{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/511207/glee-recap-the-one-with-synchronized-swimming-in-it|title= 'Glee' Recap: The One With Synchronized Swimming In It| first= Rae| last= Votta| magazine= Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=January 18, 2012 |access-date=January 18, 2012}}{{Cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/01/17/glee-season-3-episode-10-yesno-tv-recap/ |title= 'Glee', Season 3, Episode 10, 'Yes/No': TV Recap|first=Raymund|last=Flandez|work=Speakeasy. The Wall Street Journal|publisher=Les Hinton|date=January 17, 2012| access-date=January 18, 2012}} MTV's Kevin P. Sullivan described Artie as "consistently awesome", and TVLine{{'s}} Michael Slezak said it was "one of Artie's more appealing musical moments this season" and gave it a "B".{{cite web|url=http://www.tvline.com/2012/01/glee-recap-season-3-episode-10-yes-no/|title=Glee Recap: Lords of the Rings|first=Michael|last=Slezak|work=TVLine|publisher=Mail.com Media|date=January 17, 2012|access-date= January 18, 2012}}{{Cite web|url=http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2012/01/18/glee-recap-yesno/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120181551/http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2012/01/18/glee-recap-yesno|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 20, 2012|title= 'Glee' Recap: 'Yes/No' |date=January 18, 2012 |first= Kevin P.| last= Sullivan| work= HollywoodCrush.MTV.com |publisher= MTV Networks |access-date=January 18, 2012}} Entertainment Weekly{{'s}} Joseph Brannigan Lynch characterized the song as a "spunky diversion" and gave it a "B+", but he noted it was "not a good song for marriage proposals by any stretch of the imagination", a point also made by Futterman, who said the number would have "fared much better as a stand-alone performance".{{cite magazine| url= http://tvrecaps.ew.com/recap/glee-season-3-episode-10/|title={{-'}}Glee' recap: Synchronized Romance|last=Lynch|first=Joseph Brannigan|date=January 18, 2012| magazine= Entertainment Weekly |access-date=January 18, 2012}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/glee-recap-we-found-love-in-a-hopeless-place-20120118|title={{-'}}Glee' Recap: We Found Love in a Hopeless Place |last=Futterman |first=Erica |date=January 18, 2012 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date= January 18, 2012}}

McHale's performance of "Scream" in "Michael" inspired several reviewers, including Kate Stanhope of TV Guide and HuffPost TV{{'s}} Crystal Bell, to write of their regret that McHale could not dance more often on the show.{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/crystal-bell/glee-recap-michael-jackson_b_1245481.html|title={{-'}}Glee' Recap: Tribute To Michael Jackson |first=Crystal|last=Bell|work=HuffPost TV|publisher=Huffington Post|date=January 31, 2012|access-date=February 6, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/Glee-Winter-Premiere-1041994.aspx|title=Glee{{'s}} Promising Road to Graduation Begins|first=Kate|last=Stanhope|work=TV Guide|date=January 31, 2012|access-date=February 6, 2012}} Amy Reiter of The Los Angeles Times said he was "a sorely underused Glee resource" and called the number "the best dance moment" of the episode, and Bell declared, "I have one word for this number: Epic."{{Cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2012/02/glee-recap-moonwalking-michael-jackson.html |title={{-'}}Glee' recap: Moonwalking with Michael Jackson |date=February 1, 2012|first=Amy|last=Reiter|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=February 6, 2012}} The Wall Street Journal{{'s}} Raymund Flandez called it a "phenomenal job", and Stanhope cited "killer performances" by McHale on this number and others as evidence that with Artie only a junior "there is life" in New Directions after McKinley's current seniors graduate.{{Cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/01/31/glee-season-3-episode-11-michael-tv-recap/|title={{-'}}Glee', Season 3, Episode 11, 'Michael': TV Recap|first=Raymund|last=Flandez|work=Speakeasy. The Wall Street Journal |publisher=Les Hinton|date=January 31, 2012|access-date=February 6, 2012}} Joseph Brannigan Lynch of Entertainment Weekly called the number "awesome" and gave it an "A+", and The Hollywood Reporter{{'s}} Lesley Goldberg described it as "a perfect example of what the show looks like when it's firing on all cylinders"; both reviewers praised the dancing of both performers.{{cite magazine|url=http://tvrecaps.ew.com/recap/glee-michael-jackson-episode/ |title= 'Glee' recap: An 'Off the Wall' Tribute to MJ |last=Lynch|first=Joseph Brannigan|date=February 1, 2012|magazine= Entertainment Weekly |access-date= February 6, 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/glee-recap-michael-jackson-tribute-rachel-says-yes-286276|title={{-'}}Glee' Recap: 11 Shockers and Scene Stealers From the Michael Jackson Tribute |first=Lesley|last=Goldberg|work=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher= Prometheus Global Media |date= January 31, 2012|access-date=February 6, 2012}} Jen Chaney of The Washington Post wrote that the performance "lacked the energy and genuine aggression of the original Michael/Janet Jackson collaboration, although at least Kevin McHale and Harry Shum Jr. got to show off their dance skills", and gave it a "C".{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/glee-by-the-musical-numbers-maxing-out-on-michael-jackson/2012/01/31/gIQA4UkfgQ_blog.html |title= 'Glee' by the musical numbers: Maxing out on Michael Jackson |date=January 31, 2012 |last=Chaney |first=Jen |newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=February 6, 2012}}

Shawna Malcom of the Los Angeles Times reviewed the episode "Vitamin D" positively, praising the focus it gave Artie: "Until now, the character, who is a wheelchair user, has served mostly as a punchline. Last night, he got a much-deserved moment in the spotlight, and he rolled with it, doing his best Richie Sambora on the talk box, then taking lead vocals on the Usher track."{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/10/glee-a-dose-of-not-entirely-friendly-competition.html|title='Glee': A dose of (not entirely) friendly competition|last=Malcom|first=Shawna|date=October 8, 2009|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=October 8, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091011114613/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/10/glee-a-dose-of-not-entirely-friendly-competition.html| archive-date= 11 October 2009 | url-status= live}} The episode "Wheels", which placed focus on Artie and his disability, drew criticism from a committee of performers with disabilities, who felt that casting a non-disabled actor to play a disabled student was inappropriate. CSI star Robert David Hall commented, "I think there's a fear of litigation, that a person with disabilities might slow a production down, fear that viewers might be uncomfortable."{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=9044185|title={{-'}}Glee' Wheelchair Episode Hits Bump With Disabled|last=Elber|first=Lynn|date=November 10, 2009|work=ABC News|access-date=November 10, 2009}} Glee creator Brad Falchuk responded that while he understood the concern and frustration of disability advocates, McHale had the singing and acting ability and charisma required for the role and "it's hard to say no to someone that talented". McHale has stated that he is pleased to represent a character in a wheelchair, and that "I think what's great about it is just because he's in a wheelchair, he can still do what everyone else does."{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/Glees-Kevin-McHale-1011863.aspx|title=Glee's Kevin McHale Hints at New Love Connection|last=DiNunno|first=Gina|date=November 10, 2009|work=TV Guide|access-date=November 12, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091112091426/http://www.tvguide.com/News/Glees-Kevin-McHale-1011863.aspx| archive-date= 12 November 2009 | url-status= live}} Kristin Dos Santos of E! Online refuted criticism of the episode, opining that: "'Wheels' is all about empowering people with disabilities and sends out an uplifting message to the disabled community." Gerrick Kennedy of the Los Angeles Times expressed a similar sentiment, stating: "Here we have an episode bluntly addressing the complexities of disability and doing so with so much respect and dignity, and there are complaints about Artie not being wheelchair-bound {{sic}} in real life? Cooooome on, guys."{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/11/glee-defying-gravity-with-heart-and-soul.html|title='Glee': Defying gravity with heart and soul |last=Kennedy|first=Gerrick|date=November 12, 2009|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=February 16, 2010}} Despite playing a wheelchair user, he is actually one of the best dancers on the set, he was able to showcase his dancing skills in the 1x19 episode "Dream On", in which Artie imagines dancing with his Glee club friends and shoppers in a flash mob singing "Safety Dance" at a mall. He also showcases his dancing skills in the episode Michael, in which Artie imagines dancing and singing "Scream" along with Mike Chang (Harry Shum Jr.) in a remade "Scream" music video, and the episode Glee, Actually, in which Artie dreams about never being in a wheelchair, realizes that the lives of his friends have changed for the worse, and decides to found his own glee club, singing and dancing to Feliz Navidad.

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100925072328/http://www.fox.com/glee/bios/kevin-mchale/ Artie Abrams] at Fox.com

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Abrams, Artie}}

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