Jane Lynch has had a busy month at the movies, stealing scenes alongside Carol Burnett in Post Grad and Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia.
But August is nothing compared to the exposure Lynch is set to receive come September, when the much-anticipated Fox series Glee starts up in earnest.
The first episode — which opens with Lynch’s domineering, over-competitive cheerleading coach chastising her team with, “You think this is hard? Try being waterboarded.” — got a boost to its profile thanks to a sneak preview after the American Idol season finale and some major support from TV critics and fans at last month’s Comic Con.
And Lynch has been a major part of the marketing for the ensemble show.
“I feel like I’m doing a lot of press,” she says. But she’s not complaining. “I’m not one of those people who’s like, ‘Deep down inside I’m really shy.’”
Though best known for standout roles in films like The 40-Year-Old Virgin and last year’s Role Models, Lynch started 2009 firmly committed to moving to the small screen.
“My New Year’s resolution was I want to hang my hat somewhere,” she says. And that led her to taking part in two pilots, Glee and a Damon Wayans comedy for ABC that didn’t see the light of day.
“I didn’t know if it would be Glee or the Damon Wayans thing or anything,” she says. But when the little show about a bunch of high school outcasts breaking into song got picked up, Lynch says she was thrilled.
“I think (Glee) is just head and shoulders above anything that’s on TV. I don’t want to sound like I’m bragging, but it’s really good.”
The reason it’s so good, she insists, has little to do with her (though many would argue that point). Lynch gives all the credit to her younger co-stars. “The kids are amazing,” she gushes.
“These are talented people. They work so hard. I just sashay in and I sashay out. But they’re recording and rehearsing and dancing and then shooting and getting up at five in the morning and working until 10 at night.”
But it’s more than worth it, she says. And if audiences liked the pilot, they’re going to love what comes next. “The first episode I think is amazing,” she says, “but it just gets better and better.”
• Glee premieres Wednesday, Sept. 9 on Global
