Veteran character actor Stephen Tobolowsky could play guitar, and even a bit of piano, but he quickly learnt, upon meeting his harmoniously gifted co-stars on the set of the new series "Glee", that they were in a completely "different league" to him. The star of such films as "Groundhog Day", "Memento" and "The Time Travelers Wife" talks to his ol' pal CLINT MORRIS about "Glee", the pilot of which hits DVD this week.

Tobo, how'd you get "Glee"?

I auditioned for Glee. The interesting side note is that three months before I had broken my neck and this was the first audition I had in half a year. I was in my neck brace when I came into the offices of Nip/Tuck to read.  The doctor told me I could take my brace off...that the neck should be healed enough...but be sure not to re-injure myself.  I didn't know how I would handle the audition.  Take the brace off...leave it on.  I ended up going in with the brace and taking it off in the room.  That way I could be up front about my physical condition and demonstrate that I was just fine to do the part and not damaged goods.  The audition went well. I got the part. And they never asked me to fall backwards out of chairs to get a laugh.

If it'd been ‘'Two-and-a-half-men'' on the other hand... but I digress, so you got the gig, but did you get it because you'd also had musical experience?

I used to do musicals in Dallas - Godspell, Purlie, Whispers on the Wind.  I was in a rock group and played piano and guitar.  However the singers on Glee are in a different league.  They are they best in the world.  I was not even the best in my High School.

I imagine it's a fun show to work on?

It is a fantastic experience - a lot like I imagine Mickey Rooney Judy Garland movies.  Choreography for hours in the morning - recording songs at a studio in the afternoon - shooting scenes all day - and you are just running from point A to point B. Sure beats waiting in your trailer.

We don't much about your character . Do you have a backstory implanted in your head for him though?

I have found on TV it is best NOT to have a backstory because it may be the subject of future episodes.  What is the point of saying that I was a music teacher in Cleveland and then they come in with an episode that I was a music teacher in the Peace Corps in Africa? It is all arbitrary.  It is enough to know that I was a long time choral teacher who has been an outsider his whole life.  My sense is that Sandy is certainly not a child molester!  He is a child.  He loves music. He has never had real success. Enough.

He's the Carrot Top of Glee! How good are Matthew Morrison and Lea Michele? I think they might be my faves!

I love watching Matt and Lea sing.  They have such spectacular voices.

And Jane Lynch?

Jane is constantly delightful. She is one of these people that has always been smart and sort of an outsider.  It has given her a sharp sense of observation and consequently a bottomless cup of comedy.

Now we've been working on a movie together for a couple of years - ‘'First Howl''. We've had a few setbacks, and as a consequence we've essentially let it rest for a while. But I really can't wait for the day when audiences get to see you as Christopher Cox, scumbag movie director!

I can't wait to work on Howl.  It is always difficult to get the funding for a movie together - even more so in a world wide financial collapse.  I think it has real potential to cut across a lot of demographics - fun, scary, unique.

Glee – the Directors Cut Pilot is now available on DVD